A thursday beach hike in Gokarna

Tripoto
11th May 2016
Photo of A thursday beach hike in Gokarna 1/13 by Pavan K S
Boats in Gokarna beach
Photo of A thursday beach hike in Gokarna 2/13 by Pavan K S
Temple of sorts
Photo of A thursday beach hike in Gokarna 3/13 by Pavan K S
Dry grassland in the back drop of 'ocean and sky'
Photo of A thursday beach hike in Gokarna 4/13 by Pavan K S
A view from the explored route
Photo of A thursday beach hike in Gokarna 5/13 by Pavan K S
A walk through the wallpapersque view
Photo of A thursday beach hike in Gokarna 6/13 by Pavan K S
The first view of the 'Kudle'
Photo of A thursday beach hike in Gokarna 7/13 by Pavan K S
A fishing bird in Kudle
Photo of A thursday beach hike in Gokarna 8/13 by Pavan K S
Entry to the Om beach
Photo of A thursday beach hike in Gokarna 9/13 by Pavan K S
Footprints in the sands of time
Photo of A thursday beach hike in Gokarna 10/13 by Pavan K S
In Om beach
Photo of A thursday beach hike in Gokarna 11/13 by Pavan K S
The shiny waters
Photo of A thursday beach hike in Gokarna 12/13 by Pavan K S
Sunset seen from the beach
Photo of A thursday beach hike in Gokarna 13/13 by Pavan K S
Last view of sun before drowning into the clouds

An excitement rushed into and bloomed on me and on a friend of mine when we planned to be hippies (not quite) for a day in the month of may.

We hopped on a bus leaving to Gokarna from Bengaluru on Wednesday (the 11th) night. It was at 10:30 am the next day that we reached Gokarna. A hot sunny day it was. We had breakfast at the famous local restaurant, the Pai. A localite suggested that we start the trial from the city beach. The beach was nasty with filth and litter all around even though it was not the time where travelers flocked in from all parts of the world.

The hike started with us climbing a hillock, situated on the left of the beach, toward a temple of sorts. We climbed further and found a long stretch of dry grassland (at the time, maybe). There was a path for us to follow. We, being explorers furthered our search for a better route and found one right next to the deep blue sea below us. The newer path was more imbibing with the nature. The first beach we come across in the trail was the ‘Kudle’. We reached the place after an approx. two and half km hike. The place was empty and most of the cafes were closed. After spending close to an hour at this peaceful beach, we started out to ‘Om’ beach.

The hike here was tough as there was no defined path. Luckily to our help were 3 beach dogs, maybe strays. But for all I know they were our guides. The route was a walk in the acasian forest, not dense, but not airy either. We walked in the wrong path for over half hour and reached a small shrine. Our guides pointed us to the right direction and after, when the civilization was visible, they ran away toward it. The beach was serene and quiet with no more than 20 people on it except for the movie crew who were shooting a kannada movie. It was at 3 in the noon we reached this spot. We spent some time in the sea and left to explore the hills on the other end of the beach. This was in the direction of the paradise beach. Soon, we realized that the setting sun can be best viewed from the Om beach and returned from the wilderness of the hills. To our dwindling fate, the sun set behind the clouds. But, with the sound of sea breeze, the quietness of rocks and the splashing tides, there was an immaculate discernment of a divine feeling clouding within me. After the glorious evening had passed on, we took an auto back to Gokarna, had some food and travelled back to Bengaluru the same night.

The above mentioned beach hike is supposed to cover 4 exquisite beaches, i.e. Gokarna beach, Kudle, Om beach and the Paradise beach. One can always travel to beaches in a mode of transport and enjoy the wavy waters, but, the feel you experience when you sweat through your hike and jump into the cold tides after, is different altogether.

Be different, cheers.