Gokarna, Karnataka State(India)

Gokarna is a small temple town located in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka state in southern India,

Gokarna is one of the most popular beach destinations for tourists in India. It is popular with beach trekkers. Yana Caves hosts the second cleanest village in India.

Etymology

According to legend Brahma, feeling proud because he could create the universe, decided to meditate to apologize for his arrogance. He wanted to lift a curse given by Shiva. During his meditation, Shiva appeared unexpectedly, emerging from the ears of a cow. So the place came to be known as Gokarna or ear of the cow. The Puranas state that when Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu created Kerala, it was from Gokarna to Kanyakumari.

According to legend, Ravana was given Atmalinga by Shiva and instructed that it would stay permanently where it is first placed on the land. Ganesha came in the form of a boy and planted it in Gokarna while Ravana was performing rituals. Once placed Ravana could not remove it from the ground; he removed some pieces of the lingam and threw them in different directions.

Geography

The earliest legend of the city is set in the age of the Treta Yuga, in which Ravana (the rakshasa king of Lanka) reached Kailasha and performed rigorous penance to obtain the atmalinga from Shiva, as Ravana's mother expressed a keen desire to worship the atmalinga of Shiva.

Gokarna was part of the Sodhe and Vijayanagara kingdoms.

Location

Gokarna is about 238 km north of Mangalore, 483 km from Bengaluru and about 59 km from Karwar. It is between the Gangavali and Aghanashini rivers along the Karwar coast by the Arabian Sea. It is 200 km north from the college towns of Suratkal and Manipal.

It can be reached by Konkan Railway on the Mumbai to Mangalore route or Goa to Mangalore route. The railway station (called Gokarna Road) is 10 km from the town. The station has a retiring room at a nominal price. Many important trains like Matsyagandha Express, KSR Bengaluru Karwar Express, Poorna Express, Marusagar Express and Mangalore Local and DEMU local are the Daily Local Trains halt here.

The nearest airports are Hubli Airport, Karnataka which has domestic flights only, Goa International Airport at Goa and Mangalore International Airport at Bajpe, Karnataka are the nearest airports to reach at Gokarna.

Neighbouring villages are Bankikodla-Hanehalli, Sanikatta, Tadadi, Torke, Madangere, Maskeri, Adigone, Nelaguni and Bijjur.

Beaches

The Gokarna main beach is in town and Kudle beach faces west. Om beach, Half moon Beach, Paradise Beach (also known as Full moon) and Belekan beach are south facing. Nearby areas like Honnavar is famous for backwater boating as well as mangrove boardwalk and Karwar for watersports and adventures.

The vibrant culture of Goa

 Religion

According to the 1909 statistics in the Catholic Encyclopedia, the total Catholic population was 293,628 out of a total population 365,291 (80.33%). Within Goa, there has been a steady decline of Christianity due to Goan emigration, and a steady rise of other religions, due to massive non-Goan immigration since the Annexation of Goa. Native Goans are outnumbered by non-Goans in Goa, but Christianity remains prevalent in the state, with a higher percentage of Christians than the national average. Conversion seems to play little role in the demographic change. According to the 2011 census, in a population of 1,458,545 people, 66.1% were Hindu, 25.1% were Christian, 8.3% were Muslim and 0.1% were Sikh.

Festivals

The most popular celebrations in the Indian state of Goa include the Goa Carnival (Konkani: Intruz) Shigmo and São João (Feast of John the Baptist). The most popular festivals in Goa include Ganesh Chaturthi (Konkani: Chavath) Dipavali, Christmas (Konkani: Natalam) Easter (Konkani: Paskanchem Fest) Samvatsar Padvo or Sanvsar Padvo and the feast of St. Francis Xavier, who is known as Goencho Saib by the Catholic Community in Goa.

Architecture

                            

The Churches and Convents of Goa are a group of six churches that are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Basilica of Bom Jesus holds the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Goa. Once every ten years, the body is taken down for veneration and for public viewing. The last such event was conducted in 2024.

Influences from other eras (Kadambas of Goa, Maratha Empire) are visible in some of Goa's temples, notably the Mahadev Temple and Saptakoteshwar Temple.

Music

Goan Catholics have been performing Western classical music since the 1500s, because it is an integral part of the Catholic liturgy. Mando, dekhnni, dulpod and tiatr are traditional Goan musical forms in Konkani developed from Western Music.

Goan Hindus are very fond of Natak, Bhajan and Kirtan. Many famous Indian Classical singers hail from Goa, such as, Kishori Amonkar, Kesarbai Kerkar, Jitendra Abhisheki, Prabhakar Karekar.

Dance

Some traditional Goan dance forms are dekhnni, fugdi, corridinho and dashavatara. Western social dancing is a part of most celebrations.

Theatre

Goans are very fond of theatre and acting. Kalo and dashavatar were popular art forms. Marathi Nataks have been very popular among Hindus in Goa for the past two centuries. Tiatr is the major Goan form of theatre common amongst Catholics and is the most commercial offering as it has entertained Goans not only in Goa but also in Mumbai and Pune (which are major cities of India and have a sizeable Goan population) and in the Gulf regions of UAE, Kuwait and so on.

Language

The majority of Goans speak Konkani as their first language, while the remaining speak other languages, like Hindi, Portuguese or Marathi as their primary language. However, practically all Goans can speak and understand Konkani. Konkani is an important part of the Goan identity that binds together all Goans.

Travel to Goa(India)

 Goa, state of India, comprising a mainland district on the country’s southwestern coast and an offshore island. It is located about 250 miles (400 km) south of Mumbai (Bombay). One of India’s smallest states, it is bounded by the states of Maharashtra on the north and Karnataka on the east and south and by the Arabian Sea on the west. The capital is Panaji (Panjim), on the north-central coast of the mainland district. Formerly a Portuguese possession, it became a part of India in 1962 and attained statehood in 1987. Area 1,429 square miles (3,702 square km). Pop. (2011) 1,457,723.

Relief and drainage

Sandy beaches, estuaries, and promontories characterize the 65-mile (105-km) coastline of mainland Goa. In the interior region, low, forested plateaus merge with the wooded slopes of the Western Ghats, which rise to nearly 4,000 feet (1,220 metres) on the eastern edge of the state. The two largest rivers are the Mandavi and the Zuvari, between the mouths of which lies the island of Goa (Ilhas). The island is triangular, the apex (called the cape) being a rocky headland separating the harbour of Goa into two anchorages.

Climate

Goa’s climate is equable, with high temperatures generally in the 80s F (30s C) and low temperatures in the 70s F (20s C) throughout the year. A southwest monsoon blows between June and September. The state receives about 115 inches (3,000 mm) of rainfall annually, most occurring during the monsoon season.

Principle Cities of Goa

There are three principal cities in contemporary Goa: Panaji (Panjim), Marmagao (Mormugão), and Madgaon (Margão). Panaji was originally a suburb of Old Goa. Like its parent city, Panaji was built on the left bank of the Mandavi estuary. Now a busy port city, it contains the archbishop’s palace, the government house, and many markets. Marmagao, sheltered by a promontory and outfitted with a breakwater and quay, is one of the major ports between Mumbai and Kozhikode (Calicut; in the state of Kerala). It specializes in the shipment of iron ore and manganese. As Marmagao developed, so too did nearby Madgaon, with its industrial estate, cold-storage facilities, and large produce market.

Over the course of Goa’s history, Portuguese rule and fluctuating economic conditions caused emigration on a large scale. Many Goans have moved not only to other parts of India but also to the former Portuguese colonies on the eastern coast of Africa.

Services

The service sector of Goa’s economy has increased in importance since the late 20th century. This is attributable largely to the rapid growth of the tourism industry. By the early 21st century, tourism constituted a significant segment of Goa’s economy, as the state’s long, sandy beaches, coastal vegetation, coconut palms, and unique hotels attracted large numbers of international and domestic visitors. The expansion of tourism, however, has raised concerns about preservation of the natural environment.

Beaches of Goa

Goa's beaches cover about 125 kilometres (78 miles) of its coastline. These beaches are divided into North and South Goa.

North Goa Beaches

Pernem Beach

Querim Beach,

Kalacha Beach,

Arambol Beach,

Mandrem Beach,

Ashvem Beach,

Morjim Beach,

Bardez

Chapora Beach,

Vagator Beach,

Ozran Beach,

Anjuna Beach,

Baga Beach,

Calangute Beach,

Candolim Beach,

Sinquerim Beach,

Coco Beach,

Kegdole beach

Tiswadi

Miramar Beach,

Caranzalem Beach,

Dona Paula Beach,

Vaiguinim Beach,

Bambolim Beach,

Siridao Beach

South Goa Beaches

Mormugao

Bogmalo Beach,

Baina Beach,

Hansa Beach,

Hollant Beach,

Cansaulim Beach,

Velsao Beach

Salcete

Arossim Beach,

Utorda Beach,

Majorda Beach,

Betalbatim Beach,

Colva Beach,

Sernabatim Beach,

Benaulim Beach,

Varca Beach,

Cavelossim Beach,

Mobor Beach,

Betul Beach

Quepem

Canaiguinim Beach

Canacona

Cabo de rama Beach,

Kakolem Beach,

Dharvalem Beach,

Cola Beach,

Agonda Beach,

Palolem Beach,

Patnem Beach,

Rajbag Beach,

Talpona Beach,

Galgibag Beach,

Polem Beach

I am sure you will tempt by watching some beaches snaps ahead...

Transportation

Goa is well connected to the rest of India—and the world—by road, rail, sea, and air. In Panaji there is a large bus terminal that adjoins the station on the Konkan railway. Completed in 1998, the Konkan railway runs along India’s western coast from west-central Maharashtra to southern Karnataka, where it links with the country’s southern railway. Another rail line connects the state’s primary port at Marmagao (via Madgaon) with the country’s southwestern rail system by way of Castle Rock (in Karnataka) in the Western Ghats. There is an international airport at Dabolim, near Panaji.

Goa Airports

The Dabolim Airport is an international airport which was built in 1955 and is currently owned by the Government of Goa and the Indian Navy. A new terminal at the Dabolim Airport was inaugurated in 2013. The current airport has regular and charter flights to the a few Middle Eastern countries, Russia, and the United Kingdom. However, due to the Dabolim Airport being a civilian as well as a military airport, airside congestion was a significant problem as the airport has only one runway.

Therefore, a new airport at Mopa was proposed. The foundation stone for the new Manohar International Airport was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November 2016. The new Manohar International Airport, operated by the GMR Group is being built in an area of 2,133 acres (863 ha) at a cost of approximately ₹2,650 crores (US$330 million).

On 11 December 2022, The Mopa Airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and christened as "Manohar International Airport" named after Goa’s late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. Flight operations have commenced from 5 January 2023.

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