7 Beach Destinations in India

Beaches are one place favorite to people of all ages. One can see kids happily building sandcastles, boys playing football, families spending quality time with each other and some briskly walking or jogging to keep themselves fit. The orangey evening sky at the back ground and the sun setting on the horizon is a beautiful sight to watch.

India with more than 7500 kms of coastline, is blessed with so many beautiful destination for a Beach-cation. Starting from Gujarat in West to Mumbai in Maharashtra to the konkan region of Goa to the backwaters of Kerala to the southernmost tip of Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu to Odisha and finally till the Bengal region in East. Not to forget the beautiful islands of Andamans and Lakshadweep, which can easily compete with the renowned beaches of Maldives and Mauritius.

Here is a list of 7 beach destinations in India suitable for a much needed and a refreshing break from your daily life. Travelling solo or with family or as couples, there is something for everyone.

1. GOA

ANJUNA BEACH

Goa tops the list as one of the best beach destinations in India. Situated at around 600 kms from the nearby metro city of Mumbai, Goa is well connected to all parts of India through rail and air. Goa, once a Portuguese territory, is well known for its trendy resorts and now is a popular party hub too. It is advised to explore this port town by renting a bike and visiting the beaches at your own pace. There are many scenic beaches with water sports activities too like parasailing and jetski to satisfy the adventure seekers.

Best time to visit – November to February

Important Spots – Calangute Beach, Anjuna Beach and Aguada Fort

Nearby places – Dudhsagar Falls ( 30 kms)

2. PURI (ODISHA)

PURI BEACH

Puri in Osidha is famous for the Puri Jagannath Temple and sees lot of pilgrimages every year. But a visit to Puri is almost incomplete without a visit to its beautiful beaches. Located at about 65 Kms from Bhubaneshwar, there is good rail and road connectivity and it has gained tremendous popularity in the last few years. It is a beautiful mix of spiritual, cultural and leisure that makes Puri beach a unique one to visit. If you are lucky, you may even find Padma Shri Sudarsan Pattanaik (renowned sand artist), making sand sculptures in the beach. One can also enjoy surfing in this beach.

Best time to visit – October to February

Important Spots – Puri Jagannath Temple, Chilika Lake and Atharnala bridge

Nearby Places – Chilika Lake (38 kms)

3. GOKARNA (KARNATAKA)

OM BEACH

Situated at around 500 kms from Bangalore and 160 Kms from Goa, Gokarna is a great alternate to Goa. There are many beaches in Gokarna and one can use ferries to go between them and spend some leisure time. Although it is less crowded when compared to Goa, its beaches are beautiful and pristine. Some enjoy trekking and some enjoy the water sports here like Scuba Diving, Parasailing, Jet ski and Banana Boat ride. It has gained popularity for its surfing activities recently. Practicing Yoga by the beach is also a great activity here.

Best time to visit – October to March

Important Spots – Om Beach, Kudle Beach and Mahabaleshwar Temple

Nearby Places – Anshi National Park (100 kms)

4. MAHABALIPURAM (TAMIL NADU)

WIDE BEACH

Mahabalipuram, an UNESCO world heritage site is a place that offers a partnership of beautiful beaches with some astonishing sculpture works, credited to Pallava dynasty which ruled the place in 4-9 AD. Located at around 60 Kms from Chennai the East Coast Road takes you straight to Mahabalipuram. The 8th century shore temple and the monolithic rock cut monuments are the favourite spots for the tourist. It has got so many upbeat resorts, so accommodation will never be a problem. There are catamaran rides to visit some underwater temples for brave hearted people. The Mahabalipuram Dance Festival which is a beautiful display of the various dance forms from India is an event that attracts tourists during December and January.

Best time to visit – November to February

Important Spots – Shore Temple, Pancha Rathas, Wide Beach

Nearby Places – Pondicherry (95 kms)

5. NAGAON (DIU)

NAGAO BEACH FROM DIU FORT

Located at a distance of 370 kms from Ahmedabad, it is a perfect getaway from its bustling city life. Nagaon beach is known for its white sand, low depth water level and water sports. Diu where the beach is located, has lot of cultural heritage attached to it as a mix of Indian, Portuguese, and English community ruling it across different timeline. Beach is considered to be highly safe for swimming due to its low water level with minimal waves. Activities like Banana Boat ride, Hot Air Balloon, Dolphin Watching and Parasailing can be enjoyed here. There are plenty of resorts some even on the beach to make your stay enjoyable.

Best time to visit – October to February

Important Spots – Diu Fort, Naida Caves and St. Paul’s Church

Nearby Places – Somnath (85 kms)

6. KOVALAM (KERALA)

KOVALAM BEACH

God’s Own Country Kerala is a paradise of beautiful beaches. Kovalam Beach stands out as one among them. Situated at just around 20 kms from Trivandrum, capital city of Kerala, Kovalam is indeed a stretch of three beaches namely Lighthouse, Hawah and Samudra. Due to its high waves, it is a familiar spot for surfers. But still there are many parts that are safe for non swimmers and kids too. Beach also has an iconic view of a Lighthouse over a cliff. Apart from beaches, Kovalam is famous for Ayurvedic massages too.

Best time to visit – November to February

Important Spots – Vizhinjam lighthouse, Napier Museum and Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Nearby Places – Kanyakumari (80 kms)

7. HAVELOCK ISLANDS (ANDAMAN)

RADHA NAGAR BEACH

Radha Nagar beach in Havelock Island is a paradise. Vast land of fine white sand surrounded by green trees on one side with gentle waves mildly touching your feet on another side. It is pretty difficult to explain about the beauty of the place in words. It has been rated as ‘Best Beach in Asia’ and ‘7th best beach in World’ by the reputable ‘Times Magazine’. Because of the poor internet connectivity you are literally cut from the world and can enjoy the beauty to the fullest. The marine like is beautiful and one can enjoy exploring it with a scuba diving or snorkeling activity.

Best Time to visit – November to February

Important Spots – Radha Nagar Beach, Elephant Beach and Kala Pathar Beach

Nearby Places – Neil Islands (40 kms)

Sea Food is a big part of a beach vacation. If you are a sea food lover it is an absolute must to try it in the local cuisine and offer your taste buds some happiness too. Well, why should the eyes have all the fun !!

May it be for the white sandy beaches, or to be secluded from the crowd, or just being so close to nature, a beach vacation is always on one’s bucket list!