• The Secret Beaches of India

• by: Indian-Pride  |  last updated: May 06, 2008

• Category: Travel |  Tags: beaches, Secret Beaches, Indian Beaches, Best Beaches in India, lakshadweep, the andamans, andaman & nicobar, st. Mary's udupi, tarkarli, Benaulim Beach, Varkala Beach

• If asked about the Best Beaches of India you'll hear of the most popular beaches in Goa like Anjuna Beach, Calangute Beach, Colva Beach or even the Marina Beach, Chennai or Kovalam Beach in Kerala but are these really the Best Beaches in India??....I think not! They certainly are good beaches with a lot of people, excitement and things to do....but if you see some of the lesser known beaches that India has to offer you'd agree that they are not the Best of them.
  
  To me the Best Beaches would be secluded palm-fringed beaches with pristine golden sand, clear blue waters, beautiful sunset, no crowd, no rubbish thrown around, without a hoard of vendors following you around.....just you the sand and the mighty ocean. That's exactly the type of Beaches I've listed here....I like to call them 'The Secret Beaches of India'

• Radha Nagar Beach, Havelock

• The Located in the Bay of Bengal about 900km from India, The Andaman & Nicobar Islands have some of the Best and picturesque Beaches. The coastal areas of these islands are still untouched and unspoilt, making it an ideal beach holiday destination.
  
  Radha Nagar Beach also known as Beach No.7 on Havelock in the Andamans has been described as one of the Best Beaches you can get to in the World by Time Magazine. This Beach is one of the few undiscovered gems that have escaped the clutches of mass tourism and untouched by commercialism and modern intrusions.
  
  
  
  Getting there
  The quickest and most convenient way to get to the Andamans is to fly. Air Deccan, Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, Jet Lite (formerly Air Sahara), Spice Jet and Kingfisher all have daily regular flights to Port Blair from Calcutta & Chennai. Alternatively, you can choose to travel by ship – which takes 60-72 hours and is only for the tough.
  To get to Havelock from Port Blair, you have to take the ferry departing from the Phoenix Bay jetty. There are 2 departures daily - a daily boat at 0630 hrs, and a second boat at 1400 hrs.

• Malpe beach & St. Mary's Island, Udupi, Karnataka

• At the mouth of the Malpe river, about 6 kms. from Udupi in Karnataka is the natural harbour of Malpe, an important fishing centre that enriches Karnataka’s coastline with its fabulous beach. The endless stretch of golden sand, graciously swaying palm trees, clear blue sky and the gentle murmur of the sea set the perfect mood for an idyllic holiday.
  
  St Mary’s island is a little slip of land about 30 minutes out into the sea from Malpe Beach in Udupi. The island is full of crystallised basalt rock, a unique rock formation found in very few places in the world, the most notable being the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. And, the sea between the island and the long curve of the beach at Malpe is placid and gentle.
  
  
  
  
  
  Getting there
  * The nearest railhead is Udupi, which is about 4 km from Malpe
  * The nearest airport is Bajpe, Mangalore which is about 60 km from Malpe
  
  The only way of getting to St. Mary's islands is by boat. Regular boats ply from the Malpe Harbour to these islands. The frequency of these boats may vary depending on the amount of tourists. available.

• Agatti Island, Lakshadweep

• Approximately 450 kilometers off the Western coast of Kerala, the Lakshadweep islands are a set of 36 coral islands – part of the Maldivian Archipelago. Shimmering like glittering emeralds in splendid aquamarine shaded lagoons, the Lakshadweep islands are reminiscent of a time bygone. A vibe that is both ancient and mellow prevails over these islands… a vibe that begs visitors from outside to slow down and soak in the marvelous beauty that the islands offer.
  
  Agatti has one of the most beautiful lagoons in Lakshadweep. The Agatti Beaches are breath-taking with pristine white sands and an aquamarine blue lagoon. The airport is built on this island. From the aircraft, as you approach for a landing, you get a breath-taking view of the airstrip on the island.
  
  
  
  
  Getting There
  Agatti Aerodrome on Agatti Island is currently the only airport in Lakshadweep. Indian Airlines, the state owned carrier, serves Agatti and flies to Kochi on the mainland. Kingfisher Airlines has also started flight to Agatti recently. Kingfisher connects Kochi and Bangalore to Agatti. The other islands are linked by a helicopter or boat service.
  
  

• Tarkarli, Maharashtra

• Tarkarli is situated 6-km south of Malvan and 546-km from Mumbai on the west coast of India, at the confluence of the Karli River and the Arabian Sea. This place has a secluded golden beach with aquamarine waters unusual for a beach on the mainland coast.
  
  Tarkarli has gained prominence because of its long and narrow stretch of beach with pristine waters. On a fairly clear day, one can see the bed unto a depth of 20 ft. It presents a panoramic view with tall 'Shuru' trees in the background. The wide river, the beautiful sailboats and the tiny wonderful islands hamlets situated on the riverbank, add to the picturesque beauty of Tarkarli.
  
  
  
  
  Getting There
  Rail: The nearest railway station is Kudal on the Konkan Railway.
  Road:Tarkarli is easily accessible from Malvan by bus and rickshaw, which is 514-km away from Mumbai.
  
  

• Benaulim Beach, Goa

• The beaches of Goa are the highlights of travel in this state, making Goa the premier beach vacation destination. Goa's 100-km long coastline gives an enthusiastic beach lover an opportunity to discover new secluded beach sites every day. One of which is Benaulim.
  
  Named as Benaulim by the Portuguese, lies in the centre of Colva Beach, 7-km west of Margao in South Goa. Benaulim is a quiet and pleasant beach lying at the end of Colva beach. The Benaulim beach is still undiscovered by the domestic tourists which further adds to its charm. Being a fishing beach, it gets fairly crowded in the evenings and on weekends.Moreover, the sea is safe for swimming and being generally jellyfish-free. Futher South of benaulim you can find the soft white sands, the black lava rocks of the Cavelossim Beach which is equally secluded and stunning.
  
  
  
  Getting there
  7-km west of Margao (South Goa). Just 2km away from the famous Colva Beach.

• Rishikonda, Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh

• Andhra Pradesh has approximately 1000 km. of coastline with eight of its 23 districts having direct access to the sea with water caressing golden sands. Rishikonda near Vishakhapatnam is one of them.
  
  Just 8-km from Vishakhapatnam is the Rishikonda Beach, a golden, unspoilt beach, washed by the sun-warmed sea.It is ideal for swimmers, water skiers, and wind surfers.
  
  
  
  Getting There
  Vishakhapatnam is easily accessible by air as it has an airport as well as by Rail or road. Rishikonda is 8 kms away from Vishakhapatnum can be reached by car or bus.

• Varkala Beach, Kerala

• Kerala beaches may be take a backseat because of the backwaters, but entire 900-km length of the Kerala coast is lined with sandy beaches, rocky promontories and coconut palms that definitely merit a visit. Kerala's beaches are renowned for the gentle surf and blue waters....and that's exactly how Varkala Beach is.
  
  Varkala beach is among the most popular beach resorts in Kerala , mainly because of the mineral water springs with medicinal properties that gush out of the high cliffs bordering the beach. It's not a very secluded beach It is the best spot along Kerala coast for watching sunset. The sight of the sun melting into the sea would blossom your poetic sense.
  
  
  
  Getting There
  Varkala is 51 kms (approx. 32 miles) north of Thiruvananthapuram. It's an important hub and is easily accessible by road or Rail.

• Guide Comment History

• Meenakshi said 3 months ago:
  These are stunning. Are they really in India???

• Pankaj said 3 months ago:
  Nice post..& nice snaps....Now I feel like to go on vacation... :)

• Shaarvaree said 3 months ago:
  Thats really good......I m getting married next year....thnx will go for my honeymoon

• Binu Sukumar said about 1 month ago:
  The beaches shown are amazing. You can find a truly amazing secret beach at Chowara near the famous Kovalam in Kerala called Aazhimala beach. It's 8 km from the Famous Vizhijam Port while you travel to equally famous Poovar. There's a famous temple called Aazhimala temple.On this beach there is a mythological legend associated with the place. BHIMA the "Terminator" prince of Pandavas of the Great epic 'Maha Bharatha' had passed through the place during his self exile from the kingdom along with the other Pandava clan and who on being thirsty gave a soft pounding with his 'Gadha' or giant club on the rock which instantly sprouted a fresh water spring which exists even now. It is also believed that the two marks left on the rocks nearby are the foot marks of Bhima. The adjoining aazhimala Ayurveda Beach Resort is almost a paradise on earth. http://www.flickr.com/photos/26270218@N04/2466883257/

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