The stranded wreck at Surathkal Beach, Karnataka
© Amith Nag Photography/Moment/Getty Image
The tide that carries tales. Surathkal Beach, Karnataka
At Surathkal Beach, the waves aren't the only things making an impression. A lighthouse watches over the shore, a historic temple keeps centuries-old legends alive and, until recently, a stranded ship added an unexpected chapter to its story.
Located about 20 kilometres north of Mangaluru, Karnataka, this Arabian Sea beach lies beside the National Institute of Technology Karnataka campus. The red-and-white Surathkal Lighthouse, built in 1972 on a rocky hillock, rewards visitors with panoramic views of the coastline. Just below it stands the Sadashiva Temple, where local tradition says a fragment of a sacred shivalinga, linked to the legend of Ravana and Lord Ganesha, came to rest.
The beach was also home to the Bhagvati Prem, a 114-metre dredging vessel that was deliberately beached in 2019 after flooding. By June 2026, however, the vessel had been completely dismantled and removed due to environmental concerns. From mythology to maritime history, Surathkal Beach continues to offer far more than a walk along the sand.
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