- Best time
- October to March
- Nearest airport
- Dabolim, Goa (about 130 km)
- Nearest railway station
- Ankola (about 20 km)
- Distance from Mangaluru
- About 230 km
- Main temple
- Mahabaleshwar Temple
The beaches
Most visitors walk between the beaches along the headlands, which takes a few hours in total. Om Beach is best for sunrise and sunset from the viewpoint above; swim only where locals say it is safe.
- Gokarna Main Beach, next to the town and temples
- Kudle Beach, a long curve of sand below a hill, good for swimming in calm conditions
- Om Beach, named for its shape resembling the Om symbol, rocky with stronger currents
- Half Moon Beach, a small quiet cove reached by trek or boat from Om Beach
- Paradise Beach, the most secluded of the group
- Belekan Beach, further south and rarely crowded
Temples
The Mahabaleshwar Temple, built in the Dravidian style, houses the Atma Linga that Ravana is said to have carried from Kailasa before it was fixed in the ground here. Gokarna is often compared with Kashi for its sanctity.
Custom says you should first visit the Maha Ganapati Temple, whose black stone image of Ganesha stands about 1.3 m tall and honours his role in keeping the Atma Linga from Ravana. The Bhadrakali and Mahalasa temples are also in town.
Food and stays
Beach cafés serve everything from pizza and pasta to baked goods and hot chocolate, while the town centre is the place for simple Karnataka meals. Accommodation ranges from beach huts to comfortable resorts.
How to reach
Dabolim airport in Goa is about 130 km away, with taxis available. Ankola railway station is around 20 km from Gokarna, and the town is also reached by road from Madgaon (about 110 km) and Mangaluru (about 230 km). October to March offers the best beach weather. We can include Gokarna in a coastal Karnataka trip with Murudeshwar or Udupi.
Also nearby
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