Gokarna,
can very simply be described as a small touristy pilgrimage town which receives
visitors throughout the year. As it has several temples nearby, the town is
virtually thronged by Hindu pilgrims most of the times. However, the
interesting thing to note here is that besides the Indians, the foreigners
including the Europeans and Russians frequent this place as well. “Why exactly
do these foreigners visit this small town often? What exactly does this
pilgrimage sort of a town have to offer these foreigners? Let us find out in
the course of the post.
Gokarna:
A touristy delight in Karnataka
Situated
in Karnataka, Goakarna serves as a perfect retreat for pilgrims with all its
Shiva temples with His original image (as is believed by the inhabitants of the
town and perhaps even by the visitors). The place is primarily famous for the
string of religious festivals held here. Shiva Ratri, observed at the end of
February is celebrated amidst much jubilation here.
Talking
about the sea of foreign tourists the town receives every year; let us tell you
that the trend has been started by the European backpackers who primarily
visited Gokarna for its warm climate in winter. Another major reason behind the
foreigners thronging here is the much coveted isolation offered by this place.
|
Beautiful Beach of Gokarno |
The
role played by the beaches
The
life
styles of Gokarno are not solely
revolving round beaches. It should be pointed out that the town is not
only known for its temples. It is equally famous for its beaches. And who
doesn’t know? Beaches are always a favorite of foreigners. Here is a rundown on
the most exotic beaches of Gokarna.
Gokarna Beach
Though
it is more popular with the Indians and less with the foreign tourists, it
should be mentioned that it is visited by the latter – perhaps by a much lesser
degree than what’s the case with the other beaches. It stretches for several
kilometers long. Perhaps one of the reasons why foreigners avoid this
particular beach is because of the consistent lack of hygiene. You can hardly
find any locals cleaning this beach up. Things are in fact worse after Shiva
Ratri. The beach is converted into a virtual garbage dump after a night of
revelry.
Om Beach
Situated
further along Kudle beach, this particular beach is divided by a rocky island.
Foreign visitors are a regular sight here. A section of the beach is primarily
occupied by restaurants offering cheap accommodation in the shape of concrete
beach huts and bamboo. Come the monsoons and you will not really have access to
many accommodation options here.
Kudle Beach
Kudle
Beach can be reached by a brief walk downhill from the drop-off points right at
the southern and northern end of the beach. Travelers are advised to stay in
the southern stretch of the beach. Backpackers had always been a regular
feature of this particular beach. Thanks to these backpackers – parties and jam
sessions were held regularly as well.
Conclusion
So,
as we were saying before, beaches also have to play a crucial role in bringing
foreign tourists to the town. As you might have gauged by now, the place is
practically brimming with a number of beaches. One of the prominent trends
which can be noticed in recent times is the gradual thinning down of the
backpacking crowd in recent times. Various sections of the town have stopped
entertaining backpackers simply because they have started receiving affluent
tourists (especially from the metro cities of India) and also because they have
had to face several problems owing to the backpacking crowd. The backpacker,
many a time were involved in theft, drugs and other anti-social activities.