Gokarna - Sun, Sea & Chill

Introduction

Gokarna - once a temple town with unspoiled beaches has been transformed to a prime backpacker hangout over the course of the past decade or so. The temple of Mahabaleshwara still plays a central role in the town affairs, however the pristine beaches are now the main draw. There's nothing much do other than soak up the sun, learn a bit of yoga, take a quick dip and chill on the sand - I think that is more than enough though. Gokarna is a place to sit back and relax.

Tranquil!

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Getting In and Around

Gokarna has one railway station, but not many trains halt there. It is pertinent to get to Ankola to get a connecting bus to Gokarna. Ankola has good bus connectivity. There are a few direct buses between Gokarna and Hubli as well.

Gokarna on the map

Rickshaws and rental scooters are available to get around places on Gokarna, but they are not very necessary of you are carrying light loads. There are a few ascents and descents so it is pertinent to understand your load carrying capacity.   

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The Gokarna Town

The Mahabaleshwara temple is the heart of Gokarna and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple and Gokarna by large is also a centre for study of different facets of Hinduism. The temple has an annual jathra (fair) in the week following Mahashivratri. A chariot procession is one of the ceremonies.

The chariot out for the procession

The Gokarna beach is a straight stretch of sand of about half a kilometer. The primary function of the beach is religious, due to its proximity to the temple. It takes about ten minutes for a walk from Gokarna bus stand to the beach via the temple.

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The Gokarna Beach Trail

Apart from the main beach next to the temple, Gokarna has a handful of other beaches in close proximity - Kudle, Om, Half Moon and Paradise from north to south respectively. The Kudle and Om beaches can be accessed by road or on foot while the other two southern beaches have to be approached by local boats.

The evening sun at Kudle

The Gokarna Beach Trail begins at Gokarna on the southern side of the Ganpati Temple. The road climbs up to an elevated plateau that overlooks the Gokarna beach. A little ahead, one come across the northern road-head for Kudle Beach. A descent from here leads to the serene sands of Kudle. One can enjoy the calm waters here or chill in any of the cafes.

The trail begins at this sign next to the Ganpati Temple

 The view of Gokarna beach from the trail

 The descent to Kudle

A flight of stairs on the southern side of Kudle beach lead to the plateau with the southern road-head. A south-easterly trail on this plateau leads to the road-head for the Om Beach. The descent for Om Beach is through another flight of stairs. One can continue to walk right up to the end of the Om Beach or chill out at any of the cafes. The waters in the northern half are not very safe for a swim.

 The stairs south of Kudle

 

 Views from the trail

The trail possibly extends to other beaches down south, but I'm not entirely sure.

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A Phototlog Of Kudle Beach

The expanse of Kudle as seen from a shack

 The shacks serve as a good accommodation option

 Kudle from the southern plateau

A sunset from Kudle

Carry a mosquito repellent to stay on the beach after sunset

The rocks on the northern end of Kudle

Post sunset colours

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A Photolog of Om Beach

The expanse of Om beach from the northern end

The rocky northern half of the Om beach

The Om rocks against the setting sun

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Parting Shot

Well, Gokarna is a place that I would love to make my go-to chill-zone. The place has the right unspoiled ambience  along with most amenities one needs. More trips will surely be planned!

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© KP On The Go!