In this guide
Uttara Kannada's coast and its forested hills hold two of Karnataka's most photogenic sights within striking distance of each other — one a giant statue rising over the Arabian Sea, the other a pair of otherworldly black rocks hidden in the Sahyadri jungle.
Murudeshwar
Murudeshwar is a coastal temple town on a headland (Kanduka Hill) jutting into the Arabian Sea. Its landmark is a colossal statue of Shiva, about 37 m (123 ft) tall — one of the tallest Shiva statues in the world — seated against the sea, with the temple's towering multi-storey Raja Gopura gateway beside it (a lift takes you up for statue-and-sea views). It's a striking, atmospheric stop, especially at sunset.
Yana
Inland, tucked in the forest of the Sahyadris near Sirsi/Kumta, Yana is famous for two massive karst rock outcrops of black crystalline limestone: the Bhairaveshwara Shikhara (about 120 m) and the smaller Mohini Shikhara (about 90 m). Beneath Bhairaveshwara is a cave temple with a naturally-formed (swayambhu) linga fed by dripping water — so Yana is both a trek/nature spot and a pilgrimage site. A short forest walk leads to the rocks.
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Plan My Trip →How to plan them
Both sit in Uttara Kannada and pair naturally with Gokarna (beaches and the Mahabaleshwar temple) for a coastal-Karnataka loop. Murudeshwar is right on the coast; Yana is an inland forest detour toward Sirsi.
Best time to visit
October to February is most comfortable on the coast and easiest for the Yana forest walk. The monsoon makes Yana lush but the rock paths slippery; the coast is very wet.
How to reach
Murudeshwar is on the Konkan Railway (its own station) and the coastal highway. Yana is reached by road from Kumta/Sirsi/Gokarna. The nearest airports are Mangaluru and Goa.
Where to stay
Murudeshwar has beachfront hotels (some with statue views); for Yana, most people stay in Gokarna, Kumta or Sirsi and visit on a day trip.
Costs (indicative)
Very affordable — temple entry is free (small charges for the gopura lift), and Yana is a low-cost nature/pilgrimage visit. Transport is the main cost.
Responsible travel
Dress and behave respectfully at both temple sites, don't litter the beach or the Yana forest trail, and stay on marked paths around the rocks (they're slippery when wet).
FAQ
How tall is the Murudeshwar Shiva statue?
About 37 metres (123 feet) — one of the tallest statues of Shiva in the world, set dramatically against the Arabian Sea.
Is Yana a trek?
It's a short, easy forest walk to the twin rocks and the cave temple — accessible to most visitors, though slippery in the monsoon.
Written by PlanMyOffbeat Team
Independent, verification-first travel guides for offbeat trips.
