Just a few km off the National Highway 17, after a place called Honnavar, is a beautiful tourist centre known as Gokarna. It has a famous beach called the 'OM' beach. This beach gets its name from its shape which makes an 'OM' like peripheral. With its narrow streets, traditional houses and temples, the nondescript town of Gokarna has become the favourite haunt of Hindu pilgrims, Sanskrit scholars and beach buffs. Locals believe that Gokarna derives its name from a legend in which Lord Shiva emerged from the ear of a cow. The Gokarna beach forms the coast of the town while the other four beaches lie towards the south of Gokarna. Kudle and Om are about 6 km from Gokarna town along a muddy hill; they are accessible by rickshaw or foot. Half moon and Paradise are beyond Om beach and are accessible only by foot or boat.