5 Best Beaches to visit in Gokarna

GOKARNA, KARNATAKA

 

Gokarna is truly a refreshing place even under the humid tropical climate. It is a traveller's paradise with long shoreline, jagged cliffs, golden sand and turquoise blue waters. The beaches are exquisite and pristine. Most beaches are secluded, therefore, very peaceful. Being on the western shores, the beaches offer outstanding sunsets at Arabian Sea.

Here is my list of MUST-VISIT beaches in Gokarna. Surprisingly, if you are on a beach trek, you can cover all these beaches in a single day just to admire the beauty and calmess of the seas. But I would suggest you enjoy every beach in your own sweet time in your own good ways.

1) Belekin beach

This is not really a beach per se, but a viewpoint accessible by road close to the town. This is often the starting point of any beach trek, which is a small port for local fishermen's boats. You will notice that even amidst so much activity, the water is calm. A small trail walk leads you up the cliff which runs parallel to the shoreline

BELEKIN BEACH

2) Paradise Beach:

VIEW OF PARADISE BEACH, GOKARNA

This is one of the most beautiful beaches in Gokarna. Being one of the secluded beaches in Gokarna, the beach is very clean and less crowded. The true beauty of the beach can be observed if you could just hike up the small cliff beside the beach. You will be able to see the contrast of the golden sands, grey rocks, green coconut trees and blue waters. 

PARADISE BEACH, GOKARNA

It is a small beach, not suitable for big groups and fun activities as it is a little rocky at the shore. Ideal for private small groups or couples who want skinny dip in cold water.

3) Half Moon beach:  

The name of the beach is derived from it's shape. The beach arches a little at this point and creates a pristine cove. At this point, you can climb up the cliff and enjoy the broad view of the other 2 beaches adjoining the shoreline. You can see the Om beach and paradise beach from this beautiful place. But this is not a place of any water activities. The beach is too rocky and hot to hangout during the day.

HALF MOON BEACH, GOKARNA

4) Om beach: Again, named after the shape of OM- ॐ

OM BEACH, GOKARNA

This beach offers a good view of the outstretched shore and expansive sea. 

You might see some sail boats which add to the beauty of the serene waters. The beach is less crowded and accessible by a small road. 

It does not have any water activities, but is an amazing place to chill and play with the waves.

OM BEACH, GOKARNA

4) Kudle beach

This is the most crowded beach in Gokarna for 2 reasons. One, it is connected by road. Two, it has water sports. The waves are just right for every water sport-swim, surf, sail or even just a good amount of splashing for non-swimmers. The sea is not very rough here. You will find numerous cafe's and shacks which offer wide range of services spanning from food and clothes to spa and alcohol. 

KUDLE BEACH, GOKARNA

This is definitely not a place for someone looking for silent shores. You could hear loud music from the shacks. If you are a party animal, try out the Nirvana cafe, especially in the night. 

5) Gokarna Main beach

This is a crowded beach for various reasons, and yet, it is not as crowded as Kudle beach. Being situated close to the local settlement, this beach has temples and local fish markets. As such, this beach does not have any water activities other than fishing and hence one of the best places to visit if you want a quick break from the town. 

FISHING AT GOKARNA BEACH

CAMPING AT GOKARNA MAIN BEACH

The water is clear and calm. This has the longest shoreline among the other beaches. The ideal spot of a long walk! There are a lot of homestays on the beach and you can enjoy a good evening breeze, a romantic night under the sky or even a long yoga session in the early morning without being disturbed by the nuisance of tourists. If you are lucky, you might spot dolphins very close to the shore. 

SUNSET AT GOKARNA MAIN BEACH

3 Natural ways to make hair shiny

I have been like a lab rat my whole life. Ask my family and friends and they will tell you about the heaps of products in my closet. I have experimented the most with my hair. I am not sure if premature greying was a result of that or was it passed on by my mother. I want to believe it is my mother 
So after trying all the cosmetic products, here is my verdict. Go natural. Atleast once a week. I have tried and tested the below three solutions and it works like a charm.
Try the below things and see for yourself.

1) Banana and avocado hair mask
My personal favorite this one because not only does it smell good, it tastes good.
The yummiest combination of Banana and avocado in 2:1 proportion with 2 to 3 teaspoons of honey. Mash the fruits and beat them nicely with drops of honey.  Scoop up a spoonful and enjoy the sweetness and texture. If anything is left over, try the mask on your hair. 
Throw in 2 drops of rosemary essential oil if you need. Apply it on hair and leave it for about 20 mins  and then rinse off. Banana and honey cleanses your hair and adds shine while avocado conditions the tresses. Rosemary oil is known to stimulate hair growth. This is such a luxurious spa treatment at home. Treat yourself to one.

2) Egg white and lemon hair mask
I would love this for a quick fix on my utterly damaged and frizzy hair. If you would like to condition your hair, use the egg yolk too in the mask. I hate the smell of egg yolk, so i always squeeze in half lemon to get rid of the smell.

If not, just a mask of egg white is sufficient to bind some frizzy ends and add shine to the hair. Apply for 15 to 20 mins and wash off.
Be careful not to use hot or warm water to wask off the mask. You do not want to prepare scrambled eggs in shower and then pick the bits off your hair藍藍

3) Coconut oil with any of these or all of this (castor oil, olive oil, lavender oil, almond oil)
I have tried them all.. separately and together. I have always had very dry hair. So to not rip off the essential oils i follow 2 things.
A. Never wash your hair too frequently if you have not oiled it.
B. Follow A.
I wash my hair 2-3 times a week and so, i oil it before every wash.Coconut oil is always the saviour for me. A 100 percent natural oil would mean that the oil solidifies in cold temperatures. That's the hint. Warm the coconut oil and mix with with olive oil or almond oil. Apply to the scalp and hair and massage scalp gently. Not only does your hair feel soft, the scalp is relaxed and you would definitely get a good sleep. Wrap your hair if you are leaving the oil overnight. I like it leave it overnight. Sometimes, i do use the left over oil on my skin and my skin glows after bath! No better moisturizer than coconut and almond oil.
Wash the oil with mild shampoo or baby shampoo. You could use the banana and avocado mix as conditioner too.

Tip: use 5-6 drops of apple cidar vinegar in about 200 ml of water to wash your hair  to avoid build of products when you use cosmetic and chemical shampoo, conditioners or serums.

Voila! Healthy,lovely,shiny hair. These three are the only things that have worked for me. Nothing helps greying but the texture of my hair is soft and manageable. Speaking from my experience..
Have a happy and good hair day!