Who would have thought that a short journey from the neighboring state of Karnataka, or rather to the small town of Gokarna, would take place with such... But nevertheless, this is life and new experience, which is inevitable in an independent journey, gives exclusivity and variety. We got there by train at about five in the evening on December 17, 2011.

Continuing the previous story, let me remind you that I arrived in Gokarna with a Russian guy Sasha, our other friend Ilgiz fell asleep on the train and passed the stop. I met them by chance in Arambol.

We stayed at a new hotel in the center, sharing a room and its cost was 400 rupees for two. It worked out to 200 rupees per person. The room looked quite decent, and the bathroom was clean and everything worked. They even cleaned and washed the floor, just like in a real hotel.

I first heard about the existence of this place from Sasha. And already on the very first evening, walking down the street past two Indian temples, a very pleasant feeling of inner comfort, safety, tranquility or something appeared, a feeling of soft and pleasant energy and coziness. This happens very rarely, because I am often in tension, haste and vigilance. And then I relaxed, became kinder, and all the accumulated negativity disappeared instantly. I immediately felt positive influences and changes. Amazing!!!

Gokarna

Gokarna albeit a small place, it is sacred and overgrown with numerous ancient legends. Translated from Sanskrit it means cow's ear. Look where Gokarna is on the map of India, if you zoom in a little, it really looks like a cow’s ear.

Here is one of the main shrines, very revered by Hindus - the Shiva Lingam and temples, in one of which this very Lingam is kept.

Tradition says that a certain king carried the sacred gift of God Shiva - the linga, across all of India to Sri Lanka. However, wherever he is placed on the ground, there he will remain forever. Stopping at Gokarna for prayer or rest, the sacred gift was placed on the ground and remained standing forever. Therefore, this place is considered holy for Hindus. And Gokarna is a holy town - a village. Read all kinds of legendary and historical details on the website of the city of Gokarna in English.

Every day, several buses with pilgrims - adults and schoolchildren, as well as private cars - arrive in Gokarna. All of them are beautifully decorated with garlands of fresh flowers. The locals are used to it, and so are vacationing tourists. Especially on weekends there are many pilgrims. At the end of the street, by the sea, everything is so crowded with cars. Pilgrims go to the temple, perform puja (pray and perform the required rituals). And then they go to bathe in the sea. Sometimes a whole chain is built. They also love to go boating, since they don’t know how to swim. They go waist-deep and back. The women are in sari, the national dress. In the main temple there are naturally sacred cows, apparently these are the most sacred times in the temple, they are respected there, loved and fed, so they look very beautiful.

And these are Indian schoolchildren pilgrims coming from the temple.

In the middle of the main street in Gokarna there is this interesting thing - antique chariot.

One of the most important religious holidays of Hindus is Maha Shivaratri, celebrated in February on the night of the 13-14th day of the waning moon of the month of Magh. I was not able to catch him, but they say that on this day the ancient ritual chariots, which are visible in the photo, are taken out. People throw their gifts to God into them - fruits, gifts. The oldest chariot - 'Dodda Ratha' - as the locals call it, is located, as it were, in a special shelter-garage during normal times. Its wheels are completely wooden and larger than a man. And the small one - ‘Sanna Ratha’ stands next to it on the street, in front of my hotel.

Local flavor is present everywhere in Gokarna. Believers live here, many of them are Brahmins. On the street, bunches of grass hang as amulets and probably protect against evil spirits. There are images of Indian gods in every house.
I was no longer so frightened by old houses, cows, the amount of garbage, barefoot people and a host of other shortcomings from my point of view at that time. After all, it’s been exactly a month since I’ve been traveling around India on my own. Even everything seemed more interesting, you just need to accept and fit into this world. For me then it was oh so difficult. There are many tourists here from different countries— there are also Russian travelers like me, especially Europeans, but less than in .

On the very first evening, I was pleasantly surprised by the cheap prices in cafes and shops for groceries, food, fruits - for everything. I chatted with a tourist from Denmark, he told me about Kudli Beach (beach), where he came specifically to buy fruit, because it was more expensive there and there was no choice. At the same time, he put everything in his backpack, categorically refusing a plastic bag, so as not to create garbage. I immediately assessed the “tourist audience” as reasonable and decent :), which made me very happy. He also recommended me a juice bar, which was a tiny eatery with four tables, which at first glance did not inspire confidence. But in fact, a local guy there makes the most delicious and cheapest fresh juice from various fruits with ice. It was there that I got into the habit of going every day, or even more often. Yes, I drank juice with this unknown origin of ice. Alive, as you can see. The juice cost 15-25 rupees. They also sold homemade ice cream for 8 rupees per scoop, although the cheapest I ate was for 5 rupees - different types, from coconut to chocolate - delicious. Especially after spicy Indian food.

The next day, Sasha showed where the beach was, and then went to look for cheaper accommodation. I was going to explore the city and also do some marketing of housing and everything else that came my way, but first I wanted to drink some juice.

By the way, at the end of the main street of Gokarna, where the beach begins, there is a tent where they make sugar cane juice. But this time I didn’t dare try it, I just took a photo (sorry I deleted the video). Sugar cane sticks (3-5 pieces) are passed through this simple setup several times, a piece of lime (a very small lemon, but more aromatic), ice, and sometimes a piece of ginger are added and it turns out very tasty. Cost 10 rupees.

Well, I hope I was able to get a general idea of Gokarna, where my journey fortunately took me, but this is just the beginning...

Here the beauty of nature and greenery is combined with the ubiquitous Indian litter. And spirituality with asceticism and some kind of indifference or even ignorance. Energy gives pleasant sensations and a feeling of connection with nature and one’s Self. This is their life; it takes both time and desire to understand it. Although I admit, I often judged and was categorical about many things, but this is just what was in my head. A girl from Moscow, with the habits of a perfectionist, striving for everything right, beautiful and the best, a former package tourist from a 5* hotel, and now traveling around India as a backpacker, and even without any plans.

I went to explore the city and find out what, where, and how much :) I looked at the beach and even took note of a room on a quiet street. Comfort and beauty around me were still important to me, and of course the inexpensive price.

On the way to the beach, on the main street there is a small bridge over a canal or river, it looks very beautiful, on the one hand.

And this is a view of the same stream, only in the other direction - such a contrast.

On my way back I met Ilgiz, that second friend who passed the stop when. He arrived on the same day, but spent the night at Om Beach. Sasha, meanwhile, called and said that he had found new housing on the main beach of Gokarna, but it would only be available tomorrow. We didn’t have a third bed in our room, so I offered to look at the room I found for 250 rupees. Ilgiz also wanted to live at least somewhat more comfortably than in bambuhat on the shore. Moreover, he wanted to leave somewhere in a couple of days. He left me an English dictionary, said that he didn’t want to carry it with him, which is exactly what I really needed, and we went back to a relatively quiet street.

What's happened Bambuhat- This is a house made entirely of palm leaves woven into large mats, which are also used for the construction of light houses. Cheap and fast. I liked the hotel room, but for me alone it was expensive.

The next day in the morning, Sasha collected half of his things, said that he would pick up the rest later, otherwise it would be hard to carry, and moved to a house on the main beach - Main Beach, costing 100 rupees per day. I stayed at the hotel - I liked it there so far. Read the continuation of the story about life in Gokarna in the following parts, there are many more interesting things and beautiful photos of Gokarna.

Article from Denis Bashmakov.
Gokarna is beautiful place, where you should be and take your mind off everything, rest a little and move on. Therefore, today I will talk a little about the city in India, Gokarna.

Gokarna on the map

- this is a beautiful village, I wouldn’t dare call it a city, perhaps it once was, it is located between the well-known, especially ours, Goa and Kerala.

Transport in Gokarna India, how to get to Gokarna

The city of Gokarna in India can be reached by buses and trains. Planes, unfortunately, do not fly here. Or maybe this is fortunate. I got there by train. Railroad station located quite far from the beach and therefore you will need transport.

The choice in Gokarna is not very large - taxis and rickshaws waiting for the next client at the exit of the station, or a local bus. But to get on it, you will need to walk 1 km on foot to the intersection, from where, after waiting for the bus, you will get to Gokarna.

Accommodation in Gokarna India

So, you have arrived at the place. What's the first thing you need to do? Right! Find housing. I still advise you to come to Gokarna in India when the season is already over. Why? Yes, because you can get a reasonable price reduction on accommodation, and it’s somehow quieter on the beach. But, as they say, to each his own. So choose based on your needs. Nowadays you can easily rent rooms or bungalows for 100-200 rupees.

Beaches of Gokarna

Oh yes, I forgot to mention that there are several beaches in Gokarna India:
1. Temple beach - the largest and longest beach in Gokarna, where I live;

2. Kudle beach - located across the hill from ours. Smaller in size. But it creates a slight sense of comfort that it is located between two hills;

3. Om beach - a beach in Gokarna, which is probably more famous. There are mostly tourists there. I counted a couple of restaurants and that's it. Prices, as far as I understand, will be higher than in the previous two. Yes, and you have to get to it somehow. As a rule, rickshaws come to the rescue here. But what’s good there is that it’s a fairly calm sea, beautiful views of the rocks that are located along the edges and in the middle of the beach. Beautiful. I have nothing to add.

After it there are a couple more small beaches, but I didn’t get there. For me, Temple beach is more suitable. Now I will list why.
1. A large and long beach, where you can walk in the evenings and evenings, when it becomes fresh and comfortable;
2. Nearby is the Gokarna market, where you can buy everything you need, from groceries, cookies, to clothes, musical instruments and souvenirs;
3. Here you can go for a walk, which is unlikely to be found on the beaches of Gokarna Om and Kudle;
4. The bus station is quite close and can be reached on foot;
5. Many people come here first and stay;
6. Prices in this area in Gokarna India are lower;
7. At the end of the beach there is a spring with clean and they even say healing water. So you don't have to spend money on water. In India, you generally don’t have to spend money on it if you are more careful;
8. A food and vegetable market opens on Thursdays, and a fish market on weekends. And all this is close to Temple Beach.

Perhaps that's enough. As a result, I can only say that it’s worth visiting Gokarna at least once. Maybe this is where you will find your place. Well, if not, then continue your search, making sure that Gokarna is not for you.

I don’t know what this place looks like during the season of the influx of tourists, but I liked it right now, when there are not so many of them, and due to this you can bargain and save on a lot.

In general, travel, relax, explore new places. You already know a little about one of these places in India. Go ahead, friends!
P.s. It is quite possible to live in Gokarna in India for 5-6 thousand rubles a month (out of season - now). Or maybe you can do it even cheaper.

This was an article from Denis Bashmakov about the city of Gokarna in India. Now you know how to get to Gokarna, what kind of accommodation there is and what beaches there are, and you can decide whether you should go to this village.

One of the most popular destinations for travel from Goa and from Kerala is Gokarna, Karnataka. And it’s not surprising, because the state of Karnataka is located just between the two most popular beach areas in India and boasts no less beautiful beaches and a very unique relaxed atmosphere.

How to get to Gokarna

From Kerala

We were traveling to Gokarna from Varkala, so we took our favorite Cleartrip(by the way, don’t forget to download mobile app , it greatly facilitates movement around India) bought.

There are two stations directly next to Gokarna and . But we were unable to find at least one train that stops there.

The easiest option to get from Kerala ( , ) to Gokarna is by train 16346 NETRAVATHI EXPRESS. But his closest stops to Gokarna are these - he arrives here around 3:30 morning, if it goes without delay, and - the train arrives here at 4:50 in the morning, again, if it goes according to schedule. From any of these stations you can easily get to Goarna by bus. By the way, the travel time from Varkala to Gokarna is about 18 hours.

In Kumta, the nearest bus station is, one might say, within walking distance, but given the arrival time of the train, you will have to wait quite a long time for the bus. A taxi from Kumta to Gokarna will cost approximately 700 rupees.

In Karwar the bus station is approx. 15 minutes drive from the railway, travel by tuk-tuk will cost 120 rupees. In the morning there may be no direct buses to Gokarna, so you will have to go with transfers:

Karwar - Ankola (travel time approx. 45 minutes, fare 33 rupees for one);
Ankola - Gokarna (travel time is also about 45 minutes, 25 rupees for one).

From Goa

Getting to Gokarna from Goa is somewhat easier and faster:

1. Local Bus (Local basses or, in Russian, local buses)

This is perhaps the cheapest way to get from Goa to Gokarna. Direct message Goa - Gokarna Locals have no bass and will have to make 4-6 transfers. The route is something like this:

We get to Mapusa if you live in northern Goa;
Mapusa - Panaji;
Pananji - Margao;
Margao - Karwar.

And we get from Karwar in the same way as described above: Karwar - Ankola - Gokarna. There is another option to find a bus Pananji - Ankola, but this is a very rare beast and you need to adapt to its schedule. So perhaps the option with more transfers will actually be faster.

If you live in South Goa, then you are in luck as there is a direct bus Palolem - Karwar, which means speeds up travel from Goa to Gokarna.

2. Train

The most suitable option is train 12619 MATSYAGADHA EXPRESS. And, lo and behold, he stops right at Gokarna Road, though you will have to board it in Margao. Just go 1,5 hour, so you can take the sleeper class without fear. You can read about what kind of animal this “sleeper” is in the post.

3. Car or bike

Rent a car (from 1200 rupees per day) or bike and get there yourself. When renting a vehicle, you need to know one very important thing related to the color of the license plates. In India, license plates on vehicles can be divided into two large groups: white (black inscriptions on a white background) and yellow (yellow inscriptions on a black background). So, white numbers indicate that the transport is intended for private use by locals and cannot be rented out. Naturally, everyone ignores this except the brave servants of the transport police. In our first season in Goa, we also rented a bike with white numbers and got acquainted with it.

A couple of times we also had to meet law enforcement officers. We were wearing helmets, with open category “A”, but with white numbers. The police officers kindly say that they understand that we are not at fault, but we have to pay, at least not an official fine, but 200-300 rupees. Moreover, they even agree to call the owner of the bike and agree with him on the amount of “penalties”, and upon return the owner will return everything to you. Have you ever seen an Indian who voluntarily returns money? That's the same!

Yellow rooms are specifically intended for renting, but... On a rented vehicle You cannot travel out of state with yellow license plates. This is Indian logic. You can rent and use it, but only within the state.

4. Taxi

Where to live in Gokarna

Gokarna has three main beaches ( Maine Beach, Kudli beach And Om Beach) Most of the guest houses and hotels are located on them. On Booking.com, the choice of accommodation in Gokarna leaves much to be desired, so the only way to find decent accommodation is to walk around, go to all the guest houses, look and ask for prices. I’ll say right away that the price tag for housing in Gokarna is, for the most part, somewhat inadequate. They're asking for a crumbling shack without hot water or internet. 1500 rupees per night and they also say that it is cheap.

We found ourselves in Gokarna at the very beginning of the season and, having studied all the available offers, decided to stop at Kudli Beach in an establishment called. Quite nice spacious houses. There are WiFi, although the Internet is not always present in it. Same story.

The Internet in Gokarna is generally a sore subject, but more on that later. In theory, there is hot water, but, apparently, it only becomes hot when the sun is hot, otherwise it was impossible to get anything even remotely resembling warm water from the tap.

There is a cafe on site where the food is slow, this is the norm in India except Varkala, but it is delicious. True, “delicious” only applies to Asian and Indian cuisine; European food is very mediocre, just like in many other establishments in Gokarna.

We paid for a house in Kudle Ocean Front 1000 rupees per day, but initially asked 2000 rupees and we bargained long and hard.

If you want to live away from the action of Cudley Beach, then you can stay at Main Beach. The first night we lived. Quite a simple and ascetic house. Price from 400 rupees per night.

The manager of this place is Maxim, and this is not an interpretation of the Indian name. He will expertly give advice from an experienced traveler about Gokarna, pointing out where to go, what to see, where to eat. For which I thank him very much.

Rent a bike in Gokarna

There are quite a few rental offices in Gokarna, but the condition of the bikes for rent leaves much to be desired. Before you decide to rent a bike, we recommend testing it, riding it, checking the brakes, wheels, etc. Many rental bikes do not have one or both mirrors; finding a bike with both mirrors is a difficult task ☺.

Original price – 600 rupees per day, that’s exactly how much visiting tourists from Bangalore rent bikes for, without haggling at all. Normal price is approx. 300 rupees per day.

We rented a bike in and are basically satisfied. By the way, you can pay for a bike here by card without any additional fees, which is also very convenient, considering that there are certain problems with getting cash in Gokarna.

ATMs in Gokarna

There are ATMs in Gokarna, but for some reason we were unable to withdraw money from any of them. We ended up withdrawing money in Kumta, with absolutely no problems, but you can’t get to Kumta. Therefore, provide yourself with the necessary amount of cash in rupees or dollars in advance (there is plenty of currency exchange in Gokarna).

Internet in Gokarna

The Internet in Gokarna turned out to be our Achilles heel. There are catastrophically few guest houses and cafes where there is a decent stable signal. It seems that at the height of the season their number increases, but somehow this is doubtful.

Throughout all our travels in India, mobile Internet from Jio has always helped us out. But in Gokarna he also began to play tricks: I work here, I don’t work here, and here I generally go into a reboot. So Gokarna is not a very suitable place for those people who need the Internet for work. But if you just surf social networks, that’s ok.

Beaches of Gokarna

In Gokarna there are three, let’s say, main beaches and several additional ones, for whom the first ones were not enough. Each of them has its own feature and its own characteristics. I’ll tell you briefly about each of them, starting from the north and gradually moving south.

Main Beach (main beach) in Gokarna

- This is the northernmost beach of Gokarna. Kilometers and kilometers of sand. At the beginning of the season Maine Beach– this is the most secluded place you can imagine.

In a few hours of a leisurely walk you can meet about 10 fishermen and at most a couple of tourists. I suspect that this situation is not very typical for the high season, but in the low season everything was exactly like that.

Where to stay in Gokarna on Main Beach

We liked the guest house at Main Beach in Gokarna. But when we were there, the construction of a new building was in full swing, so we couldn’t count on peace and quiet due to the constant screams of the builders.

But there are very spacious rooms with good repair. True, there is no Internet, but it catches Gio with varying degrees of success.

If you want something calmer, cheaper and ascetic, then you can choose the houses in which we stayed on the first night. We wrote about them above.

Where to eat at Main Beach in Gokarna

I’ll say right away that the food in Gokarna didn’t work out for us, especially in contrast to the excellent ones. We ate in two places on Main Beach: Namaste Samudra and in Prema. I'll tell you about them:

Cafe at Namaste Samudra

An ordinary cafe that serves good breakfasts and quite tasty juices.

It’s difficult to say that the food here is really tasty, it’s normal, nothing more, but better than in many other places in Gokarna. The price tag is average.

Prema

Prema considered the iconic restaurant of Gokarna. People meet here and share their impressions. Locals come here, but in much smaller numbers than visiting tourists.

The reason for this popularity is difficult to understand. The food is very so-so. I was especially pleased with the Jewish salad, which is a large plate of grated vegetables. Salad price – 170 rupees, which, you see, is not enough for India. And to get a dressing for grated vegetables, you need to pay another minimum 30 rupees.

This is truly a Jewish salad, may the representatives of this ancient nation forgive me. The only thing I liked about Prem was the juices. The freshly squeezed juices here are more of a thick fruit soup than juice. Tasty and healthy!

Things to do at Main Beach in Gokarna

In addition to swimming in the sea, Maine Beach It is also attractive because, in fact, on it (more precisely, in the immediate vicinity of one of its sections) the main attractions of the sacred Gokarna are located.

After all, for every Shaivite, Gokarna is not so much a place for a beach holiday, it is sacred place, because according to legend, it was here that one of the most revered gods, Shiva, was born from a cow’s ear. It was this legend that gave the name to the city of Gokarna, translated from Sanskrit “Go” is “cow”, “karna” is “ear”.

Mahabaleshwar Shiva Temple

The main attraction of Gokarna is the ancient Mahabaleshwar Shiva Temple, which in translation means “great power”, and the power is not simple, but the most, as they say, masculine.

IN Mahabaleshwar Temple in Gokarna the most important Shivalinga is kept, or simply put, the reproductive organ of Shiva. According to local beliefs, the Mahabaleshwar lingam is more than one and a half million years old and is considered almost the most ancient Shivalingam.

But if you are not a Shiva or at least not an Indian, then you will not be able to touch the ancient lingam; foreigners are strictly prohibited from entering the lingam. You can go into the temple itself, but not into the inner part where the Shivalinga is kept.

Near Mahabaleshwar Temple you can see wooden chariots called Ratha Yatra- the chariots of Shiva, on which he performed all his feats. They are also considered sacred; on holidays, Gods, or rather idols, are taken out on these chariots. Chariots are usually pushed by quite a large number of people, in addition, quite a few people die or are maimed under their wheels - in a fit of religious ecstasy, fanatics throw themselves under the wheels of these colossuses, hoping to thus escape from this life.

Holy Lake Koti Teertha

According to one of the legends lake (pond) Koti Tirtha and there is that very “cow’s ear” from which “the land of Gokarna came from.”

Name Koti Tirtha translated from Sanskrit as “a reservoir of a thousand holy springs.” This reservoir attracts thousands of pilgrims who want to bathe in it and be cleansed of sins.

There are signs on the shore of the lake stating that the lake is very deep, there are crocodiles in it and people drown here every year. I don’t know how deep it really is and whether there are crocodiles here, I highly doubt it, but I don’t even want to get too close to the lake, let alone get into the water. But this is for me, but for others it’s very ok.

Unfortunately, such popularity does not benefit the pond itself, and it looks more like a sewer than an object of religious worship. At least for us, the desire to plunge into it did not arise from the word “at all.”

Rama Teertha Temple

If you go to the side Kudli beach, then you can find a small temple and a spring.

I do not recommend doing this on Sunday, when the spring is literally “captured” by Indian tourist pilgrims who not only take ablutions here, but carry out a full washing and washing program.

But personally, we liked the natural beauty of Gokarna more than all the temples and religious sites, which no matter how hard we tried, we could not be imbued with spiritual awe.

Ruins of Jatayu Teertha

One of the striking natural attractions of Gokarna is the hill, yes, a simple volcanic hill, which is separated by Maine Beach And Kudli beach. This hill offers absolutely fabulous views of the sea:

Here you can find strange signs made of stones. True, there is an opinion that these are not just stones, but the ruins of some ancient Hindu temple, whose history goes back all the way to the ancient Indian epic “Ramayana”.

But we were unable to somehow confirm and clarify this information. Therefore, until otherwise is said, we will consider these strange symbols from stones ☺.

It’s very nice to just walk here and enjoy such a rare solitude in Gokarna.

This is where we lived for most of our stay in Gokarna. Kudli beach It is not a very large, but quite picturesque bay, surrounded by hills of volcanic origin.

Kudli beach quite popular with locals for a weekend getaway, especially for young groups who are more interested in getting drunk rather than in praising Shiva... if you know what I mean.

How to get to Kudli Beach in Gokarna

There are three roads to Kudli Beach. The first of them will lead you directly to the hotel, but its quality leaves much to be desired, especially after rain. Jeeps and even some brave tuk-tukers drive freely on it, but we didn’t dare try it on a bike or scooter. It's better to choose a different route. Of course, you will have to walk a little, but you will be healthier. And in general, walking in the fresh air is good for the body ☺.

The second road comes from the temple in Gokarna. To get there, you need to slip into a passage that is inconspicuous at first glance and desperately honk your horn so that someone you meet doesn’t accidentally hit you. The first part of the road is very narrow, it is difficult for a bike and a tuk-tuk to pass each other, and a car, in general, will not pass there. Then there is a normal, sometimes broken road just past the hill that I wrote about above.

You get to , leave your iron monster and go down the steps. A couple of minutes and you're already there Kudli beach. If you go by tuk-tuk, then travel to Kudli Beach from Gokarna Center should not cost more 80 rupees.

The third road runs between Kudli Beach and Om Beach. You need to get to this one, and from there walk down the steps.

Where to stay in Gokarna on Kudli Beach

As I already said above, on Kudli beach we lived in Kudle Ocean Front. Very nice houses if you don't stay there for a long time. For a couple of days or a week, more than ok, especially if the period of your stay there does not coincide with any Indian holidays, which is unlikely ☺.

If you want to stay on Kudli beach for a longer period, it is better to look for something quieter. Although Kudle Ocean Front has its undeniable advantages - a very tasty restaurant, spacious houses, polite staff, location and the ability to pay by card. True, when paying by card they charge a huge commission - 12% , but considering that prices in cafes here are lower than the average Kudli beach, then the commission is actually leveled.

Where to eat at Kudli Beach in Gokarna

This is very, very complex issue, since we never managed to find a truly tasty place. I'll tell you about two of our favorites:

Restaurant at Kudle Ocean Front

Indian and Asian cuisine is excellent here, especially in terms of price-quality ratio. With European dishes, everything is not so rosy, but quite acceptable.

If you live in Kudle Ocean Front, then the order can be delivered directly to the balcony, which is also pleasing.

La Pizzeria

I’ll make a reservation right away that Kudli beach there are several establishments with the same or very similar names. This post is about La Pizzeria, which is located right at the entrance to Cudley Beach from Main Beach.

They serve very acceptable pizza, shakshuka, delicious hummus, and good tandoori dishes. But never order momos here - because their version is a terrible parody of a delicious Tibetan dish.

We found ourselves there for the first time for one simple reason: on the entire Kudli Beach La Pizzeria was the only establishment where the lights were on in the evening and music was playing. In general, we noticed an interesting feature: in Gokarna, if there are no visitors, the lights are not on in the cafe and the music is not playing, you get the feeling that it simply does not work. But as soon as you get closer, they will immediately offer you a menu and turn on the lights and music. This is such a strange marketing in Indian style.

By the way, if for you the words “Bom Bolenat!” - these are not just words, then you are in a cafe. All other establishments on Kudli beach Almost nothing, even the menu, is the same. And they are all the same.

Things to do at Kudli Beach in Gokarna

The main pastime on Kudli beach- This is a beach holiday. Eat different types activities: yoga, mantras, pranayama, both on the beach itself and in the depths. From here you can watch very beautiful sunsets:

Take leisurely promenades along the edge of the sea and wonder what the cows left on the beach?

No, seriously??? Nearby there are green hills on which there are grasses - I don’t want to eat them, but they wander along the sandy beaches.

Om Beach in Gokarna

In the article I already talked about the “Om” symbol, but I think it wouldn’t hurt to repeat it.

Om (sometimes spelled “Aum”) is a universal divine symbol in Hinduism, and at the same time Om is a divine name and mantra. The Om sign is three letter symbols that personify the three main gods and their spheres of influence: Brahma - the Creator, Vishnu - the Almighty (Supporter) and Shiva - the Destroyer.

It bears this name because the shape of its coastline resembles the outline of the “Om” sign. Many people disagree with this, but in my opinion, there’s no need to stretch your imagination too much here – it really is similar.

From below, from the beach itself, this is probably not so obvious, but when you look at the shore from the hills, you can clearly discern a strong resemblance to this Hindu symbol.

How to get to Om Beach in Gokarna

TO Om Beach the path is complicated and thorny, but as you wanted, it’s still a holy place ☺. But in reality, everything is not so scary.

If you go with Kudli beach, then you first need to overcome a series of steps, get to, and from there follow the signs.

The road is not very difficult, but if you are going back in the dark, it is better to wear sneakers or at least take care of a flashlight, otherwise the volcanic hills are not smooth and you can easily twist your ankle.

If you get there from Maine Beach on a bike, then everything is much simpler: just as was said above, you drive into a narrow passage near the temple and go to the side Kudli beach, drive through it and follow the signs until you reach , and from there you just go down the steps.

By the way, on the very descent to Om Beach is probably located the best place to watch the sunset. I don’t know why in this particular place, but here they seemed simply bomb to us.

Where to stay in Gokarna on Om Beach

We weren’t particularly looking for housing options on the beach itself, since by that time we had already found housing on Kudli Beach. Booking.com, in general, only one hotel on Om Beach shows, it’s better not to think about the prices in it, so as not to lose a healthy sleep ☺.

Where to eat at Om Beach in Gokarna

This is again a very controversial question. We went to the cafe several times. And in principle, we can say that the food there is delicious, at least definitely tastier than everywhere else on Kudli Beach.

But at the same time, if we take the price-quality ratio, then questions immediately arise. Prices on the menu are shown without tax, but tax is now 18% , and after you add them, you begin to understand that you would like to get something more for this money. But overall, very decent and popular on Om Beach institution.

And their kitchen works strictly according to the hour: breakfast, lunch and dinner. During the intervals, the kitchen is closed, you can enter the establishment, but the most you can get is some kind of packaged drink, and it’s not a fact that you won’t be asked to wait for the kitchen to open ☺.

Things to do at Om Beach in Gokarna

Besides pleasure beach holiday, Om Beach is ideal for contemplative practices. There are a bunch of comfortable benches along the entire beach where you can relax, sit in the shade or admire the sunset.
– this is a separate topic. In my opinion, the most beautiful sunsets in Gokarna are observed from Om Beach.

Same with Om Beach The trekking trail to the two southern beaches of Gokarna starts. Don’t even think about going there in flip-flops - you may end up without flip-flops and without legs at the same time; it’s better to choose sneakers, sneakers or other comfortable non-slip shoes. And don't forget to bring water and sunscreen, otherwise there is a risk of getting burned or getting heatstroke.

If you don’t want to perform feats and walk, you can go to distant beaches by boat. An hour-long boat trip with a stop at one of the beaches is worth 250 rupees per person (price after bargaining, original offer was 500 rupees). For boat trip It is better to choose a day when the sea is calmer, and it is better to choose a boat with a sharp bow rather than a flat one. I don’t know how to explain this exactly, because I’m not an expert on boat models, so I’ll try with an example:

When we set out on a small sea voyage, we boarded the first boat offered, and it turned out to be a flat-bottomed boat. Everything on the way there was great!

But on the way back, the sea began to get rough and the waves rose, not very strong, but still. In general, I have a very complicated relationship with the waves after. Due to the flat bottom, our vessel could not “cut” the waves; instead, it “scooped” them. All passengers, including their equipment, money and documents (whoever had what with them), took an invigorating shower from the salty waves the entire way back.

We were tossed quite a bit from side to side and in general there was a feeling that we would swim to the shore, since the waves offered quite strong resistance and from time to time we could not move anywhere, simply hanging in one place. At the same time, the happy passengers of boats with a sharp bow, such as fishing boats, calmly continued their journey without experiencing any particular discomfort.

Halfmoon Beach in Gokarna

This is a very tiny cove. You can get here either by boat or along the path from Om Beach.

The beach itself did not seem very unique to us, but the views from the path leading to it amaze with their beauty.

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 one independent travel in India after a relaxed and lazy life in Goa, so it was 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 North Goa You will have to get to Mapsa first, then change to 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, so you will have to ride 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 and 40 minutes to Gokarna and 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 (Cochin) . 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 where buses depart from in Bangalore; they make more than a dozen stops around the city and will always be able to pick you up at convenient location. One of the largest bus stations is Bangalore Bus Station, Majestic, where the Kempegowda Metro Station is located. From international airport You can get to them 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 south direction, that's 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 over 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. No car for rent the best option, because for interstate travel you will need special permission, 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 Gokara. 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.

Beyond the splash tourist season One must also take into account traditional Hindu holidays, 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 comfortable rest 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. It’s hard to live without air conditioning even at night, and there is much less comfortable housing in Gokarna than in others tourist areas 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 agencies 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 on nearby 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 Some of them are bamboo huts with holes in the walls, here you can feel complete unity with nature. Facilities in the form of a common open-air shower and toilet 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

Last, most distant Paradise Beach 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. Before " big land» can be reached 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 itself budget housing in Gokarna and on the beaches it starts from 1.5–3 USD (100 INR) for a room for two. 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 costs good hotel.

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 are looking for something to do so as not to get bored, for example, studying 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.