Goa is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India, mostly due to its beautiful beaches and luxury resorts. For the more adventurous, however, the regions south of Goa offer even more choice locations to spend your next vacation. This is the region of coastal Karnataka, comprising the districts of Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and parts of Shimoga, and this stretch of land offers a lot from beach resorts to trekking through mountains.
This region is characterized mainly by the distinct culture of the native Tuluva people, with influences from the Konkani in the north. There are also many temples in coastal Karnataka and it is a very important place for Hindu pilgrims. The Western Ghats border the coastline in many places and it is one of the most biodiverse places in India.
The most popular tourist destination here is Gokarna, a religious place of importance for many Hindus; one of many places connected to a legend surrounding the Hindu god Shiva and his idol, the Atmalinga. Pieces of the broken Atmalinga are said to have landed in many points in this region, and therefore there are many temples in Uttara Kannada. Gokarna is the main temple in this region, and therefore many pilgrims visit here. However, staying there is not recommended, as the only good form of stay are nature resorts that frankly, cause a lot of strain on your pocket.
The nearby town of Murdeshwar has a lot of hotels and a wonderful beach that’s actually bigger AND better than Gokarna. The best thing is that most of these aren’t too costly. The main attraction is the 20-story ‘gopuram’ or a tower made in the ancient Dravidian architectural style, as well as a gigantic 123 foot statue of the god Shiva, the third largest in the world. The beach is wide and fairly clean, unlike Gokarna beach, which doesn’t look great, and that’s just putting it mildly. Murdeshwar is located in the midpoint of the western coastline, so a lot of tourist spots in Uttara Kannada are easily accessible from here.
Other than the Shiva temples scattered willy-nilly, the most famous temple here is Mookambika, centered on the primordial goddess Adi Shakti. Mookambika is located in the nearby Udupi district, and requires at least 1.5 hours by car. From Mookambika, which is situated in the foothills of the Western Ghats, you can take a jeep with other tourists to the top of Kodachadri Peak. The ride is very bumpy but the end destination really pays off, for those willing to hike a little bit. Kodachadri is the place where the monk Shankaracharya meditated to please the goddess Adi Shakti and bring her to his home to build a temple. Visitors will have to hike for a little while before reaching the top of Kodachadri, where there is a small granite temple called the Shankara Peetha, where Shankaracharya apprently met Adi Shakti. The view is stunning, and personally, I think the hike was worth it.
Jog Falls is the third-highest waterfall in India, and thankfully for us, located in the vicinity of Mookambika. It is a very popular tourist spot and the view is supposed to be quite beautiful especially in the monsoon season. While I personally did not go there (spent a lot of time at Kodachadri, besides it was a very dry day), people have a lot of good things to say about this place.
In the town of Honnavar, which is located at some distance from Mookambika, there are a lot of boating rides on the Sharavati River. This river starts from the Western Ghats and circles around Kodachadri through Mookambika and one part branches northwest to Honnavar, on which is located Jog Falls. At Honnavar north of Murdeshwar, the boat ride is absolutely wonderful (although you might have to haggle a bit about the prices) and quite scenic. The Sharavati river also contains mangroves and this place is high in biodiversity. For people who like birdwatching, this boat ride is a must. A variety of ducks, cranes, and storks can be found here among the mangrove roots. Once you return from the boat, there is a nearby boardwalk that gives info about the local species in the habitat, as well a route through the mangrove forest which is actually really cool.
The Kasarkod Eco-Beach is also located near Honnavar, and it is remarkably clean compared to most beaches in India, or any place for that matter. It’s a great place to just chill and get some tans, and there’s a garden next to the beach as well. There aren’t a lot of people here, so you can enjoy your visit to the fullest.
For the history nerds like myself, a really cool place to visit is Mirjan Fort, on the way to Gokarna from Honnavar. This fort dates to the 16th century and was built by the local rulers of the ports at Mirjan and Karwar. While half the fort is just a hill today, a lot of the walls and battlements are beautifully preserved, along with the idols of the family deities. Visiting this place, standing on a tower and looking across the country really channels one’s inner conqueror. You can even see tunnels (although they’re closed for further inspection) and perhaps the entrances to former dungeons, as well as still-functioning wells. However, out of personal experience, I do have to warn you to bring sunscreen, as the area is very open and the results of being out in the sun for a few hours was not pretty.
One last thing – a lot of people come to Gokarna to visit the temple. However, foreigners are not allowed inside the temple. As to why, I don’t know. People are sometimes like that. However, Murdeshwar temple has some of the same significance that Gokarna has, and even better, it’s more inclined towards tourists.
Now that I’ve completed this list of things to do, it’s up to you to plan your trip to Karnataka. Stay safe and happy travels!
Anay Ganesh 