Unleashed Beauty of Coastal Karnataka - Gokarna, Murudeshwar and Udupi

We took NH48 till Haveri and then Haveri-Sirsi-Kumta Road. For breakfast, we stopped around 10.30 am at Sukis Restaurant after Davangere. We had idli sambhar and puri bhaji along with hot filter coffee. We felt refreshed after a good breakfast. We avoided too many breaks, as it was a very sunny day so we just wanted to reach our stay in Gokarna by afternoon and relax by the beach.

Mirjan Fort was on our way so we thought of visiting that before we go to our stay. It has no entry fees. The fort is quite well maintained as compared to Chapora Fort of Goa and you will get a panoramic view once you climb up the beautiful half spiral stairs of the fort.

We then reached our stay which was near Patang Beach. In the evening we enjoyed the sunset on the beach. The beach was clean and not at all crowded.

We went to Sunset Cafe which is on Gokarna Main Beach to have dinner.

Next morning we checked out and started exploring Gokarna as planned.

First Om beach, it takes the shape of an ‘Om’, a Hindu spiritual symbol. We reached Om Beach parking by 9.30 am. There is enough space for free parking. To reach the beach, you need to do a small trek downstairs for about 500 metres. The view of the beach while descending through the steps is breathtaking.

After exploring this beach, we moved forward to explore other two beaches Half Moon Beach and Paradise beach. There are two ways to go about these beaches. First one being, trekking from Om Beach to Half Moon and then to Paradise beach and back to Om Beach. The complete trek will take almost half of the day if you plan to trek and explore all the three beaches. Second way is by opting the ferry ride which is charged for Rs 300 per person for 45-60 minutes, However ferry won't stop at Half Moon and Paradise beach.

We took the ferry ride to explore both the beaches and Sangam Point. Our ferry moved towards the sea, where we got lucky to see a group of dolphins. Then we started to ride towards the sangam point where river Aghnashini meets Arabian sea. That view was majestic. You could also see a lighthouse on a cliff which is said to be build when Britishers ruled India.

Then we continued our ferry ride towards Paradise Beach. It's a beautiful beach, where you can swim and you also have the provision to stay in a tent. There are couple of restrooms too, in case you want to stay in tent. You can get beautiful pictures clicked here.

We then moved towards Half Moon Beach, which is kind of a private beach and quite untouched. It is not a big beach though. There are few shacks but not that great. Then we were back to Om beach. It was a pleasant weather so we really enjoyed the ride.

After the beautiful ferry ride, we were very hungry so we went to Namaste Cafe which is on Om Beach. This cafe has many options to eat and their service was really very good. They also provide accommodation. In case, you are looking for a stay on the beach, this could be a very good option. You get the complete view of Om beach from here. So you can spend quite sometime eating here with the spectacular view.

We checked in here which is going to be our stay for next couple of days. It's a beautiful property which also maintains all the COVID guidelines. They do not serve alcohol as it is in forest area, though you are allowed to purchase and consume it in your room.

After taking rest for couple of hours, we started for Vibhuthi Falls which was an hour drive from our stay. The falls is open from 8 am to 5 pm and it has a free parking area too. Plan your visit accordingly so that you can spend enough time here. The entry towards the falls is very heavenly. You need to trek around 500-800 metres to reach the waterfall. Once you reach the falls you get a calm and cool environment. You feel like soaking in all the serenity of the place.

We started off at 9.30 am from our stay to Yana Caves. It was around one and a half hour drive. The parking space was huge there. They charged Rs 40 for parking. To reach Yana caves, we need to trek for about half an hour. The trek is of moderate level. You need to climb many stairs to reach your destination. We would suggest you to plan in such a way that you can cover Yana caves By 10 or 11 am, else it becomes very hot in the afternoon and you get drained out after this trek. Also you need to explore the caves barefoot as it is inside temple premises, so in the afternoon you feet starts burning too.Once you reach the caves you will love it. Just be careful of the bats there!!

We checked out after having a sumptuous breakfast and headed off to Murudeshwar. It was 80kms from Gokarna but it took us only an hour and half to reach as the road conditions (NH 66) are excellent. Enjoy the drive through Sharavathi river bridges.

Checked in, freshened up and went to pay a visit to the famous Murudeshwar temple. Keep a note that while reaching the hotel people will stop you to pay for parking fees but you can show them your booking information and then they don't charge for it.

There was no dress code as compared to any other temple in the south. However, you should make sure to wear something decent. From the 18th floor of Raja Gopura, you can view the second tallest statue of Shiva. You can reach the 18th floor by accessing the lift, which is charged Rs 10 per person. The view from the top is so beautiful that it cannot be described in words.

In the evening we headed to visit blue flag Kasarkod Beach. This beach has a dedicated parking area which is charged Rs 40. The beach is squeaky clean and well maintained. There are clean washrooms, shower rooms, changing rooms, sitting benches, RO drinking water and children play area. Beach timing is 8.30 am to 6.30 pm. Just opposite to the entrance of Kasarkod, there is Mangrove BoardWalk which is open from 7 am to 7 pm. This is a great place to experience a walk amongst the mangroves with entry charges of Rs 10 per person.

We started our journey towards Malpe Beach, Udupi, driving through magnificient views of backwaters,Marvanthe Beach and Kodi Beach.

We checked in to our stay and rested for an hour.

We went to Malpe Sea Walk to watch the beautiful sunset. There is a huge parking area which charges Rs 30.

For our dinner, we decided to try out local cuisine. We must say that if you are a sea food lover, you must visit this place. We loved the Angal Fish Rava Tawa fry here. During two day stay, we had our dinner here both the days. The place is just near the beach and it is very reasonable.

Next Morning we had planned to visit St. Mary's Island after having breakfast. Make sure you book breakfast along with the stay because there are no shops open before 10 am. Also there are no options for breakfast near the beach.

Our last destination for this coastal trip was the Delta Point. We went to this point after taking a small detour to Thimmana Kuduru Hanging Bridge. It's a suspended bridge on river Suvarna, which connects Padukudru to Thimmannakudru. You can also enjoy kayaking here.

Finally, we reached to Delta point and enjoyed the sunset there and clicked a lot many pictures. The road leading to this point is a beautiful stretch. On one side of the road you have the backwaters and on the other side you have the sea with tall coconut trees.