Name: Gokarna
Rating: 4.5

Half Moon Beach, Gokarna Overview

Half Moon Beach is a small beach situated in Gokarna. It is separated from the Om Beach by a cliff from where tourists are bound to get an amazing view of the Arabian Sea. Numerous village huts in the classical Indian style can be spotted lined up by the beach giving it a rather traditional and homely touch altogether. The beach got its name from the striking resemblance that it exhibits with a half moon. Away from the civilization and into the arms of nature, this is the best place to spend time at while looking at the caves and gazing at the sky lit with stars.

Being at the beach is one of the most thrilling experiences as when you are bathing in the water of the Half Moon, all you can see ahead of you is the infinite ocean and behind is the lush and thick jungle making you feel as if you are the last living person left on the face of the earth. There are numerous exciting activities that the place offers including swimming, canoeing, paddle boats, paintball, camping, and cabins. However, there are no water sports available as such. Tourists can also unwind by going sunbathing in the afternoon and lying on hammocks in the night.

To add more to the list, the food of the shack restaurants is finger-licking good. Overseeing the entire coast of the Om Beach, the Half Moon Beach is definitely a getaway spot for all the travellers out there to travel away from the hustle and bustle of the city into nature's lap.

Trekking to Half Moon Beach

The hike to reach the half-moon beach begins from the Om Beach. One needs to first walk towards the southern end of the Om Beach up the narrow trail which leads all the way to the Dolphin café. Outside the café lies the location of the half moon beach signalling in its direction on a whiteboard. A few minutes into the hike, one is likely to discover a fork in the hiking trail. You need to take a right from here to reach the coast. By following the left trail, you will encounter the forest and thorny bushes. Along the coast, the hiking path is narrow. There are hills on the left side of the trail and deep blue sea on the right side of it. After the first hill, you will come to a fork in the trail again. The left trail needs to be taken since the other one has a steep slope. A five minutes' walk through the forest will lead you to a walk around the hill. This walk for the second time around the hill is going to take you around four to five minutes to reach the half-moon beach.

Things To Do at Half Moon Beach

The half-moon beach is a perfect weekend getaway to while away all the stress and worries of your busy life in a mixture of sand, sun, relaxation, and waves. You can try your hands in setting up the camp. The blue sea and the dark green hills are surely going to add to the beauty of the landscape thereby making it a photographer's as well as a nature lover's escapade. Since the beach does not remain crowded, you can do whatever you want to under the sky. You can play volleyball, cricket or football with your friends, swim in the water, read a book by the beach, get a sun-kissed tan and have a bonfire at night. You can also trek to all the beaches located nearby and try out adventure sports. Last but not the least, you can even sleep under the stars and have the perfect night.

Half Moon Beach Shacks

The beach also has some shacks serving tasty food. These restaurants also have generators which power up the place. Though the food here is delicious, it is also costly due to the food products being shipped here by motor boats. Beers too are available at these shacks but are priced at a rate which is 40 percent more than its actual cost.

Best Time To Visit Half Moon Beach

The ideal time to pay a visit to the Half Moon Beach is between October and March when the weather is pleasant and at its best. The climate is warm in the month of April and May and the coastal town receives heavy rainfall from June to September.

Tips For Visiting Half Moon Beach

1. Since the currents are powerful and there have been reported cases of drowning, it is advisable not to go swimming near the beach.
2. Do not go hiking during the monsoon season because the path can be slippery and very hard to locate as you go ahead.
3. Do not hike back from the Om Beach after the sun comes down as you can get lost or fall off the cliffs.
4. You might spot some langurs on the beach. Do not disturb them or try to feed them.

How To Reach Half Moon Beach

The half-moon beach is not well-connected by roads and hence is not accessible that way. To reach the beach, one can either hike all the way here or hire a motor boat from Om Beach. However, the real charm of the beach lies in trekking your way to it.