Gokarna accomodation - paradise beach

Sahirr · Sep 9th, 2009, 17:38

Hey!

The forums here have been really helpful and informative...thank you all for sharing your experiences.

I am heading to Gokarna towards the end of September - will be staying for 2 nights and 3 days... this will be my first visit. I was wondering if there are any accommodation facilities on Paradise beach (it comes closest to my requirement of a secluded + peaceful beach). It would be great if a few of you could share your experiences.

Also, how would you compare the shacks available at Om beach with respect to Paradise beach... and how one can reach there by boat.

Thank you...

eduffs · Nov 16th, 2009, 18:07

Hi
any luck with the accom. in Paradise beach, we are planning on visiting next week for a month?
Thanks

paulaurora · Nov 16th, 2009, 18:37

Hi , Not sure of the situation re accommodation on Paradise at the moment as haven’t been for years. Just wanted to say that it is a stunningly beautiful spot but do heed warnings in the guidebooks about not walking over the hills between beaches alone at night. And be alert on the beaches in the evenings.
My (now) husband and I had a palm leaf hut built on Hulse Bella (Half- Moon) Beach and lived in it for months . We had never been anywhere more beautiful…. There were 5 other couples scattered around the beach in their own huts. It was incredible. But one night we were attacked in the night..in our hut by bandits looking for money. How we survived is a miracle, my partner was savagely beaten and I was as close to being raped as I ever want to be. Talk about a wake-up call. We had to be medically assisted back to the uk. Were told by one of the chai shop guys that we weren’t the first and a few weeks later another couple on the beach had the same treatment. We later found out that there had been loads of muggings behind Kudle and OM too. A group of western guys had set up a rota on Om to patrol the beach at night . I know loads of people who have been to Om/Paradise with no problems and the situation may be better now but do take care. Isolated beaches are magnificent but there are safety issues being so out of the way.
This experience certainly hasn’t stop us returning to India. But we are less naïve and more shrewd about where we are and potential risks.
Having said that, the months prior to our experience were the best of our lives and we still have a huge love for those lovely beaches and trips into Gokana.
Take care and enjoy the beauty.

eduffs · Nov 16th, 2009, 19:09

Hi Paulaurora,
Thanks for reply, I'm sorry to hear about your experience it's sounds very frightening. I have heard many warning about the beach huts and will certainly take them very seriously after your story. Would you recommend any other beaches in India that are safer, we are aiming to settle for a couple of months and live as cheaply as possible?
Thanks again sharing your story.

paulaurora · Nov 16th, 2009, 20:37

Hi Eduffs,
Thanks for the sentiments. Our experience was frightening, but as I said it hasn’t stopped us visiting India’s beaches many times since with no problems . BUT our budget is bigger, our time is tighter and we travel with a child now so our Indian beach experiences tend to be shorter holidays in resorts like the Bethsaida Hermitage in Kerala or in Patnem/Palolem..So sadly I haven’t any other suggestions for safe, beautiful and cheap beaches to hang out in for a few months. Hope others here have. There were some lockable , concrete rooms behind a main restaurant in Kudle which though not very pretty, were in retrospect very secure…are they still there anyone?

We were unlucky (or lucky to survive depending how I see it) with what happened to us, but definitely naïve. So I wouldn’t want to put anyone off visiting the beaches round Gokana. They were stunning . I imagine with commonsense precautions which we didn’t do at the time…(leaving valuables locked up in Gokana, not walking over the hills at night and not imagining an isolated hut on an isolated beach is “safe”) you minimise risks. I think there will always be some risks. I couldn’t see it at the time, but quickly saw the point in sacrificing the joys of isolation for the comparative safety of a group of huts. As long as you have a base amongst others for night-time you can always take off during the day to discover those breathtaking coves scattered around India’s coastline.
I hope you get some leads .

eduffs · Nov 17th, 2009, 12:23

Thanks again for all your help and your advice, When I reach Gokarna I'll update the site with the current situation.

paulaurora · Nov 17th, 2009, 16:35

I'm looking forward to that update. We do plan on visiting Gokana again some day. Though we will probably stay in the swish (secure!) yoga resort above Om this time. I remember seeing the helicopters hovering when we were there as the developers were surveying the site. We were outraged that resorts were coming to spoil the beauty (I imagine this sentiment is shared by many across India). Never for a moment imagined I would want to stay there myself.

Have a brilliant time and I am envious that you have the time to hang out on a beach for longer than we do at the moment.

Sep 9th, 2009, 17:38	#1
Sahirr Sahirr Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Mumbai (India) Posts: 3	Gokarna accomodation - paradise beach Hey! The forums here have been really helpful and informative...thank you all for sharing your experiences. I am heading to Gokarna towards the end of September - will be staying for 2 nights and 3 days... this will be my first visit. I was wondering if there are any accommodation facilities on Paradise beach (it comes closest to my requirement of a secluded + peaceful beach). It would be great if a few of you could share your experiences. Also, how would you compare the shacks available at Om beach with respect to Paradise beach... and how one can reach there by boat. Thank you...

Nov 16th, 2009, 18:07	#2
eduffs Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Glasgow Posts: 3	Accom paradise beach Hi any luck with the accom. in Paradise beach, we are planning on visiting next week for a month? Thanks

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Nov 16th, 2009, 18:37	#3
paulaurora Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: ireland Posts: 51	Hi , Not sure of the situation re accommodation on Paradise at the moment as haven’t been for years. Just wanted to say that it is a stunningly beautiful spot but do heed warnings in the guidebooks about not walking over the hills between beaches alone at night. And be alert on the beaches in the evenings. My (now) husband and I had a palm leaf hut built on Hulse Bella (Half- Moon) Beach and lived in it for months . We had never been anywhere more beautiful…. There were 5 other couples scattered around the beach in their own huts. It was incredible. But one night we were attacked in the night..in our hut by bandits looking for money. How we survived is a miracle, my partner was savagely beaten and I was as close to being raped as I ever want to be. Talk about a wake-up call. We had to be medically assisted back to the uk. Were told by one of the chai shop guys that we weren’t the first and a few weeks later another couple on the beach had the same treatment. We later found out that there had been loads of muggings behind Kudle and OM too. A group of western guys had set up a rota on Om to patrol the beach at night . I know loads of people who have been to Om/Paradise with no problems and the situation may be better now but do take care. Isolated beaches are magnificent but there are safety issues being so out of the way. This experience certainly hasn’t stop us returning to India. But we are less naïve and more shrewd about where we are and potential risks. Having said that, the months prior to our experience were the best of our lives and we still have a huge love for those lovely beaches and trips into Gokana. Take care and enjoy the beauty.

Nov 16th, 2009, 19:09	#4
eduffs Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Glasgow Posts: 3	Hi Paulaurora, Thanks for reply, I'm sorry to hear about your experience it's sounds very frightening. I have heard many warning about the beach huts and will certainly take them very seriously after your story. Would you recommend any other beaches in India that are safer, we are aiming to settle for a couple of months and live as cheaply as possible? Thanks again sharing your story.

Nov 16th, 2009, 20:37	#5
paulaurora Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: ireland Posts: 51	Hi Eduffs, Thanks for the sentiments. Our experience was frightening, but as I said it hasn’t stopped us visiting India’s beaches many times since with no problems . BUT our budget is bigger, our time is tighter and we travel with a child now so our Indian beach experiences tend to be shorter holidays in resorts like the Bethsaida Hermitage in Kerala or in Patnem/Palolem..So sadly I haven’t any other suggestions for safe, beautiful and cheap beaches to hang out in for a few months. Hope others here have. There were some lockable , concrete rooms behind a main restaurant in Kudle which though not very pretty, were in retrospect very secure…are they still there anyone? We were unlucky (or lucky to survive depending how I see it) with what happened to us, but definitely naïve. So I wouldn’t want to put anyone off visiting the beaches round Gokana. They were stunning . I imagine with commonsense precautions which we didn’t do at the time…(leaving valuables locked up in Gokana, not walking over the hills at night and not imagining an isolated hut on an isolated beach is “safe”) you minimise risks. I think there will always be some risks. I couldn’t see it at the time, but quickly saw the point in sacrificing the joys of isolation for the comparative safety of a group of huts. As long as you have a base amongst others for night-time you can always take off during the day to discover those breathtaking coves scattered around India’s coastline. I hope you get some leads .

Nov 17th, 2009, 12:23	#6
eduffs Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Glasgow Posts: 3	Thanks again for all your help and your advice, When I reach Gokarna I'll update the site with the current situation.

Nov 17th, 2009, 16:35	#7
paulaurora Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: ireland Posts: 51	I'm looking forward to that update. We do plan on visiting Gokana again some day. Though we will probably stay in the swish (secure!) yoga resort above Om this time. I remember seeing the helicopters hovering when we were there as the developers were surveying the site. We were outraged that resorts were coming to spoil the beauty (I imagine this sentiment is shared by many across India). Never for a moment imagined I would want to stay there myself. Have a brilliant time and I am envious that you have the time to hang out on a beach for longer than we do at the moment.