This is an ancient Shiva temple built on the westernmost tip of India, where the dry land meets the vast desert. What breaks the skyline is the flat brown horizon on the east and blue horizon on the west. This is also the last outpost of human construction at the westernmost limit of India. Koteshwar finds mention in the Puranas and the Ramayana.

According to legends, Ravana got a boon from Lord Shiva, and as gift he received a shivling of great spiritual power. But in his arrogance, he accidentally dropped the gift on earth at Koteshwar. As punishment, the linga multiplied into thousand identical copies due to which Ravana was unable to pick the original. He picked a copy and left the original one on the site where Koteshwar Temple was later built. Here, while walking along the beach on a clear night sky, one can see the glow of light from Karachi city of Pakistan on northwestern horizon.