Gokarna, a different experience. Review on Gokarna

This place will have everlasting memories for everyone who visits it . A very sincere request though – guys , you have to change your mindset drastically before reaching this place .Do not go to Om beach with a typical beach goer attitude expecting huge sandy shores , soft soothing waves , skimpily clad people , booze  and fun , music and sun . Only think of serenity , peace , tranquility , timeless existence and emotional cleansing .

We visited this place in October which was a little before the peak season and experienced the bliss. Perhaps it may not be so peaceful in peak season .Gokarna is an hour and a half from Canacona ( Palolem ) by Konkan Railway . The Konkan railway was 3 hours late so we reached Gokarna very late in the evening . We dropped the plan of going to Om beach in the night and stayed in town instead . The Gokarna Town is small and a religious place . A small market with interspersed temples mainly selling articles of worship and garlands . The temples are ancient and they have a lot of religious significance . The accommodation in the town is pitiable . One of the many Pai restaurants does serve very delicious Udupi food .

There are five beaches – Gokarna Beach , Kudle Beach , Om Beach . Half Moon Beach and Paradise Beach . Each beach separated from the other by tall hills . Om beach is supposed to be better to stay in .It is 10 Kms from Gokarna town and can be reached by rickshaws . All these beaches look very fascinating from the top of the hills as you drive in the rickshaws  .

We stayed at Namaste Café , Om beach – a resort on a small hillock which ends in the sea . From the cottages you have to stake a small rock paved path to the restaurant by the sea . Namaste café is at north end of the beach .The huts are very comfortable . They have all the basic amenities . They are peaceful . You can hear the soft soothing sound of crashing waves which as a matter of fact can lull you into sleep . Namaste  Restaurant serves a huge variety of dishes which are quite tasty .

The Om shaped beach is OK . Not very big , not very safe for swimming , light brown coarse sand .It is a big cove – as you can sea land projecting very far away into the sea , particulary towards south . There are a few other small shacks by the beach . There are plenty of cows , through out the day . There is a dutiful policeman posted through out the day – who patrols the beach . Nothing ever happens on the beach which needs a policeman’s help is evident from his demeanor . He will sit on this rock for an hour and then on that rock , this shack and then that shack and then return home . He has been doing it for years and does not get bored at all . This is the mindset one has to change into before coming to Gokarna .

The adventure begins at the other end of Om beach . The shore ends at the foothills of a tall hill . A climb on the hill gifts you with breathtakingly beautiful views of huge cliffs abruptly ending in the sea .There are sail boats drifting away . The view may be frightening to those with fear of heights . The trail across the hill is definitely meant for physically strong and sporty people with an interest in adventure .Many colorful wild flowers , butterflies and insects can be seen as one walks through the woods .Climb down the hill and there is Half Moon Beach . This is a very tiny beach – can be a paradise for a couple if  nobody intrudes in their privacy .The sand here is very coarse .I made several futile attempts to reach Paradise Beach – but could not find the way .But several boats were plying for paltry amount between all these beaches .I realized though that there is no point in beach hopping except for fun as Om Beach has it all .

A day at Namaste café and on learns the beach culture that on needs to adapt at Gokarna . There was a man who was staying here for months – walks in the morning and evening , meditation , sleep and having good food . An another man sat for 8 hours in the same chair talking with an absolute stranger .A lady would just read novels in her cottage verandah and sleep and eat – this had been her routine for many days. An another lady preferred sitting on the rocks and read throughout the day . I never bothered to look at my watch ;rather I never knew the time I went to bed or woke up or had meals . This is a place where time comes to an absolute standstill .As a person staying in a busy metro with a very hectic lifestyle  , I wound up my stay early as I felt I would go mad here . But retrospection has made me repent for the decision I took .There is little difference in abhorring a place or adoring a place – guys change the mindset and you will know the difference between the two words , here at Gokarna .