20 Beaches In India

India is a land of beaches. It has over 7500 kilometres of sun-soaked coastline lined with many beautiful, lively and unique beaches. Being a tropical country, all the beaches in India have a moderate to cool climate throughout the year, and the water is never too cold for a swim any time of the year.

Every beach in India has its own unique charm and offers a different experience. Are you looking to party after working hard or want to cool your heels in a five-star resort? Whether you need a peaceful and quiet sojourn on the beach with a book on a solo trip or to get rejuvenated with awesome food and ayurvedic spa treatments, India has a beach for your every need.

India has 10 beaches with The Blue Flag tag, a certification awarded by the Denmark-based Foundation for Environmental Education that recognises the cleanest beaches and marinas in the world. The Blue Flag-tagged beaches in India are Eden Beach in Puducherry, Kovalam Beach in Tamil Nadu, Puri Golden Beach in Odisha, Shivrajpur Beach in Gujarat, Ghoghla Beach in Diu, Kasarkod Beach and Padubidri Beach in Karnataka, Kappad Beach in Kerala, Rushikonda Beach in Andhra Pradesh, and Radhanagar Beach in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Blue Flag certification means these beaches are clean, safe, and environmentally friendly.

India has 28 states and eight union territories of which nine states and four union territories are blessed with an incredible coastline and beach strips. West Coast states include Goa, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat, flanked by the Arabian Sea. The states on the East Coast include Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal, which the Bay of Bengal borders. Each State has its own set of beautiful beaches and beach towns. There are many beaches in India worth visiting, so check out our top 20.

20 Best Beaches In India

Best Beaches In India – Arabian Sea

1- Anjuna Beach, North Goa

Anjuna is the original backpacker beach of Goa and is among India’s most popular beaches.

This beach is famous for its nightclubs, sea-side shacks, adventure activities, beach parties and flea markets.

There is never a dull day on Anjuna, and you will always have something to do here.

Before all the commercialisation, Anjuna was a popular hippie destination in the 60s and retains that vibe to even today.

Being in the very North of Goa, this beach is less crowded (by Goan standards) but has the best nightclubs and restaurants in town, making it a favourite destination for long-stay international visitors in Goa.

Why visit? Beachside nightlife and a destination for hippies.

2- Baga Beach, North Goa

Just a few kilometres south of Anjuna is Baga Beach, the starting point of India’s most famous beach strip, where you will also find Calangute and Candolim Beaches.

For visitors who revel in being in the midst of the action, Baga is one of the most happening beaches in the country.

From world-famous restaurants to amazing beach activities, Baga has something for everyone.

From holiday homes to five-star stays, accommodation is available for every type of traveller close to the beach.

A Tibetan market, an indoor snow park, Dolphin spotting trips and various other activities can keep kids and adults of any age group occupied.

Why visit? Food and activities that keep you occupied all day long.

3- Colva Beach, South Goa

Colva is a beach in South Goa that is a part of a beach strip flanked by Majorda and Arossim towards the north and Benaulim and Varca in the south.

Like its neighbouring beaches, this beach is famous for its powdery white sands and the many five-star resort properties overlooking the beaches.

Although less crowded than the beaches in North Goa, Colva has all the bells and whistles its northern peers offer, like fine dining restaurants, adventure and water sports and an active nightlife.

International visitors lounge on the white sands, sipping a pina colada and enjoying the sea views and sunset.

Why visit? White sandy beaches with smaller crowds yet plenty of activities.

4- Palolem Beach, South Goa

Palolem Beach is a semi-circular beach lined with palm trees and white sands.

It’s a beautiful beach in South Goa and far from the hotspots in North Goa.

This beach is ideal for lounging around with a book while sipping a cold drink. You’ll enjoy taking a dip in the shallow waters.

Many restaurants, shops and activities are available at the beach, ensuring you don’t miss anything North Goa provides while allowing you to explore solitude.

Kayaking, paddleboarding, hiking trails, ayurvedic therapy, and yoga classes are some activities that will keep you occupied.

Why visit? Silent Noise Festival is an all-night headphone DJ party.

5- Varkala Beach, Kerala

Varkala is a beach town in Kerala, an hour’s drive from the bustling capital city of Thiruvananthapuram.

Nestled between cliffs lined with coconut trees on one side and the Arabian Sea on the other, the beach panorama is stunningly beautiful.

Unlike most other beaches in Kerala, this beach is still pristine due to the natural cliff formations, which do not allow any permanent structures on the beachfront.

This Indian beach is known for its relaxed vibe where you can just chill out on the beach, go to an ayurvedic or yoga therapy, have sumptuous seafood or just go and have a swim in the waters.

You can stay at the reasonably priced stays near the beach or in Thiruvananthapuram and travel down to the beach for a day trip.

Why go? For relaxation and Ayurvedic yoga therapies.

6- Marari Beach, Alleppey, Kerala

Kerala has many beaches, given its long coastline on the Arabian Sea.

Marari Beach is one of the hidden gems in Kerala, with pristine white sand beaches dotted with coconut trees and without any crowd.

Located close to Alappuzha, this beach is in an idyllic, sleepy little fishing village unspoilt by modern-day commercialisation.

Marari Beach, along with Alleppey backwaters and Alappuzha Beach, can be an ideal vacation for those who want to cruise on the Kerala backwaters and enjoy the beach in one trip.

Why go? Pristine white sand in an idyllic fishing village.

7- Kovalam Beach, Kerala

This beach is one of Kerala’s most famous and easily accessible from Thiruvananthapuram.

It is one of the earliest beaches developed in Kerala and frequently takes the title of most popular beach in the state.

Kovalam Beach is made up of two beach coves – Lighthouse Beach and Hawa Beach.

Lighthouse Beach is quite picturesque and is very busy with families and solo travellers alike.

Hawa Beach is slightly more secluded and is frequented by international tourists.

The lighthouse lies between the two beaches and offers a panoramic view of the Kerala coastline, the Arabian Sea and Kovalam town.

There are many properties to stay ranging from budget-friendly to five-star resorts here.

Why go? Stunning views, Goan vibe.

8- Kudle Beach, Gokarna, Karnataka

Gokarna is a beach town in Northern Karnataka, also a popular pilgrimage destination for Hindus.

This town is just a three-hour drive from South Goa and offers some of India’s prettiest white sand beaches.

Many people refer to Gokarna as Goa without the commercialisation, resembling what Goa was before it became world famous.

Kudle Beach and Om Beach are the popular beaches in Gokarna.

Kudle Beach is less crowded and a frequent hangout place for backpackers.

Listen to live music with a cold beer in your hands and watch the sunset lying on the white sandy beach to truly relish the sea’s beauty.

There are decent places to stay nearby, but alcohol is regulated in Gokarna. For adventure seekers, Paradise Beach and Half Moon Beach are sandy beaches accessible only by boats or hiking.

Why go? Less crowded beach with live music and bonfires.

9- Tarkarali Beach, Malvan, Maharashtra

Tarkarali Beach is a three-hour drive from North Goa, located near the fishing town of Malvan.

The white sands beach has clear waters and is perfect for a getaway from crowds.

Owing to its clear waters, Tarkarali is one of the few places on the Indian mainland popular for snorkelling and scuba diving.

A few kilometres south of Tarkarali is the mouth of Karli River, a hotspot for many watersports like parasailing, jet skis and speedboating.

Malvan town is famous for its sweet dishes and seafood-based cuisine, which are a must-try when in Tarkarali.

Why go? Scuba diving, snorkelling and other water sports.

10- Kashid Beach, Kashid, Maharashtra

This sandy beach lies a couple of hours away from Mumbai, with cliff and forest hinterlands, beach shacks and tonga rides.

Kashid Beach is an ideal weekend getaway from Mumbai with enchanting views, calm waters and serene forest outback.

You can enjoy the camel rides and watersports or just sit under the shade of Casuarina trees that line the beach.

There are old island fortresses near Kashid Beach like the Murud-Janjira fort, which are only accessible by boats which you can visit as a part of the trip.

Why go? Weekend getaway from Mumbai with clear water.

11- Kavaratti Beach, Lakshadweep

Kavaratti Island is the capital city of the Lakshadweep Islands in Southwest India.

The island’s beaches are mostly narrow, but the surrounding lagoons are bustling with various sea life and coral reefs.

The south of the island lagoon is best suited for swimming, kayaking, windsurfing, canoeing, scuba diving and snorkelling.

The sparkling white sands of the beach, the quaint beach town feel, and the enthralling water sports making this island a must-see on your island-hopping list.

Why go? Snorkelling and scuba diving and a quaint beach town feel.

12- Minicoy Beach, Lakshadweep

Minicoy Island is the southern-most and second-largest island of Lakshadweep.

The island has a large lagoon famous for its large swathes of coral reefs.

Scuba diving and snorkelling are the most popular activities on this island.

Pristine white sands and palm-fringed beachfront overlooking azure waters are a sight for anyone lucky enough to travel to this island.

Apart from breathtaking beaches, the island is famous for its carefully arranged villages known as Avah and the tuna canning and fishing activities.

Why go? Snorkelling, scuba diving and touring the villages.

13- Mandvi Beach, Bhuj, Gujarat

This beautiful beach is in the Kutch region of Gujarat and is famous for its water sports activities amidst a picturesque, tranquil location.

The Kutch region is also famous for the Rann of Kutch, or the White Desert, the world’s largest salt desert.

Many international tourists visit the Kutch region to visit Mandvi Beach and the Rann of Kutch.

Gujarat is one of India’s foremost states to adopt renewable energy produced by wind.

You can find many solar-powered wind turbines throughout the region and near the Beach.

Why go? Beautiful clean water, camping, water sports, came rides.

Best Beaches In India – Bay Of Bengal

14- Puri Golden Beach, Odisha

Puri is a temple town in the State of Odisha on the coast of the Bay of Bengal.

Puri Golden Beach in Odisha is one of the 10 beaches in India with the Blue Flag certification.

The beach is renowned for its pristine waters and sand sculptures.

Unlike the Arabian Sea, swimming in the sea of the Bay of Bengal is considered risky due to the strong water currents and powerful waves.

For those who love camping, go island camping in Chilika lake, a two-hour drive from Puri.

This lake is India’s largest saltwater lake and is listed as a tentative UNESCO World Heritage site.

Why go? The famous Puri Beach Festival.

Best Beaches In Indian Ocean

15- Radhanagar Beach, Havelock Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Radhanagar Beach is on Havelock Island (now known as Swaraj Island) and is popularly known as one of the best beaches in Asia.

Radhanagar Beach is also one of the 10 beaches in India to have the Blue Tag certification.

With calm waters, pristine white sands and fringed by lush forest hinterlands, this beach is a tropical paradise on the Andamans.

You can walk or lounge for hours on the powdery white sands and watch the picture-perfect sunset on the beach.

A Restricted Area Permit is not required for all international travellers except those from Afghanistan, Pakistan and China.

After landing in Port Blair, you will have to take a ferry to the island and then travel by road to reach this beach.

Why go? Calm turquoise waters and powdery white sands.

16- Elephant Beach, Havelock Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands

This beach is a hidden gem on Havelock Island and is only accessible by boat or a 30-minute jungle trek through the forests.

A boat or trek by themselves are alluring enough, but the destination is even more awe-inspiring.

Many beach activities such as snorkelling, scuba diving, parasailing, jet skis, sea walk (walking among the corals) are available to adventure seekers.

Carry a USB drive to store the photos and videos of all the activities you participate in.

Why go? The trek and beach activities, especially the Sea Walk.

17- Rushikonda Beach, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh

On the shores of Visakhapatnam, one of the largest cities in India, the beach is popular for its water activities such as windsurfing and jet skiing.

A popular hangout place for families and solo travellers, the beach also has the Blue Flag certification.

It’s favoured for its picturesque setting of white sandy beach and blue waters amidst a hilly backdrop and has featured in many South Indian films.

Why go? The beach is a perfect weekend getaway from Visakhapatnam.

18- Paradise Beach, Pondicherry

This is a sandy peninsula beach in Puducherry that can be reached only by a boat ride through the backwaters.

Various water sports and rides are available here.

Given its proximity to the backwaters, you can plan for a beach visit and a fishing break or catch a glimpse of migratory birds on the still waters.

The beach is as rustic as it gets, with limited snack shops and food joints. Go here to enjoy the beach as well as the backwaters.

Why go? For the beach on one side and the backwaters on the other.

19- Mahabalipuram Beach, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

South of Chennai, this beach is famous for its rock-cut sculptures, 8th-century shore temple and a thriving surfing scene from June to September.

This beach in India is ideal for families as well as backpackers and provides accommodation for any type of budget.

It has golden sands and interesting places such as a crocodile bank and sculpture museum, making it very interesting for school children.

Why go? Mahabalipuram Dance Festival showcases talented Indian classical dancers performing against the backdrop of the sea.

20- Marina Beach, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Marina Beach is the second-longest natural urban beach in the world and the most crowded in India.

Being a city beach, Marina Beach is never short of activities.

The road parallel to the beach is packed with restaurants serving every type of cuisine.

The wide sandy beach has a rich history spanning three centuries and was originally named by the British as Madras Marina.

A visit to Marina Beach would allow you to look back into the history the Indian subcontinent had with the British rulers.

Why go? This city beach is close to many famous buildings from the British era.

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