'Om sweet Om

Hit The Road

 What if we told you there's another place in the sun that's just as good (better, perhaps) and isn't anywhere near as crowded?

 Gokarna, four hours down the road from Goa, has stunning beaches that are mostly deserted and some rather rustic accommodation.

 Om beach is legendary among hardcore beach bummers, but there are more stretches of sand and coves (Half Moon and Paradise, to name two) to delight in.

 There are decent hotels in the town, but the way to do it is to rent a beach shack and live an amphibian life. Beer and seafood are available on most beaches.

 Incidentally, Gokarna is also considered to be the Kashi of the south and has long been an important pilgrimage centre.

 Gokarna is 750 km from Mumbai, all the way down the fantastic NH 17. Head into Goa and carry on to Gokarna via Karwar and Ankola. From Bangalore, it's NH 48 to Mangalore and thence on to Gokarna. If you'd rather stay in town than on the beach, there's Gokarna International (Ph: 088386-256622) and KSTDC Samudra (Ph: 088386-256236), both at Rs 300 onwards.

 Don