A small town tucked in North Karnataka, the history of Gokarna goes back to the times of Ravana and Shiva. It is believed that Ravana performed Tapas on Mount Kailash to receive blessings from Lord Shiva. Ravana was looking for a blessing in the form of Atmalinga. Impressed by the devotion, Shiva granted the Atmalinga but put forth restrictions to avoid any misuse and took help of Lord Ganesha in the process. In the current day, the linga is established in Mahabaleshwara temple, which is now a Gokarna attraction.

Initially, Gokarna was visited for its religious importance. The story of the legends, the beautiful temples of Gokarna are all held great in the eyes of the devotees. But off late, Gokarna has turned into a beautiful holiday destination.

The best time to visit the destination is from December to March.