5 Best Beaches of India

Some people head to the hills for a holiday while some prefer to head to a beach to experience the sun, sand and the sea. India has some incredibly beautiful beaches where you can party hard or enjoy the solitude. Scattered all over India’s 7500 kilometre long coastline, India has some beautiful and serene beaches to offer. Here’s a list of the five best beaches of India that will leave you amazed and satisfied with India’s coastal beauty:

The Radhanagar beach on Havelock island in Andaman & Nicobar has the proud honour of being voted once as ‘Asia’s best beach’ by The Time magazine in 2004. The beach is situated at a distance of 12 kms from Havelock’s ferry pier. Its pristine surroundings and untouched natural beauty attracts many tourists. The fine, white sand and the calm, turquoise blue water of the beach is very peaceful. It has an overall length of two kilometers and width of 30-40 metres. This beach is an ideal spot for sea bathing. It is a very lucrative destination for nature and adventure lovers. The best time to visit is October from February.

Palolem beach is undoubtedly the most beautiful beach of Goa which has thick coconut palm trees and clear sea blue waters. This semi-circle shaped beach stretches over miles and is ideal both for the quieter people looking for solitude (the north stretch of the beach) and the outgoing party-goers (South stretch of the beach). The beach is mostly unspoiled and is inhabited by local fisherman or foreign tourists living in shacks along the beach. The crescent shaped beach is in the South Goa and the nearest airport (Dabolim Airport) is about 67 km away.

Tarkarli Beach is located in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra and is near the border of Goa. The approx. distance from Mumbai is 498 km. It is the finest white sand beach among the Konkani beaches. The area around Tarkarli beach is renowned for its beautiful coral reefs. Relatively untouched by development, this beach has a feel of a village and the home stay accommodations across the beach are the ideal place to stay. It is an ideal destination for those interested in scuba diving and snorkeling. The beach is popular among the tourists for its sheer serenity and tranquility as well as the true Goan flavor. Serenity, clear blue waters and palm-fringed narrow lanes make this beach worth a visit.

For those looking to spend some time in peace away from the hustle and bustle, Agonda beach is the ideal place. You can enjoy the stillness of the beach by staying in a simple hut right on the beach. It is an isolated stretch located on the outskirts of Goa where there’s nothing much to do except eat, drink, swim and enjoying the sea. With relatively few tourists, it is an ideal spot for sunbathing, swimming and relaxing. This nice long pristine stretch of beach is perfect for a quiet and relaxed holiday. In case you need to party then Palolem is just 15 minutes drive away. Agonda beach is cheaper, quieter and hassle free. It is also famous as a Ridley Turtle nesting site. You can also visit Agonda Church and an old fort Cabo de Rama. If you are looking for a perfect sun and sand holiday then Agonda beach is the place to be.

Kovalam is the most developed beach of Kerala which is internationally renowned. It’s just 16 kms away from Thiruvanthapuram. Kovalam means a grove of coconut trees and its name holds true due to the endless sight of coconut trees. It is made up of two coves- Hawa and Lighthouse. Lighthouse is the biggest and busiest of the two. The lighthouse atop this beach offers a magnificent view at sunset. It is an ideal beach for surfing. There are plenty of leisure options at the beach which include sea bathing , swimming, sun basking, massages and catamaran cruising. Hawah beach was named thus due to the topless European women thronging there. It was the first topless beach in India but now topless bathing is banned except in private coves owned by resorts.