Gokarna, Karnataka

"Gokarna, India" redirects here. For other places, see Gokarna (disambiguation).

Gokarna
town
From top: View from Gokarna Om Beach, Vibhuthi Falls, Honnavar backwaters, Kudle beach, Gokarna Town, Yana caves
Gokarna Location in Karnataka, India Show map of Karnataka Gokarna Gokarna (India) Show map of India
Coordinates: 14°33′00″N74°19′00″E / 14.55°N 74.31667°E / 14.55; 74.31667
Country	India
State	Karnataka
Region	Karavali
District	Uttara Kannada
Tehsil	Kumta
Area
• Total	10.9 km2 (4.2 sq mi)
Elevation	22 m (72 ft)
Population  (2001)
• Total	25,851
• Density	2,400/km2 (6,100/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Kannada
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registration	KA-47
Website	uttarakannada.nic.in/tourism.html

Gokarna is a small temple town located in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka state in southern India, ^[1]

Gokarna is one of the most popular beach destinations for tourists in India. ^{[2] [3]} It is popular with beach trekkers. ^[4] Yana Caves hosts the second cleanest village in India. ^[5]

Etymology

According to legend Brahma, feeling proud because he could create the universe, decided to meditate to apologize for his arrogance. He wanted to lift a curse given by Shiva. During his meditation, Shiva appeared unexpectedly, emerging from the ears of a cow. So the place came to be known as Gokarna or ear of the cow. The Puranas state that when Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu created Kerala, it was from Gokarna to Kanyakumari. ^[6]

According to legend, Ravana was given Atmalinga by Shiva and instructed that it would stay permanently where it is first placed on the land. Ganesha came in the form of a boy and planted it in Gokarna while Ravana was performing rituals. Once placed Ravana could not remove it from the ground; he^{[ who? ]} removed some pieces of the lingam and threw them in different directions. ^{[7] [8]}

Geography

Legend

The earliest legend of the city is set in the age of the Treta Yuga, in which Ravana (the rakshasa king of Lanka) reached Kailasha and performed rigorous penance to obtain the atmalinga from Shiva, as Ravana's mother expressed a keen desire to worship the atmalinga of Shiva. ^{[9] [10]}

Gokarna was part of the Sodhe and Vijayanagara kingdoms.

Location

Gokarna township

Gokarna is about 238 km north of Mangalore, 483 km from Bengaluru and about 59 km from Karwar. It is between the Gangavali and Aghanashini rivers along the Karwar coast by the Arabian Sea. It is 200 km north from the college towns of Suratkal and Manipal.

It can be reached by Konkan Railway on the Mumbai to Mangalore route or Goa to Mangalore route. The railway station (called Gokarna Road) is 10 km from the town. The station has a retiring room at a nominal price. Many important trains like Matsyagandha Express, KSR Bengaluru Karwar Express, Poorna Express, Marusagar Express and Mangalore Local and DEMU local are the Daily Local Trains halt here. ^[11]

The nearest airports are Hubli Airport, Karnataka which has domestic flights only, Goa International Airport at Goa and Mangalore International Airport at Bajpe, Karnataka are the nearest airports to reach at Gokarna.

Neighbouring villages are Bankikodla-Hanehalli, Sanikatta, Tadadi, Torke, Madangere, Maskeri, Adigone, Nelaguni and Bijjur.

Climate

Climate data for Gokarna
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	31.8 (89.2)	31.4 (88.5)	32.3 (90.1)	33.0 (91.4)	29.5 (85.1)	29.8 (85.6)	28.7 (83.7)	28.6 (83.5)	29.1 (84.4)	30.9 (87.6)	32.3 (90.1)	32.3 (90.1)	30.8 (87.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	20.1 (68.2)	20.7 (69.3)	23.0 (73.4)	25.4 (77.7)	26.1 (79.0)	24.3 (75.7)	23.8 (74.8)	23.8 (74.8)	23.4 (74.1)	23.4 (74.1)	22.1 (71.8)	20.9 (69.6)	23.1 (73.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	0 (0)	0 (0)	1 (0.0)	11 (0.4)	184 (7.2)	980 (38.6)	1,227 (48.3)	665 (26.2)	366 (14.4)	157 (6.2)	49 (1.9)	9 (0.4)	3,649 (143.6)
Source: http://en.climate-data.org/location/172162/

Beaches

The Gokarna main beach is in town and Kudle beach faces west. Om beach, Half moon Beach, Paradise Beach (also known as Full moon) and Belekan beach are south facing. ^[12] Nearby areas like Honnavar is famous for backwater boating as well as mangrove boardwalk and Karwar for watersports and adventures.

Lifeguards and security measures

Community locals have demanded rescue measures and extra security after lifeguards rescued seven people including two foreign tourists have been rescued from drowning on Gokarna beach. ^{[13] [14]} The police have installed CCTV cameras and mics in all the beaches of Gokarna. ^{[15] [16]}

Education

Bhadrakali High School in Melinkeli was founded in 1946. ^[17] A notable alumnus of the school is cancer research scientist, Narayan Sadashiv Hosmane. ^[18]

See also

• Bhookailasa (1940 film)
• Murudeshwara
• Apsarakonda
• Karwar
• Mangalore
• Om Parvat

References

1. "Maps, Weather, and Airports for Gokarna, India". www.fallingrain.com. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
2. "Coorg, Gokarna to Udupi: 6 best places to visit in Karnataka". 20 September 2023.
3. "Pretty beach destinations in India for this monsoon". The Times of India .
4. "5 cool and adventurous things to do in Gokarna". 9 February 2023.
5. "8 Lessons on How India's Cleanest Villages Achieved the 'Impossible'". 14 May 2024.
6. Poduval, Jayaram (13 October 2021). "In search of the divine creator". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
7. "Yahoo". Yahoo. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
8. WPBlogger, Truper &. "The Curse of Gokarna: The history of an Indian village » Old World Wandering: A Travelogue" . Retrieved 26 October 2016.
9. "Gokarna - Story of Ravana - Ghumakkar - Inspiring travel experiences". Ghumakkar - Inspiring travel experiences. 25 April 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
10. "Gokarna Mahabaleshwara Temple, Gokarna Beach, Gokarna Siddi Kshetra, Gokarna Lord Shiva's Atmalinga, Gokarna Travel Destination". www.karnatakavision.com. Archived from the original on 1 November 2006. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
11. Planet, Lonely. "Gokarna - Lonely Planet". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
12. Lonely Planet (21 January 2016). "Beaches". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
13. https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2024/Dec/20/karnataka-locals-demand-security-at-gokarna-beaches-following-increase-in-drownings
14. https://www.deccanherald.com/content/642165/lifeguards-rescue-2-drowning-gokarna.html
15. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/smart-cameras-mobile-phones-as-mics-how-tech-savvy-karnataka-cops-are-averting-tourist-tragedies-in-real-time-10045399/
16. https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2025/Jun/03/smart-cctv-system-in-gokarna-prevents-potential-tragedy-as-police-warn-couple-taking-risky-selfies-with-baby
17. "Karnataka State Gazetteer", Karnataka (India), 1990.
18. Roche, Florine (6 January 2019). "Gokarna to Global Recognition: Dr Narayana Hosmane's Incredible Journey". www.daijiworld.com. Retrieved 19 January 2024.

• Source: Karnataka State Gazetteer 1983

External links

• Gokarn Math
• Official Website of Gokarna Temple ^{[ usurped ]}(in Kannada)
• tour guide Gokarna Temple