Team-BHP - Coastal Karnataka

Hello,

I'm looking for a 3-5 days trip to Coastal Karnataka from Pune during the last week of this month. Would like to visit mostly beaches however confused between Gokarna and Udupi region as both the regions have good beaches. I'll travelling with family (wife and 7 years old daughter) and would not like to go visit touristy places with too much crowd during the Holiday Season.

Please suggest some good beaches either in Gokarna or Udupi region or Both.

Thanks in Advance.

Should not miss sunset from the top of Kaup light house. Go there for sunset and you have very good beach if you want to play in water.

Malpe beach. You can get boat to St. Mary's island from here and there are lot of sports that you can try here.

But if you want a private beach kind of experience, there was one that I went to and it was absolutely peaceful (that was almost a decade ago though). I can find that place if you are looking for private beach.

Check out the beach side resorts near Kumta / Kadle. Pristine beaches (e.g. Nirvana beach) with very little tourist play even though Gokarna is just a stone's throw away up north. There are several beach front resorts / homestays you can explore.

You could also look up beachside villas across the coast of Karnataka via airbnb and other sites that satisfy your requirement of non-touristy places.

Quote:

Originally Posted by VJ05 (Post 5456187)

Hello,

Please suggest some good beaches either in Gokarna or Udupi region or Both.

Thanks in Advance.

The most popular beach in South Canara is Malpe but it is very touristy and crowded. However there is a slightly better hotel "Paradise Island" though a bit overpriced. There are a lot of activities on this beach also the proximity to Udui makes it a good place.

If it relative seclusion you are looking for, Kaup etc have a number of airbnbs on the beach side and the beaches are cleaner and less crowded.
You may need to checkup about local transport in these smaller places.

Quote:

Originally Posted by VJ05 (Post 5456187)

I'm looking for a 3-5 days trip to Coastal Karnataka from Pune...visit mostly beaches however confused between Gokarna and Udupi region as both the regions have good beaches

If I were to ride the coast, always, always & always favorite region is Jai Maharashtra. Having done entire West Coast, this is the only section that I find totally mesmerizing for all the beauty of nature, next to north KL coast; but that's me.

My suggestion would be, Pune - Satara - Kholapur - Yellapura - Gokarnam - take NH17 all the way up to Diveagar or Harihareshwar & then drive back home.

If you still insist only with KA, then Pune - Gokarnam & then drive all the way up to Udupi & then to Davangere via Agumbe, Thirthahalli or same route but headed to Ranebennur & then towards home.

Edit - Even if you miss the Malpe, do not miss Kaup beach near Udupi

I just did Karnataka Coastal family trip in November. My 2 cents:
1) Padubidri end point beach, Kapu beach (and lighthouse), Nirvana Beach, Om Beach - these are some great beaches
2) If you are driving, the drive from Kaup lighthouse to Malpe beach is great.
3) Avoid staying in the properties on Malpe beach. Too commercial and tourist. You can avoid Malpe beach as well or could go to Malpe just for the water sports/St. Mary's island.
4) Gokarna main beach is not that great either. So, if you plan to stay in Gokarna, you can try the properties on Nirvana beach.

I had gone to Gokarna in October. Just one suggestion: DO NOT cross the ghats in Maharashtra. Most of the ghat crossings in Maharashtra are a mess.

Murudeshwara gets really hot during the day and walking everywhere barefeet is no fun. Either plan it early morning or later afternoon.

Enjoy the roads in Karnataka, the coastal road was fun for me.

Coastal Karnataka extends all the way up to Someshwara, there are few new beach resorts/shacks that have come up from Mangalore - Someshwara section. If you are looking to extend your drive beyond Udupi, that can be one of the options. Similarly around Kundapur there are multiple options for beach and beach stay starting from Maravanthe up to Kodi which should be less crowded.

Thanks for all your suggestions, it was very helpful. I've chart out the below itinerary, have included Shravanbelgola Darshan as well. Any thoughts?

Day 1 Pune to Dandeli (Night Stop)
Day 2 Dandeli to Nirvana (Stay)
Day 3 Go to Paradise & OM Beach
Day 4 Nirvana to Kaup (Stay)
Day 5 Nirvana to Shravanbelgola (Stay)
Day 6 Shravanbelgola to Hubballi (Night Stop)
Day 7 Hubbali to Pune

Quote:

Originally Posted by VJ05 (Post 5456882)

Thanks for all your suggestions, it was very helpful. I've chart out the below itinerary, have included Shravanbelgola Darshan as well. Any thoughts?
Hubbali to Pune

If you are looking for secluded beaches, we stayed in Shanbhag Residency in Honnvar, the beach is behind the property and walkable, there are no other access to the beach and we had the stretch to over selves. Only issue was the restaurant was not fully setup after Covid.