The 37-metre Shiva statue at Murudeshwar was for a time claimed to be the world's tallest statue of Shiva — a title that has since been overtaken by larger figures elsewhere in India, but the Murudeshwar statue remains one of the most dramatically sited. It stands at the top of Kanduka Hill with the Arabian Sea on three sides, painted brilliant white, visible from far out at sea.
The statue depicts Shiva seated in meditation, his trident (trishul) rising behind him. It is a working religious icon rather than a curiosity — pilgrims come to see it as much as tourists — and the scale becomes apparent when you stand at the base. The statue was built by the Gokarna-based R.N. Shetty Trust and is made of concrete.