The Story of Gokarna : Not All Who Wander Are Lost

It was one of those unusually warm mid spring afternoons. The midday sun had cast its colour over the beach town, making all the shades of nature glisten in a hue of gold. Ahead of me, lay an extremely narrow path carved on a mountain, twisting its way through dense woods. The natives had said it would lead to Kudle Beach, a hidden beach in the small temple town of Gokarna.

Of Secret Beaches and Sleeping Streets

gokarna-temple

The hike downhill was laden with eerie shadows of enormous Silver Oak trees. The only sound was of the occasional crunch of dead leaves crumbling under my feet. The overwhelming silence and the deserted track resonated the realisation that dear life is precious. I began to turn back when an irresistible Irish accent called after me, “If you're looking for Gokarna beach, it's just down here.” His husky voice made the ocean rumble loud enough for me to hear, or so I thought.

I ran after the roaring sound and there, tucked away from the rest of the world, far away from the big cities and the bigger people that inhabit it, lay this silent town, in a sweet slumber.

gokarna-ocean-beach

It was the most beautiful, the cleanest stretch of sand I had ever seen in the entire country. While one side was flanked by the Arabian Sea, the other side was guarded by the rocky mountains of the Western Ghats. And in between, existed a secret realm that belonged to travellers from all over the world.

A Melange of Cultures

gokarna-beach-girl

I swam the clear blue seas with a group of travelers from Ireland. Ran back to the shore and played Frisbee with four friends from Barcelona. Learnt the hoopla dance from a group of gorgeous Brazilian women and read the travel diaries of a writer from Bulgaria. Heard about the folklores of Romania and the wet streets of London, and noted the recipe of Turkish delight from the chef who owned a corner café in Greece. My favourite though was swimming the deep waters on the back of a national swimmer. At nightfall, I found myself sitting around a bonfire at Kudle Beach with fellow travellers, trying to make sense of the different languages muffling over the rumbling ocean. The night was soaked in the warmth of fire and friends, the thrill of stories and strangers and the delight of daydreams and guitar strings.

It was a finite land composed of infinite stories and experiences. It was a realm away from the world and yet the entire world was a part of it.

Shacking Up

After beaching the entire morning, when the midday sun becomes too warm to handle, just hop into a shack in your swimwear. Over the years, travelers from across the world have changed the cultural fabric of this pilgrimage town. The locals have set up shacks lining the shore that offer delicious Mediterranean cuisine. Order your food while you guzzle down the cheap beer. Run out to play with the waves again once you’ve satiated your appetite or sit back and watch the sun kiss the water while sipping on some wine. I’d recommend shack hopping for different meals of the day.

Why Gokarna?

gokarna-summer-girl

Lying off the grid, this beach town is sleeping in a dreamy silence. The waters of time stand still here and life sways slowly to their lullaby.If you are looking for a relaxing beach holiday away from the maddening crowd found in Goa, then this is the perfect destination. Happiness here is sought in simple things, like lying down on the cool sand and hearing the gushing sound of waves against the shore. And looking up at a blanket of a million stars sparkling against the black sky. The moon would be shining in your city as well, the same stars will be twinkling above your terrace back home. But it’s an overwhelming feeling looking at them from here, from an unnoticeable dot on the big World map. Gazing the silent town’s affairs from a little window faraway from home, I suddenly realised that life is lived in these little moments, not milestones.

Places to Eat

Ganga Café on Kudle beach serves delicious Italian, Chinese, Continental and Indian cuisine. Don’t forget to try their refreshing shakes.

Namaste Café on Om beach. Try anything and everything on their fantastic menu.

Best Time to Visit

October – March. Avoid planning your holiday during the summer months of April and May. The monsoon months between June and August are off season and most of the shacks are shut during this time. The place tends to be packed during weekends with tourists from Bengaluru and nearby places.