“I want to go on a road trip. Just you and me. The highway, The Radio, The Blue Sky, The Back Roads, and windows down. We’ll talk about everything and nothing. We‘ll sing our hearts out and we’ll make memories we’ll never forget. Just you and me.”
Last August, I had planned a road trip from Mangalore to Gokarna with my friends, unfortunately, that got canceled due to heavy rainfall and I ended up going there next month with my girlfriend. We started our trip from Bangalore.
There are multiple ways to reach Mangalore. You can take a flight, train or bus. Mangalore has connectivity to almost all the major cities in India. For people living in Bangalore taking a bus is also a good option. You can also plan a scenic road trip starting from Bangalore amidst the Western Ghats.
We took the Karwar express from Bangalore to Mangalore which runs on alternate days. The timings of this train are very easy for people living in Bangalore, it departs at around 7 PM and reaches Mangalore early in the morning. After reaching Mangalore, we took a self-drive car (Zoomcar) and went for a great breakfast at Ocean Pearl, a bit expensive but was worth it.
Our first destination was Udupi, which is a 2-hour drive from Mangalore. Instead of taking the highway we decided on hitting the Fisheries Road which turned out to be the best decision of our trip. Driving so close to the sea, in between the little huts, you can witness the rich culture of these fishermen and their families. Enroute - You will get to witness scenic beaches like Pithrody and Kappu beach(lighthouse beach). There are a lot of options to stay in Udupi but we decided to stay in Malpe which is one of the most famous beaches in India. There are very few options to stay in Malpe so you can also stay at Manipal which is around 20-30 km from Malpe, a lot of options are available there. After relaxing in the afternoon, we went to the beach to enjoy the sunset. We took a stroll on the Sea Walk there, it is one of the rare things in India. Backwaters on one side and sea on the other, the cool sea breeze and the setting sun make it a perfect romantic evening.
After this we decided to explore seafood in Malpe. There are lots of stalls by the road selling a variety of lip-smacking dishes, pomfret fry, prawn chilli e.t.c, easy on the pocket too. After enjoying the local delicacies we headed back to the beach for the serenity and the sound of the waves.
We started early in the morning for Gokarna, Murdeshwar was our first stop. Murdeshwar is famous for the world’s second-tallest Shiva statue. The view from the temple is mesmerizing and very soothing. There are a lot of options to stay and eat here. One can have a one day halt here also if planning for a long trip. We had lunch by the sea at one of the restaurants in the temple premises, after which we started towards Gokarna. There is one hidden gem en route Gokarna, just 15 km before it - Mirjan Fort. This is a deserted fort in the middle of the forest. Time has covered it with green moss making it picturesque. The fort is not known to many and hence less crowded, so you can explore it in peace.
After visiting the fort we headed to Gokarna, We stayed at Zostel which has many options ranging from Dorms to Cottages. It is situated at the top of a cliff with the sea on one side and the view is spectacular from the Zostel Cafe aka Mantra cafe. After taking a power nap and relieving the tiredness we headed for the Paradise beach to enjoy the sunset. Most of the beaches in Gokarna are rocky beaches and you will get to see various rock formations all over. After chasing the waves away at the beaches we headed back to Zostel and spent the rest of the evening at Mantra Cafe with groovy songs playing in the background. By late evening we could hear the roaring of the waves, star gazed sky, and a lot of crickets buzzing. Far away from the horns and sirens, it was nature talking to us.
We started our day by visiting Mahabaleshwar Temple, for which Gokarna has been famous among its Hindu devotees. The temple is situated near the Main Beach, and its lane is crowded with souvenir shops.
It being the last day of our trip, we had to head back to Mangalore to board our train. You can take the same train (Karwar Express) for coming back to Bangalore. We started our journey back to Mangalore, this time we took the Highway to reach in time. Roads are in pretty good condition. We stopped for lunch again at Murudeshwar as visiting it once was not enough for us. After lunch we continued our journey to Mangalore and reached there by 4 in the evening.
We went straight to Mangalore Port and Panambur beach which are a must visit when in Mangalore. Panambur beach is like the Juhu beach, a delight for both the locals and tourists. It has a lot of eateries where we enjoyed a plate of Pav Bhaji and Bhel Puri. At last, It was time for us to return home. We dropped our self drive car and took a cab to the railway station. We were back in Banaglore the next morning.
Note - There are 2 stations in Mangalore so confirm beforehand where you have to go one - Mangalore Junction and the other is Mangalore Central.
Perfect Itinerary (3 days/2 nights):-
Day 1: Reach Mangalore early morning, hire a car/bike, and head towards Udupi, Places Enroute -, Pithrody, Kappu beach. Reach Udupi by afternoon, check-in in the hotel. Enjoy St. Mary’s island and Malpe beach in the evening. Do watch sunset sitting at the Sea Walk.
Day 2: Start early in the morning and head towards Gokarna. Stop for Lunch at Murdeshwar and enjoy the breathtaking view from the top. Just before reaching Gokarna do stop at Mirjan fort. Check-In before sunset at the head for Paradise beach.
Day 3: Visit Om beach, Kudle beach, there are a lot of points from where you can enjoy the sunrise. After sunrise, you can head for a good English breakfast. Start riding back to Mangalore (5-6 hours). Do visit Panambur beach in Mangalore if time permits for the perfect sunset.
Places to eat - Must try: Mantra Cafe(Gokarna), RNS cafe(Murdeshwar), Thimmappa Fish Hotel(Udupi), Ocean Pearl(Mangalore)
PS - Before this coastal road trip, do make sure to curate a playlist because the soothing songs will add to the beauty of this lifetime experience. Do read this article for a perfect playlist for the road trip - https://www.atravelthing.com/why-music-makes-road-trips-even-better/
Tips for this trip - Best time to visit Gokarna is October - February. Avoid monsoon. Climate is hot and humid, so do carry essentials like Sunglasses and Sunscreen. Options to stay are a few in Gokarna so plan your trip beforehand.