Sacred Gokarna - Picture-Perfect Tourist Town in Karnataka, India

Important Note: 

1. Check the COVID 19 travel restrictions of the place online before undertaking your sojourn.
2. Kindly note that the Distance of places, Prices, Hotel rates, Temperature, and other figures may change according to the conditions prevailing at the time of your visit. There may even be short cuts and extra conveyance available that you can avail of when traveling locally. Tourists must conduct their own research before traveling and take due diligence on rates & distances from authorized online sources. All the facts and information provided in relation to the place is for my own personal use and collected from different online sources and collated together. For more details, Click this link DISCLAIMER.

'Go Goa' has always been the hippie cry during the 70s and 80s, but did you know that they were also attracted to the fascinating coastal town of Gokarna, in the Western Ghat region. Gokarna was the quiet performer among the other coastal towns, but its hold on the tourist circuit swelled from the 90s. Gokarna's prominence grew to a level where hippie trails just ended here and continued. The hippies entering Goa also made sure to halt at their next pitstop - Gokarna. Hordes of hippies with their carefree lifestyle, banana shorts, Hawaiin shirts, and strumming guitars landed here in gay abandon as if they had found their next beach haven. Gokarna means 'Cows Ear' and hence the name. It is at the confluence of serene Gangavalli and roaring Aganashini river.  Gokarna is hailed as one of the seven 'Muktishalas' in the state of Karnataka. 

"OM BEACH" by Sankara Subramanian, Flickr is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Although famous for its religious significance and rustic ambiance, Gokarna's fame has spread across international borders. The reason for its sudden tourism growth was due to its uninterrupted and hidden location. Now it's not a sleepy town anymore. Cafes, resorts, adventure activities, and yoga communes have changed the landscape to a stage, where you will not believe that this is the same Gokarna of the 70s. It is also a spot where film shoots have taken place, and commercialization has taken place rapidly. 

Tourists & pilgrims alike have a special affinity to 2 attractions in Gokarna, and for which it is most known for - Mahabaleshwar Temple & the world-famous OM Beach (naturally shaped 'Om' symbol carved on the banks). If you belong to any of the categories of people and have missed these spots, then probably you have not seen Gokarna fully. Even Shivaji Maharaj visited a temple in Gokarna before conquering Sadashivgad in Karwar. 

The ethereal beauty of Gokarna's coast has no parallels in Karnataka. It's for this reason, some hippies extended their visas and stayed back to enjoy the Vedic era period passed by. Another beach which has risen to prominence is the white sand Malpe beach in Mangalore & ever frequented Murdeshwar beach which is near Gokarna.  

"Mahabaleshwar temple" by Nvvchar, Wikimedia is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

Let me now describe the ancient and sacred Mahabaleshwar temple which has catapulted Gokarna to International stardom. The 4th-century temple has a unique shaped AtmaLingam not present in any of the temples of India. It is said that you get blessed by just gazing at it. The classical Dravidian style architecture of the temple has captured the attention of history buffs and curators. Other temples of interest in Gokarna are - Adi Gomateshwara, Ganapati, and Koli Theertha. Just near the temple, standing majestically is a huge chariot depicting the ancient glory of this place. You will also find a holy water tank called 'Pushkarini' where you can do the ablution. One word of caution - Improperly attired visitors are strictly barred from entering this temple.  

[Deepak Patil / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

Before closing the spiritual chapter, let me also mention an extremely beautiful black granite statue of Adi Shankaracharya which is often bypassed by visitors for visiting Mahabaleshwar temple.  It is located on the beach facing the sea, and just behind the Mahabaladeva temple.  

This statue is often mistaken to be that of Gautam Buddh. This iconic and imposing statue sits majestically on a parapet overlooking the sea and looks stunning. This revered Hindu saint set up his first spiritual center(Mutt) here, and propagated the Vedic Advaita philosophy to North India. Legend states that he meditated here and stayed twelve out of his thirty-two years in Gokarna.  

"Barnacles encrusting wood" by James St. John, Flickr is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Finally, those visiting Gokarna beaches can expect to find a unique formation of Acorn Barnacles, crustaceans living on rocky cliffs and shores which is a sight to behold. These stunning creatures draw water through the legs and appear very leathery on the surface. 

How to Reach Gokarna - >

International tourist: The nearest airport is Dabolim, Vasco in Goa, which is 140 km away. You can hire a prepaid cab or take a bus. The journey time is approx. 6 hrs (may vary based on traffic). Direct buses available from the main cities of Goa - Panjim, Margao & Vasco.

• You can hire a bus online on portals like MakeMyTrip, Redbus.in, Yatra, etc.
• For rail travel, you can book online on IRCTC, MakeMyTrip, Expedia.in, etc.

Domestic Tourist: 

• Nearest railhead: Ankola, 20 km away, Gokarna Road - 7 km, Kumta - 30km, Karwar - 60km
• By Bus: There is conveyance from Vasco, Panjim, Margao, the main cities in Goa. KSRTC buses are available from Bengaluru, Pune, Mumbai also.

Hotels/Accommodations near Om Beach, Gokarna: (Check Tripadvisor, Agoda for best deals)

• Viraz Valley 
• Coconut Tree Resort
• Theera Stay Inn
• White Elephant Cottages
• Sarvodaya Nature Retreat - Costly with seaside hill views
• Cocopeli Guest House
• SwaSwara Eco-friendly resort - Favored by organic folks, SwaSwara is back to nature type property housing natural elements. 
• Anariya Beach Front 
• Namaste Yoga Farm 
• Zostel Gokarna (for hostel-type crowd)
• Namaste Cafe - Famous beachside cafe 
• Hostelavie - Cheap at 300/ night in the single bed dormitory system. In house cafe, Ocean Pearl provides dishes at the best rates.
• Mud/Coconut twig Shacks - You will be lucky to stay in :)
• Red Earth Gokarna

The rates for hotels in Gokarna suit every budget travelers and range between 300- 15000 (may vary)

 Nearby Attractions / Scenic Places:

• Iconic Joga Falls (2hrs drive) - Famous for the milky white cascading waters, originated at the river Sharavati
• Murdeshwar Beach (2hrs drive via NH66 - almost 80km) - Famous for gigantic Shiva statue and towering Gopuras(domes)
• Kudle Beach - Close to Om beach with multiple lodging facilities. Laidback & located amidst multiple cliffs, watch the unending waves at your leisure.
• Karwar Rabindranath Tagore Beach - 2hrs journey reversing 70kms via NH66. A haven for peace-loving beachgoers. 
• Paradise and Half-moon Beaches - Close to main Om beach, but spread out on rugged terrain. Mostly frequented by foreigners, so keep your etiquette when visiting these beaches. These Isolated & sublime beaches can be reached by local speed boats
• Rustic villages of Bankikodla & Hanihalli - Twin villages with an old-world vibe. The Gangavalli river flows north of the village and joins the Arabian Sea 
• Gokarna Beach - Main beach in this temple town, people prefer to sunbathe here before venturing in the Mahabaleshwar temple.
• Yana caves - Naturally formed limestone caves with unusual shapes (1 1/2hr, from Gokarna Rd)
• Mirjana Fort - Built by Queen Chennabharadevi (30min)
• Nirvana Beach - To get a dose of Nirvana. Near to Om beach.

Religious Purchases - There are various stalls selling genuine Rudraksha-Malas (Hindu religious rosaries), trinkets, souvenirs & relics. Haggle with vendors before buying, you may get a steal. 

 In the casual category, Harem pants are also available along with Dream Catchers, Croquet balls, etc.

Best time to visit: Oct-March. Summers are hot and evenings pleasant. You can also stroll at night under the star-studded skies for some soul searching and romantic outings.

Ending Notes:

Gokarna is definitely an offbeat paradise for 'Nirvana'. If you want to avoid the madding crowds of Goa, Kerala, and other heavily trafficked destinations, then you should give this mural hamlet a try. You can also indulge in Beach camping, treehouse stay, tent house, and adventure activities at your leisure. Gokarna is one of the few exotic beaches with a hill station vibe, green valleys coexisting amidst cliffs, groves, caves, coves giving it an eternal feel with a celestial orchestra. 

If you want to indulge in Sun, Sand, Sea, and divine serenity, then you should keep Gokarna in your bucket list. This is a perfect destination for Photographers, backpackers, and Instagrammers. If you like to be at untainted beaches and do nothing, then this is a perfect place for you. Gokarna is all about fusion and co-existence. 

For more details on this place, Visit http://www.gokarnatourism.in/