Best beach destinations in India
60 curated beach destinations across 13 states, each with the months it is worth going and the months it is not.
Best of beach India
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Alibaug
Maharashtra
Mumbai's weekend beach escape of forts and shacks
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Varkala
Kerala
Cliffside beach town with yoga shalas and sunset cafes
Peak: Dec to Feb
-
Gokarna
Karnataka
Temple town turned backpacker beach-hopping strip
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)
Tamil Nadu
UNESCO shore temples and carvings on a laid-back beach strip
Peak: Dec to Feb
-
Baruva (Sompeta)
Andhra Pradesh
Coconut-backed sand where the Mahendratanaya river meets the sea
Peak: Nov 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
-
Gopnath (Talaja)
Gujarat
Low limestone cliffs and a Shiva temple on the Gulf of Khambhat
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Chandipur (Balasore)
Odisha
The sea walks out up to 5 km at low tide and returns
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Bakkhali & Henry Island
West Bengal
Quiet mudflat beach and a mangrove watchtower island
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Daman
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
Portuguese forts, dark-sand beaches and legal bars
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Pondicherry (incl. Auroville)
Puducherry
French Quarter beach town next to the Auroville commune
Peak: Dec to Feb
-
Ganpatipule
Maharashtra
Swayambhu Ganpati shrine opening straight onto white sand
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Beypore
Kerala
Estuary port where Kerala still hand builds wooden dhows
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Sasihitlu Beach
Karnataka
Sandbar where two rivers meet the sea, Karnataka's surf beach
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Kanyakumari
Tamil Nadu
India's southern tip, where three seas meet at dawn and dusk
Peak: Dec to Feb
-
Bheemili (Bheemunipatnam)
Andhra Pradesh
Dutch tombs and a river mouth at the end of the beach road
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
-
Madhavpur Ghed
Gujarat
Long empty beach where Krishna is said to have married Rukmini
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Puri
Odisha
Jagannath Temple pilgrim town with a long, easy beach
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Gangasagar (Sagar Island)
West Bengal
Ganga meets the sea at a wide empty beach and the Kapil Muni temple
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Diu
Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
Portuguese-era island enclave with forts and beer
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Guhagar
Maharashtra
Six km of clean sand with a Vyadeshwar temple street behind
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Kovalam
Kerala
Crescent lighthouse beach, Kerala's original resort town
Peak: Dec to Feb
-
Karwar (Devbagh & Kurumgad)
Karnataka
Kali river mouth, island beaches and a naval town's coast
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Manapad
Tamil Nadu
Black rock cape, a church of 1581 and a lagoon built for kiting
Peak: Dec to Mar
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Manginapudi Beach (Machilipatnam)
Andhra Pradesh
Black-sand bay beach off the old port of Masulipatnam
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
-
Mandvi (Kutch)
Gujarat
Kutch beach town where wooden dhows are still built by hand
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Talasari Beach (Chandaneswar)
Odisha
Casuarina-backed sand where the Subarnarekha meets the sea
Peak: Nov to Feb
-
Mandarmani-Tajpur
West Bengal
Bengal's 'drive-on' beach: long flat sand, low-key escape
Peak: Nov to Feb
Every beach destination in the catalogue
- Bekal Kerala
- Betul (Cabo de Rama coast) Goa
- Gopalpur Odisha
- Harnai (Dapoli) Maharashtra
- Kalpeni (Koomel Bay) Lakshadweep
- Kannur Kerala
- Kavaratti Lakshadweep
- Kunkeshwar (Devgad) Maharashtra
- Malvan-Tarkarli Maharashtra
- Marari Beach (Mararikulam) Kerala
- Maravanthe Karnataka
- Mayabunder (Karmatang Beach) Andaman & Nicobar Islands
- Murud-Janjira Maharashtra
- Murudeshwar Karnataka
- Narara (Marine National Park) Gujarat
- Point Calimere (Kodiakkarai) Tamil Nadu
- Rameswaram Tamil Nadu
- Suryalanka Beach (Bapatla) Andhra Pradesh
- Thalassery (Tellicherry) Kerala
- 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 (9)Kerala (7)Karnataka (6)Tamil Nadu (6)Lakshadweep (5)Andhra Pradesh (5)Goa (4)Odisha (4)Gujarat (4)Andaman & Nicobar Islands (4)
Common questions
How many beach destinations are there in India?
This catalogue lists 60 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 (9), Kerala (7), Karnataka (6), Tamil Nadu (6) and Lakshadweep (5).
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