Gokarna

Hi there
Maybe you can help me we are (husband me and 14yr old son) thinking about going gokarna for a few days as im on holiday at goa for 3 weeks in jan 06 can you tell me what it is like and if there are plenty of hotels to chose from also are the beaches as good as goa om beach looks quite good ? please let me know thanks
sharon
p.s im new on here but the site is great

Hi ssharonuk,Gokarna is a pilgrim town.Temples, insence, preists ,pilgrims ,cows and we found, a very freindly atmosphere.There are a few places around to stay around the bus station (not many)you could try the Vaibhav Nivas Phone 08386-256714,or the Hotel Gokarn Internationel ,phone.56622.Just over the headland are a series of beaches to roast for a day or two with basic shacks to provide your needs.
It is not a holiday town,and it is not like Goa,But if you want to see a bit of India,and soak up some atmosphere,it's the way to go!!!!!!! Enjoy

hi
since more then 10 years i spend every year a couple of weeks in gokarna. this is for sure the best place in india for relaxing. forget goa!

i stay in "flower garden restaurant". they have 3 good rooms (100 rps) with fan and shower. and 6-7 more simple rooms.

the best thing there is the food: original italian coffee, seafood, and many otrher things are unbelievible delicious.

you find "flower garden" on the main beach, 10 minutes walk out of the village heading north.

if you are there tell anand (owner) greatings from his favourite doctor from austria. i have his mobile number for reservation. if you are interested write me: docmarton@hotmail.com


the other beaches i dont like so much. its a nice walk to see them, but they are too busy to stay there. the gokarna main beach is the best!

Thanks for your replies just one more question for you
as its a pilgrim town does this mean a non alcohol place ?
fingers crossed sharon xxx

Gokarna is indeed a "dry town" although you will still be able to find a warm beer in some of the smaller hotel restaurants at an outrageous price. Gokarna is ok for a couple of days,unless you like to party and chill out... lots of mind altering substances are everywhere. Om beach is very pretty but has loads of day trippers and party animals and it is becoming quite messy as lots of trash gets left by the picnickers.
If you want to spend a couple of nice quiet days on a clean,friendly, almost empty beach then look at Agonda Beach just north of Palolem beach in south Goa.Look at Dunhill resort or Dersey hotel they have nice clean rooms with attached baths and showers facing the beach at around 300-400 rupees depending on the season.
It is still relativley "undiscovered" by the masses.

wow thanks for the reply was really hpoing it wasnt a dry town i am staying in goa for 3 weeks and was looking forward to going to gokarna for a few days to chill but i guess well look else where now thanks again will probably go to morgim for a few days then pololem
sharon xxx

Gokarna is not a dry town as such. There are plenty of places where you can get booze. The Om Beach Resort is a lovely place to spend a few days http://www.ombeachresort.com/

Had intended to stay at gokarn international hotel
surely the town it self is not dry and the beach huts will they be selling kingfisher ( he he he i sound like an alcoholic) Also if thats the case then could you recommend a nice place away from goa not to far but must be a train journey as this is what my husband wants to do that we would enjoy ,love to site see and go through villages as well as beaches
sharonxxx

kingfisher is not bad, but i prefer UB beer. this one is really comparable to middle european beers. (in "flower garden restaurant" you will get for sure an ice cold UB beer)

if you want to chill in gokarna --> stay on the main beach. on the northern end is nobody except a few fishermen. but of course there is no luxury...

usually when i come to gokarna i land on goa airport and then i take a taxi directly to gokarna main beach. it costs around 1900 rupees.

a taxi from palolem to gokarna must be much cheeper (<1000 rupees)

if you need more infos about gokarna just ask me...

I second docmarton, the main beach is the best if you want quiet and simplicity. The beach itself is not as small and pretty as the other two - Kudle and Om - just a long stretch of quite barren beach with fishermens boats further north. The waves are also more rough.

The town itself has a few bars: one right behind the bus station and another downstairs beside Hotel Gokarn International, so it most definitely is not a dry place. Besides, most beach hut hotels stack semi-warm Kingfisher at least. There are also some more expensive hotels in the hills behind the town that serve all sorts of alcohol.

The atmosphere in the small town itself is special, especially around the water tank. Go check it out, if you don't like it, you can always leave. A bus from Margao or Palolem is dirt cheap.

Thanks doc and vasco thats great we will be going by train as my husband wants to travel that way Going in january approx 15th went to pololem last year but just for a day must of been the wrong time of year as it was full but did find morgim quite nice We also like to mix with the villagers so your news is really pleasing thank you
sharonxxx