Full moon day Beach trek from Gokarna to Kumta

Once upon a time on Earth, there was water and only water/sea/ocean.Every living thing originated there and we rightly call "Sea Mother". Thanks to volcanic and tectonics,  later we got some land and some new mountains too. Since human inception climbing mountains is a sense of individual achievement for the time spent away from civilization close to the nature, the  hurdles crossed and the persistence involved. My love for sea goes here (Tamil).For the same reason  Sea and mountains are two different, never boring but obsessive locations to hang out.And What if we get to do it together with a fun filled group?

Briefly, most mountains are generally formed from settled volcano magma or two earth crust plates on land colliding each other and one rising vertically over the other.It also may be a reason that we dont find muuch  peaks or ranges  along sea sides.As like, there are exceptions. Some part of faulted Deccan plateau (Western Ghats) around areas of Gokarna are among them. Had a chance to trek along the beach and mountains from Gokarna to Kumta on 15th and 16th of March 2014  with Chennai Trekking club.(CTC)

Organised by Balaji  and Vinodh, 33 people including 10 year old  little girl Sanskriti, started from Bangalore in a privately booked bus  from Majestic Railway Junction where a group from Chennai joined us. Had a  gala dinner in a hotel at Rajaji nagar and it was close to midnight.  Cut cakes on eve of the CTC's  6th birthday, the journey towards Gokarna commenced.

Close to 500kms travel north west of Bangalore, it was a long but pretty comfortable travel. Luckily, 22 kms ahead of Sirisi, the bus suffered a flat tyre in the morning which paved us to see one of beautiful sun rise from a village among the green paddy fields. It was foggy cold to walk around and worth spending time in such a place.

 We had our breakfast at Sirsi and reached Gokarna around noon.

The geography of the area is that from Gokarna down atleast till Honnovar there are mountains alternating sea shores, some of them which are commercial beach and  remaining are isolated shore stretch.

We started from the Kudle beach after having some loaves of bread and rusks as lunch.Hiked and crossed to the OM beach. Then similar hike and descend to half moon and paradise beach. Paradise beach had a rocky terrain with boulders. It was scorching hot and we had random dips in the beach.   It was almost 4.30 PM. It was spectacular from the hike giving a elevated bird view  of the ocean.

With one more ~80m hike and descent we reached a fishermen village, had lot ofs ice creams which quenched our thirsts, collected the preordered fish food for dinner and proceeded to the ferry area. The full moon was rising with sunset on the other side.

We got a ferry and crossed the backwaters and boarded our bus that was waiting to take us to the nirvana beach stretch. It was dark and we crossed the calm village on our way to campsite on the beach.

Made tents which could hold a few. People there were kind enough to provide fresh water and some place for cooking.  Picked firewood and managed to make soup and boiled rice.

Had a perfect full moon light dinner. Campfire and then sleep.

Probably it was my wish to sleep on an open beach from the first day I have ever been to sea.It came true. Lied down under the stars and  lost in them. An experience that cannot be described in words. Could not help waking up in the middle of the night to see where the full moon is.

Day 2. It was warm in the night but towards dawn it became cold.  We planned for a tea but made payasam and Poha for breakfast and left the campsite.

 It was ~8km isolated sea shore walk till we reached one more mountain in the noon.

 Hot sun ofcourse, but the sea breeze and the birds flying around here along with us was soothing.

A little hike and descent we reached a small, isolated beach connected to a private farm near to  Kumta.  Cooked rice for lunch, rested sometime under the coconut trees, had hours long beach dip, celebrated holi on the shores and finally had a fresh water bath in the farm house. The person there was kind enough to provide water and offered some sea food to taste.

It was almost sunset we started walking after a little hike towards Kumta along the shore viewing  a colorful sunset.  Boarded our bus and had dinner in a restaurant at Kumta and started towards Bangalore.

Pulling legs, making fun etc, it was a lively journey  all along.  Lots of friends and definitely a memorable trip.  I believe we all live and love to create memories to cherish for ever. One of best spent weekends with nature. Thanks to the organizers and volunteers who made the trip wonderful.

Rest of the pics from my camera can be found here