Gokarna

Karnataka > Uttara Kannada > Gokarna

Gokarna situated in coastal Karnataka is 453 kms. from Bangalore and about 55 kms. from the district head quarters Karwar, is described as a Shaiva Centre, on par with Kashi and Rameshwar and the Mahabaleshwara Temple here has indications of atleast being originally built during 11-12th Century and the Portuguese destroyed it during the 18th century and it was renovated then. There is a famous Ganapathi Temple and the deity here is two-armed, standing, and is atleast 1500 years' old. Tamragauri is another shrine here. The Bhadrakali and Venkataramana temples, Jatayuteertha, Kotiteertha etc., are other holy places here. Gokarna has a long beach on the west and the Western Ghat ranges closeby in the east and is in a wonderful natural settings. Atmalinga brought by Ravana got struck here and his efforts to extricate it resulted in his throwing the coverings of the Linga to Dhareshwar, Gunavanteshwara, Murdeshwar and Shejjeshwar Temples (the last place is near Karwar), according to tradition. All these places are in Uttara Kannada district.