Okha: Gujarat's lost Kanyakumari

Being At Okha 

Nestled between giant touristy neighbors such as Bet-Dwarka and Dwarka, Okha is one of the most visited and yet most often overlooked gem. The only reason for majority of the travellers to remember the town is the terminal station of northern-saurashtra broad-gauge line which by all means is unimpressive but clean nonetheless. 

What to do/visit in Okha?

In all probability, you don’t have this question bugging you, after all, this place is only meant to be a pit-stop on your journey towards Bet-Dwarka. Right? Well you are committing a cardinal sin without being aware of it. Just take a break and immerse yourself in Okha. You won’t be disappointed. Let’s start on what one should explore.

     The Rocky Beach at Khodiyar Mataji Temple :- 

As you disembark from the railway station, hit the highway till its fruition, pass by a by-lane or two and search for European guest house from which the temple is a mere 5 mins walk. Now you have reached and before you give me a shout-out for bringing you to the not-so-picture-worthy temple, just walk a few more steps and look beyond. This is what we came here for. The cleanest un-beach which you can ever hope for!!!

Here is your Welcoming Squad

There is no sand bed but rather a rocky outcrop sparingly interspersed with dead corals. Let all your worries drop dead and just walk into the ocean. After all, that is the only sane thing to do at the moment. The beach descends gradually , the water is absolutely transparent, so just pick up a rock or two and fling it far in the turquoise waters. If you are lucky, there might be a ship or two to provide a backdrop for your long awaited Instagram pic. One just can’t crave for more

     Okha Jetty :-

Throngs of tourists, massive amounts of ferry activity, calls for embarking and a multitude of voices are floating in the atmosphere. Is there cacophony? Yes, but this is sheer melody as illustrated in the eagerness of faces of devotees seeking a blessing from the divine at Bet-Dwarka island, which looms at the horizon.

Brace yourself for one of the grandest welcomes you can ever witness with a horde of seagulls hovering above you demanding their share of the prasadam. Expected? No, Wanted? Yes!! So what are you waiting for, grab a bag of murmure(puffed rice) and be ready to help our avian friends satiate their hunger

Where to Eat?

There are few budget restaurants , no restaurant extraordinaire,  but in order to satiate your tummy, Raj Parathawala is the best amongst the lot, conveniently located on the Okha Main Bazaar road.

So....

As it is always said, one should always focus on experience and not on things, Okha, the Western India's very own Kanyakumari where the waters of Arabian Sea and Gulf of Kutch amalgamate, stands true to this testament. The rest is best left unsaid.

!Okha Tip! 

The shards at the rocky beach are sharp. Be sure to carry floaters, crocs to avoid injuries. One should also be careful while navigating oneself from the temple to the seashore as walking on rocks overboard seems to be a bit trickier than walking on them underwater. 

Reaching Okha

The best method of reaching Okha is by train which is well connected with the rest of the country. The train schedule can be found at Okha Train Time Table. If you are planning your onward journey towards Kutch then Okha presents with an option of ferry ride towards Mandvi, which is a must-visit destination on its own, 43 kms away by sea and 442 kms by road. More details about the superfast ferry service can be found at Okha Mandvi Ferry. One can also avail various tour options available at Dwarka (30 kms by road).