What makes a perfect beach holiday? Well, that depends. If you are the adventurous kind, you would head for water sports and have unlimited fun exploring around. If you have a poetic soul, maybe you would contemplate about life while staring at the rise and fall of those rhythmic waves. While, if you an ultimate foodie, there’s a plethora of sea foods that you could just savour on and on. And if you are having a hard time deciding, you could do all the above. Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? When planning for a trip to Karnataka, no one generally misses out Bangalore – the Silicon Valley of India. But what we usually miss out is this: with the Arabian Sea to its west, this place has a long coastline of 320 km. Yes, that’s right. So let’s explore Karnataka in all its beauty with a list of the top 10 beaches here.
1. Gokarna Beach
Be it the comfortable home stays, the chance to experiment at different eateries or going for those banana boat rides, Gokarna is a must-visit destination for all travel bugs. There is an ancient Shiva temple here called the Mahabaleshwara temple. As the people mainly worship Shiva in this temple town, the Shivaratri Festival is celebrated with great pomp and show.
2. Kudle Beach
It is situated south of Gokarna beach. Kudle is often overcrowded as it has a string of restaurants and cafes and also provides accommodation at a low budget. Imagine the view of the vast Arabian Sea as the sun sets on the horizon – it will be so worth it.
3. Om Beach
The Om beach is in the shape of the auspicious ॐ [Om] symbol and there is the ‘Rock of Peace’ cliff from where the outline is clearly visible. That would be quite a sight to behold. Being near the sea would surely have a calming effect, yet to balance it out there is surfing, skiing and other such fun activities.
4. Half Moon Beach
Have you ever woken up rather early just to watch the sunrise sitting by the beach? Maybe it is time to try that at Half Moon Beach. Do not forget to carry your camera while you capture marvellous shots of that moment. It would be quite a delight to relive that memory through photographs after the trip, be assured.
5. Paradise Beach
To reach Paradise Beach, people prefer trekking through the forest. It is also known as Full Moon beach. And as you might have already guessed, to enjoy it best, you ought to bring along your gang of friends as you trace your way to the beach. Once you reach, just relax. Yes, at times the fun lies in just doing nothing. To be with your own thoughts and forgetting all the worries of the world.
6. Karwar Beach
Karwar beach is popular for its seafood cuisine. So do stop by for a sumptuous feast. Explore the Sadashivgad Fort, Chendia and Nagarmandi falls as well. It will surely make the trip merrier.
7. Malpe Beach
Malpe Beach is located about 5 km away from Udupi. Off its coast lies the St. Mary’s Islands/ Coconut Islands which is in the form of columnar basaltic lava. This set of four small islands is a geological marvel, a significant site under ‘Geo Tourism’. Nature never ceases to surprise us with its creative beauty and the St. Mary’s Islands definitely fits the bill.
8. Ullal Beach
The scenic beauty of Ullal Beach will surely entice the nature lover in you with its landscape. It has a history of its own, dating back to the 15th century when it was under Portuguese rule. Some of the other points of interest are the Someshwara temple, an ancient Cathedral, Summer Sands beach resort and the like.
9. Maravanthe Beach
One of the most beautiful beaches of Karnataka is Maravanthe Beach. With the Maraswamy temple near the beach it makes for a very picturesque frame, especially the view at sunset is awe-inspiring.
10. Murudeshwar Beach
When at Murudeshwar Beach, make sure you visit the Netrani Island/Pigeon Island. It lies off the coast and is a popular spot for scuba-diving/snorkelling. Now isn’t that reason enough to visit this wonderful coral island? Another main attraction at Murudeshwar is the magnificent Shiva statue, which is the second tallest statue of the Hindu god in the world.
There’s the soothing sun, the golden sand, the mouth-watering sea food and the awesome scuba diving. Experiences and memories that would last a lifetime! Guess it’s time to call up a few friends, pack your bags and set out for the perfect vacation.
It might be useful to add information on where these beaches are. You can assume lack of knowledge from your visitors else why would they be looking.