All of Gokarna's beaches remain pretty empty except for the many pilgrims who come to Gokarna for 'darshan' at the Shiv Temple. Gokarna is a sacred place for Hindus, who believe it to be the place where Shiva emerged from the earth after a long penance in the netherworld. The town's main shrine is the Mahabaleshwar Temple houses a very holy lingam that was reputedly rescued by Shiva's elephant- headed son, Ganesh.
There is no such time as the best time to visit Gokarna, as it is pretty much a round-the-year destination. However, you could well give the monsoons a miss. Between February and March, festivities mark Maha Shivratri, and along with other celebrations, there's a colourful procession in Gokarna. The Shivaratri - also called Mahashivaratri (meaning the night of Shiva) - is a grand occasion celebrated on the moonless night of the Indian month of Phalguna which corresponds with the months of February and March, and is dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva, the destroyer. On the occasion, the two temples are flocked by devotees, from early morning, who come to perform the traditional 'Shivlinga' worship and hope for favors from the god. The devotees line up along the main street from sun up and until sun down and wait patiently in the burning sun to pay homage. The whole festival comes to a climax on the final day with an ancient carriage being dragged through the main street by a thick knotted rope pulled by men, as people throw bananas on the carriage as a symbol of good luck.
Getting to Gokarna is not that difficult either. Gokarna is 60 km south of Karwar and 7 hours from the city of Mangalore. One of the best ways of getting to this town is aboard the Konkan Railway, which traverses the prettiest parts of India's western coast. Konkan Railway trains pass through Gokarna Road (10 km from the town), Ankola (25 km), or Karwar (23 km). From either of these railheads, a bus can be taken to Gokarna. Gokarna has good bus connections to a number of towns within Karnataka and along the west coast; Goa is only about 5 hours away.
As Gokarna is still fairly undiscovered as far as the beach crowd goes, accommodation options are neither exciting nor extensive. There are pilgrim hotels which are mainly budget or mid-range- hotels, guesthouses and beach huts are also available, but quality can vary considerably. Among the best places around is the KSTDC hotel with accommodation starting from Rs 105 for one person. Along Kudle beach are a number of beach huts; however you will have to rough it out if you avail them. Eateries too, like the accommodation, are fairly rudimentary, but you'll invariably find good local grub, including seafood. A few beach shacks serve croissants, sandwiches and no-frills Western food.
Gokarna is an ancient town in Karnataka, 3 hours of bus journey away from Goa. Gokarna town is a major pilgrimage site for Hindus and is famous for its Gokarnanatha Shiva Temple. The beaches of Gokarna - Kudlee and Ohm - too are exquisite. The Ohm Beach is at a 15 minute rickshaw or boat distance from Gokarna town. Its two cresent shaped bays are spectacularly surrounded by hills.
Another attraction is the Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary which is about 6 hours away. There are services providing jungle safaris. Safari operators provide you tours through the jungle in an open-aired jeep and a driver-guide to help you spot the thriving wildlife.
Last Updated on 4th October 2010
