20 Places to visit in Gokarna

Gokarna, a small pilgrimage town in Karnataka has grown into a tourist destination over the years, thanks to its stretch of beautiful, sandy beaches. With the advent of foreigners thronging it, it no longer remains a quaint temple town, but a thriving vacation spot that is as laidback as Goa, only less commercial. In fact, many Goa regulars have now moved on to Gokarna’s pristine beaches where the crowds are less and the beaches cleaner. 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. Owing to its growing popularity, several hotels and restaurants have come up in Gokarna. The temple town is now an emerging beach destination that offers something to different types of tourists with its natural beauty and its history steeped in mythology. 

The numerous Gokarna places are known all across the country for their presentation of the rich and elegant culture of South India. Snuggled amidst tall coconut and palm trees with the ocean acting as the backdrop, this temple town is also at the centre of quite a few popular Indian legends and epics related to the Hindu mythology. Of the many Gokarna tourist places, the beaches here are the most popular. Still quite untouched and extremely idyllic, these beaches are frequented by those who wish to escape from the busy city life.

There are many tourist attractions and places to visit in Gokarna, and all of them tend to surprise the tourists at some point or the other during their visit. Om Beach, Kudle Beach, Half Moon Beach, Paradise Beach, Namaste Cafe, Mahabaleshwar Temple, Gokarna Beach, Mirjan Fort, Koti Tirtha, Nirvana Beach, Bhadrakali Temple, Baada Beach, Shiva Cave, Lalguli Falls, Mahalasa Temple and many more places together make Gokarna worth visiting.

 

How to reach Gokarna

Gokarna is connected well by train and road from all major cities in Karnataka. The nearest airport is at Dabolim, Goa that is 150 km away. The Gokarna railway station is located 10 km from the centre of the city. Bus services are also available from Bangalore and Goa.

By Air - Gokarna is connected well by train and road from all major cities in Karnataka. The nearest airport is at Dabolim, Goa that is 150 km away. The Gokarna railway station is located 10 km from the centre of the city. Bus services are also available from Bangalore and Goa.

By Road - Gokarna is well-connected by road with the nearby cities. You can find direct buses from the nearest cities Goa, Bangalore, Mangalore and direct buses are also available from Delhi to Gokarna. You can also hire a taxi from nearby cities for a more comfortable and convenient journey.

By Train - The nearest railway station to Gokarna is Gokarna road, at a distance of 10 km from the main Gokarna city. However, being a small station it is not connected with the major cities. Another station, Ankola, railway station at a distance of 20 km from Gokarna, is considered as the nearest well-connected railway station to Gokarna.

Local Transport - Although rickshaws and taxis are available within Gokarna, walking is the best way to explore this small town.

 

Best time to visit Gokarna

The best time to visit Gokarna would definitely be from October to March when the humidity is at its very least.  November to February is especially crowded with a lot of foreigners. The offseason, that is the rainy season, is not the ideal time to go to the beaches with all of them looking desolate and unkempt with limited food options. The temples in the town are most lively around festivals of Shivratri and Ganesh Chaturthi.

 

Things to do in Gokarna

Trekking and camping on Gokarna Beach, sightseeing, cave exploration, surfing, bumper boat riding, banana boat riding, scuba diving, jet skiing, fishing, dolphin spotting and many more.

Located on the outskirts of the state of Karnataka, Gokarna is a small town engulfed with the vast ocean around it. It is a town that is acknowledged for its beautiful landscapes, adventure activities and some water sports to enjoy. It is quite frankly unlikely for you to hold yourself back from discovering the adventures in the town. 

Some of the best things to do in Gokarna include camping amidst the mystical nature, shopping in the colorful flea markets, spotting Dolphins while chilling at the beach and enjoying a scrupulous meal. Yes, not just for its beauty and the spread of activities but the town is also known for an extraordinary stretch of delicious delicacies, both local and foreign. Furthermore, activities like trekking around the beach, board riding and surfing are an attraction for thrill-seekers. 

Gokarna is also home to a vast variety of temples, some of them dating back to the 14th century. These temples are not just places to pray and unwind but also recite a strong sense of historical background the town carries. Additionally, if you are a person who loves to enjoy and explore nature, Gokarna is connected with endless roads with picturesque scenics of various flora and fauna that the travelers can celebrate driving through.

In other words, from a kid who loves to play in the ocean to an experienced surfer, from a person who loves the wild to a historian, there is something for everyone at Gokarna. A weekend getaway or a prolonged stay, the town is perfect for a vacation with family and friends. To enjoy all the things Gokarna offers wholesomely, travelers must spend at least 2-3 days here.

 

History of Gokarna

The name Gokarna is made of two words, gau meaning cow and karna meaning ear, translating to cow’s ear. The reason for such a name is associated with its roots in mythology and also its geography. According to one story, the reason for naming this place Gokarna is because it is at the confluence of two rivers Gangavathi and Aghanashini and this looks like a cow’s ear. The other, more interesting legend takes us back to mythology. According to this one, Shiva was sent to Patal Lok (under the earth) by Brahma. He later emerged from the earth out a cow’s ear and that is why the name. Being a temple town, Gokarna has many mythological tales associated with it. It is also mentioned in the Srimad Bhagavata Purana. When you visit the place, you will hear more stories and legends about Gokarna and how it came to be. Whether you believe them or not, they surely make for a good story.