"This is not the season for trekking, and we are not sure if you can get hold of the trekking path so easily after these rains! But don't worry, you can still visit most of the beaches by road." Our resort receptionist informed us with a doubtful face! Turning back now is not an option as the major goal of this trip is to complete one of the long pending bucket list items.
It's been so long that I've been wanting to go on a trek. Skimming through different options for the same, came the not so obvious place that's been in the bucket list for a long-time now: Gokarna. But it's one of the best places you can be if you are in search for spirituality, adventure or on a laid-back vacation. The place has got it all!
Day 1: Witnessing the World's Second Tallest Shiva Statue.
The first stop on this three-day journey was Murudeshwar, a small coastal town famous for its stunning Shiva temple and gorgeous beaches. We started the day with a visit to the Murudeshwar Temple, a grand structure built on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea. The temple, with its 20-story gopuram and imposing statue of Lord Shiva, was an awe-inspiring sight that will leave any person in amazement.
After a few hours at the temple, we headed towards our major destination, Gokarna. With a little too much of relaxing, we had to rush to the Murudeshwar railway station to catch the next train to Gokarna.
Day 2: Gokarna Beach Trek
The second day of our journey took us on a 10km beach trek along the Gokarna coast. On enquiring at the reception about the trek, we were taken aback by the fact that its off-season and the trek paths would've been covered by vegetation due to the recent rains. It will be possible but might be a bit difficult at this time of the year. We gave it a thought! The main reason for this trip was this famous beach trek, and an itinerary excluding it would be like taking the soul away from the body! And thus, it was decided, let's give it a try and go as far as we can!
We took an auto asked us to drop at the trek starting point. And thank we did that, knowing the terrain and place, he took us to Belekan beach, so that the trekking would be a little less tiring. The long beach side road took us near to a stream joining the sea, past which we saw the trail going up a hill. The generous auto-wala briefed us on how to proceed; "Stick to the trail, and always keep the google maps on. Before taking the trail, take a slight detour and go see the Tadri light house and the get a glimpse of the Arabian sea from the hilltop!" And we did.
It was more of a warmup for what was to come. A slight uphill climb through the thick vegetation on one side and the vast sea on the other with some dots of islands here and there, took us to the locked up Tadri light house. After exploring the area and clicking some pics, we started back to the actual train for our much-awaited trek. And then we knew we were in for much more than simple experience. We were in for an adventure!
The first destination was Paradise beach. Unreachable by any roads, Paradise beach can be accessed only by a trek or by a speed boat from half-moon beach or Om Beach. And at this point, we thanked our unofficial guide, the auto-wala for dropping us at Belekan, it would have been a different workout if we took the reverse route for our trek. The trail took us through the thick vegetation, often the plants encroached the trail and we had to make our way rather than finding one. After some 30mins of walk, the trail took us to the end of a cliff, where we had to climb down to reach our first destination. The hidden gem! Paradise beach. This was a testimony to how beautiful places can be when its least interfered by humans! This white sand beach, with a few rocks spread across the shore was indeed an achievement for all the efforts we put! There is a camping site and shack in paradise beach where you can get some refreshments. If you are in a mood to camp, you have options for that too.
After a long time of laid-back time at the beach, and some hot Maggi and tea, we started off to our next destination, Half-moon beach. We were in constant company of the Arabian sea on this trail and had to do a bit of rock climbing and finding our way through the trees. We were often seen jumping on the rocks, sliding down the slopes and hugging the trees to find our way forward. Crossing the small hell beach and hell cliff, we arrived at the half-moon beach, to be welcomed by some angry dogs wondering who these uninvited guests are at this time of the day!
Deriving its name from its shape, that of a half-moon, this beach has a small settlement with some farmlands and fishing. The dogs are probably their support and we somehow moved past them. May be due to the pressure from the dogs, who refused to leave us free even beyond their territory, or because of the hot sun, we lost track! We followed the several boulders, ignoring the marking of the trail on one them, only to reach a dead end - face to face with the sea. Map showed a slight detour from the actual trail, and to our luck the fishermen gave us the proper direction to catch up on the time we lost. Up we sent the hill next to us climbing holding on to the trees, we were back on track now going for a cliff walk.
Walking on the cliff overlooking the sea, negotiating out way through a herd of cows and through a pine tree forest, we reached the Om Beach view point! The magnificent beach, in the shape of Om stood bright Infront of us. The beach was live, with a few shacks open and people walking around. We hurried to our unofficial finishing line to get some lunch and sun has drained most of the juice from us. We had our lunch stop at Namaste cafe, with a view of the sea that gave us company since this morning guiding and encouraging us to move further.
After the much-needed break, we took the last stretch, to reach Kudle beach which was very lively with several people moving around. Taking a long walk on the beach and after some small talks, we called our auto-wala back to take us to the Gokarna main beach for the sunset. The whole 10KM Stretch, was so rewarding that everything later on felt like an achievement, including the sand and waves on the feet, to the sea winds on the face.
Day 3: Mirjan Fort & Yana Caves
The final day of our journey was dedicated to exploring the historic Mirjan Fort and the breathtaking Yana Caves. The fort, perched on a hilltop, offered stunning views of the surrounding landscape. It was an interesting place to visit, with its rich history and well-preserved ruins.
After visiting the fort, we headed to the Yana Caves, which were truly a sight to behold. The caves, formed from black marble, were both awe-inspiring and peaceful. What made it even more interesting is the forest route we took to reach the place and the few kilometers we had to trek, to reach the caves. The weather also blessed us by not being sunny and with a slight drizzle. We explored the caves, marveling at the intricate formations and serene atmosphere, before making our way back to our hotel to finish our trip.
The three-day journey to Gokarna was an unforgettable experience filled with stunning sights, peaceful moments, and new adventures. From the breathtaking beaches to the historic ruins and awe-inspiring caves, this coastal town offered a truly unique and fulfilling experience. If you're looking for a getaway that combines relaxation, adventure, and history, Gokarna is the perfect destination. And finishing this article with a satisfaction of striking off one more bucket list item...
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