Chasing the monsoon

Monsoon weaves magic on any traveller’s psyche. Which is why I decided to visit Murudeshwar, a town located in Bhatkal taluk of Uttara Kannada district at this time of the year. To make the experience more enjoyable, we decided to drive to Murudeshwar from Mangaluru. While we did so, we decided to stop at some of the scenic places along the highway to make the trip more memorable. Hence, we started early. Driving through Udupi and Kundapur on National Highway 66 (NH66) was sheer bliss with a heavy downpour along the journey. The entire stretch that runs along the coast from Udupi to Kundapur is punctuated with paddy fields and brimming waterbodies. As we cross Marvanthe village, we get some of the best coastal views that the highway can offer. These views make the driving experience a lot more pleasurable, particularly during the rains.

After a brief stopover for some food, we continued driving, soon crossed Byndoor and began ascending a hill. Here, we decided to take a small detour to Ottinene when we chanced upon a signboard that said it is just two km away. We took a left and reached a surreal cliff that gives a bird’s eye-view of the beach below. One can consider staying here for a while by renting out cottages that is run by the Forest
Department. After enjoying the cool environs here, we decided to make our way to our next destination, Bhaktal. We made our way back to NH66 and reached the historical port town after a brief drive. At the centre of Bhatkal, at Shamsuddin Circle, we took a left turn and drove on for about four km to reach its picturesque beach. Here, the scenery from the light house perched on a green hillock is breathtaking.

After soaking in the mesmerising views here, we started making our way to Murudeshwar. After about 12 km on NH66, we were greeted by a beautiful gate on the left. This signals that the visitor has entered the blissful and quiet temple town. From the highway, we took a left turn and travelled for another two km to reach Murudeshwar. As we reached the town, the rains eased and we soon found ourselves near the sea. This temple town, which was not known to many until a decade ago, has now become quite famous with many attractions including an imposing statue of Shiva that sits atop a hillock near the beach.

Despite being the rainy season, many tourists still throng the place. As we make our way through the town’s beach, we get to experience many unique sights. For instance, one can see ships of different sizes and colours lined up on the shore. After a while on the beach, we spotted a restaurant nearby and we stopped here to have a sumptuous breakfast. Later, we ascended a hillock carpeted with well-manicured lawns and green patches. We ambled around the hill that is surrounded by the cerulean waters of the Arabian Sea on three sides. We later walked on the beach at a slower pace to take in the surroundings and enjoy the fresh air.

When it doesn’t rain much, one can enjoy a gamut of sports and adventure activities here. Additionally, the town’s shore is the boarding point to Netrani, a small island located in the Arabian sea. It is situated about 19 km away from the town and it takes around one hour to reach. In fact, many visit the island for diving activity and there are various dive shops in Murudeshwar that organise diving trips to the island. After visiting the island, we decided to stop for lunch and take one last round at the beach to savour the cliffside view from the hillock behind the Shiva statue. The views of the scenery that one gets from here are simply breathtaking.

If you are looking to stay in this breezy coastal town for a few days, tourists have a variety of options here. One can find various hotels according to your budget. Though we visited Murudeshwar just for a day, it was a fulfilling trip that we all enjoyed.