Ambling Through Coastal Karnataka

Going to Coastal Karnataka,India, had always been 'on my list' . A pretty temple - known for its size, the incredible Jog Falls, Mirjan fort, famous Om beach ( as its name suggests a sea shore in the shape of Om)  and great Konkan food - a perfect choice, all in three days.

The journey started from Mumbai CST by Mangalore Express at around 10.00 pm. The train journey from Mumbai to Murudeshwar was amazing with greenery everywhere and awesome views.  Reached Murudeshwar station at around 12.00 noon. We had decided to stay in a beach facing hotel near to the temple.  After  lunch, we decided to visit Murudeshwara temple.

MURUDESHWARA TEMPLE

Surrounded on three sides by the waters of the Arabian Sea, the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The 20 storied Raja Gopura is a sight to behold and is considered as the tallest Gopura in the world. Two life-size elephants in concrete stand guard at the steps that lead to the temple.

The temple has a typical South Indian architecture. After a photo session in front of the Raja Gopura, we entered the temple premises. We bought tickets and waited in the queue to get into one of the  two elevators to go upstairs. Once you reach the top,  you can see four windows. One of them looks at the Shiva Statue. The other two gives a clear view of the beach on either sides of the temple, while the fourth one shows you Murudeshwara town.  This is a perfect spot, from where I got a bird's-eye view of the world's second tallest Shiv Statue.

An Birds Eye View from Gopura, Murudeshwar Temple

 Through one window, you can admire the beauty of Murudeshwara Beach.

Through the 3rd window, you will get a view of the other side of  the Murudeshwara beach, which is calm and lonely.

You have to come out of the temple premises to reach the Shiva Statue. This 123-feet Shiva idol is the second highest statue of Lord Shiva in the world. Under the statue, there is a cave which tells us the story of Murudeshwara and Gokarna with statues of Ravana.

It was time for some enjoyment and shopping. And there was quite a bit to explore in this temple town. Had a cup of tea and headed to the beach.

You can stroll around the Murudeshwara Beach which is quite pristine and clean, for the Sunset view. It was also here that we enjoyed one of the most beautiful sunsets,  with the temple and the sun sinking into the sea in background.

During night, it was great to watch the temple premises - Raj Gopura, Shiv Statue - all shine with lights. We spent a few hours at the beach, having fun and clicking photos.

It was getting dark, we headed back to the hotel. We had a yummy dinner at the hotel's restaurant.

Day 2
We had our breakfast and we were all set to visit Kumta for Mirjan Fort.

MIRJAN FORT

Built in the 16th century by Queen Chennabhaira Devi or Gerasoppa, the fort is located on the banks of Aganashini  River.  Mirjan port was used for trading with ports of Gujarat.  After crossing the gate, you have to walk through wide steps to reach the entrance of the fort. And I climbed to the top of the fort to witness the glory.

The Mirjan Fort Entrance

You can watch many secret passages inside the fort. The fort has many wells linked with each other, watch tower cum flag hoisting tower, Darbar hall, market place and entry doors.

Mirjan Fort inside view

The fort bastion and watch tower still stand alive. The circular moat surrounding the fort, which was used as a defense measure to protect the fort, is almost in a ruined state now. A witness to the Vijayanagara Empire and  the British colonialism, the fort still stands alive in every sense of the word.

From Mirjan Fort, we made our way to Jog falls. In between a small halt for lunch. This time we headed to a small village restaurant, which reminded me so much of  Kerala.  Around 1.30 PM,  we reached Jog falls and started exploring.

JOG WATERFALLS

Jog Waterfalls proudly owns the title of India’s second tallest Water Plunge. The river Sharavathi makes a descent here from a height of about 830 feet, providing a spellbinding sight. The water comes down in four distinct falls - Raja, Rani, Roarer and Rocker.

Jog Waterfalls

To reach the base of Jog Falls, I had to take a 1400 steps walk downhill from the viewpoint. We enjoyed the breathtaking view of the falls as we covered almost 1400 steps to reach the bottom. Jog Falls are exceptional as the water does not flow down the rocks in a tiered fashion; it gushes down the slope right from the great height making it the tallest un-tiered waterfall in India. 

The falls are a perfect picnic spot with unexplored walking trails around the area. The splendor of the waterfalls is enhanced by the lush green surroundings, which provide a scenic backdrop.

After our trek , it was time to warm up a little bit, so we headed to a nearby restaurant for a tea. Our dinner was on our way back to the hotel, a typical Non Veg Thali which offers locally sourced cuisine in a very relaxed atmosphere. Fish and seafood are highly featured in the menu. And then, it was time to finally check-in  at our hotel.

Day 3

We had a great breakfast at a stunning beach side hotel which is projected to the sea. It was nice to enjoy a hot cup of tea watching the sea waves hitting the pillars of the hotel. It was time to go out of the city. We headed towards Om beach.

OM BEACH

Om beach is one of  the most famous among four beaches in Gokarna. Shaped like the Om symbol, this place will offer you peace and serenity. This area has only one restaurant facing the sea.  Sitting on the open area and sipping your favorite drink is a wonderful experience.  The sea waves come to you literally and this view is surely a bonus. The beach as its name suggests is a sight to behold.

Om beach

We could not resist a lazy walk around. It was worth noting an iron ore rock similar to a Shiv Ling. After a little walk along the sea shore, we headed back towards the parking area.

A long weekend simply was not enough to explore this beautiful coastal place. We had a lovely weekend in Coastal Karnataka and I can't wait to be back.