Gokarna, a mummy papa-approved version of Goa, located in North Karnataka, is famous amongst travelers for both pilgrimage and recreation experiences.
Popularly known as a temple town, this small secluded gem has much more to offer! Unpopularly known as sanskari goa.… ok it is just me !!!!
So, let’s experience the tranquility of Gokarna beaches while exploring its rustic culture.
We reached Gokarna from Hyderabad via bus. Although, railways and airways are equally viable options.
Not having your vehicle can be a little heavy on your pockets. We traveled most of the places via Auto, which is also the most common way of transport. Auto rates are fixed and day packages can also be booked directly with Auto drivers. Since it is a small village, don’t expect any urban cab services. Also, if you are traveling solo, or in a group of two, renting a scooty will not keep the stones in your pocket.
One of the most intriguing things about this place is the harmony between its spiritual and bohemian sides.
We decided to book a hotel after reaching the destination (Not very proud of it though:/). It is recommended to have reservations beforehand, especially if you want to experience living alongside the beaches.
Luckily, we were able to find a decent place at the last moment.
Since we reached early in the morning, we decided to take a walk to explore the nearby places, which turned out to be one of our best decisions on the trip. No way auto or scooty rides can match the experience of indulging with local people and local places.
We started our GOLDEN TREK OF GOKARNA with a beautiful sunrise at Kudle Beach, and ended it with an even more spectacular sunset at Paradise Beach, covering Om and Moon beaches in between.
Being thrilling and inexpensive, the trek is the most popular way to cover all the beaches in a shorter period (Takes around 3 hours to complete the trek). However, all the beaches are also connected by ferry and the option of hiring Autos is always available!
Make sure you have the right pair of shoes and keep your water bottles handy for trekking.
Don’t worry! There are a lot of shacks/rooms, and eateries available at Om Beach. Do visit Namaste café, located right next to the shore, with waves crashing into it during a high tide. The menu, per se, is not that interesting, but the ambiance surely is.
Apart from the calm and peaceful Arabian Sea, visiting several temples can also be soul-enriching.
Mahabaleshwar Temple is particularly famous amongst pilgrims as it has the only lingam revealed to the public eye only once every 40 years. Please make sure you follow the proper dress codes if you wish to visit the temple.
Situated very close to the Mahabaleshwar temple, is Maha Ganapathi temple. Mythologically, lord Ganesha saved the ‘Atma Linga’ from Ravana.
Shopaholics, Don’t be disappointed. We have saved the best part for last. No matter how much you enjoy the serenity of beaches and devotion at the temples, wandering across the local shops is always fascinating. Spanning across the Gokarna main beach, the well-known Flea market has everything one looks for in street shopping experiences. We were mainly captivated by the handmade musical instruments crafted by the most talented, local musicians themselves! You can also buy Handmade trinkets, spices, decorative items made of seashells, and souvenirs apart from engaging with the local people to understand the local culture.
Thanks for reading!
And if you are already wondering where to head up next, Read our blog post on Hampi- ‘A Forgotten Empire’.