The Murudeshwara Temple sits atop Kanduka Hill on a small peninsula, with the Arabian Sea on three sides and the enormous Shiva statue rising 37 metres above it. The statue, completed in 2008, is painted white and catches the sun from far out to sea. Two large gopurams (gateway towers) frame the temple entrance and the view of the sea behind them — walk through the gates at sunset and the effect is dramatic.
The temple itself is an active pilgrimage site and busier at weekends and during festivals. The hilltop position means strong sea breezes that offer relief from the coastal heat. The compound includes a 20-storey observation tower next to the main gopuram; take the lift to the top for an unobstructed panoramic view of the coastline.