When i moved to Bangalore in 2014, all i was excited about that i am nearing to Goa. And in next coming years i visited Goa the many times that it lost it's charm in my eyes. But my love for beaches gave me a mission to look for new places to relax and chill on beach side. I talked to people online and offline to inquire about beautiful beaches around Bangalore and got the same replies - Goa, Kerala, Chennai. But one day surprisingly one of my colleague suggested me to go visit this place which was around 480 km's from Bangalore towards Goa but completely secluded and serene. He showed me pictures and i was fascinated. It was a long weekend on January 26th when i took off to Gokarna with a couple of friends and hopes to have a great time. And trust me the time i spent in Gokarna was an unforgettable experience of my life.
Why Gokarna:
If you want a more "chilled-out" version of Goa with lesser people around, if you want to trek through hillocks to go from one beach to another, if you want to bonfire by the beach, if you want to practice yoga by the beach then Gokarna is for you. Gokarna offers you Sun, sand and sea without burning a hole in your pocket. How many more reasons do you want to travel to this most beautiful, the cleanest stretch of sand I have ever seen in the entire country?
How To Reach:
By Air: The nearest airport is the Goa Dabolim Airport from where you can take a taxi, Bus or Train to reach Gokarna.
By Road: Gokarna is well connected to the near by cities by Road. You can take a direct bus from Pune, Goa, Bangalore or Mangalore to Gokarna at good prices. A sleeper class ticket would cost you not more than 1000 rs.
As i was living in Bangalore so travelling by road was the most convenient and budget friendly travel option for me.
When to Visit:
October to February is the ideal time to visit Gokarna as the temperatures are moderate and Sun isn't too hard.
Beaches and Shacks are mostly shut during rainy season so please avoid travelling during July-September.
You can plan to go in Summers (March-June) if you are okay to get Suntan and blazing Sun.
Places to Visit:
Gokarna is famous for it's temples, beaches and adventure activities. Here is the list of places which can't be missed when in Gokarna:
1. Sunset at Kudle Beach: Kudle is my favorite beach in Gokarna. This is certainly the best place to witness the sunset in Gokarna. Beach is filled with number of shacks and vibrant cafe's and one has to trek down to access the beach. It get's crowded towards evening as people from different places flocks here for sunset to capture it's picturesque view. locals and foreigner tourists set up a flea market on the shore making the place happening. You can stay back late and fill yourself with beachfront cafe's delectable food.
2. Om Beach: Om Beach is second best beach in Gokarna. It is called OM beach because it is in shape of Hindu symbol OM. You can reach here by taking an Auto within 15 minutes from Kudle beach which won't cost you more than 200. This beach offers many adventure activities like Banana ride, Jet-ski and Boat ride to Half Moon and Paradise beach. OM beach is famous for those who loves to go gaze the stars in that dark night.
3. Gokarna Beach: This beach is located in city at the backside of Mahabaleshwar temple. It's very crowded and not so clean beach. There is a market just 10 mins stroll from the beach where you can find spices, fish, clothes and souvenirs.
Where to Eat:
Namastey Cafe on OM beach, Cafe 1987 and Ganga cafe on Kudle beach.
Special tips:
1. Always carry enough cash with you if you are staying near Kudle or OM beach most of the places accept cash and there is no ATM around.
2. Don't haggle with Auto guys as they have a union and it won't work.
3. Walk more and stay hydrated.
4. Try different shakes at beachfront cafe's as they are really unique.