Gokarna - Literally means Cow's Ears
Karnataka's heavy rains welcomed this Mumbaikar travelling from extreme summer temperatures. With the only bus option available which arrived at Madangere petrol pump at 3.30 am. Fortunately, I had booked my cab knowing the fact that I would not get any vehicle to reach my Hotel at that hour. It was pitch dark, thundering, raining, trees were moving with the wind and me all alone waiting for my cab where suddenly a stranger came upto me and asked where I wanted to go and waited along with me till my cab arrived after 5 minutes of my wait.
Gokarna is easily accessible by road and rail. Nearest taluka is Kumta and Karwar approximately 30 kms away.
I had booked online Lotus Beach Resort which is a property in next to Kudle beach. I have got good reviews about Gokarna International and Zostel.
My hotel wasn't connected directly to the road so I had to climb down and walk 5-7 mins to reach there. The hotel manager had arranged for someone to escort me with an umbrella and take me to the property early morning.
Gokarna attracts a crowd for a chilled-out beach holiday and not for full-scale parties. Most accommodation is in bamboo huts along its several stretches of blissful coast.
It was 10.00 am and the rains had stopped, after my breakfast in my room I walked up to the beach which was 50 meters away from my room. There were a few shacks and very few visitors from the adjacent hotels playing on the beach. So peaceful and beautiful was my morning. Kudle Beach is both rocky and sandy. You can chill, watch TV and eat at the shacks.
Kudle Beach
The name Gokarna is made of two words, gau meaning cow and karna meaning ear, translating to cow’s ear. The reason for such a name is associated with its roots in mythology and also its geography. According to one story, the reason for naming this place Gokarna is because it is at the confluence of two rivers Gangavati and Aghanashini and this looks like a cow’s ear. The other, more interesting legend takes us back to mythology. According to this one, Shiva was sent to Patal Lok (under the earth) by Brahma. He later emerged from the earth out a cow’s ear and that is why the name. Being a temple town, Gokarna has many mythological tales associated with it. When you visit the place, you will hear more stories and legends about Gokarna and how it came to be.
I have a thing for dosas. So most of my meals were variety of dosas. Karnataka doesn't have its own cuisine as such but it is Adhra inspired food. Gokarna is visited by a lot of foreigners so the shacks serve decent continental dishes like waffles, burgers, sandwiches, pancakes which saved my tummy. Personally I did not enjoy the North Indian gravies they served, felt like it suited the local taste buds.
Mysore Masala Dosa at Pai Restaurant, Kumta
I am not much of a Temple person but love to see iconic places. Murudeshwar was just 80 kms from where I was putting up. Its the World's Second Tallest Shiva Statue. Murudeshwar is another name of this Hindu God.
Look at the beautiful carving of the Murudeshwar temple.
Beautiful Bird View from the 18th Floor of Murudeshwar Temple. In love with those boats lined up. You pay an amount of Rs. 10 for a Lift to take you to this view.
With this my day 1 ended at 7 pm and back to my hotel as it was raining heavily the entire day. So I grabbed some heavy warm dinner, watched TV, had carried my adult colouring book which kept me occupied.
Next day morning I was off to Mirjan Fort which was 40 kms away from Kudle Beach. Built in 1600 century. Here coz I have this thing for historic places and know their stories. Mirjan Fort was built initially by Queen Chennabhairadevi. She ruled for a long period of 54 years.
On my way to Tadri
Karwar is also 1 hour away from Gokarna where there is a intersection of Kali River and Arabian Sea. There are boating and water activities except monsoons.
Half moon beach and Paradise Beach are also worth visiting but then after all it is a beach. Locals told me you have to do a little trek to reach there. Avoid it in rains.
Next destination was Gokarna beach which was too dirty and polluted so I wouldn't recommend to visit.Though I did not spend much on this beach. We humans have made it too dirty. Feels sorry but how can I not drink coconut water when I am at the coastal line. Its available in plenty. It was so sweet and just felt satisfied after drinking it.
Lastly, Om Beach where I spent. Most beautiful and clean beach. I spent hours playing with the waves, taking sand foot massage, sleeping on the pollution and dirt free sand. Cafe Namaste, Oh! so unhygenic and dirty but the only one there so visited much.
Next destination was Gokarna beach which was too dirty and polluted so I wouldn't recommend to visit.Though I did not spend much on this beach. We humans have made it too dirty. Feels sorry but how can I not drink coconut water when I am at the coastal line. Its available in plenty. It was so sweet and just felt satisfied after drinking it.
Om Beach
Om Beach
The Tasting Tummy Travelling Companions
Last day I planned to visit Jog Falls which is approximately 3 hours away from Gokarna route to the interiors of Karnataka. The drive was getting beautiful as we very getting closer to the world Famous Jog Falls. The Fog, rains, romantic music on my playlist, the cold breeze kissing my skin.
The way to reach this platform is climbing down 1100 steps. So be ready for some cardio. The place is well maintained and clean. Dancing and swimming here is restricted. After to reach back to the top they have restaurants, clean and hygienic public bath facilities and they have made this a one day picnic spot as you won't find anything for next 2hours of the drive on the ghats. So suggest you to fuel yourself. There are 2 places to enjoy this plunge waterfall and you can see them in 2 different angles.
On the way back I also saw the dam area of the waterfall just little away. Beautiful view ain't it?
Ends my beautiful journey while getting into SRS travels which are quite efficient in south.
Is it advisable to visit gokarna in the first week of July ???
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