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NIRVANA BEACH – Hidden Paradise |
Gokarna a small town located on Karnataka and South Goa boarder, famous for its beautiful beaches and landscapes. It is a town of four famous beaches, namely Kuddle Beach, Om Beach, Half moon Beach and Paradise Beach. One of the most famous beach “Om beach” is named so because of its Om like Shape. Gokarna is about 450 km from Bangalore and about 60 km from Karwar.
We were stuck on the Shimoga Highway
On Saturday morning when our eyes opened we come to know that our cab’s petrol pipe got leak on Shimoga highway, so we have to give halt to our journey until our driver do the arrangement for new pipe. But it was really very difficult to get new pipe early in the morning. As our driver was trying his luck for the pipe, most of the people were unaware what happen, because they were in deep sleep.
Water Canal 5 minutes down the Highway
Some of us went for the breakfast and tea in the nearby shop. As I am not fond of ‘Idli and Sambar’, so I had just taken tea while others had South India’s staple breakfast. After having breakfast we don’t have anything to do, so we were roaming around the Highway of Shimoga. While we were sitting on the divider of Highway, one of my friend find a canal which was just 5 minutes down the Highway. We all went to the canal and we got fresh there, infect except me all other had their bath in the canal. After some time our cab driver also come to that place with the cab. It was really beautiful place, perfect South Indian village. One side water is flowing and on the other side beautiful fields surrounded by Coconut trees.
At 9 or 9:30 am we again started our journey, after driving for half an hour we entered small town from where our driver got his petrol pipe. We also did our breakfast in the nearby restaurant. This time I had breakfast because I got the Dosa which is the one thing I like in South Indian breakfast. After that we started our Journey for the “Jog Falls”, we were already late due to that pipe leakage problem. According to our plan we were schedule to reach “Jog falls” early Saturday morning, but in actual we reach “Jog Falls” in the afternoon. We had to drive through Ghats route, so our cab speed was also slow.
Once we reach the “Jog Falls” it was worth coming there. Waterfall was really very beautiful and it was on the height of 800 feet. “Jog Falls” is one of the highest waterfalls of India and it has 5 falls but unfortunately only one fall was flowing with good amount of water while others were just the line of water. But when you see down from the top, you will realize how huge this waterfall is. People who were at the bottom of the fall, were just looking like the small piece of clothes. At first when you will see down you will not realize that people are there down. We did not went at the bottom of falls, as we need to come down 3000 stairs and again we need to climb that much stairs, it will take around 2 hours and we don’t had that much time. We had our lunch in the nearby restaurant and after half an hour near 2 pm in the afternoon we started our journey for the beach.
Indian Amazon River & Forest – view from Suicide Point
The drive up the winding path that leads to Gokarna is scenic, with the Rocky Mountains and Western Ghats on one side and the Arabian Sea on the other. While driving through Ghats couple of times we had closed escapes and on the way we had seen couple of Vehicles which meet accident. Driving through Ghats is full of risk but the beauty of nature you will get to see in ghats routes, one will not get in any other place. Big mountains covered with forest on the one side of road and on the other side deep cliffs are there. On the way to Gokarna we stop our cab in a place called “Suicide Point”. This is a small place build up with stones and when you see down from that place, you will come across the beauty of nature. A river is flowing down in the forest, that river and forest looks like Amazon River and forest. I don’t know how people are giving their lives in this place, such a beautiful place and you will recall “Anaconda” movie when you will see this river and forest. There is also a temple of Hanuman near to that place. After 20 minutes we ventured for Gokarna.
It was evening when we reach the Gokarna. There are four famous beaches in Gokarna and we went to “Om” beach. After parking our cab we need to climb down and it was unexplainable feeling when I see the Sea from the top. Now next thing to do is to find accommodation. As it was off season and we were hoping that we will easily get the shacks, so we had not done any booking. But on the contrary we had not get any resort on the beach due to off season. We had visited all the resorts of Om beach but we had not got any accommodation. It is not because they don’t have vacant huts, but they were not allowed to run resorts in monsoon season. Due to this we all become upset and our mood got spoil. After coming so far, we are not getting any accommodation on beach and we don’t want to stay in any resort or guest house far away from the beach.
Om Beach- not so good
When we all lost hope, one ray of hope come towards us, when a local person who is running his boat for the tourists asked us that he know one beech called “Nirvana Beach”, there we will get the shacks . He said that he will take us there on his boat and he has given guarantee that you will get the accommodation there. But all were not comfortable with this, as we had never heard the name of this “Nirvana Beach” before. As beach was about to come under the darkness of night, we have to decide what to do. Now we had two options either we go to other beaches or we should believe what that boat person was saying. We also asked couple of persons about the Nirvana Beach, in order to confirm whether this type of beach is there or not. But everyone says they don’t know about it and surprisingly that beach is just half an hour boat ride from “Om” beach. Finally we decided that we will go with boat person and we fix the rate for boat ride Rs.1500 for 10 persons.
The voyage to Nirvana Beach was more enjoyable and memorable for us than the one we had in Palolem Beach. The waves were so strong that we were not sure whether we will reach there in the same numbers as we are now. The sky was about to be dark and we crossed two mountains before reaching Nirvana Beach. First time I had seen a Light House, far on the top of mountain one light was blinking. As soon as we reach the beach, dusk was already gone and darkness of night spread all over the sea and beach. At first sight we had not seen anything except the group of 3-4 dogs, who were barking at us. It look likes that we have conquered there kingdom and they want to send us back. But when we see the light on the edge of the beach, we were relaxed that at least something is there. As soon as we got down from the boat, one person came to escort us and he told us that these dogs are not stray dogs they are pets of resort. So in actual these dogs were welcoming us in their area.
Welcoming Boat of Nirvana Nature Resort
When we reach the resort, it was fully deserted and only 4-5 resort staff was there, no other guests. When we came to know that we will get all the things food, beer and cigarettes, we were really happy because at first sight we were not hoping all these things. We booked 5 shacks for 10 of us. Than we had nice chilled beer along with the Pokada’s in the dining area of the Nirvana Resort. On the edge of resort’s gate there is a couple of tree house type shacks or you can call them “Watch House” and we all settled down in watch house. In front of us there is vast sea and open sky nothing else. Rest of the night we drink beer there and we had also ordered the dinner but unfortunately I had not even seen what is there in dinner. As after drinking beers, I can only see one thing, which is bed and can only think of about sleeping.
Nirvana Resorts during Dusk
When I wake up early in the morning I came to know where I slept in the night. A dog starts leaking my face near 5:30 am, than I come to know that I had occupied his bed and he want to sleep. Now he wants me to get up and vacant his bed, he had already sacrificed his night for me by not sleeping on the bed, as a gesture of dog hospitality. As soon as I wake up, first thing I saw was vast opened sea in front of my eyes, which is very rare scene and you, will rarely get this time of wakeup call and scene in your entire life. Due to last night hangover I wanted to sleep more so I climb up the wooden shack where we were sitting last night. When I climb up I come to know that I am not alone who did not sleep in shack. Venky slept there in night, what a lucky fellow sleeping under open sky and in front of Arabian Sea. Later on we realized that we had not used our shacks even once in the night, if we know that we will be sleeping like refuges, we will never book the shack for two of us. I also joined him and slept for a while, but not able to sleep as sound of water waves constantly calling me. Only few people were there on the beach in the morning but most of the resort’s dogs were there on the beach.
Beautiful & Peaceful Nirvana Nature Resort
Now in the morning I had seen the resort properly. It was such a good place to spend couple of days here on this beach and resort, far away from the noise of city. After all wake up, we went into the sea. Nobody was there on the beach except our group. If you look at the right side of the beach you will see big Green Mountain may be half a kilometer far from resort and on the other side you will see endless beach. First time I had seen such a large beach whose end is not visible in spite of walking a kilometer from the resort. This time sea was very violent and waves were very high and strong. If you enter in water at the height of your vest, waves will cover your whole body and take you away with the water. Number of times we automatically come on the sore of beach due to the waves. They were hitting very hard on our body and sometimes waves were so high that I got lost in waves number of times. This is first time I realized how difficult it is to survive in water, I begin to feel breathless when my body was under water only for few seconds. You can think what will be the situation of the people who were on the Titanic in the middle of the deep sea.
Lonely Nirvana Beach, its like an Virgin Island
After having breakfast and lunch we just relaxed for couple of hours and then went to play volleyball 4 pm in the evening when sun came down. We played volleyball for about an hour then we again went into the water. This time dogs of resort also joined us in the water. It was really funny to see how dogs were struggling in the high waves. Whole evening we were in the water and as darkness was about to spread its wings, we come out of water and begin to pack up, for our journey back to Bangalore.
Beach Volleyball on Nirvana
We started our journey near 8 pm on Sunday, after giving thanks to all the staff of resort. They were really very humble and hospitable, not like the staff of Palolem beach. Whatever we were ordering, we were getting within minutes. We like the resort and beach so much that we promised them of coming back. At last all settled in the cab and our boring and unwanted journey to Bangalore started. All were very tired, that nobody has eaten dinner that night. All were just sleeping in the cab. This time we had taken different route of Hubli highway, because we want to avoid Ghats journey in night. Early in the morning we reached “Namma Bengaluru”.
welcome aboard Girdhar… it was a good beginning with a beautiful post with equally good photos
keep sharing
Thanks :-)
Girdhar, nice description. This beach and resort look a real find. Can u please provide the contact details and tariff of the resort?
Hii Venkatt!
I will provide you the contact detail very soon and tariff is very low. When we stayed it was Rs. 400/night for a Shack. Food and beverages are also very cheap.
Hi Venkatt, I am Kamal GAUR, owner of Nirvana Nature, our tel no is.7406837496
Thanks
Welcome in the ghumakkari Girdhar, very good and detailed description, particularly the ‘welcome guards of Narvana resort’ and their gesture of hospitality of being secrifying night for the beering guests. Wonderful !
Nice description with outstanding pics.
In hope of next ghumakkari with your eagle eyes.
Thanks Tridev!
Resort Pets were really very nice host and I had learned a lesson of hospitality from that dog.
Hi Girdhar,
Very nice description good photos. But beer Like to know which brand it is. As my knowledge it is only mild drink.
Thanks
Thanks Surinder !
It was Kingfisher – Strong.
Hello Girdhar and a warm welcome to ghumakkar. Visited Gokarna this year in March and enjoyed the beauty of Om beach and gokarna beach and bathe in both the beaches to the fullest. Your travel tale refreshed the memories.
Thanks.
Hi Mukesh !
Thanks
I visited Gokarna this May but unfortunately had not got chance of bathing in Om beach but for sure Gokarna is a beautiful place of beaches.
my beautiful Bharat
thank you for sharing your lovely experience and pics with us
the picture of suicide point ( maybe there some other local name for the beautiful place) is lovely.
please we( bhartiyas) should not mention our beautiful places as India’s so and so(Indian Amazon …)
…..it should always be our beautiful place….like ‘Bhartiya Jungle around jog falls’
PROUD TO BE A BHARTIYA
Hi Sarfraz
Thanks for your suggestion.
I am not naming that place Indian Amazon or something else. Due to dense forest and beautiful curves which river has formed, it remind me of great Amazon forest. So I called it Indian Amazon.
May be there will be some other name for the place called suicide point but I heard about that place as a Suicide Point. But I don’t think so this place is actually a suicide point, no body can give his or her life in such a beautiful place.
Dear Girdhar,
What a pleasant surprise to read such a beautifully described article about Nirvana Nature, I was just surfing Google and found your detailed reportage of your journey.
In fact, Nirvana Nature is my labor of love since last 8 months, a new place started in jan 2012.
Our tele no is 07406837496, you could reach here by boat from Om beach of Gokarna, and with our boat the journey is just 15 minutes.
When you arrived here, I was in Goa, because I have 2 more places like this on Anjuna beach in Goa in flea market, their also you sleep on these tree towers with all comfort on top, right in front of sea. We value our guests and their happiness and that is our reward.
I am also from Rajasthan and Bangalore, after living in Switzerland last 20 years, I started places on beach for my own happiness.
These 8 dogs of mine are called, Tan, Man, Dhan, Tantri, Om, Defence, Fritz and Monique..
2 of them are rottweiler, one is wymar doberman, one is lab, 3 are local breed from rajasthan, one is a local breed from Goa.
My email is [email protected] and you can watch the the video of place on you tube by searching in google typing Nirvana Nature near Gokarna.
With this small write-up I invite you all t Nirvana Nature at Nirvana beach near Gokarna via Kumta Town in Karnataka. you could reach here from Dabolim airport by taxi in 3 and half hour, cars and bike reaches right till our place. Kumta has trains from all major cities, like delhi Bombay and buses from Bangalore , Goa and Kerala.
When you arrived that time sea is often rough otherwise Nirvana sea is very calm between oct till april, with blue water and white sand.
We provide camping as well, restaurant serves all kind of food.
Thanks
Kamal
Hi Kamal !
Nirvana Nature resort is really a very beautiful place and your staff is very humble and hospitable. The kind of service they had given to us was amazing, whatever we were asking they were providing.
I came to know from your staff that you are also from Rajasthan and you have other 2 resorts on Anjuna.
Your pets are very nice.
Hopefully next time when we will come to Nirvana Nature you will be there.
Welcome aboard Girdhar. Just like your journey, the post also looks rushed :-) and as you write more, I am sure it would get better and better. The photos have come out well and I guess there is no greater fun to be in water than being with friends and pets.
This story reminds me of a story by a fellow Ghumakkar, Srijan, of a beach in Mumbai viz. Kashid.
http://www.ghumakkar.com/2008/05/22/kashid-a-beach-to-yourself/
Leaving a link for fellow Ghumakkars to read and comment.
Thanks Nandan.
It was nice to be in water and yes you are right, as I just start writing from past 6 months so I am bit a amateur writer. Hopefully it will improve with the experience.
Interesting read. Suicide photo is really looking like Amazon forests. Keep writing.
Thanks Deependra !
Suicide point is really awesome, I don’t know why it got this name.
@kamal gaur i’m planning on a trip to gokarna would you plase provide me with the details of ur place
my email id :[email protected]
Chandan, you got the reply, via email.
This is the season of visiting Nirvana Nature, already lots of people are coming, place is also marked on Google map, to find it Pl. Type Nirvana Nature, Kumta in Google map. My mobile no is (0) 7406837496 of Kumta and my Goa no is 09970444637. Either mobile will work at a time. My Email is [email protected] then face book Id is Tantra Kamal.
Kamal Gaur
Owner of Nirvana Nature