Murudeshwar Temple

Murudeshwar is a temple town located in the Bhatkal Taluk of Uttara Kannada district in the state of Karnataka, India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the holiest shrines of Shiva. It is also a major Hindu pilgrimage center. The temple has a five-storey Gopura, which is the tallest in Karnataka. The temple complex includes the Kashi Vishwanatha Temple, which is a smaller replica of the famous Kashi Vishwanatha Temple in Varanasi. The legend of the Murudeshwar Temple is that Ravana, the 10-headed demon king of Lanka, was devotee of Lord Shiva. He once performed a penance to please Shiva and requested a boon that he be granted a divine Lingam that would never be destroyed. Shiva granted him his wish and also bestowed him with the Atma Lingam, which is the embodiment of the soul. Ravana was very pleased with his gifts and decided to install the Shiva Lingam in his capital, Lanka. He ordered his architects to build a magnificent temple for the Lingam. The architects built an exquisite temple with a five-storey Gopura. The temple was known as the Maha Meru Temple. When Lord Rama, the incarnation of Vishnu, arrived in Lanka to kill Ravana, he saw the beautiful Maha Meru Temple and was amazed. He asked Ravana who had built such a beautiful temple. Ravana proudly told him that it was built by him. Lord Rama was not pleased and decided to destroy the temple. He used his divine powers to smash the temple to pieces. Ravana was furious and he attacked Lord Rama in a rage. Lord Rama easily defeated Ravana and killed him. To appease the anger of Lord Shiva, Lord Rama rebuilt the Maha

Murudeshwar is well connected by road and rail. The nearest airport is at Mangalore, which is about 114 km away.