At this point, I’ve just come to terms with the fact that sometimes life interrupts your plans and you must make time for what’s more important. Last year, I took a week off from my corporate life to do the same and visited Gokarna. This vacation rewarded me with some of the best five days of my life, and I do not say this casually.
Gokarna is a small temple village located on the coast of Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka and its narrow lanes, ancient Shiva temples, spectacular beaches, and best of all-the warm people have my heart.
Gokarna and its beaches comprise the ideal sunset treat. A more “chilled-out” version of Goa, Gokarna has the beauty of Goa without the hustle and bustle of it.
There are a number of things you can do in Gokarna. Trek from one beach to another, practice yoga by the beach, visit a nearby temple, or simply sit and stare at the beautiful blue waters in Gokarna. Gokarna is a perfect place to unwind in the lap of nature.
In this Gokarna travel blog, I will share with you some tips on visiting this place and also help you form a budget Gokarna travel plan based on my recent travel experience.
Gokarna: The Planning Stage
| Location: South India |
| State: Karnataka |
| Best time to Visit: October to May |
| Best mode of transport: Deluxe Buses, Cars, and trains |
| Best mode of internal transport: City buses and Autos |
| Budget Accommodation: Shacks and homestays |
| Recommended food places: Namaste Cafe (Om Beach) |
| Cost of a 3-day trip: Moderate |
Before you visit
This destination is within a reasonable distance from cities like Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, and Mangalore. However, you will need a long weekend or you can just take Friday half-day if you traveling from Mumbai.
How to reach Gokarna?
Gokarna is a very well-connected town and can be reached easily from any part of India or the world. Here is how to reach this town by train, road or by air.
| How to reach Gokarna by Road? Gokarna is well-connected to the nearby cities by road. Direct buses run from Goa, Bangalore, and Mangalore at regular intervals. You can find direct buses from the nearest cities Goa, Bangalore, and Mangalore. You can also hire a cab from these cities to reach Gokarna. |
| How to reach Gokarna by Air? The nearest airport to Gokarna is the Goa Dabolim airport. The airport is connected to all the major cities of India and is also connected to several international cities like Sharjah (UAE), Kuwait, Doha, Manchester, etc.) From here, you can take a cab, bus, or train to reach the town. |
| How to reach Gokarna by Train? Gokarna Road is the nearest railway station (about 8 km away) to the main Gokarna town. However, the station is not that well-connected with other cities. Another station called Ankola which is about 20 km away from Gokarna is a relatively more well-connected railway station. I chose to travel to Gokarna from Mumbai by train. 12619 – MATSYAGANDHA EX leaves from LTT Mumbai at 15:20 hours and reaches next morning at 03:00 hours. |
Where to stay in Gokarna?
Stay in Gokarna is a debate, especially during tourist season. To actually immerse yourself in the (now) prominent “hippie” vibe of this place it is always better to stay close to the Gokarna beach. You will get to meet the other tourists and join in impromptu JAM sessions across the beach. To facilitate this atmosphere various eateries throughout the beaches have opened up shacks/rooms, the most famous of which is Namaste Cafe in Om Beach.
I and my friends rented a homestay from Airbnb- Seeta Garden Homestay. The place is very calm and quiet with only the natural music of birds and the sea. People are very welcoming and friendly & any problem is quickly resolved.
Things to do in Gokarna
Five – Beach Trek
This is perhaps one of the most popular things to do in Gokarna- and rightfully so. This day hike takes you through some of Gokarna’s most pristine beaches where roads do not reach. Instead of taking the usual route from Kudle, you can begin from Belekan Beach and then head towards Paradise beach and further.
1. Paradise Beach
At Belekan, we stocked ourselves with some water and some bread omelet before heading on towards our first stop- Paradise beach. A small beach lined with palm trees, this is the perfect place to take a nap under the shade of the palms and do absolutely nothing. Since the waters here are very rough, the scope of swimming in the sea is very limited. People do, however, carry their tents and camp here but this is ‘not permitted by the law’ and the police might come and ask you to leave (and possibly fine you too).
Update: I have heard that Paradise beach is now private property and to enter, one must pay 200 INR per person. So if I were you, i'd skip Paradise altogether and head straight to Half Moon Beach.2. Half Moon Beach
The next stop on the trek is Half Moon Beach which is by far, my favorite. It’s shaped like a crescent and the water here is somehow just perfect for swimming and I ended up spending an hour and a half floating in the ocean and going with the waves. Every now and then I would feel myself being pulled deeper into the ocean but the next moment it would spit me back out and I would land at the shore! There are a few shacks here that also provide basic lodging facilities with food and I’ve sworn to return to Gokarna and spend a night or two here.
3. Om Beach
From Half Moon, we further went up to Om Beach which is uncannily shaped like an ‘Om’. Om Beach can also be accessed by road. Hiking under the sun in the middle of an April day started taking its toll on me and by the time we reached Om, I didn’t have it in me to go any further till Kudle Beach so we decided to take an auto and head back to the ho(me)stel.
Namaste Cafe
Whether you fancy a quiet stroll to feel the sands on the beach or wish to relax in picturesque vistas, Namaste Café is the place to be. This serene property offers a lot of stay options where you can just relax and unwind in Gokarna. It offers unrestricted access to the beach and is an ideal pick for backpackers and budget travelers.
The café also offers exotic dishes to get you in the beach bumming mood along with offering compact rooms to make you stay pleasant in Gokarna.
Phytoplanktons at Half Moon Beach
Phytoplanktons are bioluminescent organisms that live in the ocean and glow whenever the water is disturbed by the waves. These microscopic beings glow bright enough to be seen by the naked eye on a dark night and if the timing is just right, one can see the glow in the ocean right from Nowhere itself! The best time to see the phytoplankton glow is right after monsoons – from September to November when the ocean is at its cleanest.
However, fain glow can be seen throughout the year and are especially brighter on new moon nights. Two years after my first visit to Gokarna, I did end up spending a night at Half Moon Beach and literally swam with these beauties in the ocean in the middle of the night. I put my snorkel mask on and went underwater and with each movement of my arms or legs, it seemed as if a million little fireflies were lighting up underwater. It is one of the most spectacular phenomena I’ve ever experienced, and I highly recommend you do too!
Murudeshwar Temple
Murudeshwar is at a distance of 80 km from the city center of Gokarna. You can find a bus from the Gokarna bus stand to Kumta, and then another bus to Murudeshwar. You can also rent a bike from Gokarna for a day and travel around the place. Local autos may also agree to show you around the Murudeshwara temple for reserved hiring. Taxis are the most convenient option available if you are not traveling on a budget.
Standing tall on the Kanduka Hill surrounded by water on all three sides is the 123-feet high awe-inspiring colossal Shiva statue and one of the top things to do in Gokarna. Even those crossing the town through the Mangalore-Gokarna highway must stop by to feel the divine energy of this majestic piece of art, which is also the second tallest statue of Shiva in the world. Viewing the towering deity from the top of the rajagopuram of the temple with panoramic views of the coast in its backdrop is nothing short of breathtaking.
Yana Caves
Yana Caves, located some 40 kilometers from Gokarna, are two beautiful rock monoliths composed of black,
crystalline karst limestone. The bigger cave is known as Bhairaveshwara Shikhara and is some 120 meters in
height while the smaller one, Mohini Shikhara, is about 90 meters in height. Situated in the middle of a dense forest with a small stream flowing by making the place almost surreal, the caves are also home to hundreds of bats that can be seen fluttering about overhead, as well as the Giant Honey Bee known as hejjenu in Kannada.
These caves can be reached via a short hike of about 500 meters from the main road head where a parking lot has also been built. There are plenty of snacks available at the entry gate as well as inside, near the temple at the Bhairaveshwara Shikhara. When I visited, they had closed the common route to the cave, and instead one had to first remove the shoes and enter the temple and then hike up barefoot to the cave.
Mirjan Fort
Mirjan Fort is a beautiful fort from the 16th century Vijayanagar Empire. Built near the Anghnashini River, this served as an important trade point later for the Portuguese for the export of pepper and cashew. The fort is mostly in ruins now and also has a moat around it which used to be filled with water once upon a time. From the top of the fort, on one side there are palm and banana plantations as far as the eye can see, and on the other side, parts of the Anghnashini River are visible. If not anything else, the walk to the fort itself is a beautiful one. It’s a narrow pathway in an ocean of jungle you walk through and a lonesome house every now and then makes an appearance. I would definitely put this high up on my “offbeat things do in Gokarna” list if I were you!
Mahabaleshwar Swami Temple
The Mahabaleshwar temple Gokarna is revered as, ” Dakshina Kashi,” or, ” Kashi of the South,” and is considered as sacred as the Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga temple of Varanasi.
The famous Sri Mahabaleshwara Swami temple Gokarna and its importance find mention in the Puranas like Skanda Purana and the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata as well as the “Shri Guru Charitra“, which is a 15th-century book about Shri Narasimha Saraswati and Lord Dattatreya.
Here are the Mahabaleshwar Temple Gokarna Timings.
Morning Timings: 6:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Temple Closure Timings: 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Evening Timings: 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Shravati hanging bridge
Nestled in nature’s lap, is a man-made engineered delight – A hanging bridge at Pavinakura near Honnavar, at a 30 min drive from Kumta.
The Bridge connects mainland Karki to the island village of Pavinakurve. Boat rides are available but you can also walk across for 20 minutes to the pristine Pavinakurve beach from where you can get a close view of the historic Basavaraj Durga Island. The scenic beauty of the place where the river and sea meet and glisten with the golden rays of the sun at dawn or dusk will be worth capturing in your cameras as well as your mind!
In conclusion, Gokarna is a must-visit destination for anyone who loves beaches, temples, and good food. The town has something to offer for everyone, whether you are looking for adventure or just want to relax on the beach. The town has a unique charm that will make you want to come back again and again.
