Gokarna Tourism

Gokarna in Karnataka is a popular destination for Hindu pilgrims as well as holiday makers looking for some tranquil beach experience. The name of this ancient town literally means 'cow's ear'. Gokarna is believed to be the place where lord Shiva emerged from the ear of a cow after a long penance in the underworld. It may as well be a reference to the shape produced by the confluence of the rivers and the particular shape attained by the beach.

Gokarna has four beaches. They are usually quiet and tranquil since very few people know about the beauty of the beaches of Karnataka's Gokarna. The sand is clean, the sea is blue and has numerous sea-gulls frolicking in its waters; the beach itself is lined with palm trees. Together, they make a stay at Gokarna extremely fruitful. The Gokarna beach is most popular, followed by the Om beach, named so because the beach roughly resembles the Hindu sacred word 'Om'. Other beaches like Paradise and Half-Moon are also equally calm.

Gokarna of Karnataka is a very popular pilgrimage for the Hindus. A mention of Gokarna is found in many ancient Hindu texts and treatises. Gokarna, Karnataka is believed to be the place where Ravana was tricked into placing the Atmalingam presented to him by Lord Shiva himself, and was advised not to keep it anywhere. Legend has it that Lord Ganesha, in the form of a humble shepherd retrieved it from his possession. It was at one point of time an important place for the practice and dissemination of Sanskrit learning. Gokarna in Karnataka has the famous Mahabaleswara temple. It houses a 1500 year old deity and an ancient Ganesha idol. The lingam is covered in copper and is hooded by a snake.