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.
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.
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/