LOST & FOUND... IN GOKARNA

Any idea what I am talking about here? What did I find back there? You’ll soon come to know.

The first place that strikes your mind when someone asks you about the beaches in India and that’s Goa! Right? But from now on, for me it’s GOKARNA forever. I have come across many Indians who are really not even aware about the existence of this beautiful small town in Karnataka where you can find atmospheric calmness, glittery blue waters, sunsets which create magic by the horizon, parties which carry on from midnight till dawn and not to forget, Phytoplankton.

I can already sense the curiosity I have created in you about this place and If you’re looking for all of this along with socialising with new people, then Gokarna is the place to be.

Staying at Zostel Gokarna was my cherry on the top to this solo trip. The Zostel dorms overlook this stunning beach and my three day stay here was the best and the most memorable. I spent hours just sitting at my favourite corner spot mesmerised by the endless view of the sea with that soothing sound of waves thinking about all the good things in my life.

It reminds me of- The waves of the sea help me get back to me

To discover myself after getting lost in the unknown and then finding peace again is what Gokarna has given me and that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Now have I known where lies my solace.

Kudos for keeping travel souls happy - Vaibhav, Vibhor & Harshal

To describe more about my stay at Zostel, I met some amazing and fabulous people coming from different parts of the country who just like me were out there solo, few had come there with their friends but at Zostel they all come together and lose themselves in this vibe which is so positive and cheerful that you never want to leave. The volunteers were just amazing and doing their job with so much enthusiasm that even I have already given a thought of becoming a volunteer at Zostel someday because the best part is you get to live like a localite and get to interact with loads of new people everyday. Thats’s how you guys have inspired me.

How to reach?

You have two options to travel via Train or Volvo Bus

By Train- There’s Matsyagandha express that runs at 3:20 PM from LTT and reaches Kumta at 3:30 AM which is half an hour away from Zostel

and one more that is Mangalore express that runs at 10:00 PM and reaches Kumta by 11:00 AM

By Bus- There are some very comfortable Sleeper Volvo buses by Canal Pinto, SRS Travels that drops you at Madangeri bus stop thats’s again half an hour from Zostel

By Flight- You can fly down to Goa and take a cab from there. The road journey by cab will take around 3-4 hours

What to do?

Gokarna is famous for the beach trek that covers Paradise beach, Half moon beach, Om beach and Kudle beach.

Though I didn’t go for the trek, but I did visit all the beaches and I must say that after visiting once you can differentiate them just by looking at the pictures.

I am not really sure whether I can do enough justice to the beauty of this Paradise and how did I feel there just through my words

I had opted for the night trek to PARADISE…. This sounds so apt

Once you reach there and go a little deep into the sea you’ll be awestruck by the creation of nature. I was amazed to see those planktons in real about which I had only read in my school books. Those blue tiny creatures that make the waters turn into some magic show under the sky full of stars. Guys you won’t believe the number of stars and the number of constellations I could easily capture at Gokarna. I was high on the glow i’d say. The glow from those phytoplankton.

Being at the Paradise beach reminded me of the movie” The Beach” featuring my favourite actor Leonardo Dicaprio. We even did a camp fire there and launched Sky lanterns too that made the entire experience phenomenal.

Places to eat

1. Chez Christophe at Gokarna beach- This place and the setting there with the view and the lovely host Christophe himself make this cafe adorable. For me it was a different kind of connection. So yeah I am gonna go there again and again all my life

2. Namaste cafe at Om beach

3. Prema cafe at Gokarna beach

4. Zostel very own Mantra cafe

Must Try

Now you’ll understand what exactly was lost and what was found at Kudle beach

You cannot come back without having this crazy Bhang lassi that you get at Kudle. After having it the entire day went by in a flash for me. For some of my Zostelites it went by only in sleep.

Long story short, I lost my iPhone 7 and my wallet there at the beach which i didn’t even bother to get back as I was in my Bhang zone.

But being in a holy city and when your Secret works the universe itself does things and tadaaaa you get your things back.

Coincidentally I didn’t even know before planning the trip that its going to be Maha Shiv Ratri. On this auspicious day I got to visit Mahabaleshwar Temple - the prime fascination of Gokarna. The temple houses the Atmalinga of Lord Shiva. The temple is located just next to the Gokarna Beach. There’s a very interesting story behind the name “Gokarna”. It is this ear now seen in a petrified form, which has given the name "Gokarna" to the place. The word "Gokarna" means "cow's ear" where in Sanskrit gow means "cow" and karna means "ear". Then, Ravana tried hard to lift the Shiv Linga but failed as it was firmly fixed. This Atmalinga you get to see inside the temple.

I have missed many places this time but make sure you don’t and especially do visit Mirjan fort, Jog falls, Murudeshwar temple, Honey beach.

Best Time to Visit

October – March. Avoid planning your holiday during the summer months of April and May. The monsoon months between June and August are off season and most of the shacks are shut during this time.

At the end I would like to say that If you’re a true beach lover and really are looking for that peaceful time with yourself and want to explore the unexplored and untouched beaches then just a plan a trip to Gokarna right now. It is not even expensive. And trust me you don’t need anyone to accompany you. Remember "Not all who wander are lost"

We all need that break from our city life and always run after that thing called PEACE and that’s what i found in GOKARNA.

For my entire life I know that I’ll keep coming to Gokarna again and again that even I won’t be having a number with me of my trips to this pristine city of beaches.

I’m coming back soon…..

"Beach is not always a place, sometimes it's a feeling"

PS- I am back not my SOUL!

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