Gokarna
Pilgrimage Town Of The Mahabaleshwar Temple; Coastal Beaches Of Uttara Kannada · Gokarna, Karnataka
A small temple town on the coast of Karnataka, south of Goa, that is two places at once. In town, the Mahabaleshwar temple holds what is believed to be the original atmalinga of Shiva, making Gokarna an important pilgrimage centre, busiest at the Shivaratri festival, with pilgrims bathing at the town beach and priests performing rites in the old streets. Beyond the headland to the south, a chain of beaches set between rocky cliffs has drawn backpackers for decades as a quieter and cheaper alternative to Goa: Kudle, Om Beach, named for its shape, Half Moon and Paradise, linked by coastal footpaths over the headlands or by boat. The beach huts, cafes and yoga classes are simple, and some of the more remote beaches have no road access. The sea has strong currents and drownings have happened, so swim only in safe areas. The season runs from October to March; in the monsoon the beach businesses close. Gokarna Road railway station and the coastal highway link it to Goa and Mangalore.
Car Street, Gokarna, Gokarna, Karnataka, 581326, India
NO OPENING TIME HERE WAS CHECKED. The typical pattern: the Mahabaleshwar temple opens very early in the morning, closes for a break around midday or early afternoon and reopens until about 8 in the evening. The beaches and trails are open all day, but walking the headlands after dark is unwise. Boats between beaches run in daylight in season only. Beach huts and cafes open roughly October to May and close for the monsoon. Traps: arriving at the temple during its midday closure, and missing the last boat back from Paradise. Confirm before travelling.