India (Frommer's, 4th Edition) (195 page)

If, however, you’re not looking to cleanse your body and mind, but simply want to be near the gorgeous beach, take a look at
Om Beach Resort
(Jungle Lodges:
0802/559-7021
or -7024;
www.junglelodges.com
), which offers large, comfortable accommodations with all-modern amenities but tasteless finishes. Without the lavishness of SwaSwara or its body-tingling massage regimens, you’ll have no excuse not to spend all day on the beach, where, incidentally, you can probably shack up in a simple place for even fewer rupees. Operating under the same banner is the laid-back and rustic
Devbagh Beach Resort
(
0838/222-1603;
www.junglelodges.com
)
in Karwar, an hour or two (depending on road conditions) north of Gokarna, where guests stay in log cabins on stilts among groves of casuarina trees. Spend your days snorkeling, visiting outlying islands, beachcombing, or lazing in your hammock.

Bengaluru

Airlines
The airport number is
080/4058-1111.
See chapter 3 for details on more airlines, almost all of which service this busy hub.

Area Code
The area code for
Bangalore
is
080.

ATMs
Visit the shop-intensive vicinity of M.G. Road.

Bookstores
Strand Book Stall
is at S113-114 Manipal Centre, Dickenson Road (
080/2558-0000;
www.strandbookstall.com
).
Higginbothams
is at 68 M.G. Rd. (
080/2558-6574;
www.higginbothams.com
).
Sankar’s Book Stall
is at 15/2 Museum Rd. (
080/2558-6867
). The huge
Landmark
bookstore can be found at Forum Mall in Koramangala (
080/2206-7640;
www.landmarkonthenet.com
), far from downtown Bengaluru.
Select Bookshop
(off Brigade Rd.
080/2558-0770;
www.selectbookshop.net
) and
Blossom Bookstore
(Church St.
080/2532-0400;
www.blossombookhouse.com
) are excellent secondhand shops with extensive collections to browse through.

Car Rentals
Gullivers Tours & Travels
is at B2-SPL Habitat, no. 138, Gangadhara Chetty Rd. (
080/2558-0108
or -3213). Another reliable name is
Srushti Travels
(
98-4503-2213
).