About Murudeshwara: Murudeshwara (also called Mrudeshwar, Murudeshwar, Mrudeshwara) has a religious significance, supposedly from Ramayana times. A sylvan beach by the temple, some beach-side eateries, beach activities (boat ride, snorkeling, banana ride, diving, eating fish fry etc – no bikini beach tan though), an island (Netrani) and some shopping (items made of local root) pretty much sums up the place. Ans yes, the name ‘RN Shetty’ reverberates everywhere you go in this town. A good weekend getaway from Bangalore during Oct-Feb.
About Murudeshwar Guest House: Also called RNS Guest House, the hotel is a part of Naveen Group of Hotels. RNS Group has a good portfolio of hotels in the place – Murudeshwar Guest House (08385-268990, INR 650 for a double bedroom) , RNS Residency (268901-03, INR 1100 onwards)and Naveen Beach Resort(260415, INR 1700 onwards). The group also owns a sea-side restaurant – Naveen Beach Restaurant which serves only vegetarian food. Murudeshwar Guest House has around 50 sea facing rooms with balcony that opens up with the view of waves lashing on rocks on one side, coastal life (fishermen, their boats, huts and families) on the second and meeting the horizon on the third. A beautiful landscape awaits you while you enter and leave the guest house. From the corridor you can see the Shiva Statue, the Gopuram and the sea.
Location: Almost 3 km from the Murudeshwar town entrance gate (on NH17). An auto from this gate charges INR 25 to reach the guest house. The guest house is located at a very convenient location with everything that is worth a watch in Murudeshwar in its vicinity – beach, Temple, Gopuram, Shiva statue, local market and beach activities center.
Rates: A double bedroom costs INR 650. Since it doesn’t serve food and beverages, so don’t expect any other expenditure.
Room Quality: A cupboard, double-bed, two chairs, a TV, a stand, an attached batch and a balcony. People staying at the rooms at any corner of the building are lucky since they get a double-sized sea facing balcony. Sit there on your chairs in the morning for a splendid view of the sea and the fishing boats; and in the night for the cool breeze.
Hygiene: Not much to speak of. But manageable.
I disliked: Hotel folks suggested not to keep the balcony door open during night – insects might enter the room. We kept it open for some time, but didn’t find any insect. Further, the bathroom could have been maintained better.
Others: The stretch from the reception to your room is spectacular. Being situated on a hillock, you’ll have to traverse a good 100m. On this stretch lies the Shiva statue, the Ratha and some other statues making it a ‘Mythological Park’. The view of the town from this place is probably the best you can have at Murudeshwar.