Gokarna: Home to pristine beaches bordered by swaying palms and renowned Hindu shrines, Gokarna is an unspoilt temple town in Karnataka. Literally meaning cow's ear, the quaint town of Gokarna in Karnataka is formed by the ear-shaped confluence of two rivers and the favourite destination for Hindu pilgrims, Sanskrit scholars, and beach buffs. Om Beach, one of Gokarna's five famed beaches, takes the shape of the 'Om', a Hindu spiritual symbol. The other beaches, wedged between gigantic cliffs that protrude like delicate fingers into the sea, are Gokarna, Kudle, Half Moon, and Paradise. The path that leads to Gokarna is a scenic delight with rocky mountains and the Western Ghats on one side, and the Arabian Sea on the other. Adventurous tourists must be prepared for a bit of cliff-scrambling in this coastal town. Vibhuthi Falls: Vibhooti Falls is one of the many waterfalls in the Western Ghats. Surrounded by large rocks and limestone deposits, the waterfall is a picturesque spot. The water flows in steps that make it the ideal refuge spot for hot summers. Set about 50 kilometers from Sirsi in North Kanara, the waterfall gets its name from the limestone rock found in the area. Vibhooti also translates to mean ash. According to local legends, the waterfall was formed when ashes from the burning of Basmasur had washed away. It is also known as the Mabgi Falls because of its proximity to a village by the same name. Murudeshwar: The Murudeshwar temple is built on the Kanduka hill in the quaint town of Murudeshwar which lies in the Bhatkal Taluk of the north Kannada district. As a result, it is surrounded by beautiful views of the Arabian Sea which falls on three sides of the temple. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. In fact, Murudeshwar is one of the forms of the great Hindu deity Shiva who is revered by devotees all across the globe. What the Murudeshwar temple is most famous for is the massive Shiva statue it houses. Known to be the second-highest statue of Sri Anantadrishti, another name for Lord Shiva, the huge structure can be seen from afar. It is 123 feet tall and was built in over two years. The sight of sunlight falling on the statue is one to behold as the statue has been strategically placed in a way that it sparkles when the morning light falls on it.