OM-Beach in Gorkarna

Gokarna is a good and popular place for travelling with children. Not so much because of the small village which is a major Hindu pilgrim site, but because of the four adjacent beaches south of the village. Each beach is about half an hour of walk from the neighbouring ones, so to walk from Gokarna village via Kuddle, OM and Half Moon beach to Paradise beach takes about two hours. Since Om beach has shortly been made available by a street, it is the busiest of the four. Kuddle beach, though closer to the village, is quieter and Half Moon and Paradise beach are even more so.
You will find lots of long-term-travellers with children in Kuddle beach and quite a few families with shorter schedule in OM-beach.
The sleepy, charming, traditional village of Gorkarna with it's wooden houses has been one of the most sacred Shivaite pilgrim sites in south India for more than 2000 years. Nevertheless, it was only in the 90s, that Western tourists discovered the beauty of the white, sandy beaches.

Orientation in Gokarna is easy: everything is in easy walking distance. The village itself has an L-shaped bazaar, where the broad main street hosts the two important Hindu temples. If you want to access the beaches you simply have to walk southwards from Ganapati Temple, parallel to the sea. You can't miss your way.

Beachlife: The best of Gokarna is without doubt the beach. Water, wind, sand and waves easily fill serveral hours each day.

The choice you have to face in Gokarna is whether you want to stay in basic hotels in the village or in even more basic huts on the beach. The beach option will give a more "touristy" view of Gorkarna, the village option a more "Indian" view.

Hotel Gokarna International: New, friendly, modern and well organised: Gokarnas smartest hotel is definitely of great value. Some of the rooms have bathtubs, all rooms have balconies and TV. The quieter triple rooms to the back are the most interesting for families. The in-house restaurants are mediocre. map

Address: Main St
Tel: 08386 256622
Email: hotelgokarn@yahoo.com
Price: 300Rs, A/C 650 Rs

Shastri's Guesthouse: This quiet place behind Shastri Clinc on the main street is a good option - as long a you keep away from the claustrophobic single cells. Some double rooms to the back are bis and sunny. With children go for the one's that have balconies and offer palm-tree-views. map

Address: Main St
Tel: 08386 256220
Email: dr_murti@rediffmail.com
Price: 200Rs

Farm House: Up on the hill between Kuddle beach and Gokarna village you can find the Farm House on a tree-covered plot. They offer good standard, and a quiet sourrounding. It's a good place to stay, but a little far from the beaches. map

Price: 400 Rs

OM-Beach is the most developed one of the four beaches, so it's easiest to find accommodation here. The only backdrop might be the presence of huge numbers of Indian weekend-tourists.

Jungle Guesthouse: Jungle Guesthouse on OM-Beach (NOT the Jungle Resort!) behind Ganesh restaurant offers small, quiet huts with attached bathroom for 400 Rs.

Price: 400Rs

Ganesh: Also on OM-beach, "Ganesh" is more to the beachfront but a little noisy.

Namaste Cafe: Namaste on OM-beach offers rooms and huts, is spotless and offers a huge restaurant, where you can hang out all day. The only backdrop is it's distance to the best swimming places.

There are many basic Indian thali stalls in the village. On the beaches you will find lots of beach restaurants with the usual menu.

Nirvana restaurant: Nirvana restaurant on OM-Beach serves good and reliable quality.

Gokarna has a local doctor who even runs a small laboratory. The doctor is old but competent. Ask around to find him.

Tourist buses from destinations like Goa or Hampi might deposit you at the police checkpoint at the entrance to the village.
Local buses mostly proceed to the new bus stand, some 300 meters away from the bazaar. From there, you find daily buses to Karwar (connecting to Goa) and to Kumta (connecting to Mangalore). You will also find daily direct buses to Margao, Hubli, Manganlore, Hampi and Bangalore.
By bus or rickshaw you can also reach Gokarna Road Railway station, 9km inland, on the main Goa to Mangalore Konkan railway. Even if only two passenger trains daily to each direction stop in the station, it's a convenient way to reach or leave Gokarna. Every travel agent on Main St can book tickets.