Gokarna

- January 10, 2020

Gokarna- A Peaceful Goa

With serene beaches and pristine clear waters, Gokarna serves as an abode of tranquility with the Western Ghats on one end and the Arabian Sea on the other. Gokarna is situated in the state of Karnataka, India, about 238 km north of Mangalore and 438 km from Bengaluru. The two rivers of South India, Gangavali and Agnashini embrace this historical Brahmin town of Gokarna. It is the perfect alternative to the loud psychedelic trance parties and crowded lanes of Goa. Its calm and clean beaches with black shiny sand and rocky terrains provide ample panorama to nature lovers.

BEACHES:

Gokarna has a variety of beaches sufficing to meet all the needs of a traveler. The Gokarna Main beach which is in town and Kudle beach both are west-facing. Om beach, Half moon beach, Paradise beach(also known as Full moon beach) and Belekan beach are south-facing. The Gokarna beach forms the coast of the town and is followed by the Main Beach in the northern direction, while the other four beaches lie to the south. The Main beach is a hub for Indian pilgrims. The Main beach is a long open beach, known for surfing and water-sports like jet-ski, bumper ride, speed boating, banana boat ride, etc, within a budget range of 1000 INR. Kudle and Om are a little 6 km away from the town of Gokarna, along with a muddy-hill accessible by foot or rickshaw only. It is a perfect getaway for couples or a group of friends. Half-moon and Paradise are for the ones who love to explore and are beyond Om beach and accessible only by trekking or boat. Om beach is named so because of its auspicious Om shape. It has beautiful shacks and eateries to spend evenings, just as in Goa but away from the crowd in solemn. It attracts the youth, hippie-lovers and pilgrims.

TEMPLES:

Gokarna is also a popular pilgrimage destination for Hindus. The famous temples include Mahabaleshwar temple, Koti Teertha, etc. Also do not forget to visit the historical Mirjan Fort.

HOW TO REACH?

By Air: The nearest airports are Hubli Airport, Karnataka(domestic flights only), Goa International Airport and Mangalore International Airport (Bajpe, Karnataka).

By Rail: It can be reached by Konkan Railway on the Mumbai to Mangalore route or Goa to Mangalore route. The railway station( known as Gokarna Road) is 6 km away from the town. The station has a retiring room at a nominal price. Trains like KSR Bengaluru Karwar Express, Matsyagandha Express, Poorna Express, Marusagar Express. Mangalore Local and DEMV Local are the daily locals that halt here.

By Road: It can also be reached by buses and minicabs from Karwar(59 km) or Ankola(26km) on National Highway-17. Private buses too( Seabird, VRL) operate night journeys from the capital city of Bengaluru to Gokarna daily.

IDEAL ACCOMMODATION PLACES: