Top 5 Beaches of Gokarna, on India's West Coast

[Hruday Chand]

Gokarna is a small town situated in Karnataka state along the west coast of India. Home to the famous Mahabaleshwar Temple, Gokarna is one of the renowned places of pilgrimage in Karnataka. Apart from being a religious town, Gokarna is also known for its pristine beaches and are must include in Gokarna tour packages. With an array of coconut and banana trees, charming sunsets, clear sands and blue sea, Gokarna beaches are perfect for an ideal beach vacation. Thousands of tourists visit Gokarna for pilgrim as well as to soak themselves on these scenic beaches every year. Here are the top five:


Half Moon Beach

A small, secluded strand surrounded by green trees and dotted with village huts, it offers a spectacular view of the sea against the clear blue skies. Half Moon Beach is ideal for swimming and sunbathing. It has only a couple of restaurants and limited facilities and no water sports. Reaching here is slightly difficult as there is no proper road and the best way to reach the beach is via boats from Om Beach or Gokarna Beach.

Gokarna Beach

Situated close to famous Mahabaleshwar Temple, Gokarna's main beach is crowded because pilgrims usually visit Mahabaleshwar Temple after a dip in the waters of this beach. This long open beach is famous for surfing. Visitors can get the spectacular view of the rocky mountains on one side and Arabian Sea on the other. The Gangavalli River meets the sea nearby, and this beach is also popular for its breathtaking sunset.

Paradise Beach

Also known as Full Moon Beach, Paradise Beach is one of the small and the lesser known beaches in Karnataka. One of the area's more secluded beaches, it's located is away from the hustle bustle and is accessible only through boat or by trekking through forest. With enchanting view of Arabian Sea, twinkling stars and the bright moon, the beach is opened only in the peak season and remains closed on the other days. Tourists visiting this beach can only enjoy swimming and camping here.

Kudle Beach

One of Gokarna's most popular beaches, it offers a wonderful spread of greenery in the valley, the view of the sunset is picturesque. Being a popular beach, Kudle Beach has lot of cafes, shacks and guesthouses, and also a recommended place to stay. The long stretch of white sandy beach looks pretty when it is filled with volleyball lovers, beach bums and musicians playing by the sea and backpackers lazing around.

Om Beach

Renowned for its Om shape, Gokarna's most famous beach is one of the top places to visit in Gokarna. The long stretch of white sandy beach adjoining the rocky terrain is excellent and appealing to the eyes. The beach is ideal for swimming and sunbathing. Om Beach offer several water sport activities such as boating, surfing, water-skiing, parasailing, and banana boat rides. The view of this beach during sunset is one to be memorable forever. It can be accessible by foot from the nearest road point which ends at a hillock near the beach.