The coastal beauty of Gorkana is a blessing to Karnataka in India. It is situated between the mouths of the rivers Agnashini and Gangavali. The fine stretches of sand and surf are well pronounced by the International tourist, who visit the place, hoping to discover secrets linked with the religious temples and ancient dwellings. The rocky cliffs here has its unique appeal and unlike any other beaches in the State, they offers trekking from one beach to another.

Things to do and see in Gokarna
As long as one keeps away from the rocky confines, the waters are safe for swimming. But cautions need to be taken by newbies, who are advised to wet themselves by means of beach-walk only. The coastlines invites adventure lovers to enjoy beach- trekking from Gokarna to Paradise beach. The trekking activity covers the scenic beauty of the port-village-Belikeri near Ankola and Belikan village after the Paradise beach. It also involves crossing the Gangavali and Ashini rivers via boating. Gokarna beach is considered as holy and pilgrims take their ritual bath here before heading to the Mahabaleshwara temple and the Maha Ganapathy Temple, situated atop on the southern direction, in the main town. The foot-track from the temples follows the way towards the crescent-shaped, Kudle beach. It is clogged with a number of thatched huts and visitors can opt for an overnight halt here. Seasonal cafes are spread out along the beach, which lits up since early morning till late night. Beach lovers can find the evening schedule busy with the practice of Yoga, martial arts or strumming the musical instruments. Further, tourist looking for the adventure of Kayaking can check the facilities provided by the many cafes and shacks on Om Beach.

Gokarna Beach Shopping
The Car Street at Gokarna in Karnataka has a number of shops, which have much in store for the tourist. The trendy cotton clothes like the printed shirts, airy tops and the traditional lungis are a good buys for an outing on the beach. Shoppers can also take back home, the colorful lampshades and conch-shell items, available at cheap rate.

Eating at Gokarna
Crispy snacks and refreshing juices are available on the Dolphin Bay Cafe and Namaste Cafe(Om Beach), Sunset Cafe and Dragon Cafe(Kudle Beach), Om Shanthi and Paradise Cafes(Paradise Beach). Apart from them, tourist can pamper their taste bud with a range of authentic traditional meals offered by the popular Pai restaurants, Purohit Restaurant and Down Town. Brahmana Parishat, set up on the street leading to the Gokarna Beach is a place where one can relish some tasty Brahmin meals. Further, Maitreyee Juice Center and Shree Sakthi Cold Drinks on the Car Street serves good stuff for thirsty throats.

Place of accommodation in Gokarna
The beaches in Gokarna is indicates visitors to spend nights and explore them to the fullest. Kudle Beach has Hotel Gokarna International Beach Resort, which offer a comfortable stay to their guests. Visitors can also book rooms in the swish and swanky Swaswara Resort on Om Beach, Hotel Shivaprasad and Shri Sai Ram Hotel on the main town. On peak season, makeshift staying options like Om Shanthi Cafe, Paradise Cafe etc are set up on the Half Moon and Paradise Beach.

When to visit Gokarna
The best time to visit Gokarna is from November to March.

How to reach Gokarna
By Air
Dabolim Airport, situsted 140 kms away is well connected to Bangalore and Mumbai by major airlines. On reaching the airport premises, visitors can hire available taxis and reach Gokarna.

By Rail
The Gokarna Railway Station is located 6 kms from the Gokarna town. Besides, the nearest railway stations are Kumta (32 kms) and Ankola (20 kms), which falls on the Konkan Railway route. The stations are connected to Mumbai, Mangalore and Thiruvananthapuram by trains such as the Matsyagandha and Netravati Express.

By Road
National Highways connects the major cities of Karnataka with the neighboring states. NH4 connects Bangalore with Tumkur, while NH206 connects Tumkur with Shimoga, which pave the way to Honavar. Following the path to NH17, from here, travelers can reach Gokarna via Madangeri.