Beaches In India: A List And Why You Need To Visit Them At Least Once

India has a rather long coastline. Precisely, 7516.6 km. This means endless possibilities, adventure, different perspectives and expanding one’s horizons because of the unique and unusual beaches you will find along this coastline.  The article attempts to capture beaches in India that share some unusual features that make them unique. While you may have seen the pictures, nothing beats experiencing them on your own. Read on to find out more so that you can add them to your ever-growing, but unique, bucket list. 

The top 12 unique beaches in India are

1. Bangaram Beach

Bangaram Beach is actually in the Indian Ocean that surrounds the pearl-shaped Bangaram island which is part of a string of islands that constitute the union territory of Lakshadweep. The beauteous sweeping shoreline is India’s cleanest and most serene beach. Furthermore, the effect of bioluminescence at night makes it one of the most exciting and unique beaches in India. At night, the sea glows up because of the aquatic organisms like phytoplanktons, algae, jellyfish and other creatures that produce light of their own to drive away predators.

However, you will need passes to visit this island, so do check in advance for any such requirements.

Location: Lakshadweep

Timings: Varies. Need to check before going.

How to get there: The closest airport is Agatti Airport in Agatti islands, which is well-connected to Bangalore, Kochi and Chennai airports. This island is 20 minutes away from Bangaram Island by speed boat.

2. Muzhapillangad Beach

Muzhapillangad Beach is the only drive-in beach in India and the longest one in Asia. This means you can race your car along the shores of this unusual beach whilst enjoying the stunning vista around you. It is also home to many migratory birds bringing delight to wildlife photographers. 

Location: QCWW+VQG, Muzhappilangad Beach Rd, Muzhappilangad, Kerala 670663

Timing: 24 hrs

How to get there: The beach is located in Kannur which has a well-connected railway station and an airport. Entry is free unless you want to drive, for which a nominal fee of 10 rupees is charged.

3. Om Beach

Om beach is a beach in Gokarna that has a shoreline shaped like the symbol of Om, hence the name. Two crescent-shaped shorelines at one end give the entire shoreline the shape of an Om making this one of the unique beaches in India. It is due to this that the beach has a religious significance for the locals there. However, you can go and enjoy the scene or indulge in water activities.

Location: North Canara district, Gokarna

Timings: 24 hrs

How to reach there: Gokarna is well connected by road and rail. You can take a bus or train from the nearest cities of Bangalore, Mangalore, or Goa.

4. Chandipur Beach

Chandipur beach is also known as the hide-and-seek beach of Odisha as the sea recedes for miles during low tide. The retreat of the sea during low tide almost makes it seem like the sea has vanished only to reappear during high tides. This makes Chandipur beach unusual and one of the most unique beaches in India. Google beforehand, the timings of high tide and low tide.

Location: Balasore district, Odisha

Timing: 5:00 am to 10:00 pm

How to get there: Chandipur beach is located in the small village of Balasore. It can be reached by road and rail from the nearest city of Bhubaneshwar from where you can board a bus or a train to Balasore. Chandipur Beach is around 16 km from Balasore, so you will need to take a private taxi to reach the beach.

5. Butterfly Beach

Butterfly beach in Goa is one of the relatively lesser known beaches in India. The bay of this beach is semi-circular, and the hills adjacent to it host hundreds of butterflies giving this beach its name. Since the beach is not very crowded, you may be lucky enough to spot dolphins swimming in the sea.

Location: Cancona, Goa

Timings: 6:00 am to 10:00 pm

How to get there: The beach is located just a little North of Palolem Beach. You can take a boat from Palolem to Butterfly beach.

6. Nagoa Beach

Nagoa Beach is one of the offbeat beaches in India that enjoys popularity among a select group of travellers. This is a unique beach because of the Hoga trees found fringing the shores. These trees are not native to India but were brought over from Africa by Portuguese colonisers. Therefore, it is not found anywhere else in India. 

Location: Nagoa, Bucharwada, Diu

Timings: 7:00 am to 7:30 pm

How to get there: This unique beach is located in the union territory of Diu. Diu has an airport at Nagao connected by a flight to Mumbai. The closest railway station is in Veraval which is 90 km away from Nagao and is connected to major cities like Mumbai, Pune, Dwarka, Jabalpur, and Thiruvananthapuram. Buses operate between Diu and nearby cities like Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

7. Dumas Beach

Dumas Beach, located at a distance of 20 km from Surat, Gujarat is a unique beach because it ranks among the most haunted locations in India. The story goes that this was a cremation ground for Hindus in ancient times, hence the spirits that lingered on have ever since haunted this beach. The black sand of the beach is attributed to the same fact, and therefore it is listed among the unique beaches in India.

Location: Along the Arabian Sea, Surat, Gujarat, 395007, India

Timings: 24 hours

How to get there: Travellers can catch a bus from either Ahmedabad or Mumbai to Surat. From there on, travellers can catch a taxi to Dumas beach.

8. Arambol Beach

The unique thing about Arambol Beach that sets it apart from other beaches is the sweet water lake, Paliem, that is part of the beach. Plenty of water sports can be enjoyed on this beach, and it is also known for being quiet and clean.

Location: Arambol

Timings: 8:00 am to 10:00 pm

How to get there: Panaji, which is well-connected by air and rail to other major cities is just 36 km away from Arambol. From Panaji, you can either take a bus or a private taxi to your destination.

9. St Mary’s Island

St Mary’s Island has gone down in history as the first place where Vasco Da Gama reached. It is a set of small islands off the coast of Malpe in the Udupi district of Karnataka. Malpe Beach on St Mary’s Island is one of the most unique beaches in India because of the basaltic rock formations scattered along the shore. This gives the beach geological importance because the formations are the result of Madagascar’s separation from India 88 million years ago! 

Location: Udupi

Timings: 24 hrs

How to get there: Udupi is the nearest railway station which is connected to cities like Bangalore and Mangalore.

10. Pingleshwar Beach

Enjoy a serene day on the sandy shores of Pingleshwar Beach which lies close to Mandvi, Kutch. The beach is a unique beach because it is also a wetland for hundreds of migratory birds that pass by. It is also a site of pilgrimage due to the famous Pingleshwar Temple located nearby.

Location: 3R82+38P, Rapar Gadhvali, Gujarat 370655

Timings: 7:00 am to 7:00 pm

How to get there: Bhuj is the nearest airport and railway station. From here you can take a bus or taxi to Mandvi, and from here you can hire private taxis to take you to the beach.

11. Radhanagar Beach

Radhanagar Beach is a beach that you cannot miss when you are in the Andamans. This beach is on Havelock Islands and has postcard-level scenes which has earned the title of the 7th most-beautiful beach in the world. Indeed, the clean sandy shores of this beach in India beckon all those seeking a relaxing and tranquil holiday.

Location: Havelock Islands of Andaman & Nicobar islands

Timings: 24 hours

How to get there: Plenty of government and private boats ply between Port Blair and Havelock Island. To Port Blair itself, you can arrive by flight from Chennai. There are flight services as well, to Havelock Islands.

12. Tilmati Beach

In the name lies the mystery of this beach. Tilmati Beach has black sands that look like sesame seeds the Konkani word for which is ‘Tillu’. Hence the name Tilmati. The unusual beach has fewer visitors than others giving seclusion and peace to those who do visit. 

Location: Karwar, Uttara Kannada district, Majali, Karnataka

Timings: 6:00 am to 7:00 pm

How to get there: There are bus stands in Karwar and Majali which are connected to major towns. You can also hike to this beach from Majali.

Travelling is known to reduce stress, increase self-awareness, and boost creativity. Witnessing unique and unusual landscapes apart from cultures also plays a big and important part in this journey. While the list ends here, it is also where your adventures begin. We hope you make us a part of it, as Treebo has 1000+ properties in 120+ locations providing free wifi, complimentary breakfast, and sanitised stays.