Gokarna is an ancient temple town located in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka State. Gokarna means Cow’s Ear. Gokarna is situated in the confluence of the rivers Gangavali and Aghanashini. And the meeting point of these two rivers is in the shape of an ear. Hence the name Gokarna.
Also according to legends Lord Shiva had emerged from the ear of a cow and hence the place got its name. Gokarna is also mentioned in Shrimad Bhagawat Purana. Gokarna is acclaimed as one of the seven Mukti Stalas, the place where Hindus come to perform the last rites of the departed souls. Mahabaleshwara Shiva Temple in Gokarna makes this place a major pilgrimage centre for Hindus. Festival of Shivratri here is celebrated with a lot of fervour by the devotees.
Top Tourist Places Near Gokarna
Gokarna is a major pilgrimage centre as well as popular tourist spot because of its beautiful beaches. Gokarna offers nature lovers some wonderful trekking options.
Mahabaleshwara
This is one of the major temples here. It houses the famous six feet tall Atmalinga enshrined in a square Saligrama Peetha with a hole in the middle. Devotees can get glimpse of the 6 feet tall linga of the Mahabaleshwar Temple of Gokarna during the occasion Ashtabandhana Kumbhabhishekam held once in 40 years. This place is often called the Kashi of the South. It is counted among the seven sacred Muktikshetras. Hindus come here to perform the death rites for departed ancestors. The Shiva Linga at the Mahabaleshwar Temple in Gokarna is considered to have been brought over here by Ravana. The temple also has a 1500 year old carved stone figure of Lord Shiva. Usually devotees take a holy bath in the sea before going for the darshan at the temple.
Maha Ganpati temple
This temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesh who was responsible for rescuing the Atmalinga from Ravana. Chariots at the Maha Ganapathy temple are renowned for their huge dimension and structural wonder.
Bhadrakali Temple
Bhadrakali Temple is dedicated to Goddess Uma. According to legend goddess Uma on the request of lord Vishnu resided in Gokarns after Ravana abandoned her here.
Apart from these temples there are few other temples worth visiting like the Varadaraja temple, Venkataramana temple, Tamra-Gauri Temple, Shanmuka Temple and a man-made tank that is used for immersion of idols and ritual bathing called Kotitheertha.
The temples of Dhareshwar, Gunavanteshwara, Murdeshwar and Shejjeshwar are also located around. These temples along with Gokarna Mahabaleshwar temple form the Pancha Kshetras (Five Areas).
Popular highlights in Gokarna are its sprawling beaches which are lined with palm and coconut trees. These serene and peaceful beaches located besides the steep slopes from the Western Ghats attract many tourists. There are many popular beaches in Gokarna. The Kudle Beach, Gokarna Beach, Half Moon Beach, Paradise Beach and Om Beach are the five main attractions here.
Om Beach
Located at a distance of about 7 km from Gokarna Om Beach is the most famous beach in Gokarna. The beach is shaped like the auspicious Om sign, the spiritual Hindu symbol and so it is called the Om beach. This white sandy beach is also centre for several water sport activities such as surfing, water-skiing, parasailing, and banana boat rides.
Kudle Beach
Kudle Beach is about a twenty-minute walk from Gokarna. Tourists can also take conduit from the southern side of Ganapati Temple. This beach is about a kilometre in length and one can find simple huts and beach side eating places.
Half Moon Beach
This beach can be reached only from Om Beach by foot or boat. This beach is separated from Om beach by a cliff. Though water sports are not available here this beach is ideal for swimming. Huts are spread over a small area bordering the beach.
Gokarna Beach
Gokarna Beach is the closest to Gokarna town and is reachable by road. The drive to the beach is a scenic one which offers a beautiful view of Arabian Sea on one side and the rock mountains on the other. This beach devoid of any commercialisation attracts many travellers. Local food stalls, water sports and sun bathing are some of the main attractions at Gokarna Beach.
Paradise Beach
This beach is secluded and can be reached by a boat. This is also an extremely beautiful place. Hence the name paradise beach. No water sports are available here. This is a perfect place to sunbathe and spend some leisure time. Accommodation is possible in huts and there are also a couple of restaurants around.
Murudeshwara
Located about 85 km from Gokarna, Murudeshwar is a famous beach town placed between the picturesque Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. This is a pilgrimage site and the main attraction here is The Murudeshwara Temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The 37m high statue of Lord Shiva is also another highlight of this place. The temple built on the Kanduka hill offers a magnificent view of the Arabian Sea.
Idagunji
Idagunji is 65 km from Gokarna and 14 km southeast of Honnavar. It is a famous Hindu pilgrimage place. The major attraction here is the Lord Ganesha temple. Lord Ganapati is seen here holding Modaka and Lotus in his hands. The idol of Ganapathi at Idagunji is similar to the Ganapathi at Gokarna. The temple at Idagunji attracts more than 1 million devotees per year.
Yana
Yana is about 55 kms from Gokarna. This place located in Sahyadri hills of the Western Ghats is known for its unusual rock formations. The main attractions here are two huge rocks. Other attractions are the two temples one is a temple of Shiva inside a cave and a Ganesha temple nearby and a small waterfall. This place is ideal for trekking.
Getting to Gorkarna
Gokarna lies at a distance of about 450 kilometres from Bangalore and 220 kilometres from Mangalore. The nearest airport is in Panaji, Goa (Dabolim), which is 135 Kms from Gokarna. The Gokarna Train station is around 8 km from the town. The Konkan Railway passes through the Gokarna and other nearest stations are Kumta and Ankola. Madgaon, Mangalore, Dabolim and Bangalore are all well connected to Gokarna by regular KSRTC buses.
Accomodation
Gokarna town has plenty of hotels and luxury resorts. Beach accommodations in small huts in the beach vicinity are also available here.