Gokarna

Lying on the coast of the Arabian Sea, Gokarna is a small town located in the district of Uttara Kannada in Karnataka, India. Famous for its temples and beaches, this little town attracts pilgrims and tourists from all over the world throughout the year. Gokarna is one among the seven important pilgrimage centers of the Hindus. Covered in banana and coconut trees, this place is also known for its clean and serene beaches which boast of scenic beauty. Besides Kannada, English and Konkani languages are spoken in this place. This little town also lies in the midst of Agnashini River and Gangavali River.

Sunset at Om Beach. Image courtesy Saransh Gupta

Mahabaleshwara is the most famous temple in Gokarna dedicated to Mahabaleshwar, an incarnation of Shiva. Built in the Dravidian style of architecture, this temple lies on the Karwar coast. Also referred to as Dakshin Kashi, this temple attracts thousands of pilgrims every year. The other temples that are worth visiting in this town are Tamra- Gauri Temple, Maha Ganapathi Temple, Varadraj Temple, Uma- Maheshwari Temple and Venkataramana Temple.  Gokarna is also home to four beaches known for its beauty. Surrounded by palm trees and white sand, the Kudle beach is a popular tourist destination. The Paradise beach, Half- moon beach and OM beach are also frequented by tourists. The best time to visit this town is from October to March. Learn more about the beautiful Gokarna here.