The Indian Panorama

Tag: Gokarna

  • Coastal Karnataka

    Coastal Karnataka

    Coastal Karnataka is bestowed with sandy beaches, lush greenery, lively culture, magnificent temples, and delicious cuisine. If you are looking for a much-needed break from the hustle-bustle of daily life, the towns in coastal Karnataka will never disappoint you. Here is a list of the most sought-after destinations that you must visit during your next trip to Karnataka. An ideal road trip will take you through these cities, offering you a vacation like no other.

    Gokarna

    One of the most popular coastal Karnataka places, Gokana is a nature’s paradise. It is a quaint beach town, blessed with peaceful surroundings and pristine beaches. You can enjoy a relaxing vacation or enjoy thrilling activities. Parasailing, snorkelling, scuba diving and surfing are some of the exciting water sports to try here. Kudle Beach, Om Beach and Half Moon Beach are popular beaches. Gokarna is also a sacred pilgrimage site, housing the majestic Mahabaleshwar temple.

    Mangalore

    Renowned for its rich history, magnificent temples, alluring beaches, and authentic Mangalorean cuisine, Mangalore is a must-visit destination in coastal Karnataka. Kudroli Gokarnath Temple is one of the most popular temples in the region, known for its vibrant Mangalore Dasara celebration. Besides this, Sammilan Shetty’s Butterfly Park and Mangaladevi Temple are other tourist attractions.

    Udupi

    Home to some of the most iconic temples, Udupi is another coastal Karnataka city that you must visit. Udupi Sri Krishna Temple, Maple Beach, St. Mary’s Beach, and The Corporation Bank Heritage Museum are top attractions in the city. So, whether you are a spiritual seeker or a nature lover, there is something for everyone in Udupi.

    Murudeshwar

    A beautiful beachside pilgrim town, Murudeshwar is home to the world’s second tallest statue of Lord Shiva. Murudeshwar Temple is among the most iconic temples of the state, beckoning thousands of devotees every year. Besides this, Mirjan Fort, The Statue Park, Netrani Island, and Murudeshwar Beach are the famous tourist places to visit in the town.

    Karwar

    This seaside city is a quaint paradise beckoning nature lovers and peace seekers. Here, you can enjoy boat rides on the Kali River, spend some time at the Kali River Garden, watch a mesmerising sunset at the Rabindranath Tagore Beach, and seek blessings at the Naganatha Temple. The authentic Karwar cuisine is a must-try too.

    Coastal Karnataka has plenty to offer for the weary travellers. So, if you are planning a vacation, head to one of these cities for creating memories to last for a lifetime.

    KOLLUR MOOKAMBIKA TEMPLE

    Mookambika Devi Temple in Kollur is about 130 km from Mangaluru and 440 km from state capital Bengaluru. It is located amidst the hills of Kodachadri in Western Ghats, next to river Souparnika. Mookambika Temple in Kollur is believed to be over 1200 years old. As per the legend, Parvathi came down to earth to eliminate a demon named Kamasura, who with his devil mischief was creating lots of trouble to the local people. Goddess made him dumb first to rein him (Mooka in Kannada) but when his trouble making habit didn’t stop, he was eventually killed. Thanking Goddess Parvathi for relieving them from the trouble of Kamasura, local people started worshipping Parvathi devi and the temple was formed in Kollur. Kollur temple celebrates its annual festival during Navarathri and attracts lakhs of devotees during this period. Temple complex offers free meals to all visitors. During special occasions when crowd is large, special queue for darshan is facilitated for those who can pay extra. Lots of budget accommodations are available in Kollur. KSRTC runs buses to Kollur from Bengaluru and other major cities. Kundapura is a nearby city. Private buses are also available in large numbers. However, after 8 pm it will be difficult to get public transportation.

    KATEEL DURGAPARAMESHWARI TEMPLE

    At a distance of just about 20 km from Mangaluru is the popular Durgaparameshwari Temple in Kateel. This holy temple is located in the middle of River Nandini. The name Kateel is derived from two words?’Kati’ meaning waist and ‘Ile’ meaning earth. Kateel means the central area of earth.

    History: Arunasura was a demon growing strong with powers and was disrupting peace on earth. Gods were helpless as Arunasura had secured special powers from Brahma that he cannot be killed by any two or four legged creatures. When Arunasura’s bad deeds grew beyond control, Adhishakti came down on earth as a beautiful woman, lured him and teased Arunasura to agitate him. An angry Arunasura tried to kill Adhishakti, she turned herself into a rock. Arunasura tried to break open the rock, during which a series of big furious bees emerged and stung him repeatedly till his death, thus eliminating one more bad soul on earth. On this success, saints and sages performed abhishekam to lord Adhishakti who later took the form of a linga in the middle of river Nandini. Thus the Durga Parameshwari Temple is built around this. Kateel is well connected by public transportation and accommodation is available. Mangalore is the nearest town.

    UDUPI SRI KRISHNA TEMPLE

    Udupi is considered as the final resting place of Lord Krishna. Sri Krishna Temple and matha was set up in the 13th century by Madhvacharya. Legend has it that once Kanakadasa, a worshipper of Lord Krishna was denied entrance into the temple. Determined to see god, Kanakadasa kept praying hard from the outside itself. Impressed by his devotion, it is believed that Lord Krishna’s idol turned to face Kanakadasa and a small hole formed on the wall so that Kanakadasa can get a glimpse of Lord Krishna. This spot is now known as Kanakana kindi (window of Kanaka). Apart from Sri Krishna temple, there are two other temples in Udupi Chandreshwara and, Anantheshwara. Once in every two years, a grand festival named ‘Paryayotsava’ is held in Udupi. During this time, temple management changes hand from one of the 8 mathas (Asta matt) to another.

  • Gokarna: ‘Land of palm trees, blue seas and golden sands

    Gokarna: ‘Land of palm trees, blue seas and golden sands

    With its pristine beaches and breathtaking landscapes, Gokarna is a Hindu pilgrimage town in Karnataka and a newly found hub for beach lovers and hippies. Situated on the coast of Karwar, every year Gokarna welcomes hordes of tourists from around the world in search of sanctity and relaxation. The out-of-town beaches like Kudle beach and Om Beach are a different contrast to life inside the town.

    Palm clad beaches are dotted with foreign tourists in a majority and very few Indians are seen across. Gokarna is not very conventionally touristy. The beaches are meant for a slow, relaxed holiday and everything on the beach goes at the same relaxed pace. Full of coconut and palm trees, the ocean and clean sands, Gokarna is a ‘one of a kind’ place in the country.

    Places To Visit In Gokarna Om Beach

    Om beach is a wonderful beach located in the town of Gokarna. Shaped like the symbol ‘Om’, this beach offers plenty of adventure sports to the thrill-seekers. The view of this beach during sunset is one to be cherished forever. It is usually lined with shacks on the sides offering cheap accommodation and restaurants with global menus. There is also a bunch of fun water sports activities available on Om Beach, including speedboats, surfing etc. Visitors can even enjoy boating here.

    Om beach derives its name from its shape, which is formed by two semi crescents joined together. The unique black rock formations here attract a lot of travellers. One can spot fishermen boats, small cafes and eateries and crows swirling up in the sky at this beautiful beach. The beauty of this beach compels many visitors even to cross the danger area (marked by red) and play in the splashing waves.  This place is a heaven for all the shutterbugs, with some mind-blowing sceneries amidst the rocky terrain.

    Mahabaleshwara Temple

    A 6 feet tall Shiva Linga here at the temple is known as the Atmalinga is worshipped here. Built using white granite, it is a classic example of the beauty of Dravidian architecture. A 1500 years old carved stone Lord Shiva idol in the standing position represents the main deity. The temple has been mentioned in the Hindu Mythics of Mahabharata and Ramayana and it is said to be as significant as Kashi, hence it earning the title, Dakshin (South) Kashi.

    The top of the Atmalinga is the only part of the Linga that is visible to devotees. But during the Ashta Bandana Kumbhahishekam, a festival that happens once every 40 years, is when the entire Atmalinga is shown to the devotees. As per custom, devotees must first take a dip in the Karwar Beach, where the temple faces, visit the Maha Ganapathi Temple that is opposite the temple, then only visit the Mahabaleshwar Temple.

    Paradise Beach

    The fourth beach lying across the coast of Gokarna Town, Paradise Beach is also well-known by the name of ‘Full Moon Beach’. Located in the state of Karnataka, the Paradise Beach is about 150 meters in length and out of this almost seventy percent of the beach is entirely covered in rocks. The rest of the beach is adorned with clean white sand all over. Not much water sports are available here but swimming in the calm waters here is a great way to refresh your mind and body. The serene environment of the beach offers a great opportunity to spend some time in nature’s lap and find solace.

    Paradise Beach is not accessible by road and can only be reached via other beaches, namely the Half Moon Beach and Om Beach. Visitors need to hire a motor boat from either of the above-stated beaches to reach the Paradise Beach. This beach can also be reached after a small hike from the Half Moon Beach. Via this route, it will not take you more than 20 minutes to reach. Paradise Beach was earlier known as the hot spot for all the hippies, due to the trade of weed going on here. As soon as this caught the eye of the Government authorities, all these antisocial activities were curbed, shacks were broken, and all kinds of commercial activities were prohibited here.

    Gokarna Beach

    Gokarna Beach is several kilometres long and is situated at the edge of the temple town. It has recently gained popularity as a go-to beach destination owing to its beautiful stretches of sand and pristine locations. Gokarna beaches were rarely frequented by the locals until foreign tourists started thronging the seaside. Soon, many locals opened stores selling souvenirs, unique cafes and beach shacks. Walking along the coastline here is unique as you will come across many cafes and shacks and this is a place where the hippie culture of Gokarna is at. It is quite popular with pilgrims who come to the town to seek the blessings of Shiva, Indian groups and with foreign tourists as well. The muddy uphill roads with forest cover on both sides provide for more than a reason to go for a hike or a family picnic. The steep rocks in the shallow sea allow rock climbing for the adventure junkies. Bird and animal life is plenty around the serene beaches. While in Gokarna Beach, taking a crash course in Yoga is also a great way to spend the mornings.