Beach Vacations in India

India is a land with a long coastline measuring over 6,700 km, is washed by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Bay of Bengal to the east and the Indian Ocean to the south. Flanking the Konkan / Malabar Coast of Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka and Goa, are the Western Ghats. While on the eastern side, a wider area stretches between Bay of Bengal and Eastern Ghats, called as the Coromondal Coast.

Goa Beach Vacations in India

Popular Beaches in Goa:

Anjuna Beach
Anjuna, 18 kms from Panaji is a popular beach area adjacent to Chapora fort- it was the haunt of the flower generation in the sixties - and is still popular with the younger generation. In Anjuna there is magnificent Albuquerque mansion built in 1920, flanked by octagonal towers and attractive Mangalore tiled-roof.

Agonda Beach
If you continue driving towards Panaji from Palolem, the next beach is Agonda. It’s long and lonely, fringed with palms and casuarinas and dominated by a large hill to the south.

Arambol Beach
Arambol is along the Goa border with its fresh water lagoon. Due to its isolation, some tourists has been unable to reach this beach.

Colva Beach
This is the most important beach in the south circuit equipped with all modern amenities like air-conditioned resort complexes, tourist cottages, discos, seashell artefact stalls, refreshment stalls, eateries, guest houses, expanding the village enormously.

Dona Paula Beach
7 kms from Panaji. An idyllic picturesque spot. Command a fine view of the Zuari river and Mormugao Harbour. Water scootering facilities are available here. It is near the rocky point between the Mandovi and the Zuari is Dona Paula, a secluded bay with a fine view of the Marmagao harbour.

Calangute Beach
Excellent accommodation facilities are available, particularly at the tourist resort and cottages. Calangute lie on the shores of the Arabian Sea of North Goa in India. It is encircled by Arpora-Nagoa, Saligao and Candolim, in the Bardez taluka.

Palolem Beach
Palolem is Goa's one of the most beautiful and idyllic beach and it has 1.5 km crescent shaped beach. The beach lies on the southern coastline of Goa amidst outstanding natural beauty.

Vagator Beach
This beautiful beach is located about 22 Kms from Panaji and is situated in Bardez taluka. This is part of a 30 km stretch of beach coastline along the west coast of Goa.

Miramar Beach
This beautiful beach is located about 3kms from Panaji. It lies adjoining the estuary of the river Mandovi as it opens into the Arabian sea. It was originally known as the "Gasper Dias Beach"


Kerala Beach Vacations in India

Kovalam Beach
On the Malabar coast along the Kerala shore line is a small village, called Kovalam. This sleepy town suddenly came on the tourist map when its fabulous beaches were discovered.

Kovalam has become one of the most popular beach hangouts in India. Kovalam means a grove of coconut trees and truly the coconut trees along the beaches gives it a ravishing look. The palm-fringed bays in secluded coconut groves, promises a relaxed stay.

Kovalam is a famous beach, 16 km south of Thiruvananthapuram. It is most popular in southern India. The main part of Kovalam consists of two palm-fringed coves, separated from the beaches on either side by rocky headlands. The southern headland is marked by a prominent lighthouse.

There are four main stretches of beach, each about 400 m long, with a rocky promontory. The southern beaches are much more populated. Swimming is relatively safe during December to March.

Varkala Beach
It is an popular pleasant beach with mineral water springs and with a beach resort . The sea shore is called `Papanasm' and hundreds of Hindu devotees perform 'Vavu Bali' on new moon days of th Malayalam month of Karkidakam. Varkala is 90 minutes away on the bus and a pleasant convenient place to stop for a night or more or an afternoon when travelling between Alappuzha or Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram. Varkala is 54 km from Thiruvananthapuram and 37 km from Kollam. The railway station is 3 km from the beach.

Bekal Beach
Bekal Beach is situated at the northern tip of Kerala, 79 km from Kannur, Bekal is a beach destination of the future. It has long palm-fringed beaches and a rocky headland topped by the huge Bekal fort.

Lighthouse Beach
Lighthouse beach is beautifully set with palm trees dotted on the headlands to the south, which hosts the lighthouse, and north where a 20-40 m stretch of fine gold and black sand arches around the bay.

Samudra Beach
The name Samudra Beach is because it is dominated by the KTDC'd excellent Hotel Samudra. This beach is not private but, a 15 min walk or Rs 50 ride northwards from Lighthouse Beach, it is virtually free of pestering beach sellers. The first little bay is edged by small rocky promontories.


Lakshadweep Beach Vacations in India
Kavaratti Beach
The headquarter of the Administration, Kavaratti is beautiful calm lagoon and forms an ideal spot for water sports, swimming and basking on warm sandy beaches. The Ajara and Jamnath mosques (of the 52 on the island) have the best wood carving and the former has a particularly good ceiling carved out of driftwood; a well within is believed to have medicinal water.

Kadamat Beach
Kadamat is 8 Km long and 550 m wide at the broadest point. In addition to the beautiful shallow lagoon on the west that forms an ideal spot for water sports, there is a narrow lagoon on the east. The best attractions are the long sandy beaches and the sand banks on the southern tip for sun bath. Kadamat has been identified for staying tourists with its tourists huts aesthetically situated in the coconut palm groves in the beaches facing the lagoon.


Maharashtra Beach Vacations in India
The 720 km long coastline of Maharashtra, sprawls from Dahani and Bordi in the north, to Goa proceeding southwards. Exciting water sports, sunbathing on golden sands, exploring grand fortresses, temples, and churches, discovering tiny, remote villages, savouring the exotic Konkan cuisine, or just feeling one with the immense sea - Maharashtra has all this to offer and more.

Juhu Beach
One of the largest and frequently visited tourist beaches of India on the shores of Arabian Sea. The beach of beckoning , with its choc-a-bloc Bhelpuri and Kulfi stalls. One of the prime and posh localities of Mumbai is also situated along this sea coast. This place houses the bungalows of famous Bollywood personalities. Almost all Hindi films have a day of shooting at Juhu. Luxury hotels and apartments line the southern end of Juhu Beach, a favourite haunt of Mumbai's movers and shakers. It's no place for a swim or a sunbathe, but on weekends and weekday afternoons there are horse and donkey rides, dancing monkeys, acrobats, cricket matches, toy sellers and every other type of Indian beach entertainment

Chowpatty Beach
Chowpatty beach is in the heart of Mumbai. Chowpatty has rich historical links to the freedom movement; several important meetings were organized here during the freedom struggle. At present, this is where images of Ganesha are immersed after the ten days of Ganesh Chaturthi.

Velneshwar Beach
Velneshwar Beach is 170 km from Ratnagiri is the village of Velneshwar. It's adjoining beach is clean and natural and is lined with coconut trees. Swimming and other water sports are possible there as the beach is free from rocks. There is an old Shiva temple near Velneshwar which is frequently visited by pilgrims.

Ganapatipule Beach
Ganapatipule is set along the western coast of Maharashtra. It is located375 km south of Mumbai, along the Konkan coast. Ganapatipule is one of the `Ashta Ganapatis' (eight Ganpatis) of India and called the `Paschim Dwar-Dewata' (Western Sentinel God). Climate is moist and humid but healthy.

Manori & Gorai Beach
These both beaches have become favourite with the picnickers and are situated close to the city of Mumbai. The village folk here let out their homes and extend hospitality with cooked meals and drinks, but at a price. Gorai's sparkling waters are safe throughout the year and the village has its own charm. However, it is advisable to avoid waters in the monsoon months.


Andaman Beach Vacations in India