Gokarna is the land of sun, sand and surfing. A perfect destination for souls looking for peace or adventure or maybe a bit of both.
Gokarna translates to ‘Cow Ear’, located at the west coast of India in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. It is the most budget friendly beach town, well-known for its ancient temples with mythological significance, quaint and pristine beaches, variety of watersports activities and ayurvedic spas to rejuvenate mind and soul.
This post is designed to give you a rough guide to plan a short trip in and around Gokarna which can be shortened to 2 days. I have written a blog on a Gokarna Beach Trek
Content
Must-Try Traditional Karnataka Cuisine
Gokarna Tour Itinerary
Day - 1 Reach Gokarna
Local Gokarna | Off-Beat Beach | Catch the Sunset
Day - 2 Gokarna Beach Trek
Beach Trek - Kudle Beach to Belekan Beach
Day - 3 Places near Gokarna
Yana Caves | Vibhuti Waterfalls | Mirjan Fort
Day - 4 Murudeshwar Temple
Murudeshwar Temple & surrounding area
Day - 5 End of Tour
Return journey to your destination.
Gokarna Railway station is connected by train or bus with major cities such as Mumbai, Goa, Bangalore etc. From Mumbai board a train or overnight bus for Gokarna.
Day - 1 Reach Gokarna
Arrive at Gokarna (overnight bus will reach Gokarna by 6 a.m), check-in in your accommodation and refuel yourself. For first day explore the local
Itinerary:
Locals ➖ Off-Beat Beach ➖ Popular cafe ➖ Catching Sunset
Rent a bike or scooter to commute independently in and around gokarna. Per day cost for scooty is around Rs.350 - Rs.400 (price vary on weekends), excluding fuel cost
Let's start the adventure by visiting heritage sites near Gokarna main beach holding historical and mythological tales.
Maha Ganapati Temple - Temple holds a 1.3 meters high black stone idol of Lord Ganesha.
As per folklore, Maha Ganapati Temple should be visited before Sri Swami Mahabaleshwar temple.
Timings - 5:00 a.m to 12:00p.m; 4:00p.m to 9:00p.m.
Timings - 6:00 a.m to 12:30p.m; 5:00p.m to 8:00p.m.
Rama Teertha - This temple secluded and peaceful offers the astounding view of Arabian Sea and Gokarna main Beach. The temple is famous among locals for two natural water outlets, it is believed to have healing properties.
Honey Beach - One of the clean, beautiful and secluded beaches in Gokarna. It is about 10-12 km from Gokarna town. The trip also includes crossing the Gangavali river in a ferry and it is an awesome experience.
➡️ Autos and local buses are available to reach the bus stop near Honey beach. But a rented two-wheeler is better option to explore at your own pace without much dent on the pocket.
To catch the best sunset in Gokarna take a short hike to Kudle Hilltop. It is a small cliff about 2 km from Zostel.
Difficulty : Easy
Activites : Light walking and mostly travelling via bus/auto/scooty
Worth Try : Halfway Home - Traditional Meal, Kristoff Cafe- multiple cuisine
Day - 2 Beach Hopping in Gokarna
The Gokarna Beach Trek is done between Gokarna Main Beach and Belekan Beach. The 8-10 kms trek (depends on where you start the trek) takes you through the lush green tropical forest, close to the shoreline and cliffs - offering the panoramic views of the Arabian sea.
Trail Route :
Gokarna Main Beach ➖ Kudle Beach ➖ Om Beach ➖ Half Moon Beach ➖ Paradise Beach ➖ Belkan Beach (or vice versa)
🔸HalfMoon Beach and Paradise beach are accessible via trek / ferry.
🔸There are a lot of jellyfish in Kudle beach. For jellyfish sting apply hot water and vinegar.
🔸Try not to miss Hell Cliff, you will get a breathtaking panoramic view of Arabian Sea. You might even spot Dolphins
🔸Download an offline map - Google Maps / Maps.me, if planning for a DIY trek.
Later, head back to Kudle Beach, you can also give a try to some of the water sports activities. Kudle Beach offers a variety of watersports activities - Kayaking, Parasailing, Jet Ski, Scuba Diving, Surfing, Snorkeling, Bumper Ride, Banana Boat Ride etc.
Eateries : Shacks are available at all the beaches to refill water, refreshment and snacks
Difficulty : Easy - Moderate
Distance : 8-10 kms (5-7 hours)
Activities : Trek | Auto/Ferry for return trip | Watersports
Day - 3 A Day From Gokarna
Wake up with the sound of the waves and after breakfast, start your day early to cover all the places.
Itinerary
Yana Caves ➖ Vibhuti Waterfall ➖ Mirjan Fort ➖ Gokarna
There are two routes to reach Yana caves, take the Yana-Vibhuti extension road route, by this route you will be able to cover both the Yana and Vibhuti waterfall in one stretch.
Yana Rocks and Caves
Yana caves is famous for its two solid black, crystalline karst limestone massive rocks near each other, known as the Bhairaveshwara Shikhara (120 metres / 390 ft) and the Mohini Shikhara (90 metres / 300 ft).
It is not exactly a cave but more of a rock formation. The larger one has a temple at its foot. And through the temple, there are steps to go right into the rock formation
Vibhuti Waterfalls
This 70 feet multi-tiered waterfall is picturesque with crystal clear water. You can take a plunge in the water as the depth of the water is around 5 - 6ft. depending on the season. A short lush green and scenic trail of about 15 mins will take you to the waterfalls.
Vibhuti means limestone, the water in this falls comes past the limestone rocks. So the name
🔸Be careful about the leeches and the rocks near the falls are slippery.
🔸Visiting time is 8a.m. to 5p.m.
The distance from Vibhuti waterfall to Mirjan Fort is about 43-45km (1 hr journey).
Mirjan Fort
The fort is huge with spectacular architecture, historical significance and hides in itself many mysteries. It is popularly believed that the fort was constructed around 1608-1640 A.D. by Queen Chennabharadevi.
The view from the top of the fort is breathtaking with flowing river, coconut groves and the breezing wind from the seaside adds flavour to the beauty of the fort.
➡️ Open for tourists from 8a.m - 5:30p.m. Avoid visiting the fort between 12:00 to 3:00 as the sun get very harsh
➡️ The best time to visit the fort is after Monsoon when the walls of the fort are completely covered with moss giving it a mystical aura.
➡️ From the highest bastion, you’ll be able to view the point where the river Souparnika joins the Arabian Sea.
Difficulty : Strenuous
Activities : Bike Ride | 2 short treks
Day - 4 Murudeshwar Temple
After breakfast, let's head to Murudeshwar. It can be reached via Private cabs, Train or KSRTC buses.
(There are few or no direct buses. So the best option is to take Gokarna-Kumta-Murudeshwar)
Shri Murudeshwar Temple
Famous for world's second largest Shiva statue (Longest being Nathdwara, Rajasthan). The temple is surrounded by the Arabian sea on three sides.
There is a 20-storied Raja Gopura constructed at the temple. Lift is installed at Raja Gopura that provides the view from the top. The view from the top is mesmerising with 123-feet Sri Shiva statue and vast Arabian sea in the background
Rest of the day spend in and around Murudeshwar. Explore the beach, indulge in watersports activities (almost all kind of watersports are conducted here including scuba diving)
Difficulty : Moderate
Activities : Bus/Train Journey | Water sports
Day - 5 Trip Ends.
Depart for your destination. Murudeshwar station is well connected via bus/train with the major cities.
Must-Try Karnataka Cuisine
Some authentic south Indian dishes you should give a try while in gokarna.
Breakfast / Snacks
🔸Patrode, Dosa and Idli-Vada
🔸Banana Puns
🔸Gadbad Ice cream
Lunch / Dinner
🔸Konkani Fish Thali/South Indian Thali
🔸Fish fry with different marination
🔸Clam curry made with made with coconut milk and lemongrass
🔸Prawns Fried Masala / Prawns Biryani
🔸Crabs or squid with different types of curry.
Reaching Gokarna
Roadways : Buses ply regularly from major cities of Karnataka, Goa, Mumbai, Kochi etc. to Gokarna
Mumbai to Gokarna (723 kms), You can either take a car or travel by state transport / private bus.
Closest Railhead : Ankola / Gokarna Road
Trains from several cities halt at these stations. Maru Sagar Exp (12978) and Matsyagandha Exp (12619) are direct trains from Mumbai to Gokarna.
Closest Airport : Dabolim Airport, Goa (140 kms)
From the airport taxi service is available. You can also board the bus to reach Gokarna
Getting Around
Autos and cabs are easily available in the town. But the best way to dive into the beauty of Gokarna is by exploring at your own pace on bike/scooty.
Additional Information
- Mumbai to Gokarna
🔸Train Fares : ₹ 400 - ₹ 2000
🔸Flights Cost : ₹ 2000 - ₹ 4000
You can also take a ferry tour to visit the beaches, but the biggest drawback here is ferries do not halt at Paradise Beach and It also gives a little dent on your budget.
You can also visit Mirjan Fort from Kumta, if you missed it on the previous day, later take a bus towards Murudeshwar.
Train is the direct and fastest (1hr) option to reach Murudeshwar from Gokarna, take the window seat as the train route itself is very picturesque.
Netrani Island is a good place for scuba diving. it is about 19 km from Murudeshwar.
If time permits, try not to miss - Koti Teertha - holy pond, Shiva Cave and Jatayu Teertha - to catch sunset with sea view, Uma Maheshwar Temple - stunning view of the Arabian Sea, Estuary Point - confluence of River Aghanashini and Arabian Sea, Shree Someshwar Temple - 14th century temple has a massive structure with intricate carvings of mammoths, elephants, lions, and dwarfs.
Weekend Itineraries to Explore Gokarna
Murudeshwar and Gokarna
Day - 1
Murudeshwar
🔹Visit the temple, offer your prayer and explore the nearby area.
🔹Later, hop on a train/bus for Gokarna (1 hour journey). Reach Gokarna, check-in, and spend some peaceful time at the beach.
Retire for the day.
Day - 2
Explore Gokarna
🔹Local sightseeing - ancient temples, beach hopping and watersports activities.
🔹Board the night train for your destination
Gokarna and Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary
Day - 1
Gokarna : Explore the local area, soak-in the beach vibe, and enjoy the sunset.
Day - 2
Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary : Start early and drive to Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary (2-3hrs drive)
Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is surrounded by dense forest and hills, houses nearly 200 species of birds, exotic and endangered species.
Activities - jeep safari, river rafting, Kayaking, Zorbing, Ziplining etc.
Day - 3
Back at Gokarna; later board a night train for your destination.
Weekend in Gokarna
Day - 1
Gokarna : Explore the local area - ancient temples, pristine beaches
Day - 2
Watch the sunrise at Jatayu Teertha, chill on the beach, take a ferry ride, enjoy the sunset, and later board a night train for your destination.
Where to Stay in Gokarna
Gokarna has every type of accommodation available for all types of travellers. You will find hostels, campsites, beach shacks, resorts and luxury hotels in Gokarna.
If you are travelling solo, then you should stay at a hostel.
- Zostel
- TripprIf you are travelling on a budget, then the most economical option would be beach campsites and shacks etc.
Luxury Campsites -
- Halfway Home- CGH Earth - SwaSwara
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