Temples, beach Trek and White Sands
Small town in the state of Karnataka, Gokarna is about 5 hours away from Goa. Gokarna is place in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka that is a pilgrimage centre and a tourist spot because of its beautiful beaches. The town is considered holy for Hindus as main temple is the Mahabaleshwar dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Shivalingam at the Mahabaleshwar Temple in Gokarna is considered to have been brought over by Ravana.
Beside the Mahabaleshwara Temple, there are other prominent temples including the Maha Ganapathi Temple, the Bhadrakali Temple, the Varadaraja Temple and the Venkataramana Temple.
Gokarna is fast becoming a favored tourist destination as it has several wonderful beaches. Gokarna Beach is the town’s main beach and pilgrims gather here when they visit the Mahabaleshwar Temple. The Kudle Beach is the largest of the five beaches and it is crowded during the peak season. Om Beach has a beautiful coastline that forms the shape of the Hindu symbol Om. Half Moon Beach is a twenty-minute walk from Om Beach and Paradise Beach is a rocky beach, but it is also a secluded and beautiful place.
Gokarna offers beach trek route popularly known as the “Golden Route “. The trail will entail walking on the beach sands by the side of the rocky hills on one side and far stretching Arabian Sea on the other side. The route will pass through several beaches starting with Kudle beach, then on to the more popular Om beach which is in the shape of OM and you will see travellers spending longer hours. Than move on to more rocky hills trail and reach half Moon shaped beach or crescent beach. The beach hopping trail ends with Paradise beach. The walk up to the paradise beach is relatively difficult as the route is full of rocky hillocks.
Waking up to the sound of waves rushing to the seashore makes beach camping in Gokarna an experience never to be forgotten.
This offbeat beach vacation can also turn into food heaven for the foodies. This temple town is dotted with innumerous shacks that cater to the Indian palate as well as those who crave continental. Apart from the classic idli-dosa, one can devour some unique dishes like seafood lasagna, prawn pizza on a banana leaf and iced Nutella.
Just like Goa, exploring the flea markets is one of the best things to do at Gokarna too. Gokarna has a lot for the shopaholics, but buying the handmade trinkets and souvenirs from the locals stands out.
Located just 50 km from Gokarna, is the unique and vertical Yana Caves formed out of black limestone. Thick green forest, dense foliage, streams cutting the path and occasional chirps from birds or crickets are some things that one can experience on the short trek to Yana Caves.
Reaching to Gokarna is easy by road, train and flight. Nearest airport to Gokarna is Dabolim airport in Goa that is a 3.5-hour drive away. Dabolim airport is well-connected with all the major cities of India and as well as from a few foreign countries. From Dabolim, you can take a taxi, bus or a train to Gokarna. Direct buses from the nearest cities Goa, Bangalore, Mangalore and direct buses are also available from Delhi to Gokarna. Railway station at a distance of 20 km from Gokarna, is considered as the nearest well-connected railway station to Gokarna.
Local transport like rickshaws and taxis are available within Gokarna, but walking is the best way to explore this small town.
Reaching to Gokarna a little tired and a little sleepy, take some good rest. In evening you can spend time on the Kudle Beach. Vastly stretched piece of an isolated sea and land, Kudle Beach is the best option to try for those who seek solitude. With serene and quiet atmosphere, watching the sunsets in evening is the real delight. Kudle Beach is a very pretty beach lined with many shacks, and is the perfect spot to soak some sun and play in the water. Locals visit here for early morning or late evening walks and their yoga sessions.
Suggest to enjoy the dinner on the beach as there are many cafes and shacks that offer local delicious food.
Get up early morning today, get fresh and began with more energy and excitement. Visit the Mahabaleshwara Temple early morning as it will be less crowded. After the temple visit, spend some time on Gokarna main beach. On the beach have the hearty breakfast with cup of coffee or tea. After breakfast, start for the Kudle Beach. From Kudle Beach you can start the trek to the Om Beach which will take around 1 hour. This trek is self-guided and an easy one. You will find a few steps that lead to a garden (which you need to climb) and eventually you will be walking inside a forest. Enjoy some time on the Kudle Beach.
Start the trek again from the Om Beach to Half-Moon Beach and finally reaching to Paradise Beach. This is by far the most adventurous trek you will ever have in Gokarna. You will climb over mountains, walk narrow paths in jungles, cross wet, slippery boulders and get a chance to witness one of the most beautiful sunsets of your life.
On the trek to the Half-Moon Beach observe the gushing waves hit against the rocks as you walk on the shore. Trek towards Paradise Beach will take you over big, black boulders on the sea shore. You will also hike steep mountains and get magnificent views of the Arabian Sea. Paradise Beach is also the perfect beach to play in the water or camp at night.
After you spend time doing what you love on the beach, take the ferry back to Om Beach. You will be approached by ferrymen and you can choose when you want to leave.
Board the ferry, grab the railing, and take a deep breath as you get ready to immerse your senses in the aura of the warm, orange sun. Smile and be grateful for the amazing journey that you’ve had on this little trek.
After good night rest, start your journey to the Yana caves, a 90-minute drive away from Gokarna. Located just 50 km from Gokarna, the caves deep inside the forest is a great stop, especially if you want to experience the beauty of Western Ghats. The vertical, jagged rock-formations of solid black, crystalline Karst limestone which make the caves can be seen from a distance. Hike up to Mohini Shikara, explore the breathtaking caves and then proceed to the bigger Bhairaveshwara Shikara. The Yana village which symbolizes the rustic Indian rural life with mud roads, mushroom-like huts and a laid-back lifestyle allows you to get a glimpse of life in the Western Ghats.
In evening, explore the Flea Market of Gokarna. There are many stalls that sell jewelry items and decorative items made of seashells. The personal touch in each of these items, distinguishes them from the commercialized commodities that surround us and quench creativity. At some stalls you can also find medicinal herbs and musical instruments too.
Today you will visit the Murdeshwar which is around 55kms away from Gokarna. Murdeshwar is home to the Shiva temple that is world-renowned for its beautiful carvings and statues. Two life-sized elephants greet visitors at the entrance. While the greenery simply adds to the beauty. It’s no surprise that one could almost mistake Murdeshwar for a fairy tale.
Later visit Netrani Island also know as ‘Pigeon Island’ is located off the coast of Murdeshwar. Views from above give this island the appearance of being heart-shaped. Visit Raja Gopura bird’s eye view atop the massive 18 storeyed typical temple towers, this giant provides visitors with a never before seen epic view of the entire coastal town.
A trip to Gokarna can be as long or as short as you want. Gokarna has some of the loveliest beaches you have ever seen. Since not many people travel here, the beaches are relatively less crowded and much cleaner.
This is Photoshop’s version of Lorem Ipsum. Proin gravida nibh vel velit auctor aliquet. Aenean sollicitudin, lorem quis bibendum auctor, nisi elit consequat ipsum, nec sagittis sem nibh id elit.
Duis sed odio sit amet nibh vulputate cursus a sit amet mauris. Morbi accumsan ipsum velit. Nam nec tellus a odio tincidunt auctor a ornare odio.
Sed non mauris vitae erat consequat auctor eu in elit. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Mauris in erat justo.
Nullam ac urna eu felis dapibus condimentum sit amet a augue. Sed non neque elit. Sed ut imperdiet nisi.
Proin condimentum fermentum nunc. Etiam pharetra, erat sed fermentum feugiat, velit mauris egestas quam.
Ulins aliquam massa nisl quis neque. Proin condimentum fermentum nunc. Etiam pharetra, erat sed fermentum feugiat, velit mauris egestas quam, ut aliquam massa nisl quis neque.
Ulins aliquam massa nisl quis neque. Proin condimentum fermentum nunc. Etia} pharetra, erat sed fermentum feugiat, velit mauris egestas quam, ut aliquam massa nisl quis neque.
Suspendisse gin orci enim.
This is Photoshops version of Lorem Ipsum. Proin gravida nibh vel velit auctor aliquet. Aenean sollicitudin, lorem quis bibendum auctor, nisi elit consequat ipsum, nec sagittis sem nibh id elit.
Message Us or Chat with Us
