Gokarna respect · Courtesy in Gokarna
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Courtesy in Gokarna
Courtesy in Gokarna
Gokarna is a pilgrimage town first and foremost, so it's best to keep this in mind - remain quiet and respectful of local traditions, ask permission (and remove your footwear) before entering any of the temples, and if you must consume alcohol here, do it on the premises of your guesthouse (if you're staying at one of the beaches), not in town.
Anyone carrying charas should be particularly careful. It is common to see Sadhus sitting a haze of ganja smoke, but don't assume that it's ok for you to do it to. Locals will report you to the police if they see you doing it or smell it about you and the police will treat you politely but firmly and won't accept baksheesh particularly during Shiva Ratri. Expect a term in jail with absolutely no sympathy from the consular office. Having said that, there seems to be an "agreement" with the police and the restaurants not to hassle the locals. Use caution at all times, of course.
There are several other temples near Gokarna. Murudeshwara temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is 45 mins to 1 hour drive from Gokarna.
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Gokarna Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.