Gorgeous Gokarna!

Gokarna, a small pilgrimage town in Karnataka has grown into a budget travel and tourism destination over the years, thanks to its stretch of beautiful, sandy Konkan beaches. With the advent of foreigners thronging it, it no longer remains a quaint temple town, but a thriving budget vacation spot that is as laidback as Goa, only less commercial. With beautiful beaches, serene shrines, hospitable homestays and hostels, Gokarna is a place that is sure to give you a lifetime of memories without burning a hole in your pocket.

Gokarna Holiday

If you are planning a budget weekend getaway to Gokarna, you are in the right place (or if it’s in near future, feel free to bookmark this). So, without further ado, here are Indian Vagabundo’s suggestions for Gokarna.

Places to Visit in Gokarna:

Indian Vagabundo has identified a number of places of interest in Gokarna, that are sure to help you find a bubble of calm and peace for your budget holiday trip to Gokarna.

There are plenty of beaches to lay upon, relaxing- Gokarna beach (also known as Indian Beach), Kuddle Beach, Om Beach, Half moon Beach, and Paradise Beach (also known as Full moon).

For those who are more interested in culture and religion, Gokarna is one of the 7 holy pilgrimage centres in the Hindu religion. Mahabaleshwar Temple is a famous Shiva Temple while Maha Ganapathi Temple, Uma Maheshwara Temple, Bhadrakali Temple are some of the major temples that worship other deities.

In fact, this trend has divided Gokarna into two parts, one that is for the religious devotee who comes to seek blessings of Shiva, and the other of the carefree tourist looking for some peace and quiet in nature’s lap.

Mahabaleshwara Temple

The temple of Mahabaleshwara is the main tourist attraction for pilgrims coming to Gokarna. Its significance is so high because of the legend associated with it. The temple is dedicated to Shiva and has what is called an atmalingamwhich is believed to be one of the most powerful lingams.

Maha Ganapati Temple

The legend of the Mahabaleshwara Temple is responsible for the Maha Ganapati Temple too. Since it was a young Ganesha who tricked Ravana by taking the atmalingam from him, this temple was built in his honour.

Bhadrakali Temple

Another temple to include in your itinerary when in Gokarna is a visit to the Bhadrakali Temple that is dedicated to Uma. The significance of this temple is based on the same story of Shiva and Ravana. It is believed that when Ravana prayed to please Shiva, he had two wishes in mind. When Shiva was pleased with his penance and asked him what he wanted, Ravana did not just ask for the atmalingam, he also asked for a wife more beautiful than Shiva’s wife.

Shree Venkataramana Temple

All the temples in Gokarna revolve around the same legend and the people who were part of it. The Shree Venkataramana Temple is no different. It is believed that the very reason Ravana wanted to pray after reaching Gokarna is because Vishnu used his powers to cast a shadow on the sun that make it look like it’s evening. This prompted Ravana to offer his evening prayers even though it was still noon. Therefore, the Shree Venkataramana Temple is dedicated to Vishnu for all his help to make Ravana not have the atmalingam forever.

Gokarna Beach

After you’ve done temple hopping in Gokarna, it is time to visit the beautiful beaches of the town that are one of the best in the country. There are a total of five beaches in Gokarna and each one of them has its own charm. Most pilgrims head to the Gokarna Beach while other tourists on vacation prefer the others.

Om Beach

The beach gets its name from its shape that resembles the religious symbol ‘Om’. It is a popular one among the locals and tourists who come here to unwind. It can be reached by a riskshaw unlike a few other beaches in Gokarna. Due to this, you will find many locals also here and it can get crowded on weekends. Om Beach has places to eat and shop on the beach and there are hotels and shacks as well due to its accessibility by road.

Kudle Beach

Another popular beach in Gokarna is the Kudle Beach that is both rocky and sandy. You will have to trek a bit to reach here but it is still pretty popular. Many foreign tourists also come here often. Just like Om Beach, Kudle Beach too has accommodation, restaurants and shacks. However, since it is not very easily accessible, it is best to visit the beach during the day or early evening instead of staying here till late.

Paradise Beach

True to its name, Paradise Beach is less crowded than Om and Kudle because it isn’t easily accessible. In fact, you have to either trek your way to it or take a boat ride. 

Half-Moon Beach

Half-Moon Beach again gets its name due to its shape that resembles the crescent moon. The beach is a 20-minute walk from Om Beach and there are two ways to get to it.

Getting there:

Gokarna is easily accessible by road and rail. The nearest rail head is Gokarna Road which is about 6 km away from the town and taxis, rickshaws and buses are available right outside. You can also reach Gokarna from other railway stations like Ankola, Kumta, Karwar and Madgaon.

If you plan to take the road, you have several buses to take you to Gokarna. KSRTC has buses plying from Bangalore, Mangalore, Panjim, Hubli, etc. Some private operators also run buses from Bangalore to Gokarna. If you want to drive down, you can take NH-17. Gokarna is 583 km away from Bangalore.

Gokarna does not have its own airport but the nearest one is Dabolim Airport in Goa which is about 140 km away. You can take a taxi from the airport to reach Gokarna. Mangalore International Airport is 235 km away from the town. Again, cabs are available outside the airport.

Accommodation:

With its growing popularity as a tourist spot, several new accommodation places have emerged in Gokarna that range from budget to luxury stays. Beach accommodations are usually shacks but there are also homestays and guest houses available nearby. You will find more of budget and mid-range options than luxury resorts in Gokarna. However, Indian Vagabundo suggests it is best to book in advance during peak season as the rates go up and the rooms get booked fast. If you are going during off season, you can afford to reach the town and then find accommodation. To browse places, visit TripAdvisor.

Places to eat:

Being a coastal town, Gokarna offers seafood but that’s not all, almost all the restaurants in resorts are multi-cuisine that offer everything from tandooridishes to Chinese and continental fare. Despite being a pilgrimage, you will easily find meat dishes at most places. Street food and staple south Indian dishes are also easily available and so are thalis that serve amazing local food.

Fresh coconut water and buttermilk are also quite popular in Gokarna and you can have these at the beach or at a local shop. Liquor isn’t very easily available and is quite pricy too thanks to the temples around town. 

Namaste Cafe is an open-air beach-front restaurant serving scrumptious Indian and international dishes. The setting is perfect to put you in a good mood and satisfy your tummy. It is on Om Beach. If you are hitting the beach, you will find many places to eat along the road too. Shree Shakti Cold Drinks and Restaurant has been around for 30 odd years in Gokarna and is famous for its fruit juices, ice creams, lassi and Indian dishes. It is located at Car Street Main Road. Pai Restaurant is well-known for authentic idli, vada, dosa and upma that you can savor for breakfast. It is at Gokarna Kudle Road.

When to visit:

October – March. Avoid planning your holiday during the summer months of April and May. The monsoon months between June and August are off season and most of the shacks are shut during this time. The place tends to be packed during weekends with tourists from Bengaluru and nearby places.

The Indian Vagabundo understands how expensive planning holidays can be. We aim to help you enjoy your vacations comfortably without having to spend exorbitantly. That is why The Indian Vagabundo highly recommends Gokarna for your next budget holiday. Happy traveling!