Beyond Goa and the Maldives: Why coastal Karnataka deserves a place on your travel bucket list - things to keep in mind

Goa and the Maldives may be ideal beach destinations on your travel bucket list, but there’s one place in India, a stretch of coastline that’s hiding in plain sight: coastal Karnataka.

Karnataka’s coastline is a patchwork of golden beaches, calm backwaters, charming fishing villages and historic port towns. From exhilarating water sports to lazy sunset walks and visits to seaside temples, the coastal strip is where culture meets tranquility along the Arabian Sea, says the Karnataka Tourism website.

Among the best places to slow down and relax in the busy world, it offers a peaceful escape from the chaos and crowds of popular tourist spots.

Content creator Shrunal Waigankar, whose travels have been about “discovering places that often don’t get the attention they deserve,” has spent a lot of time exploring Uttara Kannada.

“What I love most about coastal Karnataka is the variety it offers within relatively short distances – you can go from quiet beaches and scenic coastal roads to lush forests, waterfalls and small towns with their own distinct culture and food. I feel there is so much potential for travelers who want to explore off the beaten track and experience the place at a slower, more local pace,” Waigankar quoted Bajgankar as saying.

The report says that coastal Karnataka is like “a master class in slowing down, a love letter to a less preoccupied road and an opportunity to experience firsthand the complex ecosystem we live in and which supports all forms of life”.

The best part is that it still remains slightly undiscovered.

What to watch out for?

Priya Venkatesh, naturalist and executive director of The Naturalist School, has one suggestion. She told Harper Bazaar that those who want to explore and understand the coexistence of the delicate ecosystem can travel between October and February and hit the Honnavar-Kumta-Gokarana belt.

And what to watch out for? Start with the turtles. Olive Ridley turtles nest on suitable beaches along parts of India’s coastline, and if you happen to be God’s favorite child, you may be able to spot them, the report added.

But before you get there, be aware that artificial lighting, noise, vehicles and crowds can throw off the entire nesting process. So keep your distance, never touch turtles or hatchlings, and absolutely no flash photography.

Then there are the mangroves. “Mangroves are not just picturesque greenery,” Venkatesh said. Their tangled roots protect young fish and support coastal livelihoods. So no trampling on roots, rubbish and must stay on established roads, choose boat operators who follow designated routes and leave shells and plants where they are.

And finally, people. “Their relationship with the coast is not a tourist attraction, it’s a way of life,” Venkatesh said of the fishing communities. One must ask before photographing someone, respect work areas and equipment, avoid boats and landing sites, buy fish responsibly and, where possible, learn from those whose knowledge of the sea runs deep for generations.

Her one-line rule for the whole thing? “Not every beautiful thing needs to be touched, photographed or approached from close proximity.” Yes, even the beautiful ones. Especially the pretty ones.

And how to spend your days, you may ask? Start with a surf, go to SOL Cafe for a meal and end the day with a sunset over the Arabian Sea. Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie, a family on a mission or a professional loafer, you can make your itinerary work for you, the release added.

How to choose a property/resort that focuses on sustainability?

Venkatesh shared a checklist of five things to find out to understand whether a place/property is truly sustainable or not. Her five-point sniff test looks like this:

Look at water and energy: is consumption monitored and waste water managed responsibly?

Check out the waste story: Are single-use plastics cut, sorted and disposed of correctly?

Ask about local livelihoods: are locals employed, fairly paid and involved in shaping the experience, with food and services sourced from nearby?

Consider ecological sensitivity: has the property respected natural drainage, coastal vegetation and dunes?

And demand transparency: can it say what it really does, meet its limits and show measurable progress, instead of hiding behind vague claims like “eco-friendly” and “close to nature”?

The true measure of sustainability, he says, “is not how much nature has been brought into the resort, but how much the resort allows the nature around it to thrive.”