Gokarna and jog falls

Day 1

Hyderabad -hubli-Gokarna

One Friday i decided to explore western ghats of Karnataka and visit Gokarna beach and jog falls .

we  started  our journey from hyderabad to hubli by VRL bus. we reached Hubli by 4 a.m where our private bus was waiting ,it was raining so without waiting we resumed our journey to Gokarna which took around 4 hours including tea break.

we reached Gokarna at 7 a.m .we explored the Gokarna town and visited few temples .After visiting temples we started out trekking from Gokarna beach.a small road which goes from Gokarna to ohm beach will take you to the Ohm beach , its a 5 km trek which is easy . you will see number of small hills which is surrounding Gokarna. the view is amazing you will see big rocks getting hit by giant waves .you can find people fishing on the bank of Gokarna Beach .

we found a small place at om beach where we decided to put our camps.you see very few people who will be chilling at beach specially in the evening .

I didn’t sleep in the night since we have to start at 2 a.m to jog falls .If you love stars and moon you are in the right place the sight is perfect for  star gazing  since the sky becomes very clear during night .

About Gokarna

Gokarna is a beach town located in Northern Karnataka. While being an important pilgrimage town, it is also a global hub attracting travelers from all over the world.

Don’t expect any luxuries here (except for the swanky wellness retreat at Om Beach called Swaswara). Backpacking is the way to explore Gokarna…be simple,connect with the beautiful sea and indulge in some pretty delicious food!

Getting there

Nearest railway station: Gokarna

Nearest airport: Goa

By road: Gokarna is a three hour drive from Panjim. You can get regular buses from Madgaon, Panjim and Mapusa in Goa to Karwar. From Karwar you will have to change buses and board the one heading to Gokarna.

Where to stay?

Lots of shacks and small guest houses on Gokarna, Kudle and Om Beach. I personally love staying at Kudle. So here are some suggestions for shacks and guest houses:

Jasmine Cafe
Shangri-La Guest House
Gokarna International

Day 2:

Gokarna-Jog falls 

we woke up at 2 in the morning (most of the people didnt sleep and had amazing time in the night) .we got into our private bus we raeched Jog falls at 6 .it was very foggy in the morning we couldnt see anything .we waited for the fog to get clear ,after waiting for 30 mins i couldnt believe my eyes . there was a huge waterfall in front of my eyes plus so many small small waterfalls nearby.

Jog fall undoubtly the best waterfall of india .
Jog Falls on the Sharavathi river is situated in Shimoga district of Karnataka. Cascading from a height of 253 meters, the waterfall consists of four distinct cascades – known locally as Raja, Rani, Rover and Rocket. The four cascades merge to form the huge waterfall.

The waterfall is locally known as Geruoppe Falls, Gersoppa Falls and Jogada Gundi. The word ‘Jog’ is a Kannada word, which means falls. It is said that the world ‘Jog’ is derived from the word Javalu, which means water coming out forming wetlands.

The significance of the waterfall is that the water does not stream down the rocks in a tiered fashion. In contrast, the water thunders down the slope losing contact with the rocks, thus making Jog Falls the tallest un-tiered waterfall in the country. The beauty of the waterfalls is enhanced by the lush green surroundings, which provides a scenic backdrop to the falls.

Visitors can hike down to the base of the falls and can take a plunge in the water. There are several points from where you can view the beauty of the Jog falls. Watkins platform is one of the popular points to view the falls. One can also get scenic look of the falls from the rock outcrop near Bombay Bungalow. The area near the falls is also ideal fortrekking.

Other beautiful areas near the waterfall are the Swarna Nadi riverbank, the Sharavathi valley and the lush green forestaround the waterfalls.

The best time to visit Jog Falls is during the monsoon. It is the ideal time to see the waterfall. The water falls with great force that it creates a cloud of vapour.

Other places to visit near the falls are Dabbe falls, Linganamakki Dam, Tunga Anicut Dam, Thyvare Koppa Lion and Tiger reserve and Sharavati River.

WHERE TO STAY

There are plenty of accommodation options near Jog Falls in Shimoga. One can find many budget and mid-range hotels. It is advisable to book room in advance especially during the months of August to December. One can also opt to stay at state run tourist hotels.