The tourist season runs from October to April, when the Arabian Sea is calm, the beaches are safe to swim, and the shack cafes and guesthouses on the beach are open. November to February is the most comfortable period — temperatures hover around 28°C, the humidity is lower, and the sea is clear. March and April get progressively hotter.
The monsoon (June to September) transforms Gokarna. The sea becomes rough and dangerous, all the beach shacks close, and most of the foreign visitors leave. The town reverts to its identity as a pilgrimage centre. If you are not bothered by rain and heat, the off-season has its own appeal — prices drop, the town is quieter, and the landscape turns startlingly green.
Maha Shivaratri (February or March, date varies with the lunar calendar) is the most important festival in Gokarna. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims descend on the town over three days. Accommodation is impossible to find unless booked far in advance — or you join the pilgrims sleeping on the beach. If you want to witness the full intensity of the Gokarna pilgrimage, this is the time to come. If you want a beach holiday, avoid it.
The weeks around Holi (March) and Diwali (October or November) also see increased activity at the temples.