Om beach has become synonymus with hippie culture over the past 10 years. A one-street town consisting almost entirely of wooden houses, Gokarna (Karnataka) is in close proximity to four beaches. Of these, Kudle, a kilometre-long stretch of white sand fringed by palm trees, is the nearest; just about 20 minutes’ walk from Gokarna. Half an hour, across a hill, further from Kudle is Om beach, so named because it’s shaped like the auspicious `om’ symbol (genius description !). Gokarna’s two other beaches- Paradise and Half-Moon- are smaller and lesser known, but equally great for a bit of sunbathing and swimming. It is 60 km south of Karwar and 7 hours from the city of Mangalore. One of the best ways of getting to this town is aboard the Konkan Railway, which traverses the prettiest parts of India’s western coast. Konkan Railway trains pass through Gokarna Road (10 km from the town), Ankola (25 km), or Karwar (23 km). From either of these railheads, a bus can be taken to Gokarna. Goa by road is only about 5 hours away.
gokarna om beach
Gokarna’s still fairly undiscovered as far as the beach crowd goes. Consequently, accommodation options are neither exciting nor extensive. There are hotels- mainly budget or mid-range, guesthouses and beach huts available, but quality can vary considerably. Expect to pay anywhere from Rs 20 to Rs 600, depending upon how much you’re willing to rough it out. Among the best places around is the KSTDC hotel with accomodation starting from Rs 105 for one person. Along Kudle beach are a number of beach huts, all very basic- you’ll even have to arrange for your own bedding. There is however a new plush resort called the Om beach resort with $70 AC rooms for the ones who dont want to shack out in the beach huts. Namaste cafe, OM Beach (start of OM beach), +91-8386-257141. Remains open all round the year Rooms or huts are available at rates ranging from Rs. 150 to Rs. 600
Eateries, like accommodation, are fairly rudimentary, but you’ll invariably find good local grub, including seafood. A few beach shacks serve croissants, sandwiches and no-frills Western food. Try Premas lunch home on the first floor next to the temple where you can get a veg meal on a banana leaf or just dosas with nutella for the western travellers.
Sleeping on the beach is quite common although cops shoo away wasted hippies who dot the beach cooking up many things (non edible) in beach campfires.
Rave parties which were once upon a time (early 2000) common in goa have now moved down south to the jungles of gokarna. And although there are a lot of ganja smoking sadhus in this town, you can get jail if busted by the tough local police. Be discreet when you don your hippie avatar. Do check out the locally made sturdy cloth hammocks which cost less than Rs. 150, can be stuffed into your smallest backpack pocket and are very useful for that nap under swaying palms.