Backpacking Guide: Gokarna

A backpack guide to Gokarna: Explore the weekend getaway to the land of “Atmalinga”.

Go (cow’s) and Karna (ears) – the Sanskrit meaning of the word Gokarna is cow’s ear. It was this place where the legend, Ravana- King of Lanka was given “Atmalinga” by Lord Shiva and was perforce placed here at Gokarna. It is said that Lord Shiva emerged from the ear of a cow, at this very place, and hence the land is named Gokarna. Situated on the coast of Karwar, Gokarna is towards the northern Kannada district of Karnataka. The place is a perfect backpack destination because of its Serenity, sanctity, and peaceful environment.

Apart from the hustle-bustle of the cities, this town is famous for its temples and clean beaches. Recognized as a place of Hindu pilgrimage, The Palm and coconut trees in abundance make it a perfect backpacking destination. Trekking points, campsite activities are evolving as the new age of travel experiences at Gokarna.

Places to Visit

Om Beach – The ‘Om’ like symbol shape beach is the mesmerizing art of nature that can be experienced and accessed by boat or by trekking.

Kudle Beach– This beach is one of the most beautiful and safe beaches for swimming. It has a ‘C’ shaped structure and is amongst the top five beaches you can visit at Gokarna.

Mahabaleshwara Temple – The 6 feet tall Shiva Linga also known as “Atmalinga” is situated at this place. The standing idol of Lord Shiva indicates him as the main deity.

Half Moon Beach– The beach has the form of a ‘half moon’ shape and can be reached by trekking or hiking. Motorboats can help in reaching the beach better.

Paradise Beach– Also known as the ‘full moon’ beach. The beach is famous for its clean waters and as the name suggests, it gives a true feel of paradise on earth.

Nirvana Beach – One of the most breathtaking experiences this place has to offer is that one can view the beautiful bioluminescence of India that glows during the night at this particular place.

Also one can backpack to religious and spiritual temples such as Mahaganapati temple, Bhadrakali Temple and Shiva Cave.

Trekking Spots

Trekking is another backpack activity at Gokarna. Beach trekking is famous along with other sports such as water sports adventure, hiking, snorkeling, campsite adventure etc.

Beach trekking has a two-day itinerary for trekking at Om beach, Half Moon, Paradise, Kudle beach. The program includes breakfast lunch and dinner as well.

Few companies that offer Beach trekking to Gokarna are:

Stays At Gokarna

Backpack Guide to hotel stays at Gokarna provides a range of stays, right from luxury hotels, beach resorts, hostels for big groups, and private beach houses.

Luxury hotels

Swaswara Gokarna – Situated at Om beach, this place is perfect for a wellness retreat.

📍3.2 km away from the city. Facilities: Parking, wifi, food, bar, pool. Price: 18000 onwards per night.

Kahani Paradise – This luxury resort offers a rich view of the beach and the forest.

📍4.1 km from the city. Facilities: Parking, food, bar, wifi, pool. Price: 45000 onwards per night.

Beach Houses/ Resorts

Arthigamya spa & resort- Located at the Kudle beach, This stay provides spa, parking, food, and pool. 1500 INR onwards per night.

Blue ocean sands resort– Relax and recharge with some Indian breakfast, enjoy hiking, and a walk at this beautiful beach resort.

📍9.6 km from the city. 4500 INR onwards per night.

Backpacking travel guide to Gokarna can offer hostel stays and private beach houses as well, that can offer pleasant stays ranging from 200 INR per night.

How to reach

By Air – The nearest airport is Dabolim at Goa, about a 3.5- 4 hours journey. The airport is well connected with all major cities of India.

By Train- Nearest railway station is at Ankola about 20 km from Gokarna. All major cities like Mumbai, Mangalore, Trivandrum can be accessed from this station.

By Road – All buses and taxis are available from the airport and railway station to Gokarna. The roads are well developed by the Karnataka state, and hence KSRTC ( KarnatakaStateRoadTransport) buses too are easily approachable.

Best time to visit

Backpack and travel to Gokarna from October to March. It’s the best time to visit when humidity is low. Avoid visiting during monsoon.

Tips: Avoid travel during Monsoon.

Carry essentials for trekking and hiking activities.
Do not miss the bioluminescence beach experience.
Carry sunscreen.
Keep at least one sports shoe pair along.

List of things to pack:

Shoes in which you can hike/trek easily (carry extra socks because it gets humid inside your shoes easily) & a pair of flip flops (for beach walks).
A small backpack/shoulder bag that you can carry with you everywhere (2 water bottles, spare change of clothes in case you want to take a dip in the ocean).
Lots of spare change: Gokarna has lots of temples and street shops and not all of them have UPI/Card service. It will be good if you can carry at least 1000 rupees in small denominations. Also, you won’t find an ATM just anywhere, so better to keep ample cash in your wallet.
A packet of biscuits: there are a lot of stray dogs in Gokarna. Some resort/cottage owners also keep them as guard dogs. Although they are friendly, a packet of biscuits will go a long way to make them your bffs for the duration of your stay. If you’re lucky, you might come across some small monkeys as well.
A first aid kit: must include meds for diarrhoea, motion sickness, pudin hara, digene, paracetamol, a broad range anti allergic, a broad range antibiotic, pantoprazole, band aids, moov/volini, disinfectant spray, ORS.
Warm clothing: it gets chilly at night, a sweater/jacket/shawl would be preferred.
Binoculars: for those who like to bird watch as Gokarna has a Bird Watching Point.

Things to keep in mind while visiting Gokarna:

Brush up on your bargaining skills: since it’s a tourist destination, the MRP of everything, from hats to Kurtis, is overpriced.
Take the train if you get motion sickness (avoid taking A/C compartment (IN TRAIN AND IN BUS) as a precaution for COVID).
Don’t eat anything that you haven’t had before or eat only what the restaurant recommends (lessens your chances of having an upset stomach).
Do not litter: I have seen so many cigarette butts, beer bottles and plastic bottles that it has ruined the landscape. Be a responsible tourist otherwise stay at home.
Be respectful of the locals and their culture/language. Remember, you are the guest and it’s their home.

So backpack and get ready to explore the serenity, sanctity, and religious environment of the land of Atmalinga, and enjoy trekking, campsite activities beaches, and temples.

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