Home > Places to Visit > Gokarna
Gokarna
Gokarna Beach
Distance : From Bangalore - 475 | From Sirsi - 55 Kms
Gokarna is a small pilgrimage town on the coastal region of North Canara-Karnataka.Gokarna, meaning cow's ear in Sanskrit as the ear shape is formed by the confluence of two rivers to form the town. The place gets its name from the local legend that Lord Shiva emerged from the ear of a cow. It is a conservative Hindu pilgrimage town, home to several temples and festivals. Gokarna is a town of contrasts as it a temple town and also a holiday destination.The place is full of palm and coconut trees. It is an attraction town with two main streets with shops and traditional tile roofed brick houses. The Car Street, which runs through the heart of the town is a typical Pilgrim center, flanked by small business, Puja paraphernalia, souvenirs and food stuff. The maze of narrow lanes and alleys are reminders of tradition, which continues even today. Brahmin priests go about busily with their religious duties. A walk through the main street would not take more than twenty minutesThe town itself is full of locals and pilgrims, and doesn't have much in the way of facilities for tourists, other than a handful of guesthouses and local restaurants.
Most foreign tourists come to stay on one of the 4 beaches just south of town. Kudlee Beach is the first, about a 20 minute walk, and they get more remote and less populated as you head south. The most popular time to visit Gokarna is during the 4 day Shiva Ratri festival, where 2 giant chariots are pulled down the main street and up to 20,000 pilgrims descend on the town.Gokarna can be part of VisitSirsi.Com Bangalore to Sirsi Package Trip.
Gokarna is a small pilgrimage town on the coastal region of North Canara-Karnataka.Gokarna, meaning cow's ear in Sanskrit as the ear shape is formed by the confluence of two rivers to form the town. The place gets its name from the local legend that Lord Shiva emerged from the ear of a cow. It is a conservative Hindu pilgrimage town, home to several temples and festivals. Gokarna is a town of contrasts as it a temple town and also a holiday destination.The place is full of palm and coconut trees. It is an attraction town with two main streets with shops and traditional tile roofed brick houses. The Car Street, which runs through the heart of the town is a typical Pilgrim center, flanked by small business, Puja paraphernalia, souvenirs and food stuff. The maze of narrow lanes and alleys are reminders of tradition, which continues even today. Brahmin priests go about busily with their religious duties. A walk through the main street would not take more than twenty minutesThe town itself is full of locals and pilgrims, and doesn't have much in the way of facilities for tourists, other than a handful of guesthouses and local restaurants.
Most foreign tourists come to stay on one of the 4 beaches just south of town. Kudlee Beach is the first, about a 20 minute walk, and they get more remote and less populated as you head south. The most popular time to visit Gokarna is during the 4 day Shiva Ratri festival, where 2 giant chariots are pulled down the main street and up to 20,000 pilgrims descend on the town.Gokarna can be part of VisitSirsi.Com Bangalore to Sirsi Package Trip.
Gokarna Beaches
Gokarna Beach
Four of the most beautiful beaches in India are located south of Gokarna. They are Kudle Beach, OM Beach, Half-moon and Paradise Beach.Gokarna town has it's own beach that's popular with pilgrims. However, the beaches that are of most interest to tourists are located one after another a short distance away.
Each has its own appeal. Om Beach is the most happening beach, and is the only one that's reachable by car or rickshaw. The others are around a 20 minute hike away from each other through the hills and over rocks, or a short boat ride away. The last beach, Paradise Beach, is not much more than a tiny protected cove that's a patch of hippie paradise.
Each has its own appeal. Om Beach is the most happening beach, and is the only one that's reachable by car or rickshaw. The others are around a 20 minute hike away from each other through the hills and over rocks, or a short boat ride away. The last beach, Paradise Beach, is not much more than a tiny protected cove that's a patch of hippie paradise.
