Priyanka's Escapades

Kudle Beach The laidback town of  Gokarna  may not be on a popular list of vacation destinations. However, this out of the way coastal town in Karnataka could well be a vacationer’s dream destination. If you are disillusioned with the clamor of the more glamorous Goa, that is a mere one and a half hour train journey away, and seek the true bliss of seaside living,  Gokarna  is the place to be. Once you get off at the Kumta railway station, that mind you, does not have a platform, you are greeted by red soil and coconut trees. A short walk to catch a bus to  Gokarna  will put you with only locals who return home after calling it a day in the larger neighboring towns. The winding road from Kumta Railway station is a scenic and interesting one and will take you to a small bus stop with barely 15 buses to accommodate. The  Gokarna  bus stop is a nondescript one. Gokarna's colourful market A short walk from the bus station to your accommodation will make you realize th

India's second highest statue of Lord Shiva at Murudeshwar The chugging of the train, the sound of the wind in the backdrop and the gaggle of fellow passengers interrupted by the sharp nasal calls of "Chai! chai!" sounds distant as the visual treat outside the window blots out everything else. The rows of coconut trees and lush green thicket punctuated by bright yellow and orange houses in clusters mark small villages and settlements on the banks of the Aghnashini and Sharavati Rivers that empty out into the Arabian Sea on the hour and a half journey between Gokarna and Murudeshwar, which are two small towns in coastal Karnataka. Scenic rural scapes unfold through the train's window The glistening basins of the two rivers that we crossed on the way are speckled with fishing boats that dock near the river islands. If you are lucky enough like us you might come across someone on the train who is familiar with the area and could give you an idea about how to