How To Reach Gokarna

Gokarna is a small pilgrimage town in Uttara Kannada district in the western coast of Karnataka. Nestled on the banks of the Gangavali and Aghanashini River, the sacred town of Gokarna is one of the most noteworthy tourist centres of Karnataka. What makes the town so interesting is its package of being a pilgrim centre and a holiday zone. Getting to Gokarna is not difficult, as the trip through the luxuriant Western Ghats is so fascinating, easy and worth the every mile.

The airport nearest to Gokarna is the Dabolim Airport in Goa. There are domestic flights to most Indian cities, international flights to UAE and seasonal flights to London. The Dabolim airport is 157 km from Gokarna. You can hire private taxis from the airport to Gokarna. You also have the added option of flying to Mangaluru International Airport and taking a train to Gokarna.

A number of trains stop or pass by the Gokarna Road railway station. The Konkan railway passes through the town, with the next nearest stations being Ankola and Kumta. Trains including the Maru Sagar Express (Ernakulam-Ajmer), Poorna Express (Ernakulam-Pune) and local trains like Yeshwantpur (Mangaluru-Karwar) halt at Gokarna. You can hire a cab from the railway station to the town that’s about 10 km away. Probably the easiest way to reach Gokarna is to travel to the town by train from Goa, which is about 144 km away.

You will find plenty of KSRTC buses to Gokarna from Mangaluru, Bengaluru or Goa. You could also hire taxis from these cities to Gokarna. The roads are pretty good and it is a pleasure driving through the lush terrains of the Western Ghats. Additionally, you can take a train from Mangaluru to Karwar, Kumta or Ankola and then travel the rest of the way by bus to Gokarna.