A small holy town of Karnataka and an emerging travel hotspot; Gokarna is one of the excellent holiday options for unwinding yourself and deserves to be on the bucket list of every travel enthusiast.
A very touristic place centered around temples on the coast of Karwar, this hidden gem presents the ideal blend of serenity and magnificence that helps you relax and rejuvenate both your mind as well as the body.
Gokarna is mainly known for its immaculate beaches, historic temples, delectable food, and astonishing landscapes and is a heaven for pilgrims, beach lovers, and hippies.
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Things to do in Gokarna:
We have come up with a list of the most adventurous and revitalizing activities that you can enjoy with your friends or family and are the musts to do things when in Gokarna.
Beach Trekking
Gokarna’s main attraction is not only its beaches, where people come to destress and soak up the sun but is also known for Beach Trekking.
The delight of trekking combined with phenomenal views of the Arabian Sea on one side and rocky hills on the other gives you a unique and unusual experience of a whole new level.
Gokarna has 5 main tranquil and pristine beaches all connected, which can be trekked and explored allowing you to enjoy the cool breeze and meander from one beach to another.
You can hear the humming of waves as you trek through these beaches and will be smitten by the breathtaking landscapes as you move into dense forests and is a paradise for trekking enthusiasts.
The trails are very well marked making it easy for trekking. The total trek distance from Paradise Beach to Gokarna Beach is around 16 kilometers.
Popular Beaches in Gokarna
The small sleepy town of Karnataka, Gokarna has its coastline fringed with some of the most captivating, appealing beaches, and strolling through them will leave anyone feeling refreshed and energized.
Getting a glimpse of the surreal sunset, meandering through the white sandy beaches and hearing the humming of waves, soaking your feet in clear blue water that is spread as far as you can perceive with your eyes are some of the beautiful things that you can experience in these beaches. Here is a list of some of the best beaches in Gokarna.
Gokarna Beach:
Gokarna Beach is a wide and long open beach, which is present in the main town and is quite famous and preferred by the pilgrims. One can witness the lush green Western Ghats on one side and the Arabian Sea on the other when you walk up to this beach.
The Gokarna beach is located at a close distance to Mahabaleswara Temple and it’s a religious practice according to which pilgrims usually take a holy dip here before visiting the shrine.
This beach gives you some of the most alluring sights of the sea and the surrounding hillocks and has gained fame recently as a surfing site.
Om Beach:
Deriving its name because of its shape that resembles the sacred letter “OM”, this majestic beach with pristine water and sparkling white sand is only 7 kilometers away from the main town. One can stand on the rocks or walk along the coast of this beach to get an actual glimpse of the Om shape.
Om beach is a great place for all water sports enthusiasts and you cannot miss indulging in water sports here. It’s well known for sports activities like banana boat rides, Skiing, Snorkeling, Surfing, and Parasailing. You can also spot dolphins from Dolphin’s point near Om Beach.
Tourists can respite, dine and relax at several places near the beach or can enjoy their stay at the bamboo huts which are comfortable and classy. Om beach is a perfect and trending place witnessing a large number of travelers every day.
Kudle Beach:
About 6 kilometers from the town Centre and located at a walkable distance from Om beach is the Kudle Beach which is the most popular beach among tourists. The main attraction on this beach is the white sand fringed with palm trees.
This beach is lined with a lot of cafes, shacks, and guesthouses and is quite famous for its scrumptious seafood. Beach shacks are highly recommended if you are looking for an affordable and memorable stay in Gokarna.
You can witness a lot of liveliness in this beach with musicians playing guitars, people practising yoga and martial arts, volleyball players, and tourists lazing around the beach, making it one of the happening places of Gokarna.
Best place to have your meal and stay. Kudle beach is less crowded compared to Om beach. Also, never miss out on a big glass of tea with a banana pancake and ice Nutella these things are very delicious and mouthwatering.
Half Moon Beach:
Another unruffled beach of Gokarna is the Half Moon Beach which comprises much of Gokarna town and also known as the Crescent beach. It is in the shape of a half-moon and hence its name. This secluded beach gives a quiet beach experience, ideal for people longing solitude.
This attractive cove could be reached either by trek from Om beach or by motorboats from other Beaches. The trek is quite tiring as it involves steep ascents and descents through a rugged path.
It’s an absolute treat to the eyes to watch the roaring waves splashing against the glittery sand and spotting some playful dolphins from this place. Don’t forget to click Instagram worthy pictures and selfies when you are at this place.
Paradise Beach:
A small beach that can be either reached via trek or boats as you head south from the Half Moon beach is the Paradise Beach, also referred to as Full Moon Beach. Surrounded by small hills and islands, this beach is a pollution-free and most unspoiled beach of Gokarna.
As the name suggests this tiny protected cove is a paradise for people yearning solace from the hustle of city life. The calm and beautiful landscapes surrounded by huge palm trees offer a surreal experience to the visitors.
Paradise Beach is a perfect place for you if you want to engage yourself in the true hippie culture.
Relish in a variety of Local Delicacies
Dotted with innumerable shacks on its beaches and good local restaurants, Gokarna has a lot in store to offer for foodies and seafood lovers. Whether you are craving for Indian or Continental food, these food places serve you the best.
If you are looking for authentic and vegetarian Indian delicacies then Prema Restaurant tops the list. Don’t forget to try the famous “GADBAD” and homemade ice creams here.
Do visit Namaste Café on Om Beach and you will fall in love with the ambiance of this place. Famous for its seafood, few lip-smacking dishes to try here are Seafood Lasagna, Prawn Pizza served on a banana leaf, and Ice Nutella.
Moreover, this cafe is beautifully lit in the evenings, and dining here with the captivating sea view and hearing the soothing music of the waves in the background is one of the best things to do in Gokarna.
Mahabaleshwara Temple:
The City of Gokarna holds a few ancient and historical temples that are dated back to the 4th century. One of the primary things to do in Gokarna is to visit the holy and sublime Mahabaleshwara Temple, a masterpiece exhibiting the brilliance of Dravidian architecture.
Also known as Dakshina Kashi, this temple is famous for its Shiva Linga (Athma Linga). Gokarna gained its initial recognition because of this temple.
It’s a common belief that whoever gets a glimpse of the deity here which is over 1500 years old, would bring them good fortune. This pilgrimage is indeed an incredible place for those seeking a spiritual retreat with the Almighty.
Yana Caves:
Located in the Sahyadri Range of Western Ghats, Yana is a small village situated in the forests of Kumta and is about 52 km from Gokarna. Yana Caves are known for the unusual and unique rock formations also called Karst.
Additionally, this hidden wonder houses two magnificent rock formations composed of black limestone which are known as the Bhairaveshwara Shikhara(120 metres) and the Mohini Shikhara(90 meters) surrounded by lush green forests. You need to trek for 3 km within the forest to reach this place.
Vibhooti Falls:
The other attraction which is 8kms away from Yana is a small perennial waterfall surrounded by gigantic rocks and limestone deposits called the Vibhooti Falls. You need to trek to reach this multi-tiered waterfall and the water here is crystal clear.
There is a popular belief that the water that flows from Yana is the sacred ash (vibhooti), and hence the name Vibhooti Falls. The best time to visit this place is during the monsoon and you must include this place in the itinerary.
Mirjan Fort:
Built-in the 16th century by the Pepper Queen Chennabhairadevi, Mirjan fort is located on the banks of river Aganashini in Mirjan village and is 22km from Gokarna. This fort was built with laterite stones spread over an area of 10 acres.
The fort which stands tall amidst the clear blue sky was once a primary center for spice trade which was later seized by the British who turned it into their armory. Currently, it is preserved by the Archeological Survey of India.
This monument which is a site for many battles in the past remains an epitome of architectural elegance and a reminder of our rich history. You can even rent a bicycle, which will make us travel more responsibly and it would cost around 50 to 100 INR/ day.
Shopping in Gokarna:
You can find a lot of tiny shops and local markets in Gokarna bustling with tourists. At flea markets, you can pick up some imitation Jewelry, souvenirs, brass lamps, religious items, clothes, a few handmade products and trinkets made with beads and seashells. furthermore, don’t forget to put your bargaining skills to good use here that can fetch you a fair deal.
Shivaratri Festival in Gokarna:
Maha Shivaratri is usually the main festival celebrated in a grand affair in Gokarna. Thousands of pilgrims throng this place in February or early March to participate in the festival celebration that is held in the main Mahabaleshwar temple.
The main attraction of this festival is the two huge temple chariots bearing the idol of Lord Shiva and the lingam is drawn through the streets of the town, by hundreds of pilgrims with the help of thick ropes and conclude the nine-day festival. Kartika Mahotsava in November is another festival celebrated with great fervor here.
There will be a huge crowd during New Year and Mahashivarathri so avoid going there at this time. As you might not get accommodations and you might lose the sole purpose of visiting Gokarna. If you still want to visit, make sure you do the booking for your stay at least 2 months prior,
Phytoplanktons in Nirvana Beach:
Go for a night walk on the Nirvana Beach to witness the shimmering Phytoplankton’s which turn the sea blue and is caused by a natural phenomenon called Bioluminescence. This electric blue effect will give you a feeling of small LED lights glowing in the water. Very few beaches in the world showcase this wonder of nature.
Heading to Nirvana beach and catching the sight of glistening Phytoplankton’s is an out of the world experience and ranks high on the list of top things to do in Gokarna.
As the name of the beach suggests, this is a place of nirvana for nature lovers.
Yoga
Gokarna is considered to be one of the best places in south India to do yoga. There are plenty of yoga retreat centers and in many centers, they also teach for free, You can notice a lot of foreign crowds coming here for of learning yoga.
If you are looking to escape from the monotony of life and wish to spend your vacation soaking in natural beauty then Gokarna is the destination perfect for you to visit next.
Also Read; Gokarna Travel Guide
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