Top 5 beautiful beaches in India

India has a coastline on three sides, plus island groups in two seas. That means a huge choice of beaches. Some are full of music and water sports. Others are calm places where you hear only the waves. Here are five beautiful beaches in India, each with a different feel.

We first wrote this list in 2015. We have now checked each beach again. We corrected a few facts, updated place names that have changed, and added simple tips on how to reach each one and how to stay safe in the water.

Beautiful Beaches in India: Our Top 5

1. Baga Beach, Goa

Baga is a seaside town in North Goa. Its beach sits at the northern end of a long stretch of sand. That stretch starts at Sinquerim and runs through Candolim and Calangute before it reaches Baga. The beach takes its name from Baga Creek, a small stream that flows into the Arabian Sea at its northern tip.

Thousands of tourists visit it every year. This is the place for people who want fun and noise. The sand is lined with shacks, which are simple beach cafes, and fishing boats. Baga and nearby Calangute offer jet skis, parasailing and banana boat rides. At high tide the beach becomes quite narrow, so plan your sunbathing for low tide.

Goa’s busy season is winter, when many foreign visitors arrive. Indian tourists often visit in summer and the monsoon. To learn more about the state, read our guide to Goa’s history, tourism and geography.

2. Gokarna Beach, Karnataka

Gokarna is an old temple town in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. Its name means “cow’s ear” in Sanskrit. The town is famous for the Mahabaleshwar Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Gokarna is even mentioned in the Mahabharata and in the works of the poet Kalidasa.

A local legend explains why the town is holy. The demon king Ravana was carrying a sacred Shiva lingam to Lanka. He was told never to put it down. Lord Ganesha, dressed as a cowherd boy, placed it on the ground at Gokarna, and it stayed there for ever.

Gokarna is not one beach but a group of them. The main beach is in the town. Kudle Beach faces west. Om Beach, Half Moon Beach and Paradise Beach face south. Many visitors walk from one beach to the next along the coast. This is called beach trekking, and it is very popular here.

It is quieter than Goa, which suits pilgrims and travellers who want peace. Lifeguards here have rescued swimmers in trouble, and police have put up CCTV cameras on the beaches. Gokarna lies about 238 km north of Mangalore and about 59 km from Karwar. The nearest railway station, Gokarna Road, is about 10 km from the town.

3. Varkala Beach, Kerala

Our old post placed Varkala in the city of Trivandrum. That was wrong. Varkala is a separate town in Thiruvananthapuram district, about 50 km from the capital city.

What makes Varkala special is its cliffs. Tall red cliffs run along about 7.5 km of the coast, right next to the Arabian Sea. They are the only cliffs of this kind in southern Kerala. The Geological Survey of India has declared them a National Geological Monument. That means they are protected for their scientific value.

The main beach is also called Papanasam Beach. Many people believe a dip in the sea here washes away sins. Close by is the Janardana Swami Temple, said to be about 2,000 years old. Because of this temple, Varkala is sometimes called the Varanasi of the South. The Sivagiri Mutt, founded by the social reformer Sree Narayana Guru, is also in Varkala. Visitors can try parasailing, jet skiing and boat rides.

Varkala is calmer than Kovalam, a beach resort inside Thiruvananthapuram city. Kovalam became famous with foreign travellers in the 1970s. To reach Varkala, take a train to Varkala Sivagiri station. The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 57 km away.

4. Radhanagar Beach, Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Radhanagar Beach is on Havelock Island. In December 2018 the island was officially renamed Swaraj Dweep, as a tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Swaraj Dweep means Independence Island. Bose had raised the Indian flag at Port Blair on 30 December 1943. Locals also call this spot Beach Number 7.

In 2004, Time magazine named Radhanagar the best beach in Asia. In 2020 it won a Blue Flag. This is an international eco label given to beaches that meet strict rules on clean water, safety and the environment. The beach has soft white sand, clear blue water and thick forest behind it. The waves are usually gentle, which makes it good for swimming.

The beach is about 12 km from the island’s jetty. To get there, take a ferry from Sri Vijaya Puram, the city formerly called Port Blair. Ferries depend on the weather, so keep a spare day in your plan. Havelock is also one of India’s main centres for scuba diving, with many diving schools and well known dive sites such as Dixon’s Pinnacle. Elephant Beach nearby is popular for snorkelling. For more on these islands, read our post on Andaman and Nicobar history and tourism.

5. Tarkarli Beach, Maharashtra

Our old post spelt this name as “Tarkali”. The correct spelling is Tarkarli. It is a village in Malvan taluka, in Sindhudurg, the southernmost district of Maharashtra. It lies about 8 km south of the town of Malvan, where the Karli river meets the Arabian Sea.

Tarkarli is best known for scuba diving. Scuba diving means swimming under water with an air tank on your back. The village has a scuba diving training centre. The waters near Malvan are part of the Malvan Marine Wildlife Sanctuary, set up in 1987 to protect sea life.

Close by stands Sindhudurg Fort, a sea fort built by Chhatrapati Shivaji between 1664 and 1667. It sits on a small island, covers about 48 acres and has walls about 9 metres high. Shivaji built it to keep watch over foreign traders on the coast. Coral grows on its lower walls, and divers come to see it. Note that the fort is closed to tourists in the rainy season because of high tides.

The beach is long and clean, and it has been called the “Queen Beach” of the Konkan coast. The area still feels like a village. Local food is simple Malvani fare, with fish curry and rice. The nearest railway stations are Kudal and Kankavli on the Konkan Railway, and the nearest airport is Chipi Sindhudurg.

Best Time to Visit These Beaches

The west coast gets heavy rain in the monsoon. Varkala, for example, gets most of its yearly rain between June and August. Malvan, near Tarkarli, gets about 2,275 mm of rain a year. Rough seas in these months make swimming risky, and Sindhudurg Fort shuts its gates.

Most travellers prefer the cooler, drier months. Winters in Varkala are mild from December to February. Goa is busiest in winter too, so book rooms early if you plan a December trip. In the Andamans, ferry trips depend on the weather, so always keep some extra time in your plan.

How to Choose the Right Beach

• For parties and water sports: Baga.
• For peace and temple visits: Gokarna.
• For cliff views: Varkala.
• For white sand and clear water: Radhanagar.
• For diving on a budget, close to Mumbai and Goa: Tarkarli.

Love islands? You may also like our guide to Lakshadweep sightseeing places. For other top spots on land, see our list of the 8 most visited places in India.

Beach Safety Tips

The sea can be dangerous, even on a sunny day. One big risk is a rip current. This is a narrow, strong flow of water that moves away from the shore. It can carry a swimmer out to sea very fast.

• Swim only where lifeguards are on duty, and follow their flags.
• If a current pulls you out, do not fight it. Swim sideways, parallel to the beach, until you are free. Then swim back to shore at an angle.
• Avoid swimming during the monsoon, when the sea is rough.
• Do not drink alcohol before you swim.

What We Changed From the Old Post

• Varkala is not in Trivandrum city. It is a town about 50 km away, in the same district.
• “Tarkali” is now spelt correctly as Tarkarli.
• Havelock Island is now officially Swaraj Dweep, and Port Blair is now Sri Vijaya Puram.
• We added Radhanagar’s Blue Flag award from 2020.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which beach in India was named the best in Asia?

Radhanagar Beach on Havelock Island. Time magazine named it the best beach in Asia in 2004.

What is a Blue Flag beach?

It is a beach that has earned an international eco label for clean water, safety and care for nature.

Is Varkala Beach in Thiruvananthapuram city?

No. Varkala is a separate town in Thiruvananthapuram district, about 50 km from the city.

Where can I try scuba diving in Maharashtra?

Tarkarli, near Malvan in Sindhudurg district, is the best known spot for scuba diving in the state.