Karnataka
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Kudle Beach (Gokarna): The Longing to Stay Back



I remember humming a soft tune as I walked down the beautiful Kudle Beach at Gokarna – a town kissed by the Arabian Sea in the South Indian State of Karnataka.

The melody of the tune was completed by the sweet sounds of the crashing waves, regular chirping of the coastal birds, shouts of kids playing soccer and the whispers of lovers walking on the beach. I also remember splashing waters on to my friend’s faces as all of us joyously bathed in the cool Arabian waters. The gradually receding beach was both merciful and welcoming. In the evening, nearly forty pairs of eyes stood staring at the beautiful sunset as the sea gulped the sun, to keep it safe in its hiding for the night. Quite a love story. And quite a sight to behold.

I remember walking down the streets of the beautifully antique town of Gokarna to reach Kudle Beach. I bumped into some really interesting people and sights on the way. And as my eyes caught the glimpse of the beach through the leaves of an ancient tree, I blessed the walk that had led me to it.



But what I remember the most from those two days at Kudle Beach, is a longing – a longing to let go. A longing to delve deeper and understand. A longing to stay.

When we travel, we come across numerous beautiful roads and destinations. And very often, we spend days at these locations and then move on to other places and things. Sometimes we come back from journeys and the places we saw take deep roots in our memories, as our minds get exposed to the realms of everyday life. But at times, we visit places we just can’t get enough of. At times, we feel the strong urge to call a distant land our ‘home’. At least for a while.

Such was the case with Kudle Beach and me. Having been there several times, I still feel the longing to stay there for a longer duration. Still feel the need to stare at the Kudle sunset for days together.

And it’s very difficult to state the reason why. It is definitely not the most enchanting place I have ever been to. But there was something in the way my thoughts completely melted and mixed with the aroma of the place. It lent me a peaceful, easy feeling very difficult to replace. I felt that I completely belonged to the place, at least for the time I spent there. So much so that I’ve been planning to go and stay there for a month or two.


I don’t feel the urge to spend my life away at Kudle. But for what she gave me, I definitely owe her a month of my heart and soul. For me, it will always be my favourite escape.



Things to Do in Gokarna

 When in Gokarna, do not miss out on the following:

·         - Trek from Kudle Beach all the way up to Om, Half Moon and Paradise Beach. The beach trek is an amazing experience. You are bound to bump into some amazing travellers and picturesque locations.
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·        -  See some beautiful temples and walk the old markets of Gokarna town. Gokarna is considered to be the birthplace of Lord Shiva. Delve in its history and culture.

·        -  If you are going to stay for long, you can also take Yoga classes near Kudle beach.


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·         -  Go on a boat ride and if you are lucky, you can spot dolphins in the sea!

·         - You can get a nice massage and spend the day out in the beach sun.

·         - The bike ride around Gokarna is really beautiful. // Amarpreet Singh for Oasis Holidays
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For an all-India tour in 22 days, you may want to check out this video.

For Tour and Travels India as well as International packages from India, please contact us at Oasis Holidays. 

Unshod Rover is a worldwide-eyed wanderer currently based in Bangalore, India. You may follow his musings and wanderings on this blog. "Unshod in India" is a series of articles based on Mr. Rover's adventures and discoveries in this very interesting and incredible subcontinent. 


     {About the Author}


Amarpreet Singh is 25 and lives in Bangalore, India and apart from journeying with a waste management organization called Daily Dump, likes to spend his time scribbling words wherever he can. His passion is penning down random sets of words that may seem gibberish to most people and may make perfect sense for some insane ones out there. He doesn’t seem to stop any time soon too. Poetry is what people say he is good at. Music and Football are his other hobbies.
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Hampi: Stealing Memories from a Trip (and a few tips)

                                                                                                                                                                               PC: Jenu Prasad
Why do people travel?

It’s an extremely existential question that doesn’t need any answers. Some wander to escape the trials and tribulations of every day life. Some do it in search of peace and tranquility. While some do it for the sheer pleasure of breathing in some fresh foreign air and staring at beauty that escapes them everyday.

Whatever your reasons are, nothing beats the feeling of returning from a distant vacation and then recounting the entire experience through photographs, coffee table conversations and memory.

But what do we truly remember when our journey is done? Do we remember the place itself? The landscape? The people?

What is amazing to witness is that there are always those little solitary moments from a trip that seem to linger on in the depths of our minds a lot longer then some of the other things do. Sometimes it’s a conversation that you stole atop a bridge. Sometimes it’s a house you saw beside a hill. Sometimes it’s a walk across the sea shore. Like life, the trip is incomplete without these little moments. The intricacies that matter.


                                                                                                                                                                     PC: Daniel Zrihen (Source)
There is one moment that has lived on with me from one of my trips to Hampi - a village and temple town from Northern Karnataka.
                                                                                                                                                           PC: Vijaya Narasimha (Source) 
Famous for it’s magnificent ruins from the 13th Century, towering boulders and beautiful sunsets, Hampi is a wanderer’s dream come true. After wandering through the town for nearly 3 days and seeping in it’s historical beauty, I decided to go for a thoughtful night stroll at about 11 pm and descended on the steps to the Tungabhadra river. There was a strange calmness in the air. The place which was filled with boatmen, tourists and locals during the day was all empty and quiet now, filled only with the moist night air. The river divided the town into two parts and the only way to get to the other side was to hire a boat ride, which was available for cheap during the day. Suddenly, a boatman appeared with his rickety old rowboat and asked me if I wanted to reach the other side. I had nowhere to go but the idea of rowing a small boat through the night river excited me. We rowed on for nearly 10 minutes until we reached the middle of the slow flowing river.
                                                                                                                                                                                    PC: Jatin Sethi
Suddenly, I caught the site of the shining moon and the it’s beautifully scattered image in the river. Magic. I told the boatman to stop rowing and both of us sat staring at the natural magic that unfolded so effortlessly. The mysterious night river was barely visible. The picture of the moon in it though, was as clear as crystal. It was as if the river had secretly gulped the moon and was presenting it to us. We could only watch and admire. Even today, I find it easy to close my eyes and transport myself back to that time and place. To that moment. To all the elements that completed that scene to perfection.

Very often travel offers you the gift of these moments and all you can do is collect these gifts like coins and keep them safe in the piggy bank of your memories. Photos and diaries can help you recollect these moments to an extent. Silence and closed eyes can almost take you back there.
                                                                                                                                                                             PC: Shri Ram (Source)
A Few Tips when Travelling in Hampi
·         1. Even though you would be tempted to lose yourself in the busy Bazaar and intricate temples, do not miss out on the ‘other’ side of the Tungabhadra river (Anegundi). Chill out in the wilderness. Meet some new interesting people and give way to the artist within you when you can.

·         2. Rent a two wheeler – the best way to explore the inner reaches of Hampi. You might bump into some beautiful lakes while you are at it!

·         3. Avoid tourist guides – buy a Hampi historical guide from the children selling it at the main temple. Read about each temple’s history when you are going there. You will feel the medieval times coming alive again. The book will cost a mere Rs 100 – 150.

·        4.  Drink a lot of water and brace yourself to walk the ruins through and through. Hampi holds a surprise in every nook and corner.
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           5. Climb the boulders at Anegundi and watch the beautiful Hampi sunset. You may also want to do a few rock climbing sessions that frequently happen over there.


·         6. Climb the Matanga hill! It’s a must. Historians have described it as one of the most beautiful views in South India. // Amarpreet Singh

        {About the Author}


Amarpreet Singh is 25 and lives in Bangalore, India and apart from journeying with a waste management organization called Daily Dump, likes to spend his time scribbling words wherever he can. His passion is penning down random sets of words that may seem gibberish to most people and may make perfect sense for some insane ones out there. He doesn’t seem to stop any time soon too. Poetry is what people say he is good at. Music and Football are his other hobbies.
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