Top 10 Virgin Beaches of India

As the temperatures start soaring across the nation, head towards some of the finest beaches in India to beat the heat in style. India is one of the few countries in the world, which has a long coastline and many gorgeous beaches. From the rocky and pebbled shores to golden sands – India is a heaven for beach lovers and water-sports enthusiasts. More often than not, when we talk about the beaches of India, common destinations that come in the mind are, Goa, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Huge crowds usually throng all the popular beaches of these states every year. However, what about those who are looking for serene and incredibly beautiful beaches? Well, in that case, you can visit many virgin beaches of India, which have remained untouched by commercialisation and offer a lot to explore.

St. Mary’s Beach, Karnataka

Also known as Thonsepar and Coconut Island, St. Mary’s beach is spread across four small islands in the Arabian Sea, which are situated off the coast of Udupi in Karnataka. This beach is particularly famous for its amazing geological formation, made up of columnar basaltic lava, which creates some spectacular views. Travellers take a ferry ride from Malpe, a fishing harbour to visit this uninhabited beach, complemented by a beautiful and pristine coastline. This virgin beach does not have any accommodations for the visitors except a few concrete tiles to sit. A small part of the beach is filled with seashells, which are sprinkled around on the sand.

Best Time to Visit:  December and January.

Cavelossim Beach, Goa

Dotted by the lush greeneries and picturesque hillocks, the Cavelossim Beach in Goa is popular for its white sand and contrasting black rocks. As compared to other beaches in the state, this beach is very peaceful and quite where you can enjoy the majestic views, created by the confluence of the great Arabian Sea and Sal River. This beach stretch begins from the Majorda town in the north to the Cavelossim in the south. Majorda town has one of the largest temples in the state, which is dedicated to the goddess Shri Shantadurga. Take a walk on its golden sands to soak in the beauty of a serene and stunning ambience.

Best Time to Visit:  November to March.

Agatti Beach, Lakshadweep

Blessed with enormous aquatic diversity, Agatti beach is known for turquoise blue water, multi-coloured fishes, sparkling coral reefs, and sea turtles. This beach is a part of a small chain of islands spread across an area around 450 km off Cochin. The entire beach is covered with lush green coconut palms and small hillocks. The main attraction of this beach is its soothing and peaceful setting. One can savour the latent beauty of this island at the time of low tides when reefs create striking views. There are other opportunities to enjoy various water sports here like scuba diving, snorkelling, fishing, kayaking, and sailing.

Best Time to Visit:  October to April.

Radhanagar Beach, Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Undoubtedly, one of the best beaches in Asia, Radhanagar Beach has been remained a riddle for travellers because of its captivating appeal and unscathed elegance. However, it is named as “The 7^th best beach in the world” by Time Magazine, this beach does not receive many visitors every year – maybe because of its location. The azure and crystal clear waters of this beach create an awe-inspiring imagery amidst a serene environment, which certainly lifts the spirits of the visitors. The innate beauty of this beach lies in its white sand and blue waters and palm trees.

Best time to visit: November to April

Serenity Beach, Pondicherry

Fringed by palm trees, this beach is considered as an amazing destination for all those seeking tranquillity amidst an overwhelming ambience. This beach is named after a resort, which is quite popular here and its original name is Kottakuppam beach. One of the attractions of this beach is a lane of rocks, which is exquisitely placed within the sea and the entire structure appears like a tail or a bridge, emerging from the water. It is one of the most beautiful beaches in Pondicherry, which is complemented by shimmering waters and golden sands. However, there is so much to explore and experience on this beach, you would never find it over-crowded.

Best time to visit: September to March

Nagoa Beach, Diu

Emerald water, white sands, and verdant forests, Nagoa Beach is one of the most beautiful and largest beaches in India, which is located on the southeast of Diu Island.  Overlooking a quaint fishing village, the most outstanding thing about this village is its beauty and setting as this land is bestowed with all that you can call exquisite and has remained untouched by any sort of commercialisation. The swaying palm trees and cool breeze create an invigorating environment for the visitors, who can also enjoy swimming and other water sports here.

Best Time to Visit: April to October

Cola Beach, Goa

Dotted by coconut groves and small hillocks – this beach is quite different from the other popular beaches of Goa. This uninhabited beach has remained one of the last virgin beaches in Goa, which is a perfect gateway for all those who are looking for a comforting atmosphere to get some peace of mind. Savour the splendid views of sunrise and sunset here against a majestic backdrop. You can also spot some seagulls here, which further add to the overall beauty of this virgin island.

Best Time to Visit: October and February.

Talasari Beach, Orissa

Known for its majestic coconut and palm groves, Talasari beach is located in the Baleswar district of Odisha. Interestingly, the name Talasari is a combination of two words – Tala means palm and Sari means row. Thus, this beach earned its name because of the palm trees, which have covered almost 70% of its total area. One can savour the beauty of its beautiful sand dunes and mild waves, which create a perfect ambience. The calm waters of this beach also allow people to enjoy swimming and other water sports here.

Mochemad Beach, Maharashtra

Nestled beautifully amidst several verdant hills and mountains, Mochemad Beach is located around 10km from the town of Vengurla in Maharashtra. This unspoiled and stunning beach has been remained one of the favourite destinations for bird-watchers, as it is home to innumerable migratory birds and aquatic species. There are many naturally adorned spots on this beach, where one can relax and savour the innate beauty of the surroundings, which also include crystal-clear waters and golden sands. In fact, this clean beach also has some remarkable attractions nearby such as forts and Sargeshwar Shiva temple. The sunrise and sunset views are considered as other main attractions of this serene beach.

Best Time to Visit: October to February.

Yarada Beach, Vishakhapatnam

Far away from the hustle-bustle of a city, Yarada Beach in Vishakhapatnam is immensely blessed by nature. Complimented by verdant hills and thick groves on three sides, this beach has remained untouched by any sort of commercialisation.  This beach also has the second-largest coastline in India.

Best time to visit: October- March

Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Pristine Destinations of India

Spread across a total area of 8,073 sq kilometers , the Andaman and Nicobar Islands were once a home to many indigenous tribes and now-a-days known as one of the most exotic tourist destinations of India. These islands earned a ghastly status during the colonial rule in India, when the freedom fighters were sent to these islands. The immaculate natural beauty of these islands presents a contrasting image against the days of British occupation of India, when these serene islands were developed into a penal colony. After the exodus of British from India, this archipelago caught the attention of travellers and gradually emerged as one of the most sought-after destinations in India. Situated at the confluence of Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal – these islands are popular destinations for the lovers of water sports and natural wonders. The serene beaches of these islands are characterised by their pearl-white sand and sparkling blue waters – most importantly, the weather stays temperate during the most of the time in a year. So, let’s talk about the main attractions of these islands:

Cellular Jail, Port Blair

Once a notorious British prison, which was also known as Kaali Paani (black waters), the Cellular Jail was turned into a National Memorial after Indian earned independence and now, this building has emerged as the top tourist attraction of these islands. Located at Port Blair, it took ten years to construct this massive jail, which was initially used in 1906, when it had more than 20 wings – some of them were destroyed during the WWII. The current building has 7 wings with each block constructed on a criss-cross pattern with a watch tower in the middle, which was used to keep an eye on the prisoners in those days. Some of its part has been transformed into a hospital, which serves the locals here. Each day a sound-and-light show is held here in the central ground to showcase the history and heritage of the jail in details.

Limestone Caves, Baratang Island

These natural Limestone Caves in Baratang Island are one of the main attractions of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. These marvellous natural spectacles are created over the millions of years. Located in an uninhabitable part of the island, these caves have been in their natural state since the time immemorial. The route to these caves goes through a dense forest and tribal reserves, which showcase the fascinating marks of the pre-historic times. One can also spot sun-bathing crocodiles in these caves, which contain the stalactites and the stalagmites, constantly transforming into some haunting shapes due to natural erosion.

Bharatpur Beach, Neil Island

Hugely popular for its white shores and coral reefs, the Bharatpur beach is located at the jetty near the Neil Islands, also referred as the coral capital of Andaman. This place is frequented by many snorkeling enthusiasts and marine life explorers. Leisure travellers can also enjoy the coral viewing here by hiring a glass bottom boat or indulge in some adventurous activities like scuba diving and swimming.

Radhanagar Beach, Havelock Island

Radhanagar beach is located on the western coast of the Havelock islands. Because of its serene ambiance, sparkling blue waters and natural beauty, this beach was extolled as “Asia’s Best Beach” in 2004 by the TIME Magazine. The placid waters of this beach do not receive any wave action, which makes them perfect for enjoying various activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving and boating etc. The overall setting of this beach is complimented by white sands, blue waters and serene ambiance that make it a splendid destination.

Marina Park, Port Blair

This place is a must-visit site for all those who want to know about the aquatic life of these islands. Managed by the Indian navy, it is also known as ‘Samudrika Marine Museum’ – this park is solely developed to create awareness among people about the aquatic life and its related aspects. There are large tanks inside the park, which are filled with coral reefs and various sorts of aqua flora and fauna, which are found on these islands.

The Great Nicobar Island, Nicobar

Covering an area of 1,045 sq kilometers, this is the largest among the Nicobar Islands. It is a massive island with a sparse population of around 10,000 inhabitants, which apparently contributes in the  sustenance of its rain-forest – a treasure trove of a diverse wildlife. Due to its exotic location, this island supports a wide variety of aquatic fauna. It is also a home to one of the oldest tribes in the world, know as “Shompen.” Some of the unique fauna of this place is comprised of robber crab, Nicobar pigeon and crab-hunter macaque.

Mount Harriet National Park, Port Blair

There are about nine national parks in Andaman and Mount Harriet National Park is considered as the most beautiful one. It also has the second highest peak in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. One can enjoy some awe-inspiring views of the sunrise from its trek, which is about 16 kilometers long – from Madhuban to Mount Harriet. Visitors can behold the stunning views of its exotic flora and birds, while striding along its verdant trail.

Viper Island, Andaman

As the name suggests, the Viper Island is known for the variety of snakes, which are found in every corner of this island. There are ruins of a jail, part of the cellular jail on this island, which was used to incarcerate the Indian freedom fighters. The dreadful remnants of gallows and other modes of punishment are still present on this island. This jail had many renowned political prisoners during India’s struggle to Independence. Now, this place is known for its picturesque location.

Corbyn’s Cove Beach, Port Blair

It is the nearest beach from Port Blair, which is blessed with immense natural beauty. Brimming with the verdant palm groves, there are various restaurants and bars in this area which make it a favourite tourist hub in Andaman. Visitors come here to enjoy various water sports such as  scuba diving, jet skiing, glass bottom cruises and snorkeling. It is also close to the Cellular Jail, one of the most popular heritage destinations of Andaman and Nicobar islands.