Gokarna: Offbeat Destination

Margao Bus Stand

I was always fascinated by the place called Gokarna. I have no idea why, it was just that way. Then a couple of my friends went there, there response wasn't that satisfactory but that didn't deter me from taking the trip.

It was a gift, birthday gift, from me to myself.

If you check Wikipedia, it will tell you that Gokarna is a a temple town. Which was not exactly why I was going there. :)

May 01st 2016. 1455 IST, Mumbai Airport.

I boarded the Indigo Airlines flight to Goa. It landed in Goa just after 1630. As I stepped out of the Airport, I was mobbed by local cab drivers. As I had already done my research, online, I had made up my mind on what my mode of transport will be to Gokarna.

Gokarna is nearly 150 kilometers from Goa. And my plan was to take a bike taxi to the Margao (Also called Madgaon) railway station and then the train to Gokarna. But Indian Railways had other plans in store for me. The train that I had planned to board was running late by 150 minutes, so I had to change my plans on the back of the bike. Fortunately the road to the Bus station and Railway station are the same, so I asked the bike taxi driver (Quite complicated, I know) to drop me of at the Margao bus station.

There are direct buses from Margao to Gokarna, but the frequency goes down as the sun goes down. So I had to take a bus to Karwar. (Tip provided by bike taxi driver). I reached by Karwar by around 2000 IST. I checked with the bus station master there whether they had any buses leaving to gokarna and he pointed towards a rusty old empty state bus parked next to the building.

WILL LEAVE AT NINE.

I had a south Indian meal with fried fish from the Hotel opposite to the  Karwar Bus Station. I boarded the Bus and shortly after 2100 hours the Journey started. The Bus reached Gokarna bus station by about 2230. I had already booked my hotel.

Breakfast View, Kudle Beach.

Shri Umamaheshwar Cottages, Kudle Beach. 

Off Season at Kudle Beach.

If you plan to stay there (or any other place on the Beach), Do make sure that you reach there before the sun sets. It's a hard place to reach once it gets dark.

Day One, May 02nd

Mind you there are many beaches in Gokarna.

Gokarna Beach.

Gokarna Beach: The beach with the most tourist concentration, mostly because of the fact that it is nearer to the temple. People come here to do the final rites of their beloved ones here. I saw a corpse being carried on the shoulders of nearly eight people with a Pujari leading their way. This is beach is also the longest beach in Gokarna.

Trek to Paradise Beach.

Kudle Beach: It is the beach next to Gokarna Beach. You will find Shacks and hotels on this beach as well as the beach next to it, Om Beach.

Not Sure if its the OM Beach

Om Beach: This beach got its name for obvious reasons. It is shaped like OM.

Too Much Sun.

Half Moon Beach: Named for exactly the same reason. Shaped like a half moon.

Small hell Beach: The smallest beach of the lot. Takes less than 3 minutes to cross it at idle pace.

Coconut Art, Paradise Beach

Tired and done, Gokarna Cliff

Paradise Beach: The beach that I guess is the most popular one. There are two ways to reach here. Take a boat or trek from Kudle Beach. I did the latter, is easy on the pocket. Just make sure you carry enough water and food with you when you do. The beach is marked by the black line next to Small hell Beach.

If you check the Internet, You will find that there used to concrete structures on this beach and tourists used to hang out on this beach. The Hippie Kind. These structures were broken down by the government.

While I was sitting there on the Paradise Beach, All by myself, I happened to check the map. I found that there is another beach near by.
God's Own Beach: I won't advise anyone to actually go there.I hadn't heard about the beach, But since I am from the God's own Country, I was like, Why not. So I went there . And I repeat, I won't go back there. Maybe it was off season, there were no person on the beach. It is like a residential area, and I doubt if it is even part of Gokarna.
You can also go to the Gokarna cliff from Om Beach, But you will have to return back to Om beach to make your way to Kudle beach (A information I wish I was told).


I am pretty sure that I will be going back to Gokarna pretty soon.