Walk Kumta to Gokarna - Travel a new adventure

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Walk Kumta to Gokarna

Travel a new adventure

Kumta to Gokarna a new adventure

A new place is always an extra adventure to me. It awakens my inner consciousness, boosts my adrenaline and throw me into a splash of freshness.

A outing is a collection of several thoughts just like a computer programming.

Choose destination, stay, select people and make a shopping list of things to carry and so on. This time I avoided all such chaos and choose to travel solo and pinned a place. I love mountains but then beaches are also my special considerations.
I booked a red bus on which I had a great offer. Packed few clothes, a diary and few pens (As I keep losing them) a blanket and pair of shoes and water bottle

of course. I missed my camera though and trusted my phone.
Boarded the bus at night from Gorguntepalya woke up at a pit stop took a tea break somewhere by 1:00am; caught very good sleep on a non ac sleeper (recommended).
Reached Kumta at 4:30am wondering where to go I saw few shops were open inside the bus stand and rushed in for a cup of kaapi (coffee).
Got fresh at Kumta bus stand pay and use toilets.

I asked the bus to nirvana which starts at 6 am, I did not want to waste time well I opted alternative service the pride of every place a auto rickshaw of course he demanded 250₹ for a drop to nirvana beach. It was still dark I did not want to take a chance and asked rickshaw wala he then suggested me Aghanashini, I was quick on Google map the place found interesting and changed my mind. Just a few kms from there I reached Aghanashini bus stop and autowala charged me 400₹ which was a heart break.

Aghanashini Backwater

Frankly I'm a budget traveler!

Time pass at Aghanashini River

Autowala misguided me saying the jetty service starts at 5:30am but I had to wait till 7:30am I had no regrets my eyes had a treat of the sunrise, bunch of tiny wooden boats were a picturesque backdrop that morning. By the time sky turned from black, red, orange, gold to blue I saw 100s of fishing boats deployed into the sea like a warships parade, met lots of good people, watched the stars, had a quick breakfast and tea at just 45₹ happily affordable.

Aghanashini Jetty

I then took a walk to Agasthya cave and heaven beach (you can take a house boat ride here)

Agasthya Cave

Heaven Beach

Gokarna adventures had their tents there and were packing that morning. I headed back as I had a different plans, reached back to jetty the ticket price is just 5₹ and drops you to the other side of Aghanashini River where you can see varieties of fishes at Tadadi port a small Bandar.

Tadadi Port

Across for daily bread

The awful smell did not let me stay longer I quickly rushed to exit and took a diversion towards God's own beach followed by Belekan beach the rocks here are notable on this trail the road ends at Om Shanthi paradise beach hotel. I love to have bread omelet and I ordered one here while asked the trek route the waiter gave a wonderful option to take a paradise beach route.

God's own beach

Belekan beach road

The trek was astonishing and so scenic every turn it took, ran through the Forest, hopped across bushes ascending and steep descending, at some points you walk on a knife's edge mountains which brings in lot of excitement to the trek. After few kms you start walking along the sea view and rocks (need to be attentive).
You by then come across few beautiful sand shores the paradise beach, the small hell beach and half moon beach characterized as it is named. You find a small huts and shacks where you can take rest, buy food and drinks. Staying in huts will cost you about 300₹ to 800₹ and the rates are seasonal.

Paradise hotel & tents

I walked along the beaches and quickly added my steps to complete my trail. Taking few pics from my phone's camera while regretting for not getting my DSLR.

It wasn't tiresome even under the scorching sun the places were so beautiful and I was more excited and curious to see what's hidden beyond other mountains. So I continue while I met few foreign artists’ mind derailing performances- a rope Walker and jugglers were showing their talents on the Paradise beach.

Stunning view of Paradise Beach

The trail continued with lot more fun I went on asking for more and more that this trip could offer me.
I reached the famous Om beach I was disappointed to see so many people; I felt I was thrown to the wrong civilization where I'm a different tribe. The place was too commercialized the vendors chase you with their products, the foreigners and staring inlanders I felt it like a pancake dipped in sharbat (bad combination). But what interests me in here is the kayaks.. The vendor here is a good chap I extended my friendship to him and told my kayak stories he gave me a good price and I had no restrictions on where to go.

Kayaking at Om beach

I quickly pulled a kayak and got into the sea the tides were calm but as I went deep the tides were high as expected it’s a lifetime experience to see no man on water and no land behind. I took a break and looked around I waited here to meet nothingness. I was highly immersed in the creation of nature soon after I got into my senses I was half way driven to shore by the waves. I did some stunts to impress others on the kayak; few were hesitating while some were finding it difficult to row to one direction. I hit the shore and with the floating jacket on me I slept on the water relaxed looking up the sky while the sun was turning gold. The west coast and the sunset is a great combination.

Sunset at Kudle

Poor clarity moto g5s camera @kudle beach

It was getting dark as I chose to stay at Kudle beach where i get more option to stay and way cheaper compared to Om beach and Gokarna. I was tired without my midday meal I found a good deal at hotel Shri Umamaheshwar. Hygienic decent stay for ₹800 on a weekend was to my surprise and I'm happy at the same time.
I got a quick shower and changed my attire to a party mood and took a walk. Entire Kudle soaks itself into a different color in the night, colorful lights and the shacks offer varieties of food that is from Indian, Chinese, Arabian to almost everything continental.

Chicken blue something*

I ordered a very special chicken variety and just a bottle of beer to gel into the ambiance.

Spent a wonderful night out there came back and collapsed on my bed. Previous night food was little less than sufficient and morning hunger woke me quite early. I walked along the beach side searching for decent English breakfast. It's good to see lot of people doing yoga, running and aerobics next to the waves. Its 8:00 am and sun shines bright, temperature is already 28 degree though people say tan suits me I'm not really happy about it so, I thought to avoid harsh sun on me and moved to my next location that I had  pinned on Google map the previous night. Jatayu theertha, laxmana theertha as it was too long post monsoon these places were disappointment. I met an artist named Honey who sells pendants and jewels made of pearls, shells and M-seal he was humble enough to teach me his skills. A new skill added to my basket.

Honey’s artistic pendant


Son of a beach

With no stopping I went to Labirnth a unique shape of arrangements of stones did put my mind into lot of questions. With no evidence on the internet.

Labirnth

I walked to Gokarna cliff (never miss this beautiful view)

Gokarna beach

I then saw lot of people in the beach where I generally avoid crowd in such places. The beach side was polluted

Polluted river connects Gokarna Beach

I skipped the beach and entered the local market I found hippies roam here happily, the street shops with vibrant colour clothes waving to the customers, the local art shops and traditional Artisans can be seen here and of course to the aroma of Indian spices I get addicted.

Artisan's collections

Aromatic spices of India

Braiding Art

Everyone have something to their interest to buy from here. I did some shopping irresistibly and walked to bus stand. I took a local bus to Kumta which again take you on a tour to show the proud Nagarbail salt pan of Karnataka and of course the mangroves.

Rolled over bridges and backwater it reached Kumta by 4:00 pm

I met my friends as planned earlier trip extended to another day. Kumta us incomplete without nirvana we took a rickshaw 6 of us paid 160₹ to Kumta beach.

Staying here was not a good idea we decided to walk further as Imran had to head back to Bangalore we gave him a farewell while sky turned orange. The sunset and kulfi badam’s combination took us on a Rollercoaster.

I had already found a place to stay in the night a beach side but the team had to trek 4kms through the rustic path darkness was scary and a narrow forest trail led us to a private gate it was really spooky and no man in the property the house looks very haunted nobody dared to enter vinay was furious on me other 3 were clueless what to do. Now we had to take another route but fear of dog with no option left we dared taking other route though dogs chased us we had to deal with it.. vinay still gave me an option of going back when we missed the route that led us to another private property but the young guy guided us with route to the beach. Now headed straight on that path we entered another farm looking at each other's face complete silence and totally confused before someone could think of going back I found a small path to the beach I didn't turn back just ran a hell out from there while rest of them had no option but to catch my back. We entered the beach but worth taking the risk.

We saw few torch lights far a distance scared of localites, cops, insects, reptiles and what not..

We managed to settle down had our packed food took a short walk. We had lot of fun laughing at silly our jokes pulling each other's pride and took out our blankets and towels spread over applied odomus (mosquito repellent cream) and collapsed on the sand.

Virgin Mangodlu beach

Next morning..

Sun was up waves of the beach roars into the ears woke up and winked eyes had a pleasant visual treat what a place what else you need, as a adventure it was just a fairyland. We were romanticized with the view like a piece of moon is fallen down the mountains both the side forest in the backdrop and a huge sea ahead.

Was I lost or found…?

Guitar fish

Then we tried catching some crabs and shells while I saw a fisherman got some fish on a small bag tied to his waist I rushed after him and brought 2 big size fish negotiating for 300₹.

Oh!! Now the challenge is how do we cook?

We asked the localites for help but we had to take rejections haha but fun it was.

Well we crossed few fish markets asking for price when we realized that the earlier brought fish was much expensive!! Morning dhoka.. My friends gave me a killing looks and I had a innocent smile for them.

We headed to Bada, a small town where we got some spices, oil and knife to clean the fish we failed to clean then Shashi and Krishna got it cleaned from a nearest fish market. With my prior experience I came up with an extraordinary idea “The patthar ghosh” (meat fried on a flat piece of stone).

Fried Crabs

Preparation of Patthar ghosh

Yummy fish fry

We applied same technique to fry fish and we succeeded. Oh crazy it was so yummy and mouth watering but it took really long time.

Without wasting our time we picked our luggage we moved towards nirvana we took a small break at Hotel Shanbag we had thill milk, kokum juice and Avalakki thindi (flattened rice snack).

Hotel shanbag

The sea called us close to its shore the team was exhausted we were just 2kms away from the destination some of us couldn't even take a step but hillock of Nirvana was seen from distance I had to motivate them and somehow we got to the place and all of us collapsed. We could not even rejoice the beauty of Nirvana. While few took a power nap some were sitting there comes a friendly dog very cute and playful dog restored my energy I stood up and took a look around saw a small stream of water flows down from the hill I took my bottle and walked up hill. The local women whose only source of drinking water is from this small stream. They helped me fill my water bottle it was time for a beautiful sunset the dog followed me I decide to climb up hill.

Sunset at Nirvana

The path was too difficult I followed the dog and somehow managed to reach the top through some thick bushes and thorny path. There is a ruined fortress above I witnessed that treat the world could offer me.

Sun set and the darkness raised I had to rush back soon I did not carry a torch. The dog and I ran down the hill rolled, jumped hopping across the bushes in no time I met my friends.

After 3 kms of walk beside canals and through the fields we reached the local bus stand to board to Kumta

We had booked our bus tickets to Bangalore, now all we needed was some good seafood and rest.

After 4 Day's trip I had lost myself from me. Exhausted enough to be in dilemma whether we enjoyed the trip or not?

Two days from then we called each other and recollected all the mischievous moments and laughed for hours..

What a trip it was!! Renaissance. Self awakening, I could measure my potential and ability.. Difficult but not really.

In short it was a 4 Days walkathon from Kumta beach to Gokarna.

Travel buddy: Imran Ali

Thanks to Vinay, Shashi, Krishna and Kumar for taking up the challenge.