Places to Visit in Gokarna

Gokarna beach is amongst the popular places to visit in Gokarna for many reasons. It is the main beach that is located close to Mahabaleshwar Temple and frequented by the tourists who visit here.

It is considered holy to take a dip in the waters by the Gokarna Beach before visiting the temple complex and worship Lord Shiva. This beautiful beach is a must visit for nature lovers and offers a scenic retreat for all the tourists in Gokarna. It also boasts of stunning beach stays where people can spend some quality time with nature in Gokarna.

The most amazing time to visit the beach is during the festival of Shivratri when it is the most resplendent. Though there aren’t many shacks or cafes here but this beach is one of the most crowded places in Gokarna at times.

However, tourists can always visit Gokarna Beach during the time of sunrise to enjoy a laid-back stroll with a beautiful scenery in front of the eyes.

Location: Gokarna Beach Road, Dandebagh, Gokarna, Karnataka

Best Time to visit: October to March is the best time to visit Gokarna Beach.

Distance from Gokarna Bus Main Stand, Banglegudda: It is approximately one kilometre away from the bus station in Gokarna.

Brace yourself for a scenic getaway with a trip to Om Beach when you are in Gokarna. One of the most picturesque attractions in Gokarna, Om Beach is known for its serene landscape. Om Beach is a wonderful respite for adventure junkies who love to exult in the thrill of various water activities. One of the most splendid features of this beach is that it is shaped like the symbol ‘Om’ and attracts scores of crowds who wish to relax and unwind.

Shaped like a perfect ‘C’, Kudle Beach is one of the most beautiful Gokarna tourist places that you’l ever come across. Flanked by coconut trees, Kudle Beach is a wonderful retreat for the lovers of peace and quiet. The sheer beauty and simplicity of the beach is a breathtaking surprise and people visit this beach to enjoy the serene surroundings. Kudle Beach is most famous for offering a spectacular sunset and sunrise in Gokarna.

Showcasing the brilliance of the classic Dravidian architecture, Mahabaleshwara Temple is one of the must visit Gokarna tourist places. The 4th century temple in Gokarna is most famous for its Shiva Linga known as Atma Linga that is worshipped here and also known as Dakshin Kashi, often being paralleled to the Shiva Temple at Varanasi.

This major temple in Gokarna has a 1500-year-old deity that is carved stone of Lord Shiva. If you’re seeking a spiritual retreat, Mahabaleshwara Temple in Gokarna will refresh your soul and offer a peaceful retreat with the Almighty.

According to one popular legend, it is believed that the deity of the temple will bestow immense blessings to devotees to those who just get a glimpse of it. For fans of art and culture too, Mahabaleshwara Temple is a beautiful masterpiece for the tourists to appreciate.

Location: Koti Teertha Road, Kotiteertha, Gokarna, Karnataka 

Best Time to visit: The temple can be visited anytime throughout the year.

Timings: It is open from 6:00 am to 12:30 pm and then from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Distance from Gokarna Bus Main Stand, Banglegudda: It is just 600 metres away from the bus station in Gokarna.

Listed as one of the most attractive sightseeing places in Gokarna, Half Moon Beach boasts of beautiful surroundings. The beach derives its name based on its shape like a half moon.

Half Moon Beach is known for its clean sparkling sands against the transparent blue waters. Mostly famous for foreign travellers and backpackers, Half Moon Beach is a great place to relax and unwind.

Half Moon Beach can be visited by a hike from Om Beach which is a thrilling enterprise. Away from all the crowds, this beach is a wonderful destination to indulge in some fun activities as well as indulge in enjoying some mouth-watering food available at the beach shacks nearby.

This beach is an idyllic escape from the noise of the city or enjoys some classic beach activities like sunbathing or swimming.

Location: Half Moon Beach, Gokarna

Best Time to visit: The ideal time to pay a visit to the Half Moon Beach is between October and March

Timings: Tourists can visit here any time from 6 am to 6 pm.

Activities: Swimming, canoeing, paddle boats, paintball, camping, and cabins

Distance from Gokarna Bus Main Stand, Banglegudda: Half Moon Beach is located approximately 5 kilometres away from the bus station in Gokarna.

Also renowned as the Full Moon Beach, Paradise Beach is a great spot to relax away from all the civilization in the realm of nature. It a splendid place for those interested in camping and relaxing seeing the blue waves of the ocean crash against the rocks on the white sands. Swimming is one of the most surreal activities which you can indulge in after taking due precautions of safety from the strong currents of the ocean.

Namaste Café is one of the most eminent attractions in Gokarna located on Om Beach. This beach front restaurant offers an ideal space for tourists who want to dwell on the splendid views of the sea with a spectacular plate of food on their tables.

Whether you fancy a quiet stroll to feel the sands on the beach or wish to relax in picturesque vistas, Namaste Café is the place to be. This serene property offers a lot of stay options where you can just relax and unwind in Gokarna. It offers unrestricted access to the beach and is an ideal pick for backpackers and budget travellers.

The café also offers exotic dishes to get you in the beach bumming mood along with offering compact rooms to make your stay pleasant in Gokarna.

Location: Om Beach, Gokarna, Karnataka

Best Time to visit: Tourists can visit Namaste Café anytime throughout the year.

Entry fee: A room at Namaste Café costs INR 1080/ USD

Timings: The check in time is 1 pm while the check out time is 11 am.

Distance from Gokarna Bus Main Stand, Banglegudda: The distance between the two places is 6.3 kilometres.

Mirjan Fort is a majestic masterpiece of architecture that one can find standing gloriously on the banks of Aghanashini river. The fort has many historical events associated with it which makes it a delight for history buffs in Gokarna.

It is believed to be built under the patronage of Queen Chennabharadevi, famously known as pepper queen of India in the 16th century. This fort which was once an important centre the spice trade was later captured by the British who used it for their armoury.

It is encompassed by a mesmerising landscape and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. This magnificent fort in Mirjan speaks of the great history of the region and housed some intriguing artefacts like Chinese Porcelain, clay tablets with Islamic inscriptions and gold coins attributed to Portuguese Viceroy Conde De Sarzedas that were excavated by ASI in 2001.

Location: Mirjan Fort, talluk, Mirjan Fort Road, Mirjan, Karnataka

Best Time to visit: The fort can be visited throughout the year by tourists. However, the monsoon months are preferred to witness the breathtaking greenery around the fort.

Timings: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm are the visiting hours at Mirjan Fort

Distance from Gokarna Bus Main Stand, Banglegudda: It is 22 kilometres away from Gokarna bus station.

One of the most sacred places to visit in Gokarna, Koti Tirtha is a popular man-made tank that holds great reverence among the locals and tourists.

This tank is encompassed by beautiful temples all around and used for ritual bathing and immersing idols. As per one popular legend in Gokarna, Koti Tirtha is believed to be the origin of a thousand springs.

Koti Tirtha is situated close to the famous Mahabaleshwar Temple and attracts pilgrims who visit the temple to perform rituals and pay respect to the ancestors.

This sacred pond is used by devotees to take a bath and offers a quaint spiritual ambience for all those who seek a religious rendezvous.

Location: Koti Teertha, Kotiteertha, Gokarna, Karnataka

Best Time to visit: It can be visited throughout the year.

Timings: The timings to visit here are from 12:00 am to 12:00 pm

Distance from Gokarna Bus Main Stand, Banglegudda: It is just 700 metres from the bus station in Gokarna.

If you’re looking for offbeat places to visit in Gokarna, then you should add Nirvana Beach to your itinerary for the trip. This beach is secluded from the throngs of crowds and offers recluse to those who wish to have some beach time to enjoy the peace and quiet.

People here can dive into the cool blue waters and enjoy a refreshing getaway.

One of the gorgeous features of this beach is the beautiful stretch that makes it an absolute delight for watching the sunset and sunrise. It is quite isolated and one can look forward to have a great time with friends and family whether it’s for a picnic or other fun activities on the beach.

With beautiful surroundings and its tranquil setting, Nirvana Beach is one of the most serene places you will see in Gokarna.

Location: Nirvana Beach, Kumta, Karnataka

Best Time to visit: The ideal time to visit this beach in Gokarna is from November to February.

Activities: Swimming, picnicking etc.

Distance from Gokarna Bus Main Stand, Banglegudda: The distance between the two places is approximately 10 kilometres via a ferry.

If you’re looking for the religious places to visit in Gokarna, then Bhadrakali Temple should definitely be on your list. Dedicated to Goddess Uma who is the main deity, this temple is a popular pilgrimage centre.

It is a popular legend which says that when a demon known as Vetrasur seized control of the three lokas, the trinity of Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva created a female warrior called Durge. She was given various powers by the gods to defeat the demon and after that Lord Shiva re-christened her as Bhadrakali.

She was sent to Gokarna and now believed to be known as the protector of the town. Another legend associated with the temple says that Lord Cishnuto requested the goddess to stay in Gokarna after Ravana abandoned her.

Location: Sri Bhadrakali Temple, Main Rd, Gokarna, Karnataka

Best Time to visit: The temple can be visited any time throughout the year in Gokarna

Timings: Bhadrakali Temple is open from 5:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM 

Distance from Gokarna Bus Main Stand, Banglegudda: It is just 650 metres (approximately 8 minutes) away from the bus station in Gokarna.

Known as one of the best Gokarna places to visit and the cleanest beach in town, Baada Beach is a place you should definitely visit when you are here for a holiday. In order to reach Baada Beach, one has to partake an exciting beach trek from Kirki to Gokarna.

Surrounded by hills on both sides, this beach is quite peaceful, somewhere you can escape to for some solitude and rejuvenation. It also offers stunning views of the sunset. So, you can spend some quality time sitting on the rocks while capturing the beautiful sights here. 

Location: Baad Beach, Gudeangadi, Kumta, Karnataka

Best Time to visit: The ideal time to visit Baada Beach is from November to February.

Activities: Trekking is one of the most preferred activities at Baada Beach.

Distance from Gokarna Bus Main Stand, Banglegudda: It is 16 kilometres away from the bus station that involves a ferry route.

Shiva Cave is a fascinating place to visit on your visit to Gokarna that is not much popular among tourists yet. Consisting of a Shiva Lingam, Shiva Cave is an interesting place that people should visit.

With its dark interiors, tourists are advised to carry a torch inside when they are visiting here. It is also home to many bats and has an interesting legend associated with it.

With its beautiful surroundings, Shiva Cave is an amazing place to visit for everyone. There is a Shiva Temple where devotees come to seek fulfilment of their wishes.

Location: Gokarna Kudle Road, Gokarna, Karnataka

Best Time to visit: November to February is the best time to visit Shiva Cave in Gokarna

Distance from Gokarna Bus Main Stand, Banglegudda: It is approximately 5.5 kilometres away from the Gokarna Bus Stand.

One of the most famous religious Gokarna tourist places is the Mahalasa Temple. It is one place that you should most definitely not miss out on when on a trip to Gokarna. Also known as Shri Mahalasa Siddhivinayaka Temple, it is easily accessible from the main bus station in town.

Built almost 150 years ago, the temple has an idol of Shri Siddhivinayak, or Lord Ganesha, installed here. It is said that the best time to visit this ancient yet religiously important temple is during Ganesh Chaturthi, Ashwin Shashti and Shravana Sankashti when locals here celebrate Lord Ganesha with opulence and grandeur.

Location: Gokarna Road, Madangeri, Karnataka 

Best Time to visit: Any time throughout the year is good for visiting Mahalasa Temple in Gokarna.

Timings: It is open from 6 am to 9 pm.

Distance from Gokarna Bus Main Stand, Banglegudda: It is around 10 kilometres away from the Gokarna Bus Stand.

Another one of the famous Gokarna tourist places with religious significance is the Uppin Ganpati Temple. Also known as Vinayakar Temple, this beautiful temple has one of the most stunning architectures in Gokarna.

Formerly, this temple used to be dedicated to Lord Shiva, and it is after the statue of Ganesha was brought here from Kumta, that the temple started to be dedicated to Lord Ganesh. The temple also has a main hall in addition to an arch. It also offers stunning vistas of the surrounding lush green areas.

Location: Uppin Ganapati, Kumta

Best Time to visit: Tourists can visit the temple throughout the year.

Distance from Gokarna Bus Main Stand, Banglegudda: The distance between the two places is approximately 35 kilometres.

One of the most popular places to visit in Gokarna, Maha Ganpati Temple draws in a number of pilgrims every day. It is located near the famous Mahabaleshwar Temple and dedicated to Lord Ganesha.

This temple boasts of a picturesque setting and the spiritual ambience accentuates the beauty of this temple. According to a popular legend, it is said that Ganesha tricked Ravana who was carrying a Shiva Lingam to drop it here and thus the temple was built on this place.

This serene place is visited by people to seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha and wonder at the wonderful architecture of this place. For the history buffs, this temple is a great visit to appreciate the beauty of Dravidian architecture.

If you are seeking some refreshing time in the company of religion, then Maha Ganpati Temple is one of the must-visits in Gokarna.

Location: Ganapati Temple, Gangavali Road, Nadumaskeri, Gokarna, Karnataka

Best Time to visit: The most ideal time to visit the temple is from the month of August to December.

Timings: The temple can be visited any day of the week. The timings are 5:00 am to 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Distance from Gokarna Bus Main Stand, Banglegudda: It is approximately 5 kilometres away from the bus station in Gokarna.