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Voykit pocket guide · India
Ankola
Ankola is a half-day stop on the Konkan coast: see the Lakshminarayana Mahamaya Temple, eat ishaad mangoes in season, then move on to Gokarna or Karwar.
Ankola is a small temple town in Uttara Kannada, Karnataka, on National Highway 17 between Goa and Udupi. It is known for the Lakshminarayana Mahamaya Temple, local mangoes (ishaad) and nearby beaches like Belikeri. Most travellers use it as a short stop between Gokarna and Karwar, or as a base to explore the surrounding coast.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (heavy monsoon)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,500–2,500 excl. bed · Mid ₹3,000–5,000 excl. bed · High ₹6,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 100 · Fire and ambulance 101 · All emergencies 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
Get in
By air
- GOI · Dabolim Airport (Goa)
- About 140 km (87 mi) north; bus or taxi via NH 66, about 3 hAbout 87 mi (140 km) north; bus or taxi via NH 66, about 3 h
- IXE · Mangalore International Airport
- About 150 km (93 mi) south; bus or train, about 3 hAbout 93 mi (150 km) south; bus or train, about 3 h
Typical fares
- Bus Ankola → Gokarna
- about ₹30–50, 30 min (check)
- Taxi Ankola → Belikeri Beach
- about ₹200–300, 10 min (check)
- Auto-rickshaw town centre → bus stand
- ₹50–100 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Ankola is walkable. For beaches and nearby villages, hire an auto-rickshaw or taxi from the bus stand. Buses run along NH 66 to Gokarna, Karwar and Kumta.
See and do
Known for
- Lakshminarayana Mahamaya Temple
- Ishaad mangoes
- Belikeri Beach
- Konkan railway station
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Gokarna | Bus or taxi south on NH 66, about 30 min | 30–45 min |
| Karwar | Bus or taxi north on NH 66, about 45 min | 45 min–1 h |
| Murdeshwar | Bus or taxi south on NH 66, about 1 h | 1–1.5 h |
| Dandeli | Taxi or bus via Yellapur, about 2 h | 2–2.5 h |
Sleep
- Town centre
- Near the bus stand and temple; basic lodges and guesthouses.
- Belikeri Beach area
- A few resorts and homestays, quieter than town.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much? | ಎಷ್ಟು?eshtu |
| Where is the bus stand? | ಬಸ್ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣ ಎಲ್ಲಿದೆ?bas nildana ellide |
| I want to go to… | ನಾನು … ಗೆ ಹೋಗಬೇಕುnaanu … ge hogabeku |
| Thank you | ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳುdhanyavādagaḷu |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Monsoon (June–September) brings heavy rain and rough seas; many beach shacks close.
- ATMs are limited; carry enough cash for meals and transport.
- Ishaad mango season is April–June; outside that, the fruit is not available.
Ankola is a safe small town. Standard precautions apply: avoid isolated beaches after dark, keep valuables out of sight, and watch for traffic on NH 66.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Ankola yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Lakshminarayana Mahamaya Temple
- Ishaad mangoes
- Belikeri Beach
- Konkan railway station
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Ankola, revision 4236647 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4236647
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/ankola). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.