Gokarna

A city from uttar Kanada region of Karnataka state. It is popular for temples and beaches it has.

Main temple of town is Mahabaleshwar temple, which belong to lord shiva. Along with Mahabaleshwar temple Gokarna have mahaganapati temple, rama tirtha temple, Sugriva cave. Beaches of Gokarna are also a thing one must explore. City have around 6 beaches in a single line which you can explore. I read and heard on social media about Gokarna is that “Gokarna is a perfect alternative for goa”. But when I visit Gokarna I realized, this town is not an alternative of goa, it is a combination of goa and Varanasi. Because Gokarna not just have beaches but temples as well.

What you can explore

Mahabaleshwar Temple

It is believed that the linga in this temple was brough by Ravana from kailasa temple itself. Mahabaleshwar temple have a story which is something like, Once Ravana’s mother asks Ravana for a shiva linga for worship. And ravan decided to go to mount kailasa and bring a shiva linga from there itself. And he travels to mount kailasa and bring a linga. But lord shiva gave him a linga on one condition which is he can’t keep a linga on ground anywhere. If he keeps it on ground then he cant lift the linga from there and shiva linga will be there forever. When ravan was returning to his lanka he stops in Gokarna to take some rest and asked a kid to hold the shiva linga and not to keep on ground, but the kid keep it on ground and Ravana notice this and try hard to lift the linga but fail. In anger he beat that kid and later got to know that the kid is lord Ganesha. And once he realized that he have to return lanka empty handed. The shiva linga in this temple is under ground no one can see the linga in temple properly.

Temple follows a strict rule here for devotees, that everyone have to enter the temple only in traditional attire. Which means men have to wear lungi and women have to wear either saree or dress. temple celebrates mahashivratri every year.

Mahaganapati Temple

It is situated next to Mahabaleshwar temple, everyone visits here along with Mahabaleshwar temple. It is exactly situated in middle of gokarna market.

Rama Tritha Temple

A Simple wooden structured temple with lord ram, Lakshmana, and his wife sita. Infront of temple a small tank is made where water came from hill. You can drink this water or have a bath here as this is a sweet water coming from hills. The tank is well built so people can drink this water. This temple is located between Gokarna main beach and kudle beach. To visit here, you need travel towards the kudle beach from main beach. It takes around 20 minutes to reach from Mahabaleshwar temple. It is located on a small hill between these 2 beaches. From here you can experience the best beach view, landscapes, and peace for which you don’t want to leave this place. This is a least crowded temple so you can spend a good quality time at any time of the day.

Beach Trek

You can also explore beaches of Gokarna by renting a boat or by beach trek, which includes Gokarna main beach, kudle beach, om beach, half moon beach, paradise beach, beleken beach.

Gokarna main beach

You can start beach trek from main beach. Main beach the most crowded beach amongst the all beaches here. There are so many cafes and stays available here, where you can stay or have food and chill with sea facing view. Here you can enjoy long walk. Even you can enjoy some drinks and food, especially fish in any cafe.  It is a tourist place still the charges are not so high. The most famous café here is namaste cafe.

Kudle beach

You can reach here from main beach by visiting rama tirtha temple. You need to take an upwards step and cross a plateau for 15-20 minutes where you can enjoy a scenic views and small trail. It is the most crowded beach after main beach. Here you can enjoy water sports as well and also you can just sit and chill by listening music with your friends and family on shags.

Om Beach

From kudle beach you can go to Om beach. You can go by road by walking or you can hitchhike as well like i does. Om beach, the name itself says the reason behind the name. Om beach have a shape of Sanskrit word “OM”. Here also you can enjoy water sports, and you can also buy some shells and water stones. Lots of tourists stays only in first half of the each because all water sports, cafes, and shags are in first half only. If you want some silence and enjoy your own company you can sit in second half of the beach.

Many foreigners were taking sun bath here. i found a shade and take a small nap after my lunch on om beach. Also, you can enjoy swimming here on any beach as beaches are clean and safe. Just make sure that you know the swimming.

Half Moon beach

From om beach you need to take a jungle trek to reach half moon beach. In this trek you can enjoy jungle trail, and some scenic beach views in middle of the trail. The name itself says that the beach is in shape of half moon. It is the smallest beach of the Gokarna having only 1 cafe. I reach here by evening and i planned for a beach camping here. So pi stop for the day. I had a word with the café owner and he allow me to stay for the night. So I pitch my tent and arrange stuff for the camping. Before coming to half moon beach I enquire about the high tide and low tide at kudle and om beach. According to that I pitch my tent and take rest at Sandeep anna’s café. He shuts the café at around 6 in the evening but stays here till 8 o’clock, and then wen to his home. After 8 pm I was the only one on the beach in dark light. I started to prepare my dinner which I carry and had it and after some time i went in my tent to sleep at around 10 pm.

When I came here, I saw a boat of some tourists who were playing in water and when it’s about to sunset, the boat owner take them back to kudle beach from where they book the boat. Many tourists book a boat for the day explore all the beaches, water sports and goes by the same boat. But I came here in Gokarna with some different plan, so I stays here on beach alone. I will suggest you to go on a beach camping and enjoy the wave sound in night light. In dark night beaches gives you a different vibe. You can enjoy your own company.

After dinner I went to sleep. But mother nature have some different plans. All of a sudden it started raining and I had to shift my tent from beach to sandeep’s café. Because I was not carrying sleeping mat and sand get wet easily and hence I was not able to sleep. When I wake up in the morning I saw Sandeep was also here sleeping in his café. I enquired him about his presence, he told me when it started raining he came here with his younger brother to prevent rice which he cut from his farm. So I had a tea with him in his café and I pack my bag I headed towards paradise beach.

Paradise Beach

From half moon beach I headed towards paradise beach, where I have to climb some stone structures which are connected to beach. Many dogs accompany me on this route and they were fighting with each other. After around 20-30 minutes I reached at paradise beach and I observe there is also only one café available here. And they also provide a tent stay. Few people who stayed here, were enjoying volley ball and swimming. I spend some time in swimming here, and I book a hotel for the day. And I headed towards belekan beach.

Belekan Beach

From paradise beach I stars heading towards belekan beach. The route goes from dense forest. And suddenly you will realize the you are passing from a private property. Which is a resort in jungle. I didn’t found the entrance of this private property. But I found a villager’s home. I enquired about the correct route for belekan beach and he told me that I am on a right track. It is quite difficult he communicate with the locals here, as they only know the Kanada or their mother tongue which I was not aware about.

After getting the correct route I ask him for some water to carry. And I start my journey towards belekan beach. It took around 45 minutes from paradise beach to reach belekan beach. I met a group of 4 guys here in dense forest near private property and they told me to go straight so you will reach to belekan beach. To reach belekan from paradise beach you need to cross a small creek.

Once you reach belekan beach you will get to know that the beleken village is connected to the beach. Home stays or small resorts are available here. General shop, school, and post office is also accessible from beach due to the village is connected to beach.

I catch a local transport bus and reach to Gokarna market and went to my room in Gokarna. I booked a single bed in hosteller’s dormitory. I freshen up and starts my next journey from here, which is yana caves and mirjan fort.

Mirjan Fort

After getting freshnnup I rent a scooty and start my day with mirjan fort. It is around 22 kms away from Gokarna, half kms ahead NH66.

The fort was built in 12^th century nawayath sultanate, later it ruled by queen chennabhairadevi, under Vijayanagar empire. It is believed that Karwar port was under queen’s reign and is used to ship pepper, saltpetre etc to surat port.

The fort was built in 10 Acres with laterite stone. Fort has 4 entrance and many wells which are interlinked with each other. The ASI(Archaeological Survey of India) is now refurbishing the fort. You can explore secret passage, doors, darbar hall, and some ruined god goddess structures in fort.

Yana Caves

Yana caves is around 28 kms from mirjan fort and 49 kms from Gokarna. It is an attraction point in katgal forest range. Yana is considered under wettest villages in word, and 2^nd cleanest village in india.

There are 2 routes to reach here, one is from kumta-sirsi highway, and another is from kumta ankola road.

Yana caves are famous for 2 huge rock outcrops popularly known as bhairaveshwara and mohini shikhar composed of solid black crystalline limestone. It is also a pilgrimage center due to Swayambhu linga below bhairaveshwara shikhar. Water drips on shiva linga from roof of the tunnel which add a sanctity to the place.

Yana cave is surrounded by thick forest. It is a part of Sahyadri hill range of western ghat. Bhairaveshwara shikhar has a wide opening which leads into the cave.

There are many such structures in this region but this 2 have a notable size.

You can also visit natural waterfall knows as “Vibhuti falls”, which you can reach by trekked downhill half a kilometre to reached.

HOW TO REACH

Gokarna is easily accessible from any part of india.

From Mumbai

By Train
Mumbai (Lokamanya tilak terminus/ thane/ panvel/ vasai)- Gokarna
Time to travel: Around 12 hours

By Road
Many buses are available from Andheri/ borivali/ dadar/ thane etc which takes around 12 hours

From Pune

By Train
Pune-Gokarna
Time to travel: Approximately 16 hours

By Road
Pune-Gokarna which takes around 13 Hours