From Goa to Gokarna, a city in the neighboring state of Karnataka, we took a somewhat unusual route. With the help of the old manager of Morjim Sunset Guesthouse, we planned the next route to Gokarna: we took a taxi to the town of Margao, from where there was a direct bus to Gokarna, and by bus we had to get to the town, which was highly recommended to us by friends of friends. For a taxi we paid 400 rupees per person and drove for one hour, for a bus we paid 118 rupees and trudged along bumpy and narrow roads for another 4 hours. The choice of the bus route was dictated by issues of economy - taxi drivers charged exorbitant prices for crossing state borders.
Gokarna was the only destination where we didn't book a hotel even at the last minute. The reason for such self-confident laxity was banal - there was simply not a single hotel or guesthouse in Gokarna on booking.com.
Upon arrival, we checked into the first guesthouse we came across - not luxurious, but not exactly horror-horror, and the next day we went to look for normal accommodation for the remaining three days in the holy city of Karnataka.
We were lucky and found accommodation close to the beach and restaurant. Unfortunately for us, the Nimmu House guesthouse is mentioned in the Lonely Planet guide, so the owner has long since doubled the prices listed there. But the restaurant next door had obscenely low prices, a huge menu and very funny waitresses.
Gokarna Beach deserves a separate story about it. It was here that we saw, so to speak, the classic beach of India: a large sand beach, cows, dogs, garbage from the sea and garbage from the city, vacationing Indians and rare white tourists. To find a piece of the beach where it doesn’t stink, you have to try really hard. To swim, we walked about three hundred meters away from the main entrance to the beach. But within fifteen minutes, groups of two or three Indians were heading our way, unobtrusively walking back and forth or simply hiding behind the boat on the shore to look at the undressed white women. Indian women, like Arab women, bathe in clothes.
Of course, this can hardly be called swimming. The waves near the shore cover you completely and drag you into the sea. If you go into the water above your hip, there is a high risk of not returning to shore. The power of water is indescribable. Shy Indians generally splash only in shallow water, where the water is ankle-deep, but we went deeper to plunge into the wave, but without fanaticism, so as not to be dragged away.
Efim and I also went to the neighboring beach, Kudle Beach, to admire its even greater beauty and be horrified by the even greater amount of garbage.
It makes sense to visit Karnataka for a long time. Five national parks, twenty-five reserves, of which five are bird reserves, many temples, palaces and statues attract tourists both from India itself and from abroad. Unfortunately, we managed to capture all this rich diversity only from the corner of our ears and eyes. On the morning of the second day in Gokarna, we left by taxi along the waterfalls route - big statue Shiva. On famous waterfalls Jog Falls can also be reached by bus, but watching the next round of serpentine roads, I looked at the buses with a feeling of slight anxiety: the road is narrow, difficult to travel, and it’s easier to endure an hour in a taxi than a couple of hours on a mountain serpentine road in a cramped bus. Despite the fact that technically we arrived at the end of the monsoon season and could count on really powerful flows of water, the four branches of the Shiravati River did not really want to impress anyone. However, during the tourist season, which starts in October, pitiful streams will remain on the rock walls. I was impressed by the approach of the Indian authorities to organizing the review process. This is not just some kind of observation deck, but a whole park with stairs, fences and restaurants. But it’s true, to our regret, the staircase to the foot of the waterfall was closed.
Having taken a dizzying taxi ride to the foot of the mountain, we drove towards the largest statue of Shiva, built in the early 2000s. And they almost suffocated.
If we thought that we were already accustomed to the eternal stench of India, then we were deeply mistaken. After an hour and a half of repeated patches of unbearable rotten smell, we came to the conclusion that the problem was, after all, some kind of fertilizer plant and the trucks that transport rotten raw materials to this plant. And at the entrance to the temple complex in Murudeshwar I had to stop breathing altogether and make short runs to get to the entrance. The smell of rotten fish was unbearably beautiful.
The entrance to the temple itself was closed, but in our tourist opinion this was not a big deal. The gopuram - the tower above the gate - 75 meters high, satisfied the craving for beautiful Indian architecture. True, I had to take off my slippers in order to trample the dusty floor around this very gopuram together with all the Hindus. In India, by the way, shoes are not allowed in most temples. You should have seen the torment of our friends about walking or not walking barefoot on the floor along with all the Hindus!
To get to the huge statue of Shiva, slippers were found and put on. The sun was already mercilessly hot and I remembered with longing the gloomy, but simply warm Goa.
I cannot speak for all Hindus, but the joy with which they celebrate religious holidays, I think, speaks in favor of the fact that Hindus are a religious people. They were lucky: no one canceled Shiva and Ganesha for them. These deities were always with them. And around the statue in Murdeshwar there were many local tourists who came to see their shrines. We also walked around the statue, marveled at its size, and fought off beggars and intrusive sellers.
On the way back to Gokarna enjoyed the views tropical forests with palm trees and again practiced long breath-holds as taxis drove behind trucks carrying rotten fish.
But, as they say, there was a holiday on our street. The truck with cookies did not overturn, but due to its proximity to the beach, we were repeatedly able to observe the solemn processions of carrying Ganesha statues into the sea. The last days of a great holiday passed - the Ganesha Festival. In Goa, the hotel manager invited us to his house to celebrate the beginning of the holiday, and in Karnataka we already saw the end of the festival. Moreover, if on the penultimate day it was still somehow quiet, then on the last night of the festival we heard very loud music and Efim, unable to bear it, ran to look. On the shore, Hindus performed a fire show in a circle of drummers, and the statue of Ganesha, brought on a trailer, was the largest and most beautiful of all those that we had seen in the previous days.
And the next day we had a long journey back home. We selected a flight from Goa airport to Delhi in such a way as to avoid the bustle of the Indian capital, but after waiting 3-4 hours in the terminal we could simply transfer to a plane to Moscow. From Gokarna we took a taxi to Dabolim airport in Goa. We reached Delhi without incident, but with a slight delay. There, we spent a long time translating ticket printouts from Russian to the security guard using our fingers (you can’t enter the terminal if you don’t have a ticket), stood in several queues, and barely had time to grab a bite to eat and run into a store before departure.
We flew the way I like: on a half-empty plane. After sleeping for most of the flight on empty seats in a wide row, we had breakfast with coffee and cookies and landed safely in early morning Moscow. The customs officer at passport control looked at Efim’s passport and at Efim himself for a long time. Then he looked at his passport again. Having received the answer that we were from India, he aptly noted that those who fly there are like those in the passport photo (clean-shaven), and they return like Efim now - overgrown to the very eyebrows.
And then there were meat burgers in FARSH and delicious coffee, conversations with friends and a flight to Dahab.
In Dahab we were met with heat.
!
For 365 days, multi!
For citizens of the Russian Federation and Ukraine, the full cost with all fees = 8200 rub..
For citizens of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia = 6900 rub.
- a magical mystical-psychedelic village on the shores of the Arabian Sea, a center of Hindu pilgrimage, which harmoniously combines ancient temples, Hindu rituals, colorful tall chariots, a temple elephant painted with Shaivite symbols, a medieval lifestyle and soulful surrounding beaches.
Gokarna is located south of Karwar in Karnataka.
The state capital is Bangalore, official language- Kannada.
The state of Karnataka is shown in green. I have highlighted Delhi in red for orientation, and the red asterisk is on southwest coast- This is Gokarna.
Location of Gokarna
I scanned a map of the state of Karnataka from my favorite atlas, “India Road Atlas,” which I bought in Hampi on my very, very first trip to India!
The map has a size of 2075*2773, so you can open it in a new tab and greatly enlarge it to see all the roads.
Here you can see that from Gokarna it is just a stone's throw from the highway that takes you to Hampi. 
Map of Gokarna (without surrounding beaches)
The map can be enlarged 
A piece of the map with the main temples 
How to get to Gokarna
- From Goa you can get to Gokarna by bus from Canacona bus station. Canacona has a pretty decent, well-ordered bus station, with buses going in many directions. You can sit on benches in the shade. Everything is clear, everything is signed – where to board which bus.
Driving via Karwar:
1) Canacona – Karwar = local bass = 25 Rs
2) Karwar – Gokarna (via Ankola) = local bus = 39 Rs
From Canacona to Karwar, buses run approximately once an hour (or even more often). Change there to Ankola, and in Ankola change to Gokarna. But our bus, for example, went directly Karwar - Ankola - Gokarna, we did not have to change trains.
If you don’t need to go to Gokarna itself, but to Kudli beach, then you can get to Kudli from the Gokarna bus station by tuk-tuk. In order to save money, it is better to take a tuk-tuk not at the bus station itself, but to go a little further, where you can bargain much cheaper.
For time reference. We traveled from Agonda to Kudli Beach. The entire journey (door to door) took us a little over 4 hours. - You can also get from Goa by train from Margao (on maps the Margao railway station is called Madgaon).
For example, the Margao-Mangalore train also passes through Canacona. - From Hampi you can get to Gokarna by sleeper bus (you get on in the evening and arrive in the morning) or by local buses to Hubli, from there to Gokarna.
- From Mangalore. 25 km from Gokarna is the Kumta station, where trains from Mangalore stop. From Kumta station you can take a bus (15 Rs) or a tuk-tuk (250 Rs) to Gokarna.
When is the best time to go to Gokarna?
The best time to visit the Arabian Sea coast is from late October/early November to March.
April-May is a terrible heat, then the rainy season begins.
The largest statue of the god Shiva is located in India, in the city of Murudeshwar, Karnataka. The statue reaches a height of 123 feet (37.5 m), for example, the height of a 14-story building. Shiva occupies an important place in Indian religion and is one of the 3 highest deities revered by the believing population. This place immediately became a center of pilgrimage in India. Believers come to worship Shiva and also make a wish; it is believed that it must come true.
Construction of the statue lasted more than 2 years, the opening took place in 2002. The statue is located on the territory of the Shiva temple complex and amazes with the variety of sculptures. At the entrance to the temple you will be greeted by two life-size sacred stone elephants, then your path will lie through a park surrounded by flowers and greenery. The sculpture of Shiva itself is located on the very shore, Shiva sits in the lotus position with his back to the Arabian Sea. Inside the statue itself there is a museum and a temple. There you can see key religious scenes from the lives of Indian deities.
If you are not staying in the state of Karnataka, then it is better to take a taxi to visit the statue. The fact is that independent movement between states is allowed only with a special entry permit (Permitions); if you do not have it, or it is issued incorrectly, you will not be able to continue the journey (along the entire route the patrol stops all civilian cars).
Chariots of Maha Shivaratri (Night of Shiva)
The Maha Shivaratri holiday is celebrated at the end of February and beginning of March in one of the five holiest cities of India - Gokarna. A huge number of tourists and pilgrims from all over the world come to Gokarna for the festival. On one of the days of the holiday, a chariot festival is held.
On this occasion, local residents decorate two chariots with images of Gods and multi-colored flags. The large chariot is dedicated to God Shiva, the small one to his wife Parvati. During this kind of “parade,” hundreds of people pull these chariots along the entire street, and Brahmin Hindu priests sit in the chariots themselves.
Before the start of the holiday, next to the chariot you can see an elephant, which personifies the son of Shiva and Parvati - Ganesh. For a coin, this cute elephant, decorated with rangoli patterns, blesses everyone. Before the festival, you may notice a huge number of banana sellers. During the procession, pilgrims and tourists throw bananas, intending to hit the chariot door. Great luck awaits anyone who manages to hit the target.
What sights of Gokarna did you like? Next to the photo there are icons, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.
Main street of Gokarna
The main street of Gokarna is located in the historical district of the city, in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, India. The city of Gokarna is located on the very shore Indian Ocean, This interesting city with a rich history, of great importance for Hindus and pilgrims. The name of the city translates as “cow’s ear”; the city is located at the confluence of two rivers that outline its borders, which are shaped like a cow’s ear. There are four excellent beaches here, with white sand and clear water.
The main attraction of Gokarna is the huge Shiva Temple, where there is a sacred relic for Hindus - a lingam - a symbol of the god Shiva. The central street of Gokarna is very colorful and has many interesting sights. There are also several temples here, where pilgrims flock from all over the country. On Central Street there are two chariots that are over 200 years old. The street leads from the bus station directly to the city beach. There are many shops and stalls selling local spices, fruits and souvenirs. This is a very bright and noisy street, popular with tourists.
The golden Hindu temple of the god Shiva is located in Murdeshver, a fishing village, not far from Kartanak, on the seashore. The temple is part of the complex of attractions of this place. In addition to it, there is also the world’s tallest 184-meter Raja Tower, such towers are called Gorupa, and a 37-meter statue of the god Shiva along with his wife Prati.
The Golden Temple of God Shiva is made of granite and is considered the main temple of the complex. According to evidence found in the temple, it was built in 1542, during the time of King Devaraya II, the ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire. The temple is made in the Dravidian style, which is characterized by the use of rich, exquisite carvings. The temple has undergone several renovations, the last reconstruction was in 2008.
The entrance to the temple is guarded by two life-size elephants made of concrete.
The temple itself amazes with its splendor and solemnity. It is customary to take off your shoes before entering the temple. In the temple you can undergo the communion procedure, for this you need to hold your hands over the fire. Then water is poured from a silver spoon into the palm, which you either drink or run the palm of the water through your hair. After this, the priest places a red dot on the forehead. You can also simply attend a service in the temple.
The temple complex in Murdeshver is one of the places of veneration of the great Shiva. It is located 280 kilometers from the capital Goa. Thousands of pilgrims from all over the world come here every year. If you are interested in religion, history, architecture, or simply seeking inner peace, be sure to visit this sacred place.
Cadle Beach
Kadl Beach is the northernmost and largest of the four beaches in the south of Gokarna, which is also the most famous and popular among them. The high attendance of the beach is explained by the fact that not far from it there is a fashionable resort - Cadle Beach Resort with direct views of the beach.
Kadle Beach is located six kilometers from Gokarna, adjacent to Paradise, Om and Half Moon beaches, in the east of Karnataka state, in southeast India. Like most Indian beaches, it is usually crowded and noisy, but there is always enough space for everyone to relax.
Here everyone will find a cozy place on the hot white sand in the sun or under the wide leaves of a palm tree to enjoy the wonderful cool sea breeze. Cadle Beach is quite popular among newlyweds, lovers, and businessmen; the beach is well suited for having fun with friends and family vacations.
Gopuram Tower
Gopuram is the traditional name architectural structure, which is a gate tower in the enclosure surrounding Hindu temples. This is a very characteristic architectural structure for India. Usually the gopuram looks very impressive and is a completely unusual building for the European eye.
The tower, square at the base, tapers towards the top and is elaborately decorated with carvings and sculptures (often brightly colored) - the images of numerous Hindu deities on the tower literally crowd each other.
In Karnataka, a gopuram adorns the Murudeshwar Temple. It is made of granite, monochromatic and is considered the tallest in Asia, rising 75 meters into the air.
Adi Gokarna Cave
Adi-Gokarna Cave is located in the town of Gokarna, Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka state, India. This is a sacred place from where, according to legend, Shiva descended to earth. The name of the city “Gokarna” is translated as “cow’s ear”; it was from the ear of the sacred cow that the god Shiva was born.
The name Adi-Gokarna is interpreted as “primordial Gokarna”. Adi-Gokarna Cave is a stone structure, ancient temple, sacred to Hindus. The Adi-Gokarna cave is located in the premises of the large Mahabaleshwar temple. Every year huge delegations of pilgrims go to her. According to local beliefs, grace will descend on those who are lucky enough to get into Shiva’s cave.
It is not so easy to enter the cave; a sign at the entrance to the Mahabaleshwar temple states that foreigners are not allowed to enter the cave. However, this is not so difficult to do in a crowd of Indian tourists or pilgrims.
Paradise Beach
Paradise Beach is a small cozy sandy beach in the south of India, which attracts many tourists and local residents due to the lack of noise, in comparison with other, more popular and promoted holiday destinations in India. The name of the beach translates as “paradise”.
Paradise Beach is located near Half Moon Beach, southeast of the city of Gokarna, in one of southern states India - Karnataka. It occupies a small plot of land with an area of 20 x 70 meters, which is densely overgrown around the perimeter not only with traditional palm trees, but also with many coniferous trees. The beach is best suited for those who want to spend a few hours or a whole day in the most relaxed atmosphere, enjoying swimming in the sea and relaxing under the trees or in the sun.
Before going to Paradise Beach, you need to keep in mind that there are no shops or merchants here, so it is better to take everything you need with you.
Murdeshwar village
The fishing village of Murdeshwar is located on the shores of the Arabian Sea in the state of Karnataka, neighboring Goa.
It is a sculptural complex located on Mount Kanduka. This place is of interest to both pilgrims and tourists who are not fans of Hinduism, as the local temples, sculptures and statues impress with their beauty, diversity and size.
The main attraction is the 37-meter statue of the Hindu god Shiva - the tallest image of him in the world. The statue is located at the very top of Kanduka Hill, and this further emphasizes its greatness. The main temple of the complex is called "Murdeshwar", and it was built back in 1542. Opposite the temple is the 18-story Raja Tower, reconstructed in 2008 and 184 meters high. You can take the elevator up to enjoy the beauty of the complex from a bird's eye view. You can also learn the story of the creation of the world and humanity, told in the local wax museum.
Ancient temples and a striking modern pilgrimage complex will give a vivid idea of the integrity of the character of this amazing people and Indian history, inseparable into ancient and modern times.
Chariot next to the statue of Shiva" Murdeshwar
The chariot is located in the fishing village of Murdeshwar, in the state of Karnataka. It is located in close proximity to the tallest statue of the Hindu god Shiva. The luxurious chariot is drawn by horses, and Arjuna and Krishna are seated on it.
In the ancient Indian epic, the images of these heroes are inseparable. According to legends, Krishna said that Arjuna is dearer to him than his children and wives. These two characters were not only twin heroes, but real relatives. Arjuna was married to Krishna's sister Subharda.
Krishna is one of the main Gods in Hinduism, Arjuna, in turn, was a valiant warrior, the embodiment of strength and courage. During the war between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, Krishna was the charioteer of Arjuna's chariot, teaching him wisdom and higher philosophy. The statue located in Murdeshwar depicts exactly one such historical moment. The amazingly beautiful chariot will delight all aesthetes and lovers of the ancient Indian epic.
Gopuram - gate tower of the temple in Murdeshwar
Gopuram - the gate tower of the temple is located in Murdeshwar, in the state of Karnataka. Gopurams are a distinctive feature of Indian medieval architecture. The base of the gopuram is rectangular in shape, at the bottom there are richly decorated entrance doors, and the structure itself is skillfully decorated with carvings and paintings.
This tower in Murdeshwar was reconstructed in 2008 and today is equipped with two elevators, thanks to which you can easily reach the top of the 75-meter gopuram. Here you can enjoy the picturesque view, see the colossal statue of Shiva and the surroundings of the temple complex from above. However, unlike free entry to the complex, taking the elevator will cost you a small amount (about 10 rupees).
The most popular attractions in Gokarna with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places in Gokarna from our website.
Gokarna, a small village that is an important place of pilgrimage for Hindus, became a mecca for Goan tourists a few years ago. After this, it is the second most popular place where travelers flock from. For the first time I came there from Goa to take in the nearby attractions along the way. This was my first little independent trip to India after a relaxed and lazy life in Goa, so it will be remembered for a long time. Gokarna is a sacred city, according to legend, it was here that Shiva appeared from the ear of Prithivi, who took the form of a cow. Hence the name: Gokarna - “cow's ear”.
There are no bars or parties in the city, everything is much more complicated with alcohol here, the city beach is not much like a paradise with white sand, and in the village there are many temples that non-Hindus are not even allowed into. Why do freedom lovers come here?
Gokarna is one of the closest places to Goa where you can find real India! It is located in the neighboring state of Karnataka, and here everything is different. When I was there for the first time 7 years ago, there were practically no pale faces on the street. Today everything has changed, more and more travelers go to Gokarna to take a break from noisy Goa, and some even live here for 6 months. Low prices, an atmosphere of spirituality and complete shanti, a lost paradise stretching along a string of four beaches, attract Indian tramps here.
How to get there
Gokarna is 165 km from the capital of Goa Panaji, 453 km from Bangalore, 240 km north of Mangalore, 132 km from and 59 km from Karwar. These are the largest transport hubs located in the district.
There is no airport in the village itself; you can get to it by bus, train or taxi. Many travelers also ride bikes. Any of the above methods is convenient, since the distance is short. Well, the fastest way to get here is by train.
By plane
The nearest airport is located in Goa, there are also 2 airports in Karnataka, but they are the least convenient for our tourists; planes from Russia do not fly there.
Via Goa
While most travelers go to Gokarna from Goa, few travel here specifically. About how to get from Russia to Goa airport ( Dabolim Airport) read. You can search for prices from different carriers.
Via Karnataka
If Goa is not part of your vacation plans, you can combine Gokarna with other cities in Karnataka by flying into Bangalore airport ( Bengaluru International Airport).
Include Mysore, Badami, Murudeshwara in your itinerary.
Direct flight There is no way to Bangalore from Russia, you will have to fly through. Look for the nuances of air travel between Russia and Bangalore.
Goa can be reached by regular or by charter flight. I described this in more detail in the article about Anjuna, read it.
I will tell you below how to get to Gokarna from Goa (Dabolim).
By train
From Goa, trains run to Gokarna from stations in Margao and Canacona. All of them are in the south.
From Margao and Canacona
You can get from Dabolim to Margao by taxi or with numerous bus transfers. A pre-paid taxi at the airport will cost 13.8 USD (900 INR / Indian Rupees) to Margao and 26.7 USD (1736 INR) to Canacona. Travel time will be about half an hour and an hour, respectively.
Residents of North Goa will have to get first to Mapsa, then take a bus to Panjim, then take a shuttle bus to Margao. South Goans are luckier, Margao is the largest locality South Goa. From Dabolim to Panjim, a pre-paid taxi will cost 13.3 USD (870 INR), the ride will take about 40 minutes.
From Margao and Canacona there are 2 trains per day to Gokarna:
- Matsyagandha Express (at 01:35 from , at 03:06 from Canacona).
- Mao Maq Passenger (at 13:00 from Margao, at 13:52 from Canacona). Travel time is 1.5–2 hours, tickets cost pennies - from 1 USD (65 INR).
How to get from the railway station to Gokarna
In Gokarna, trains arrive at the station of the same name, from which it is about 9 km to the village itself.
There is no bus stop here, so you will have to take a rickshaw for about 4.6 USD (300 INR).
From other cities in India
You can travel by train to Gokarna from other cities as well, but there are not many direct trains. Gokarna Railway Station (GOK) serves:
- Matsyagandha Express (12619)- the train connecting Mumbai and Mangalore runs on the route: Lokmanyatilak (Mumbai) - Mangaon - Cancona - Karwar - Ankola - Gokarna Road - Kumta - Murdeshwar - Udupi - Mangalore. From Mumbai Gokarna can be reached in 12 hours and 7.3 USD (480 INR). The train runs every day.
- Poorna Express (11097)- the train connecting Pune and Cochin (Eranakulam) runs along the route: Pune Junction - Madgaon - Karwar - Gokarna Road - Kumta (KT) - Murdeshwar - Udupi - Mangalore Junction - Kozhikode - Ernakulam Town - Eranakulam Junction. From Pune the train takes 12 hours 40 minutes to Gokarna, the ticket costs 6.07 USD (395 INR). The train runs once a week and departs from Pune on Saturday.
- Maru Sagar Express (12978)- the train connecting Rajasthan (Ajmer) with Kerala runs on the route: Ajmer Junction - Kishangarh - Jaipur - Sawai Madhopur - Kota Junction - Vadodara Junction - Madgaon - Karwar - Gokarna Road - Udupi - Mangalore Junction - Kozhikode - Eranakulam Junction (Cochi) . From Ajmer It takes 31 hours to get to Gokarna, the fare costs 12.15 USD (790 INR). The train runs once a week and leaves Ajmer on Friday.
By bus
The most surprising thing for me about the bus service between Goa and Gokarna is that there is simply no private direct bus, like my favorite sleeper bus. Gokarna is attractive to tourists from Goa and doubly attractive to Indian tourists who travel to holy places. Both will have to travel with transfers. If it doesn't scare Indians, then why should it scare us?
On sleeper bass
Sleeper bus is one of my favorite modes of transport in India. These are comfortable trains with lie-flat seats. They usually walk at night, so you can sleep peacefully. Among the amenities, you can be offered air conditioning, a blanket and a bottle of water - this is the maximum that I personally encountered. Most often, I take the simplest option without air conditioning (since it’s already cool at night). I advise everyone to take their own blanket and blanket: Indian buses are not the cleanest in the world.
Although sleeper basses do not go to Gokarna from Goa, they do exist from other cities:
- from Bangalore you can get there comfortably in 7–10 hours and 10 USD (650 INR). There are a huge number of points from which buses depart in Bangalore; they make more than a dozen stops around the city and will always be able to pick you up at a convenient location. One of the largest bus stations is Bangalore Bus Station, Majestic, where the Kempegowda Metro Station is located. You can get to them from the international airport by taxi or by bus (there are many transfers).
- from in 15 hours and approximately 15.3 USD (1,000 INR). The same goes for . Buses go through the entire city, collecting passengers. For tourists staying in, it will be convenient to travel from Victoria Station, many buses stop there.
By regular bus
From Goa You will have to get there by regular buses.
The main advantage of traveling is its low cost. Travel on any bus costs 0.3–0.76 USD (20–50 INR).
The main disadvantage is time. You can spend the entire day on the road. Although the distance between Goa and Gokarna is not so great, the number of transfers and the slow speed of buses stretches the road for the whole day. We went to Gokarna by bus, as time allowed us to have such long journeys. Tourists with 2 weeks to spend on their entire vacation may want to consider a taxi.
So, inhabitants of North Goa First you must get to Mapsa - the main transport hub of this part of the state. There are direct buses to the final station (bus station) from all beaches: , Morjim, Baga, . Travel time is up to 1 hour. Then you need to take a shuttle bus to Panaji, the state capital and the transport gateway to the south, this is another + 1 hour. Residents of Candolim and Calangute can bypass Mapsa and take a direct bus to Panaji. Next you need a bus to Ankola (1.5–2 hours), and from there to Gokarna (0.5 hours). The direct bus to Ankola does not go often, if you don’t get it, go to Karwar, and from there to Ankola.
Everywhere the bus goes to the final station; at the bus station you will be met by a conductor who will show you the bus you need. He also needs to pay for bus travel. It’s impossible to get lost on such a route; you won’t have to look for anything. Just ask the conductors for the desired city.
Residents of South Goa get to, there are direct buses from all southern beaches. From there to Ankola and then to Gokarna.
On average, the journey takes 5–7 hours (from the south or north, respectively), and the entire journey will cost up to 3 USD (200 INR).
How to get from the bus station to Gokarna
All government buses arrive at the only bus station in Gokarna, which is located in the center of the village and all the tourist life.
By car
As I wrote above, if you are on a short vacation and in a hurry to get to Gokarna, take a taxi. Renting a car is not the best option, because to travel between states you will need a special permit, which is issued only to the owner of the car. I have already written a lot about how renting a car for traveling around India is more of a headache than a pleasure. Leave this idea for comfortable movement within one state over short distances.
Taxi
So, taxi. It is best to find yourself a company, as this type of transport is very expensive. The cost of the trip starts from 61 USD (4,000 INR). The further north your beach is, the more expensive a taxi will be.
Finding a taxi from Dabolim can be problematic. But you can book online in advance. Prices start from 77 USD (5,000 INR).
Clue:
Gokarna - the time is now
Hour difference:
Moscow − 2:30
Kazan − 2:30
Samara − 1:30
Ekaterinburg − 0:30
Novosibirsk 1:30
Vladivostok 4:30
When is the season? When is the best time to go
The weather in Gokarna is similar to that of Gokarna. The season here lasts approximately the same - from October to March. At the beginning and end of the season there are very few tourists, prices for everything drop.
In addition to the surge in the tourist season, one must also take into account traditional Hindu festivals, which attract pilgrims from all over India. The largest of them are Diwali and Maha Shivaratri. At this time, finding housing in the city is very difficult. On the beaches you are more likely to rent a room, but I would advise booking in advance.
Gokarna in summer
From June to August there are no foreigners in Gokarna at all. Those who stay in India year-round often move north to the mountains, at which time it is real summer there - warm weather and blooming gardens. It is hot in Gokarna and it starts raining in June.
The sea, although warm, is not suitable for swimming, due to strong waves.
Gokarna in autumn
September and the first half of October are usually not suitable for a comfortable holiday in Gokarna. But the weather can be different every year. If the rainy season ends earlier, then from September the weather may be dry and sunny. But this is rather an exception.
Starting from the end of October, the first tourists come here. At the same time, the Diwali festival, one of the main Hindu holidays, takes place, and Gokarna is filled with life.
Gokarna in spring
Since March, the season has been slowly declining. Housing prices are falling. But staying in Gokarna is becoming increasingly difficult. The air temperature exceeds +30 °C, the humidity increases. Even at night it is difficult to live without air conditioning, and there is much less comfortable accommodation in Gokarna than in other tourist areas of India.
Gokarna in winter
The optimal time to relax in Gokarna is our winter. Accommodation can be found both on the beach and in the city. The sea is ideal for swimming, and there are many cafes.
Of course, at this time the price tag for housing and food rises, but Gokarna, in any case, remains cheaper than Goa.
Gokarna - weather by month
Clue:
Gokarna - weather by month
Districts. Where is the best place to live?
Gokarna has beach and "village" areas. Which one to choose is up to you.
The distances are very short, so even if you live in the village itself, you can easily get to any beach. Transport will solve the problem: by renting a bike, you will be absolutely free in your movements. You can also get to the beach by rickshaw for 1.5 USD (100 INR).
I have been to Gokarna three times and stayed both in the village and on the beach. So I will be happy to share my experience with you.
Village area
My choice for a long-term stay is the village, where you can find more or less comfortable accommodation. We rented a room in a family guesthouse near the main road. Everything you needed was within walking distance; you could get to the beaches by rickshaw.
Coastal area
We rented a completely ascetic room on the beach. Most often they offer bamboo beach huts; you can see options for such a home, for example. Please note: amenities here may be outside, and electricity is often turned off (in all areas of Gokarna).
I’ll say right away that there are very few options available on search engine sites for housing. Most often, luxury accommodation is offered there in new expensive hotels or yoga retreats. The price tag starts from 100 USD per room per night. For Gokarna this is cosmic money. On site you can find rooms from 1.5–3 USD (100–200 INR). This will be the simplest room, not particularly clean and comfortable, but there are many such options. Average prices start from 6 USD (400 INR). For this money you will be offered a bed, a ceiling fan and a shower in the room.
By the way, the situation with hot water in the village is not very good. Few owners install water heaters. During the day, water in barrels on the roofs is heated by the sun, so you can take a normal shower.
If you are still more interested in expensive hotels, then it makes sense to book accommodation on. You can compare prices for such housing from different search engines, for example.
Station area
So Gokarna itself is very small. If you come by bus, you will most likely be dropped off at Main Road. There is also a bus station here. You can start looking for housing from here. This area has all the maximum necessary for a tourist that Gokarna can offer: a market, cafes, travel offices where you can find tickets to other cities in India or order a car with a driver. This is also where most of the hotels are located.
Since Gokarna is a city of Indian pilgrims, the hotels are designed for locals. Once we got there during a major holiday, and there were no seats anywhere. When I tried to check into one of these hotels, I saw stacks of Indians sleeping on the floor right in the lobby.
Therefore, I would advise you to immediately go to small guesthouses. Most often these are ordinary Indian houses in which families live and spare rooms are rented out. The conditions there are much better, everything is very clean. At the same time, you can live a little in an authentic environment. You can rent such a room for 7.7 USD (500 INR). If you like to walk (and holidays in Gokarna encourage walking), you can get to any of the beaches you want right along the coastline. The closest is the city beach. If you walk along it, you can come to the rest of the tourist beaches. Let's talk about housing on the beaches of the village, and read about their infrastructure in the "Beaches" section.
Gokarna Beach
Here it is, the city beach Maine Beach, whose length is about 7 km. In the central part it is a typical littered dirty Indian beach. Locals prefer it for walks and picnics. Europeans do not swim here and rarely appear at all.
Accommodation can be found a few meters from the beach. Rooms in guesthouses and entire houses are available for rent. The prices are quite low, but I would advise walking at least a couple of kilometers in one direction or the other. There you can find decent housing at the same price tag as in the village. Since this beach is located closest to Gokarna itself, all the infrastructure will be nearby. You can easily walk. But for swimming it is better to take a walk to the neighboring beaches.
Kudle beach
European beaches begin from Kudle Beach. The first one is the largest with a relatively straight coastline. There are many cafes and inexpensive accommodation here. It is quite possible to reach Gokarna on foot, either along the shore or along village roads.
Kudle can be quite crowded during the season, however, none of the Gokarna beaches can be compared to Goan beaches in terms of congestion (take Anjuna during rush hour). The simplest rooms on the shore cost from 4.6 USD (300 INR), but on average the price tag in Gokarna is the same. There are several expensive resorts on Kudla where you can stay comfortably for 80 USD or more.
Om Beach
One of the most popular beaches is called Om; all cafes and guesthouses have this magical sound in their names. The beach got its name because it is shaped like the “Om” sign. It itself is not too big, the infrastructure here is less developed than on the two previous beaches, but there is housing and cafes. Most often, the rooms are attached to beach restaurants. Most of them are bamboo huts with holes in the walls, here you can feel completely at one with nature. Facilities in the form of a shared shower open air and toilets are common to everyone. At the beginning and end of the season, such a room can be rented for pennies - 1.5 USD (100 INR) per day. At the height of the season - 2-3 times more expensive. I would advise you to bring your own padlock on the door, this rule applies to any travel in India. The room has a bed with a mosquito net and everything…
You can spend a couple of romantic nights in such a house, falling asleep and waking up to the sound of the sea. I was looking for more comfort and came across the same simple guest house, but with stone houses. They cost a little more, but there were no holes in the wall. Although everything else was little different. There is a mattress on a stone bench, and behind a partition there is a shower and toilet. Leaving the room, you can go straight to the cafe. After a couple of meters the beach begins. Holidays on the beaches of Gokarna can become very lazy. By the way, there are enough people on Om Beach; locals often walk here, watching half-naked Europeans. Many tourists are Israelis, and now also Russians.
Half Moon Beach
The further you are from civilization, the wilder and more secluded your vacation becomes. On the next beach, Half Moon (“half moon”), there are even fewer cafes and guesthouses, but they still exist. Accommodation is represented by beach houses made of palm leaves from 3 USD (200 INR) and outdoor amenities.
You can eat in a few cafes here. To get to shops and other pleasures of life, you will have to walk to Gokarna itself. The beach is cozier and more secluded than Om Beach. Idle Indians almost never come here. There are several boats that take tourists between beaches.
Half-moon seemed quite cozy and very calm to me.
Paradise Beach
The last, most remote Paradise beach is truly heavenly. Here you will definitely be covered with full shanti. Along the entire beach there are a couple of cafes with several tables, hidden in the shade of palm trees, and houses “on chicken legs”. Housing prices here are the same: 2–3 USD (150–200 INR) for a room without amenities.
There is no infrastructure in the area. In the cafe you will find a very simple menu, some fruit for sale and free books left by previous Robinsons. You can get to the “mainland” on foot, on your bike or by boat.
Living on Paradise is the closest thing to island life. On average, 30 people live on the beach during the season. Some live in tents, which further saves the travel budget.
What are the prices for holidays?
In general, a holiday in Gokarna is much cheaper than in Goa or Kerala, and is close in price to holidays in other Indian cities. However, the interest of white tourists in this place leads to a gradual increase in prices. Living in Gokarna itself is cheaper than living on the beaches. This rule works all over the world. On the beaches, accommodation and food in cafes will be more expensive than in the village. At the same time, the rooms will be less comfortable and the food will not be as tasty. This is my personal assessment, which does not claim to be true, but I choose to live and eat in Gokarna, and go to the beaches during the day.
Housing
The cost of the most budget accommodation in Gokarna and on the beaches starts from 1.5–3 USD (100 INR) for a double room. It will be a very simple and not the cleanest room with a bed.
Minimal comfort starts at a price of 4.6 USD (300 INR). For this money you can count on a fan above the bed and amenities in the room. It can be either a room in the city or a concrete bungalow on the seashore.
For 7.7–10.7 USD (500–700 INR) you can rent a nice, clean room on the beach or in the village in a decent guesthouse. From 30–46 USD (2,000–3,000 INR) a room in a good hotel costs.
I like living in the village because everything you need is close by. However, living at least a couple of days on the beach in a hut is an invaluable experience.
Many people come to Gokarna for a long stay. There is not yet such an abundance of houses for rent for tourists as in Goa, but some options can be found. A room with a kitchen in a shared house with the owners or a small separate house will cost 150 USD (10,000 INR) per month.
Food
In the village there are many cafes (dhabbas) for locals. They have a standard vegetarian menu and very low prices. You can get a set lunch with a drink for 1.5 USD (100 INR) or even less. There is street food and shops where locals buy food for pennies.
On the beaches the choice is much smaller, it is limited to a few restaurants with a traditional tourist menu. Here you can already find cuisine adapted for Europeans. Food here costs 2-3 times more than in the countryside. Lunch for one will cost approximately 4.6 USD (300 INR).
Gokarna is a holy city, alcohol is difficult here. On the beaches, in cafes you will be offered beer under the counter at a price 3 times higher than the real cost.
Transport
Since the village is very small, there is little need to spend money on transport here. Even driving rickshaws, you won't go broke. Prices from Gokarna to the beaches are from 1.5 to 4.6 USD (100–300 INR).
Internet
The Internet in Gokarna is not doing well. If you constantly need a good connection for work, choose another place to relax. Here he barely has enough time to write a message to his loved ones.
There are several Internet cafes on the main street, where 1 hour of use costs 0.46 USD (30 INR). Some restaurants have Wi-Fi, but the signal is very weak.
Main attractions. What to see
Gokarna does not boast many attractions. In fact, this is an ordinary Indian village, of which there are many. For Indian tourists it has a special sacred meaning, but for ours it is interesting for its atmosphere of untouched real India, which is not found in resorts.
The most interesting part of the city is one or two streets with the main temples, where there is no ancient architecture, museums or parks. And the revered ancient temples themselves will disappoint any tourist who has been further than Goa. So not everyone can discover the beauty and attractiveness of Gokarna.
There are several Hindu temples in the city, but most of them are closed to foreigners. Therefore, you will not be able to touch the shrine. At the same time, I never had a question about what to do. A full tour of Gokarna and its beaches will take about a week to leisurely enjoy the atmosphere and natural beauty. A couple of days is enough for a quick inspection. And those who come here for a long time look for activities to avoid getting bored, for example, they study yoga or Sanskrit from local teachers.
Top 5
It is very difficult to compile the top five attractions, because there are not many of them in the village. I will just list my favorite places in Gokarna, and give a description of them below:
Beaches. Which ones are better
There are as many as 5 beaches in Gokarna, each of which has its own atmosphere. They are what attract travelers. If you are in Gokarna for a week or two, you can live for several days on each of the beaches and feel the spirit of this place. Tourists accustomed to the Goan lifestyle may quickly get bored.
To avoid confusion, we will move from north to south. Go!
Main Beach (Gokarna)
The main beach and closest to the city is the worst of all. This is a traditional urban Indian beach: dirty, littered, absolutely unsuitable for swimming. At the beginning of the beach, a small river flows into the sea, the banks of which, according to tradition, are polluted.
I categorically do not advise white girls in swimsuits to sunbathe here; this is not welcomed by the locals. And there are a lot of them on the beach, especially at sunset. But you can and should walk along the city beach: it is very long, almost 7 km. If you go a little further north, you will come to a fairly clean, pleasant beach, which is part of the main one.
You can live in simple bungalows on the beach or in the village.
How to get there: You can walk from the center of Gokarna in a few minutes.
Kudle beach
Like all subsequent beaches, Kudle is a wide bay closed on both sides by rocks, due to which the waves here are very small. It is more touristy than Maine Beach, the main contingent is Israelis, Spaniards, Italians. In the evenings, local residents gather here around the fires or in cafes: they sing mantras and play the drums. Many come with families with children.
This beach is quite large, compared to Half Moon or Paradise Beach, which is more hidden from prying eyes, but more about them below.
Kudla has a developed infrastructure, everything you need is nearby. There are more than a dozen cafes serving a variety of cuisines on the beach. It’s easy to rent accommodation here, find shops, and, if you wish, hit the road at any time. Kudle is chosen by tourists coming to Gokarna for a long period of time. You can safely swim and sunbathe here. But be prepared for the looks of enthusiastic Indians, they also come here for a walk.
How to get there: Gokarna can be reached on foot in 20 minutes.
Om Beach
Large groups of people come to Om Beach, and there are also many fishermen and boatmen here. At the same time, there is minimal entertainment on Om Beach, as on any other Gokarna beaches. During the day it is quite lively, especially during the season. Tourists wait out the heat in a cafe, swim, and play various sports games.
There are many adult dogs and puppies on the beach who love to play with tourists. But in the evening life freezes. After dark, leisure options become noticeably narrower. Someone continues to sit in a cafe, drink tea, read books, someone moves to the beach and sits by the fire with a guitar. The main entertainment is to climb onto one of the huge stones sticking out of the sea and wait for sunset.
How to get there: From Kudle to Om it takes 20 minutes to walk along the coast. You can walk from the village in about 40 minutes. Also, boats with tourists run between all the beaches; the trip will cost from 3 USD (200 INR).
Half moon beach
This beach is even more secluded and remote from civilization. Indians hardly ever come here. It is almost impossible to get to such a place in Goa, so I think this chance should be taken. When else will you live on a small beach hidden by rocks in a hut made of palm leaves? Take plenty of books or games with you if you can’t imagine an evening without entertainment. In a couple of days you will meet all the inhabitants of the beach and become good friends. It is precisely this relaxed communication that is worth coming to Gokarna and Half Moon Beach.
I talked about infrastructure in the “Districts” section above.
How to get there: just like before the previous ones, along the shore.
Paradise Beach
The beach farthest from Gokarna lives up to its name: time flows slowly here. All day long, tourists lie on the sand, of course, there are no sunbeds with umbrellas, or sit in the shade of palm trees. In a few cafes you can grab freshly squeezed juice or tea and, sitting under a fishing boat, enjoy a relaxed holiday.
How to get there: One of the most accessible activities for beachgoers is walking. You can walk to any of the listed beaches on your own. The road will be very exciting, I promise! The main thing is to try to go out in the morning, before it gets too hot, take some water with you and apply cream. The most picturesque path runs along the coast through the jungle and rocks. Comfortable shoes won't hurt either. From Kudle Beach you can not only walk to Paradise, but also take a boat ride for 7.7 USD (500 INR).
Churches and temples. Which ones are worth visiting?
In Gokarna there are only Hindu temples (temples). As I already said, they do not shine with beauty outside or inside, but they have strong energy. When visiting Hindu temples, follow the dress code and respect other people's religion: clothes should be closed, you can only enter the temple barefoot, leaving your shoes outside. Worth a visit:
Tourist streets
There is only one main street in Gokarna, which can be considered a tourist street. Here are the main temples, guesthouses, travel offices and cafes.
Along the street there are shops selling ritual and household products. So all possible shopping will have to be done only here. It is very convenient to stay in the Main Road area; you don’t have to waste time on the road, a taxi is always at hand.
What to see in 1 day
In 1 day you can see the whole of Gokarna and even walk around it, taking in all the beaches:
What to see in the area
If you come to Gokarna for a long time, you will have time to explore the surrounding area. There are many more attractions in the 100 km district than in Gokarna itself. I myself always planned a trip to Gokarna so that I could see other interesting places along the way. Here is our approximate route: North - South - Gokarna - Jog Falls - Murudeshwara. Travel between these points is very short, a few hours. Therefore, this route is suitable for those who are vacationing in India for a short time.
Mirjan Fort
How to get there: The closest fort to Gokarna is located 12 km in a straight line from it, the detour will take a little longer. The trip is perfect for a day's bike ride. You can also take a regular bus by telling the conductor where you want to go.
The fort itself is not too big, but quite well preserved. The building was erected at the beginning of the 17th century; Portuguese and Islamic styles can be traced in its architecture. Near the fort there is a Catholic church and an old cemetery.
Fort Mirjan looks especially beautiful during the rainy season and immediately after it, when it is covered with bright green vegetation, as if with soft moss.
Open from morning until 17:00.
Murudeshvara
IN 55 km from Gokarna there is a small village of Murudeshwara, familiar to everyone thanks to the huge 37-meter statue of Shiva (Murudeshwara Temple). Goan travel agencies willingly include it in their excursions, often combining it with Gokarna.
If you wish, you can stay overnight here in nearby guesthouses. Tourists are interested in the complex itself, consisting of a gopuram (temple tower) 78 meters high, a statue of Shiva and a temple. The tower has an elevator that takes you to the top floor and enjoys the view. Inside the complex, under Shiva himself, there is a museum with a gallery of sculptures that depict the most striking scenes of the Mahabharata (Indian epic). By the way, the complex itself is a remake; it was rebuilt in 2002, but the temple inside is quite old.
How to get there: by regular bus to the Murudeshwar Bus Stand, you won’t need any other transport - the attractions of Murudeshwar are located in a busy place next to a transport interchange.
Jog Falls
This is the most high waterfall in India (height - 253 m)! You can't miss the chance to look at this beauty. Like all waterfalls, Jog Falls is at its most beautiful during the monsoon season or just after it. But at this time there are few European tourists in India. I visited the waterfall twice: in January and February, the view was very impressive.
At the top there is a good observation deck from which you can enjoy the view of the waterfall. But the most interesting thing awaits below. 1,200 steps lead to the base of the waterfall and the lake formed below it. You can swim in it, but you need to do it very carefully: you can fall between huge boulders.
How to get there: We traveled from Gokarna to the waterfalls by taxi; we rented a car from one of the travel offices on the main street.
Mohini Shikara
This is a natural monument consisting of high unusual rocks and another route option for travelers on bikes.
The rocks themselves are very beautiful and high; I have never seen such landscapes anywhere in India.
How to get there: get to public transport It won't be that easy. The nearest town is Yana, from there you can get to the rocks by taxi or take trekking.
Food. What to try
Most of the local cafes in Gokarna are vegetarian. They have a standard set of Indian dishes:
This is quite enough to live and eat comfortably. Food in local cafes is very cheap. For 1.5 USD (100 INR) you can eat to your heart's content.
What struck me most was the huge selection of freshly squeezed juices at ridiculous prices, all 2-3 times cheaper than Goan juice centers. The price of juices starts from 0.3 USD (20 INR) per glass.
There is a choice on the beaches tourist food a lot more. The Italians who previously vacationed here brought the culture of eating pizza and pasta, the Israelis brought falafel and hummus. Here you can also find chicken and fish dishes. In the nearest shops and markets you can buy all the necessary products: bread, milk, eggs, snacks.
Budget
- Pai Restaurant,
- Mantra Cafe,
- Maitreyee juice centre,
- Namaste Cafe,
- Prakruti Cafe.
Mid-level
- Prema,
- Cafe 1987,
- Little Paradise inn,
- Chez Christophe,
- Flower garden restaurant.
Expensive
Gokarna is definitely not the place where you can find expensive restaurants with international cuisine. Most cafes are designed for unpretentious Indian tourists.
Holidays
Maha Shivaratri
The main holiday of Gokarna, translated as “great night of Shiva”. Festival dates for the following years:
- 2017 - from February 24 to 25,
- 2018 - from February 13 to 14,
- 2019 - from March 4 to 5,
- 2020 - from February 21 to 22,
- 2021 - from March 11 to 12,
- 2022 - from March 1 to 2,
- 2023 - from February 18 to 19.
This is one of the most revered festivals in Hinduism. main holiday for Shaivists, it is also celebrated by yogis, tantrikas and other spiritual seekers. It is believed that meditation on the night of Shiva has powers several times greater than usual. Hindus fast the day before, perform pujas (temple and home rituals), and pray. Pilgrims from all over India come to Gokarna, but most of them, of course, are in. They take a bath in Lake Kotitirhe, washing away all their sins.
Finding accommodation in Gokarna on Maha Shivaratri is very difficult, guesthouses are full, so try to book rooms in advance. By the way, if on ordinary days the doors of many temples are closed to foreigners, on Maha Shivaratri you can get inside any (though the queues will be several times longer than usual).
At any time, on the main street of Gokarna near the Mahableshwar Temple, you will see a huge wooden chariot. These can be found in many cities in India. On major religious holidays, the chariot is driven by several dozen people. It travels through the streets of the city, with a statue or image of a deity placed inside. Thousands of believers line the road to see and touch the shrine.
Safety. What to watch out for
In Gokarna, rest is quite safe and calm. There are no parties here until the morning with alcohol, so there is much less inappropriate public. However, it is worth following basic safety rules everywhere:
- In Gokarna itself, tourists should follow a dress code. This is a sacred city where it is not customary to wear revealing clothes. Men should walk with their torsos covered, and girls should cover their legs. You don't have to wear a toe-length skirt, but leave the bare midriff and micro shorts for Goa. You can walk on the beach as you please.
- If you plan to stay in beach huts, bring your own padlock from home. It will come in handy on all your trips around India. It is better to hang your own strong lock on the front door.
- Don't walk on the rocks after sunset. All walks between the beaches are best done during the daytime. After sunset, such walks may be unsafe. The road is already quite difficult, don’t look for unnecessary adventures.
Things to do
In Gokarna you need to walk and bask on the beach! This is the main form of local leisure. Sometimes you can find advertisements for yoga or Sanskrit classes on poles in the village. Only the teacher will tell you about the price and time of classes. In general, there are many yogis who vacation in Gokarna and practice on their own right on the beach, so the chances of finding like-minded people are high.
Shopping and shops
Gokarna is not the best place for shopping, but you can find some things here. Gradually, the range of tourist goods is expanding, and here you can easily buy things that are sold in Goa. Basically, these are the same consumer goods: cheap cotton clothes that will die after the first wash, bags, backpacks.
The main street of Gokarna is starting to resemble Goa, with the same range of goods. And the prices are almost the same. A skirt or alibaba pants can be purchased for 3–4.6 USD (200–300 INR). In the center, not far from the bass stand, there is a food market, and a little on the other side there is a fish market, which is open in the mornings.
There are no specialized markets or, especially, shops with clothes or souvenirs in Gokarna. The nearest shopping can be found in Goa, Bangalore, Mysore.
Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift
You can choose religious items as souvenirs; there are no problems with this in Gokarna.
Bracelets, images and figurines of Indian gods and other paraphernalia are sold near any temple. Product prices start from 0.15 USD (10 INR).
How to get around the city
The easiest way to get around the city is on foot. The distances there are so short that you can walk the entire Gokarna in an hour. You can even get to the beaches on your own.
Taxi. What features exist
Auto-rickshaws drive around the city. This transport is convenient to use when traveling from Gokarna to the beaches. The cost of the trip will average 1.5–3 USD (100-200 INR), depending on the distance of the beach.
Buses
The central bus station is located in the city center. You can take buses from Gokarna to any part of India, but be prepared for a lot of transfers. There is simply nowhere to go around the city by bus.
If you have any questions, please contact the conductor, he will show you the desired stop and suggest a route. Pay him for the fare on the bus.
Transport rental
Bike
You can rent a bike in Gokran. They don't appear on every corner like in Goa, but they are possible to find. Ask at travel offices, the owner of your guesthouse or taxi drivers. No documents are required to rent a bike.
Prices are not bad at all - on average 4.6 USD (300 INR) per scooter per day.
Auto
At travel offices you can also rent a car with a driver for long trips, for example, to Jog Falls or Murudeshwara. The most common option is Suzuki.
Here the price depends on the route and your ability to bargain.
Gokarna - holidays with children
Many people come to Gokarna with children both for a long period of time and for several days. Calm sea, fresh fruit, peace and quiet are conducive to relaxing with kids.
The most important thing is to get there comfortably and find good accommodation. Choose a sleeper bus or a taxi: the fewer changes there are, the better. You will have to choose accommodation closer to the beach so as not to have to walk to swim every day. In all other respects, Gokarna is conducive to children's holidays; many mothers move here after noisy Goa.
Rent a Car- also an aggregation of prices from all rental companies, all in one place, let's go!
Anything to add?
When talking about a beach holiday in India, only Goa comes to mind! The most advanced travelers remember Kerala. But there's one more thing amazing place- a town that can combine all the flavor of India and beautiful beaches.
– Small town in Karnataka state. It is easy to visit for all Goa holiday lovers as it is very easy to get to. Why is it so interesting?
This city is a major religious center of Hindus, so thousands of pilgrims come here. Particularly large crowds of people are observed on major Hindu holidays, which occur very often. "" translated from Sanskrit means "cow's ear", according to legend, it was in this place that Shiva 
appeared from the ear of the goddess Prithivi, who turned into a cow.
is the second most popular place in Karnataka after the ancient city of Hampi. A few years ago it was almost impossible to find white tourist. But this is a great opportunity to break away from the hustle and bustle of Goa and get acquainted with part of the real, non-Portuguese India. Today the situation is changing and more and more people are traveling to Gokarna to enjoy the beautiful beaches and see one of the centers of the Hindu religion.
Outside of Goa, it is worth remembering that India is a very religious and conservative country; there is no need to walk around Gokarna and other Indian cities in revealing clothes and behave provocatively. This is a completely different kind of vacation. In Gokarna you can find a yoga or Sanskrit teacher, chat with local residents and see how people live at the temples.
How to get there?
Can become a transit point for those moving to or from Hampi. From Hampi to Gokarna there is a slipper bus, a bus with lie-flat seats, like a train, it goes at night, so the road is easy and calm.
By bus. The easiest way to get to Gokarna will be for vacationers on the southern beaches of Goa. From Palolem, Colva, Cavelossim or Benolim you need to get to Karwar bus station. This can be done by local bus or taxi. Karwar is closest to Palolem. From Karwar you need to take a bus to Ankola, and from Ankola to Gokarna.
Traveling by bus is not at all difficult; they all arrive at the same bus station (bus station) and you just need to change trains. Moreover, buses run frequently, so you won’t have to wait long. The ticket can be purchased either at the window at the station or on the bus itself from the conductor.
For vacationers in north Goa, the journey will be longer. First you need to get to the main southern city - Margao. It is the starting point for the entire southern direction; Margao has a large bus station and a railway station, from which you can get anywhere. There is a direct bus from Margao to Karwar, so the further path is the same as in the previous option. This is what the route looks like for those traveling from the north of Goa: village in the north - Mapsa - Panjim - Margao - Karwar - Ankola - . This path is quite long and tiring; you can spend almost the whole day on it.
By train. Trains run from the station in Margao and go to the station near Gokarna, from where you will need to take a taxi to get to the town itself.
The easiest and fastest way to reach Gokarna directly is by taxi. But it will cost more than one thousand rupees. And traveling by local transport, where tickets cost from 5 rupees per trip, will be cheaper and will be remembered forever.
Where to stay
There is not as much housing in Gokarna itself as in Goa, but it is there. You need to know in advance whether there is any religious holiday on the day of arrival; if so, this will significantly complicate the search for a place to stay. Housing prices are low - from 200 rupees per night. There are several hotels, they are more expensive. Guesthouse rooms are standard - bed, shower, toilet, fan. It is better to settle closer to the city center.
There are several cafes in the city for local, familiar Goan restaurants with a huge selection of dishes cannot be found here. The food is mostly vegetarian, spicy and little known to the mass tourist.
Food prices are very low.
– a very small town! There is a bus station, the main temple (tourists are not allowed there, but you can see from the outside), a shopping street, several cafes and small houses of local residents. Tourists come here for the beaches, seeing Gokarna as a transit point. Here you can pleasantly spend a couple of days, immersing yourself in the atmosphere of Indian life and spirituality. And then head to the beaches of Gokarna.
Om Beach
You can get to Om Beach by rickshaw, it's not far. Or you can walk. The closest beach is Kudli Beach - the road to it begins immediately behind the main Gokarna temple (there are signs). Kudli Beach is a wide and long beach, but mostly locals relax on it. All tourists head to the following 3 beaches: Om Beach, Half Moon Beach and Paradise Beach.
The very first and closest is Om Beach, it was named so because of its shape, reminiscent of the “Om” sign. And all the names of cafes and guesthouses located on the beach have “Om” in their names. This is the largest and most populated of all three beaches. If you get there by rickshaw, he will drop you off at a small platform, from which, going down the stairs, you can get to the beach itself. That's why there are the most people there. There are guesthouses on the beach - the simplest ones, for unpretentious travelers. Most of them are frail bamboo huts with outdoor facilities. There is no need to ask about hot water; electricity is intermittent. Each guesthouse has its own cafe. The prices are quite reasonable, many menu items are cheaper than in Goa, and there is more choice than in the city. There are dishes familiar to Europeans here - soups, sandwiches, salads. It’s worth mentioning right away about alcohol in Gokarna. Since the city is sacred, alcohol is difficult to obtain. As you know, Goa is the only state where alcohol is not taxed. There are no such prices as in Goa anywhere else in India. And in general, you won’t find so many alcohol stores anywhere. In Karnataka you can find 1-2 bars per village. Similarly, in Gokarna, alcohol is not sold openly on the beaches, and if it is available in cafes, you must be prepared for the price to be higher than in free Goa.
The beach itself is good, there are rocks, the nature is beautiful. The sand is coarse and yellow. There are many locals on the beach who are not yet so spoiled by white-skinned bathers and are not shy about looking at them. You must be prepared for the fact that you can become the object of close attention and a photo shoot. There is no entertainment, nowhere to go, and, of course, no parties. European youth, Rastafarians, and a new generation of hippies come to these places. During the day, people lounge on the beach, sit against fishing boats, play with puppies, read, or play frisbee. In the evenings they light fires and sing songs with a guitar. The holiday is absolutely relaxed and leisurely; people rarely stay here for long.
Half Moon Beach
The beaches following Om Beach can be reached on foot, or you can swim by fishing boat. The walking path is quite long and difficult, but very impressive and picturesque! The road passes over rocky peaks and through the jungle. There are stunning views from the heights. It is best to go early in the morning, because not everyone can withstand such a path in the heat during the day. Half Moon Beach is a small beach with several cafes and guesthouses, literally a couple of them. There you can rest, swim or drink something. Most travelers are interested in Paradise Beach.
In India, every second beach is called Paradise. The beach at Gokarna is more like this paradise. It is quite large, but smaller than Om Beach. There are cafes and bamboo huts for overnight stays on the beach. The electricity situation here is even worse. People come here only for relaxation. The atmosphere is so relaxing that you can lie in a hammock or fishing boat all day without noticing how time flies. At the peak of the heat, people gather in a few cafes (there are 2-3 of them on the beach) and chat, drink juices, and read books. In the evening you can take a fishing boat and sail back to Om Beach.
While in Gokarna, you can visit another important religious place - the city of Murudeshwar, which houses the largest statue of Shiva in the world, 37 meters high. You can get there by taxi (the ride takes about 2 hours) or by bus with transfers. A common option is to take a taxi for the whole day and see Murudeshwar and its surroundings, you can also stop by the Jog Falls.
So, upon arrival in Murudeshwar, you can take a short walk in the area of the main attraction. There is a beach nearby, and even a small amusement park (very specific). On the beach you can eat ice cream and take pictures. Again, you need to be prepared for a lot of attention from the locals. There are always a lot of people in this part of Murudeshwar, everyone will want to take a photo or shake hands with a white person. There are also a lot of beggars in these places.
The main attractions of Murudeshwar are the statue of Shiva and the gopuram tower - the gateway to the main temple. The statue itself is completely new - it was built in 2002, but the temple was erected back in 1542. Before entering the gopuram, you must remove your shoes; people only walk barefoot throughout the entire temple (as in any Hindu temple). Inside the tower there is an elevator where you can go to the very top and explore all the surroundings from observation deck, which is simply the top floor of the tower, it is completely closed, but the view is very beautiful.
Having gone downstairs, you can go into the temple itself, there are usually a lot of people there, everyone goes through traditional rituals, tourists are allowed to visit them. You can make a small monetary offering and receive the traditional blessing of a red dot on your forehead.
And finally, the statue of Shiva itself. It stands on a small hill with stairs leading up it. You will also have to walk around the statue barefoot. Below Shiva there is a cave, a closed corridor in which scenes of important religious subjects are depicted. All of them are accompanied by English comments.
Murudeshwar is a very small town, but you can find accommodation and cafes there too. There are several quite decent guesthouses on the main street, starting from 300 rupees. The restaurants offer a wide selection of dishes and low prices.
And its surroundings are worth leaving serene Goa for a couple of days and plunging into the atmosphere of real India.
ANDinformation kindly provided
