Kudle Beach - Gokarna, Karnataka, India

Kudle Beach - Gokarna, Karnataka, India

Just south of Goa, Gokarna is a quieter beach alternative. But you won't actually want to hang out on Gokarna Beach, which is covered with trash and wild dogs. Instead, make the 20-minute walk to Kudle Beach. The walk will take you through a landscape that looks like cooled lava, through palm and bamboo groves with large black-faced monkeys staring at you, and will finally end on a large beach where lazy cows stand and gaze out to sea. The beach has 4 or 5 beach shack restaurants and a few guest houses offering beach huts, and a handful of beach touts walk the sand, selling sarongs, beach blankets, jewelry and hand drums. It's a great alternative to Goa, but don't expect to find the amenities that come with Arambol/Anjuna/Baga/Palolem beaches. Beyond Kudle another 10 minutes is Om Beach, which we didn't visit, but have heard is also very nice.

We give Kudle Beach...3 Happy Travelers!

Haripriya Residence - Gokarna, Karnataka, India

Haripriya Residence - Gokarna, Karnataka, India

Many visitors to Gokarna opt to stay on Kudle or Om beach, but we think Gokarna's charm is that, despite its beautiful beaches, it's still a devout temple town that still actually feels like an Indian town. Staying in town puts you a short walk from the beach, but lets you experience the wave of pilgrims and Hindus visiting temples. In our opinion, there's no better place to stay than Haripriya Residence. Anand and Ani are a wonderful couple who greet you warmly when you arrive as if you're family. In the evenings, they'll sit with you in the living room and chat about parts of India and ask about your life. In the mornings, they'll offer you tea at their own table and, you'll feel right at home! The rooms are simple, but clean and regularly updated, and include small sit-outs.

We give Haripriya...5 Happy Travelers!

Woodlands Restaurant - Udupi, Karnataka, India

Woodlands Restaurant - Udupi, Karnataka, India

Banana Buns! Perfect Thalis! Creamy Lassis! The best dosas! Just do it! This place is always packed full, and you'll likely have to wait a few minutes for a table. The owner runs an efficient business and is adamant that you have a good experience and will offer menu suggestions and give you the best table he has. Over the course of 2 days, we ate their 3 times and it was always delicious.

We give Woodlands...5 Happy Travelers!

Mysore Palace Experience - Mysore, Karnataka, India

Mysore Palace Experience - Mysore, Karnataka, India
This is definitely the main reason you visit Mysore, and it doesn't disappoint. At least, it doesn't disappoint when you visit on a night when the palace is lit up with thousands of white lights. It's a great place to spend an evening, watching visitors and families and enjoying the beautifully lit up palace. We wouldn't really recommend the inside tour of the palace. There are no signs in English, you are hurried through like cattle, and the exhibits are mostly (fairly) recent painting depicting life long ago. The actual historic artifacts are poorly maintained and behind glass, far from where you'll be standing. If you do decide to do the tour, remember to check your camera at the gate to the entrance of the palace grounds. And, while the audio tour is free, it requires a deposit of either a photo ID or $40USD each. Plan ahead!

We give Mysore Palace...3 Happy Travelers!

Hotel Swadesh Heritage - Udupi, Karnataka, India

Hotel Swadesh Heritage - Udupi, Karnataka, India

We're all for a budget room, but this place was seriously lacking in character. It was dingy and dank and smelled musty. There's very little accommodation for foreigners in Udupi, so you may find yourself circling back to Swadesh. If this is the case, ask to see a variety of rooms before you commit, and consider upgrading to a nicer room in favor of comfort.

We give Hotel Swadesh...2 Happy Travelers!

Keshava Temple - outside Mysore, Karnataka, India

Keshava Temple - outside Mysore, Karnataka, India

Meh. It's old and interesting and alluringly clean and quiet but, if you're traveling in India for an extended amount of time, you'll see enough temples that it's not necessary to go out of your way (1.5 hours outside Mysore) to see them. And, if you're in India for a short while, it's unlikely you want to spend half a day getting to and from somewhere. The temple itself is beautiful so, if you find yourself going that direction, stop and check it out. Otherwise, spend your afternoon at Cafe Coffee Day instead, sucking down an iced "coffee."

We give Keshava Temple...2 Happy Backpackers.

Aslam, Rickshaw Driver/Tour Guide - Mysore, Karnataka, India

Aslam, Rickshaw Driver/Tour Guide - Mysore, Karnataka, India

Sweetest guy ever. Hire him to drive you around Mysore. Ask to meet his family (take treats!). Sit back and listen to this funny, genuine young man and leave Mysore feeling like you've made a friend. Call him! 96 86 506 548

We give Aslam...5 Happy Travelers!

Fortune JP Palace Hotel - Mysore, Karnataka, India

Fortune JP Palace Hotel - Mysore, Karnataka, India

JP Palace was a splurge for us when Tom was sick and we were both burnt out. It certainly didn't disappoint and we were incredibly comfortable the entire time. The restaurants on the premises are a little underwhelming, but the staff was always attentive and eager to find something that pleased us. While JP Palace in Mysore wouldn't stand out as particularly unique among luxury hotels, having a comfortable (and air-conditioned) place to retreat to from the madness of Mysore during Dusehra was a great choice. Minus 1 backpacker because the check-in staff wasn't very friendly and scolded us for booking our reservation on Agoda.com.

We give Fortune JP Palace...4 Happy Travelers!