Murudeshwar - Gokarna - Kolhapur Trip

Murudeshwar - Gokarna - Kolhapur Trip

Pune - Kolhapur - Gokarna - Murudeshwar

We wanted to visit Murudeshwar Temple but did not want to do long drive directly from Pune (Approx 564km and 11hr) so we planned a halt at Kolhapur.

Day1 (25Dec2022): Pune to Kolhapur (250km, 5hr)

We started at 6:30am from Pune (Ravet) and reached Kolhapur at 12:30pm. We halted at Vitthal Kamath Restaurant for breakfast around 9am. In Kolhapur we stayed at "Hotel TrushaDham" (Non AC Room with queen size bed costed 1800rs) which is 900m from Mahalakshmi Temple. We went straight to New Palace.

New Palace, Kolhapur
Ticket: 40rs Adult, 20rs Kids
Parking: Free. Lot of parking space.

Palace was really good. I explained different things to my kid. Outside Palace entry gate there are lots of dear. We patted Dears which was really great experience.

In evening, we went to Mahalakshmi Temple by walk.

Shree Ambabai Mahalakshmi Temple

Day2 (26Dec2022): Kolhapur to Gokarna (319km 7hr)

We started from Kolhapur at 6:30am. On the way we had south india breakfast outside Hotel Gajraj. We reached Gokarna at 2:15pm.
We searched for room near Om and Kudle Beach but those were either not good or expensive so we choose "Hotel Shri Sai Ram" (Big AC hall with 4 bed costed 2700rs) which was neat and clean and also just 900m away from Mahabaleshwar Temple. Due to year end rush police closed entry near hotel so we needed to park car at bus stand for 50rs.

Kudle Beach
We went to Kudle Beach in the evening. It was almost sunset time so we couldn't enjoy Beach much but had amazing dinner near beach side restaurant.

Day3 (27Dec2022):

Om Beach (Om beach is named so because it is shaped like the auspicious ॐ Om symbol)

We went to Om Beach early morning and reached by 6:30am. We enjoyed morning view and played few games. There were 2 swings on beachside tree where we really had fun. Making sand castle is another fun filled activity with kids. It was very sunny at 8am itself and was getting hot so we went to Namaste Cafe and enjoyed our breakfast.
We came back to hotel and checked out at 11am. We went to visit temples by walk.

Sri Mahabaleshwara Swami Temple

Temple Timings : 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
One and only Athma Linga in the entire universe. It is a 4th century hindu temple located in Gokarna, Karnataka.
Mahabaleshwar Temple in Gokarna is one of the famous temples of South India and there is a good rich history behind it. Some of the interesting facts about the temple -
1. No Foreigners are allowed.
2. Men are allowed with lungi as attire (no jeans, pants or shorts) - It can be bought outside from markets in around 70 rs.
3. Women are allowed with traditional Indian attires like saree or salwar suits.
Also lines can be huge on peak days (It took us 1 hours in the line on Tuesday)

Story related to this place: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabaleshwar_Temple,_Gokarna

Shree Maha Ganapati Dev temple Gokarna
Timings: 6 AM - 12:30 PM, 3 PM - 9 PM
This temple is near to Mahabaleshwar Temple.

After darshan, around 1:30pm we started from Gokarna to Murudeshwar (78km 1.5hr).

Day4 (28Dec2022):

We reached Murudeshwar at 3:30pm and checked in to our hotel "Shree Ram boarding and lodging" (AC room with 4 beds costed 4000rs). Hotel rates were high due to Year end. If you are planning to stay in Murdeshwara, it's advisable to take AC rooms as the weather is very humid.
After freshen up we went to Murudeshwara Beach at 5pm. Beach was very crowded due to year end. We returned from Beach and took bath and then went to Murudeshwara Shiva temple. We enjoyed awesome south Indian thali in dinner.

Sri Murudeshwara Shiva temple, Karnataka
620km , 11hr

Nearby railway station: Murudeshwar/Honavar/Kumta
Timing: 7am to 1pm, 1pm to 8pm
Annadhana (Free lunch) providing by temple in the afternoon  from 12 PM to 1 PM.

The main temple's entrance, also called the 'gopura'. The 123 ft high Shiva statue is the second largest Shiva sculpture in the world and has become a landmark of Murudeshwar.
It is not only majestic but is also fitted with a lift which offers bird eyes view of the locality and the statue. The lift tickets are priced nominally (Adult 20rs, Kids 10rs). There are only two lifts available and only 7-8 members are allowed at a time. The lift entrance will take you to 18th floor and from there you can see the lord shiva and view around. Sunrise is the best time for gopuram visit. Lift operates from 7am to 12pm in the morning.
Early morning, You can experience fog filled environment throughout your eyesight reaches.

It is said that Inside the temple their is the short cave trip, which explains the mythological importance of the place with nice sculptures. It is based on lord Shiva. Ganpati as batuk brahmin and ravana moment of handovering Atma linga is also captured well.
We didn't see it.

You'll have to pay to keep your shoes in a storage. And parking is paid too.

We left from Murudeshwar at 11am and reached Kolhapur at 8:30pm (1.5hr went due to temporary car breakdown). On the way we had lunch at Hotel Kantara where food was excellent.

We stayed at "Hotel TrushaDham", Kolhapur (Non AC Room with queen size bed costed 1800rs).

Day5 (29Dec2022):
Shree Kshetra Siddhagiri Kaneri Math, Kolhapur
Timing 9am to 6:30 pm
Parking 20rs
For Museus - Adult ticket 150rs, Kids ticket 70rs

Food: Good food with reasonable price available.

The Siddhagiri or Kaneri Matha has made great efforts to capture history and freeze time through the models and scenes that it has created for visitors to see and realize what life was like some 50 or more years ago

Muesume area is 13 Acres and shows the lifestyle of the village, you will be surprised by the art work here. It was good place to show kid's our childhood memories or village life. At the end of the museum we had awesome Basundi and Chas.

Maya mahal is short place to see, the effects is awesome created with the help of different types of Mirrors. Ticket price ₹20/person

Bhoot Bangala and 7D show is also available.

Around 2pm we started for Pune and reached Pune at 8:30pm.