Glorious Gokarna
September 19th, 2005 | Published in Adventure, India, Living, Photography, Travel | 20 Comments
If I knew it was such a beautiful place, I would definitely have gone earlier. Having spent 2 short but glorious days discovering the beaches of the Karwar stretch this weekend, I can only hope to go back there someday for a longer stay.
Apart from a short spell of about 15 minutes when it rained in the morning of our arrival, we were blessed with good weather. The sea was on the rough side due to the rainy season.
We had beautiful moonlight (and a near full moon) when we climbed one hill to cross over to another beach in the evening. The moon dappled waters creating magic and from our vantage point on the hill, the whole scene seemed to be bathed in a mystical light.
Sipping hot lemon tea over breakfast with the waves lapping up to the entrance of our shack, wishing, we could always have breakfast in this style!
A harrowing, but scenic walk through the hills, with a sharp cliff face to our left and an equally sharp drop into the rock strewn waters below was the highlight of our wanderings. The scene before me — water for miles around and the promise of empty beaches in the distance — left me breathless! And grabbing my camera every few minutes.
What a weekend. Between the 8 of us, we must have taken close to 500 pictures : everywhere we turned there was a sight worthy of being framed! My travel notes will follow in a few days as usual. My photos have arrived but they will take a day or two to sort out. Here’s a sneak peek in the meanwhile…
September 19th, 2005 at 7:41 pm (#)
Its amazing you haven’t exhausted ALL the places in and around KA to adventure-weekend in !! Where do you get the time, and the energy ! Phew !
September 20th, 2005 at 10:45 am (#)
Great!. can’t wait for the snaps!
BTW, its damn cloudy today, and its raining in mangalore!
September 20th, 2005 at 10:50 am (#)
WHERE is Gokarna n Karwar!!!
September 20th, 2005 at 4:01 pm (#)
Aargh! Am dying to go to this place, heard lots and lots about this place. Great post. Now on to the photos please :)
And as a sidenote, someone had mentioned to me that this is where one gets the best marijuana south of the vindhyas.
September 20th, 2005 at 8:51 pm (#)
Ah Gokarna! Brings back lot of memories.
Are Israelis still there in big numbers? Did you visit Om Beach? And how about Holy Brahmins carrying water!
September 21st, 2005 at 11:05 am (#)
vignesh: well. i’ve just started actually! and there’s so much to see :) i think more than time and energy (which all of us have or can make) it’s a matter of inclination.
arjun: i think we took good weather with us from bangalore :)
confused: a map of india would help perhaps?
sinfully pinstripe: now that is something we didn’t explore ;)
ben: there were very few people around. a handful of belgians, australians, israelis and germans. om beach — yes, of course. it’s the most famous one in the area!
September 21st, 2005 at 11:21 am (#)
Awesome pics! Looks like you are going to 1 new getaway spot a month! Keep it going.
September 21st, 2005 at 10:41 pm (#)
Always wanted to go to karwar…it has the best beaches in india. ur snaps makes me more enthu…
September 27th, 2005 at 2:37 am (#)
Where did you stay at Gokarna? You mention a shack… I am planning a trip in Jan/Feb. Would love to hear more. Thinking of taking the train from Mumbai to Gokarna to enjoy the train ride too. Suggestions/comments?
Thanks!
September 27th, 2005 at 1:48 pm (#)
Hi,
I intend to go to Gokarna. Can u suggest a place to stay? Did you stay in Gokarna itself?
Peace
Gopal
September 27th, 2005 at 4:19 pm (#)
those of you who want to stay in Om beach…therez a place called Namaste hotel at the entrance. Going down the Namaste trail will lead you to the first arc and you should be able to find at least 5 shacks (each shack consists of a min of 3–4 huts). A lil further will lead you to the second arc and here you should find 4–5 shacks. At the end of the second arc, therez Rama’s shack (owned by a sweet guy called Rama ofcourse). This is however if you’d like to stay in the OM beach itself. But I must warn you guys…itz highly unlikely that the local shack owners entertain INDIAN tourists who’d like to stay there. This will be a good test of your bargaining skills. Should cost you not more than Rs.50 per hut per day. Food/Beverages/Drinks/Weed etc. will be extra. :))))
September 28th, 2005 at 12:19 pm (#)
Dear Anita, I am looking forward to your detailed travelogue on Gokarana.
December 14th, 2005 at 12:33 pm (#)
hai
my name is aravind i havent seen sucha paradise place
in india atlist before u die u got to visit om beach
u can find lord shivas favt stough as well u can rise
ur kundalini
NEVER MISS OM BEACH
BOOM SHIVA
TACK CARE
THE BEST WAS PARADISE BEACH TOLLA
January 17th, 2006 at 6:23 pm (#)
Hey! Need info. on travel and stay for Om Beach. Can anyone help, please? Need best time of year as well!
Thanks!
April 24th, 2006 at 7:07 am (#)
i had been to om beach and kudle beach in the summer of 2004 with my wife and 5 year old dauhter.it was deserted.we had lunch at om namaste.we did not venture to 1/2 moon beach.however there seems to be another way to pardise beach.had gone part of the way
but had to turn back due to fading light.
July 3rd, 2006 at 9:07 am (#)
youve got a sweet blog!!
Things aren’t always as they appear from a distance, you’ve got to go close, see, touch, taste and feel them to understand.
For more.…
The Integral
The place where Life is the curve integrated over various elements that we see in and around us.
July 27th, 2006 at 12:02 pm (#)
hey! i need to know details of gokarna .…..
any hotels or resorts thr
January 18th, 2007 at 3:24 pm (#)
hello all
March 6th, 2007 at 9:40 pm (#)
hello all !! first off… gr8 blog!! my frens an I are planning a trip to GOK ..2007 march 16,17,18,19.… well jus wondering.. if any of u ll know about the trains to gokarna from bangalore!!!
June 1st, 2010 at 9:01 pm (#)
I had a bad exp in swaswara resort.
the receptionist was taking to me very cheaply without adressing properly just because I am Indian.
“our prices are in Euro’s n resort is not for you indian was what she was saying.
thought i was willing to pay what ever the f.k..g price they had.
the resort SUCKS.