Sai Sri Balaji Travels takes you to the Murudeshwara is a town in the Bhatkal Taluk of Uttara Kannada district in the state of Karnataka, India. "Murudeshwara" is another name of the Hindu god Shiva. Famous for the world's second tallest Shiva statue as the tallest one is nepal being inaugrated on 21st june 2010 by Ram Baran Yadav (President of Nepal) and Shankaracharya jee sculptured by Mr. Kamal Jain. it is called Kailashnath Mahadev in Kailash Puri. "Murudeshwara" beach town lies on the coast of the Arabian Sea and is also famous for the Murudeshwara Temple.
Major attractions in Murdeshwara
Gopura of Murudeshwara Temple and Statue of Lord Shiva
1) Murudeshwara Temple and Raja Gopura This temple is built on the Kanduka Hill which is surrounded on three sides by the waters of the Arabian Sea. It is a temple dedicated to the Lord Shiva, and a 20-storied Gopura is constructed at the temple. Two life-size elephants in concrete stand guard at the steps leading to the temple. The entire temple and temple complex, including the 249 feet tall Raja Gopura, which is considered the tallest gopura in the world, was constructed to its present form by businessman and philanthropist Mr R N Shetty.
The temple is entirely modernised with exception of the Sanctum Sanctorum which is still dark and retains its composure. The Main deity is Sri Mridesa Linga, also called Murudeswara. The linga is believed to be a piece of the original Atma Linga and is about 2feet below ground level. The devotees performing special sevas like Abhisheka, Rudrabhisheka, Rathotsava etc. can view the deity by standing before the threshold of the Sanctum and the Lingam is illuminated by oil lamps held close by the priests. The Lingam is essentially a rough rock inside a hollowed spot in the ground. Entry into the Sanctum is banned for all devotees.
2) Statue of Lord Shiva A huge towering statue of Lord Shiva, visible from great distances, is present in the temple complex. It is the tallest statue of Shiva in the world.[1][2] The statue is 123 feet (37 m) in height, and took about 2 years to build. The statue was built by Shivamogga's Kashinath and several other sculptors, financed by businessman and philanthropist Mr R.N. Shetty, at a cost of approximately 50 million Rs. The idol is designed such that it gets the sun light directly and thus appears sparkling.Originally, the statue had four arms, and was adorned in gold paint. However, large wind gusts blew the arm off (the one that held a small drum), and rains dissolved the paint.
3) Murudeshwara Fort A fort present behind the temple.
Murudeshwar is around 180 km from Mangalore on the National Highway. The sea is an intrinsic part of the temple at Murudeshwar. The sea on three sides surrounds the temple towering on the small hill called Kanduka Giri. Two life-size elephants in concrete stand guard at the steps leading to the temple. The Murudeshwar temple has a history that dates back to a few centuries. A small temple existed here for generations. A recent attraction is the Lord Shiva idol erected beside the temple. The idol towers 123 feet into the sky and is the tallest Shiva idol in the world. The Western Ghats has always held a special place in the hearts of pleasure seeking nature lovers.
Murudeshwar of Bhatkal taluk in Uttara Kannada district is around 165 km from Mangalore on the National Highway attracting lot of devotees and tourists to the place. This picturesque place situated between Honnavara and Bhatkal. Bounded by the Arabian Sea and rolling hills of Western Ghats, the place is a favorite picnic spot. Probably the finest beach, temple, restaurants, guest houses, resorts & beautiful garden in coastal karnataka and the most popular.
The sea is an intrinsic part of the temple scape at Murudeshwar. The sea on three sides surrounds the temple towering on the small hill called Kanduka Giri on three sides. Two life-size elephants in concrete stand guard at the steps leading to the temple. As one ascends the hillock, there is a shrine of Jattiga seated on a horse. There is a huge fort behind the temple, said to have been renovated by King Tippu sultan of Mysore. Evening visit to see sunset at sun set point is real fulfilling experience. View of small boats and fishermen coming back to their houses from quite distances and different sides in the sea make every body feel the mesmerizing evening.
The main attraction of Murudeshwar is Shiva temple, this sacred place presents some beautiful carvings and statues, which has a history that dates back to a few centuries (Threthayuga). The temple which embodies a Shiva Linga is believed to have erupted when Ravana (Demon King of Lanka) flung the cloth covering the Atmalinga at Gokarna while lifting it. Lord Shiva, following a complicated sequence of events, declared that Murudeshwara should be one of his five holy places.
Kolhapur Sai Sri Balaji Travels . About this sound pronunciation is a city situated in the south-west corner of Maharashtra, India. The population of Kolhapur city was 493,167, as per the 2001 census. Kolhapaur also serves as the headquarters of the Kolhapur District. As is the case in most of the Maharashtra cities, the main language spoken here is Marathi. Kolhapur is situated on the banks of river Panchganga and is the location of the Temple of Mahalakshmi, a Hindu Goddess.
Places to visit of interest The Hindu Goddess Mahalakshmi Temples, Mahalakshmi Temple, Jyotiba temple, Nrusinhawadi (Narsobawadi), Khidrapur (Kopeshwar (shiva) Temple), Tembalai alias Tryamboli, Katyani
Kolhapur Sai Sri Balaji Travels is an ancient city, famous for its food, headwear, footwear, jewellery, wrestling and religious connections[citation needed. According to legend it was settled by Kolhasur, a demon who was later killed by Mahalakshmi to relieve the local populace. However, honouring the demon's dying wish, the city was named after him. Kolhapur finds mentions in Devi Gita, the final and most important chapter of the Srimad Devi Bhagawatam, as one the important places of Shakti worship, "Devi spoke..."O King of Mountains! Still I am now telling something out of My affection to My Bhaktas. Hear. There is a great place of pilgrimage named Kolhapura in the southern country. Here the Devi Laksmi always dwells...." .
During 940-1212 CE, it was the capital of the Shilahara dynasty of Kolhapur. An inscription at Teradal mentions that king Gonka was healed from snakebite by a Jain monk and Gonk had built a temple of Lord Neminath. Many Jain temples in that region build in the next couple of century are called Gonka-Jinalya after him. During the reign of Bhoja I, a dynamic Acharya Maghanandi helped establish an institute at Rupanarayana-Basadi. Several of the kings and nobles of the dynasty were disciples of Maghanandi. Maghanandi is often called Siddhanta-chakravarti ie the great master of the scriptures, Gandaraditya I was his disciple. He is sometimes called "Kolapuriya" to distinguish him from many other Acharyas with the name Maghanandi.
Khidrapur The Kopeshwar (shiva) Temple - located in Kolhapur district, it is known for one of most outstanding and beautiful examples of Temple Architecture in India, It was built by Shilahara King Gandaraditya, Vijayaditya and Bhoj-II between 1109 and 1178 A.D
The places to visit the Historical places is Bhavani Mandap, Shree Chhatrapati Shahu Museum, Kolhapur, Shalini Palace ,Kolhapur, Chandrakant Mandare museum, New Palace, Kolhapur, Town Hall museum, Motibag Talim, Shivaji University , Siddhgiri Museum, The Wax Meuseum.
The dams can also be visited in kolhapur through Sai Sri Balaji Travels is Radhanagri (Capacity 3.5 TMC), Kaalammavadi (Capacity 28 TMC)
You can also visit the kolhapur through Sai Sri Balaji Travels which the makes the journey more comfortable and pleasant.
Take a visit to the Kolhapur to view the places which the tour more enjoyable.