Gokarna is a small and remote holy town, with four of India's most
secluded and pristine beaches nestled nearby. It draws both pious
pilgrims and hedonistic holiday makers with equal enthusiasm. Travel to
Gokarna to get a feel for what Goa was like in its heyday, although time
is limited as developers are already seeing the potential of this area.Gokarna Location:
Gokarna is located in the state
of Karnataka, an hour south of the Goa border. It's around 450
kilometers (280 miles) from Bangalore, the state capital.
Getting to Gorkarna:
The
nearest airport is Dabolim, in Goa. From there it's a four hour drive
to Gorkana. Alternatively, trains on the Konkan railway stop at Gokarna
Road station, 15 minutes from town, as well as Kumta and Ankola
stations, both around 25 kilometers (16 miles) from Gokarna. Gokarna is
also well connected by bus from major cities such as Madgaon in Goa, and
Mangalore and Bangalore in Karnataka.
Gokarna Weather:
Gokarna experiences the southwest monsoon
from June to August, following which the weather becomes dry and sunny.
The best time to visit Gokarna is from October until March, when the
weather is warm and pleasant with temperatures averaging 32 degrees
Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit). April and May are hot summer months,
and the temperature easily reaches 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees
Fahrenheit) then.
Gokarna Attractions:
Gokarna's main attraction is
its beaches, where people come to chill and soak up the sun for months
at a time. As Gokarna is one of the most sacred holy towns for Hindus in
south India, there are also some important temples to see.
Unfortunately, they're off limits to non-Hindus but you can grab a
glimpse inside. The Mahabaleshwar Temple houses a huge lingam
(symbol) of Lord Shiva. Make sure you check out the huge chariots near
the Ganpati Temple, which carry a Shiva idol through the streets while
people throw bananas at it for good luck during the Shivaratri Festival
in February/March.
Gokarna Beaches:
Gokarna
town has it's own beach that's popular with pilgrims. However, the
beaches that are of most interest to tourists are located one after
another a short distance away. There are four of them called Kudle
Beach, Om Beach, Halfmoon Beach, and Paradise Beach. Each has its own
appeal. Om Beach is the most happening beach, and is the only one that's
reachable by car or rickshaw. The others are around a 20 minute hike
away from each other through the hills and over rocks, or a short boat
ride away. The last beach, Paradise Beach, is not much more than a tiny
protected cove that's a patch of hippie paradise.
Gokarna Nightlife:
Bonfires, singing, guitars, and
drums are familiar parts of Gokarna's nightlife. The party scene in
holy Gokarna is kept in check by strict policing, although some beach
parties do happen during the peak season. Officially, alcohol is banned
because of the town's religious significance but you won't have a
problem getting a cold beer on the beach.
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