Best beach destinations in India
47 curated beach destinations across 13 states, each with the months it is worth going and the months it is not.
Best of beach India
-
Varkala
Kerala
Cliffside beach town with yoga shalas and sunset cafes
Peak: Dec to Feb
-
Alibaug
Maharashtra
Mumbai's weekend beach escape of forts and shacks
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)
Tamil Nadu
UNESCO shore temples and carvings on a laid-back beach strip
Peak: Dec to Feb
-
Gokarna
Karnataka
Temple town turned backpacker beach-hopping strip
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Bheemili (Bheemunipatnam)
Andhra Pradesh
Dutch tombs and a river mouth at the end of the beach road
Peak: Dec to Feb
-
Agatti Island (Lakshadweep)
Lakshadweep
Coral lagoon island - Lakshadweep's permit-only gateway
Peak: Dec to Mar
-
Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Andaman's backpacker-diving hub with Radhanagar Beach
Peak: Nov to Mar
-
Anjuna-Vagator
Goa
North Goa's flea-market, trance-party, hostel strip
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Chandipur (Balasore)
Odisha
The sea walks out up to 5 km at low tide and returns
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Daman
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
Portuguese forts, dark-sand beaches and legal bars
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Mandvi (Kutch)
Gujarat
Kutch beach town where wooden dhows are still built by hand
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Bakkhali & Henry Island
West Bengal
Quiet mudflat beach and a mangrove watchtower island
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Pondicherry (incl. Auroville)
Puducherry
French Quarter beach town next to the Auroville commune
Peak: Dec to Feb
-
Kovalam
Kerala
Crescent lighthouse beach, Kerala's original resort town
Peak: Dec to Feb
-
Ganpatipule
Maharashtra
Swayambhu Ganpati shrine opening straight onto white sand
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Kanyakumari
Tamil Nadu
India's southern tip, where three seas meet at dawn and dusk
Peak: Dec to Feb
-
Karwar (Devbagh & Kurumgad)
Karnataka
Kali river mouth, island beaches and a naval town's coast
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Manginapudi Beach (Machilipatnam)
Andhra Pradesh
Black-sand bay beach off the old port of Masulipatnam
Peak: Dec to Feb
-
Bangaram Island
Lakshadweep
Uninhabited coral islet with a glowing night lagoon
Peak: Dec to Mar
-
Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep)
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
The quiet, bicycle-friendly Andaman island next door
Peak: Nov to Mar
-
Arambol & Mandrem
Goa
North Goa's hippie tail end, drum circles and cheap huts
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Puri
Odisha
Jagannath Temple pilgrim town with a long, easy beach
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Diu
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
Portuguese-era island enclave with forts and beer
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Narara (Marine National Park)
Gujarat
Walk the reef at low tide among corals, octopus and rays
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Mandarmani-Tajpur
West Bengal
Bengal's 'drive-on' beach: long flat sand, low-key escape
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Marari Beach (Mararikulam)
Kerala
Shore-seine fishing beach with coir villages and no promenade
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Malvan-Tarkarli
Maharashtra
Konkan coast's clearest water for scuba diving
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Manapad
Tamil Nadu
Black rock cape, a church of 1581 and a lagoon built for kiting
Peak: Dec to Mar
-
Murudeshwar
Karnataka
Giant Shiva on a headland and scuba boats to Netrani
Peak: Nov to Jan
-
Suryalanka Beach (Bapatla)
Andhra Pradesh
Casuarina-backed Bay of Bengal sand nine km off Bapatla
Peak: Dec to Feb
-
Kadmat Island
Lakshadweep
Eight km coral sliver with a vast western lagoon
Peak: Dec to Mar
-
Little Andaman (Hut Bay)
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Surf breaks, waterfalls and a ferry that may not come back
Peak: Dec to Mar
-
Palolem-Agonda
Goa
South Goa's mellow beach belt with silent discos
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Gopalpur
Odisha
Sleepy colonial beach town, quiet alternative to Puri
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Thalassery (Tellicherry)
Kerala
Biryani, a British fort and Kerala's only drive-in beach
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Murud-Janjira
Maharashtra
Unconquered Siddi sea fort off a casuarina-lined beach
Peak: Nov to Feb
Every beach destination in the catalogue
- Bekal Kerala
- Kannur Kerala
- Kavaratti Lakshadweep
- Maravanthe Karnataka
- Point Calimere (Kodiakkarai) Tamil Nadu
- Rameswaram Tamil Nadu
- Tharangambadi (Tranquebar) Tamil Nadu
- Udupi-Malpe & St Marys Island Karnataka
- Velas (Turtle Village) Maharashtra
- Vengurla Maharashtra
- Visakhapatnam (Vizag) Andhra Pradesh
When to go
January, February and December are the months with the most beach places in peak season.
By state
Maharashtra (6)Kerala (6)Tamil Nadu (6)Karnataka (5)Lakshadweep (4)Andhra Pradesh (4)Goa (3)Odisha (3)Andaman & Nicobar Islands (3)West Bengal (2)
Common questions
How many beach destinations are there in India?
This catalogue lists 47 tagged beach, across 13 states and union territories. It is a curated list, not an exhaustive one: places earn a spot on the strength of the landscape or the heritage.
When is the best time for a beach trip in India?
January, February and December put the most of them in peak season. Each place carries its own window, though, so check the one you are aiming at.
Which states have the most beach destinations?
Maharashtra (6), Kerala (6), Tamil Nadu (6), Karnataka (5) and Lakshadweep (4).
Other themes
MountainsHeritageSpiritualWildlifeTrekBackpackerDesertIslandLakesWaterfallsCityOffbeatPartyCultureSnow