The vast majority of India’s coastlines are still underdeveloped, meaning many places do not have the resources to cater for the demands of international tourism. That said, it’s immensely refreshing to visit a place that has yet to be exploited for its commercial value. So, if you’re the kind of traveller who likes to get off the beaten track and don’t mind a bit of beach tar on your feet, then India’s beaches are most definitely the place for you! I remember visiting Havelock Island in the Andaman Islands only two years ago (2015) and the locals were charging 250 rupees (that’s about £3) for a whole stuffed lobster with rice and salad! I mean these guys hadn’t even clocked on to the fact that they could probably charge foreigners ten times this price for the same meal! While writing this I’m actually hesitating as to whether or not I should be publishing such examples into the public domain, for it’s only a matter of time until hidden gems like Havelock Island become discovered by the masses, oversaturated and consequently destroyed.

On the other hand, the lack of touristic development in many of India’s beach towns does come with its downsides too. If you were to be spotted by the locals sunbathing for example, then you’re highly likely to attract much unwanted attention. Female travellers wearing bikinis could be putting themselves in danger and the vast majority of India’s shoreline remains the fisherman’s favourite toilet! The only exception to such irritations can be found in the more developed beaches of Goa and Kerala, which demonstrates how the influence of mass tourism can also bring along some very welcome innovations.

Below is a shortlist of my best beaches in India. I have yet to explore much of the east coast of India, which I hope to achieve some time in the near future and will update this post accordingly.

Ok, so you wouldn’t exactly want to swim in the sea here, but this beach gets a mention for its fun and bustling vibe. Juhu beach backs on to a posh residential area, where many of the Bollywood movie stars live and are occasionally to be spotted strolling along the beach. By far the best time to visit is in the evenings, when the place completely transforms. Street vendors come out to sell everything from balloons to candy floss and offer just about anything in between from camel rides to tattoos! It’s beautiful to watch the sun setting on the Arabian Sea, while enjoying some of Mumbai’s famous street food. I would recommend trying Bhel Puri, as it’s a relatively safe option for foreigners to eat!

I’ve got my money on this place becoming very popular in years to come! Tharkali is located in the southern part of Maharashtra, sitting on the border with Goa (2-3 hours drive from Panjim). It reminds me of the early days when I used to visit Goa and before it became overcrowded. It’s a long wide stretch of ocean and is popular for water sports (especially on weekends) with many locals coming down from Mumbai. Not only is the beach beautiful, but it’s also one of the few coral reefs off the mainland, meaning it’s also a great spot for snorkelling and diving.

Arambol is a lovely beach right at the northern tip of Goa. It has a big wide stretch of sand, so you can always find a space of your own, especially if you head south towards Mandrem. Arambol is the beach of choice for many long-term travellers and there’s a wide range of decent and cheap accommodation to choose from. It’s a lot more chilled here compared to the bigger resorts of northern Goa (Anjuna, Calangute, Baga, Candolim), which tend to be more popular nowadays amongst the Indian crowd. Arambol is the most established of the four main beach resorts that sit north above the Chapora River, providing a good selection of market stalls and restaurants to explore.

Moving further south from Arambol are three beautiful and very chilled out beaches. In fact from Arambol, you could easily walk along the coast and not know the difference, because each beach merges from one to the other. The sea is choppy here, so swim with caution. There are plenty of beach huts offering cheap rooms with ever more new hotels and boutiques popping up each season. If you’re looking for a chilled place to explore the northern side of Goa, then anywhere along this stretch would be the perfect location.

Although quite touristy and overcrowded these days, Baga is the perfect spot to soak up some action. The Baga stretch of beach trails south into Calangute and Candolim to form Goa’s three most commercial resorts. Here you’ll find everything that Goa has to offer; from fine dining, nightclubs, established hotel chains, water sport activities and international shopping boutiques. If you’ve been travelling in India for a long time, then pit-stopping here for a few days can be highly favourable, offering you the chance to get a good dose of some western comforts you might be missing from home. For example, when visiting Goa I like to dip into this part of town to stock up on some good quality sunscreen and some of my favourite snacks rarely to be seen elsewhere in India such as cheddar cheese, ham and fillet steak!

The ultimate chill-out beach in Goa is this delightful southern stretch known as Agonda. It’s a few kilometres north of Palolem (the South’s most popular beach) meaning you’re in a good place to get some action if you require it. Hawkers are banned from the beachfront here, meaning you can rest assured you won’t be disturbed or annoyed by local touts. If you just want to get away from it all and recharge then Agonda should be the perfect spot!

I first visited Palolem in 2004 and my how it’s changed over the years! In those days it was like discovering paradise on earth, with just enough infrastructure to provide the comforts desired, but not too commercial or crowded. In recent years however, the idyllic charm has slowly washed away. Nonetheless, Palolem still remains one of (if not the) best beaches in Goa. It’s very laid-back here (compared to the party scene in the north) and tends to attract a more hippy/backpacker crowd, with travellers coming from all over the world.

If you travel south over the border of Goa and into the state of Karnataka, you soon arrive at the fantastic beach town of Gokarna. Think Goa 20 years ago, this place has all the charm you would expect from a virgin sub-tropical coastal town, without the influx of mass tourism to spoil it. Gokarna’s main town area is one of three religious sites located in this region and is an extremely sacred place for Hindus. There are many temples throughout and it’s always charming to see the abundance of cows that live and roam freely amongst the crowds and on the beaches. A few kilometres south of the main zone are where most of the foreign travellers hangout on what I believe are some of the best beaches to be found in the country. Kudlee beach and Om beach are where you’re most likely to find a cheap (if not basic) place to stay right on the beachside. There’s no road to reach these beaches, which means you either have to trek down the cliffs or take a boat from the main town.

About an hour’s drive south of Gokarna is another sacred Hindu settlement on the Karnataka coastline called Murudeshwar. This is a very Indian town with few services catering for foreigners at present. However, the reason it gets a mention in this list is because there’s a spectacular statue of Lord Shiva which has been built right on the tip of the headland. The statue is HUGE and definitely adds some charm and character to the stunning beach scenery surrounding it. There are a couple of decent and modern hotels built out on the cliffs, mostly geared towards Indian pilgrims visiting the holy sites nearby. If you were traveling by road between Goa and Kerala, then this could be a great resting point to stop for a night along the way.

Nestled in the south of Kerala is the beautiful costal town of Varkala. The main beach is actually separated by two cliffs, unsurprisingly referred to by the locals as the north and south cliff respectively. Varkala is very popular with backpackers and long-term nomads and is a great place to meet other travellers. The north cliff is notably busier with more cafes and beach shacks, while the south cliff is more relaxed with a better selection of places to stay. The waves are big here, so swim with caution and the colour of the sea is notably more turquoise compared to hues seen in Goa and Karnataka. If you stroll a few kilometres along the coast from the south cliff there’s apparently a natural supply of fresh spring water that trickles out from the cliffs where you can fill your water bottle. Please ask locals for the exact location and only drink at your own risk!

Kerala’s most established beach resort is the beautiful southern stretch known as Kovalam. The area is a popular surfing spot and there’s a good selection of guesthouses and restaurants dotted along the pedestrianised promenade. In my opinion Kovalam is not as charming as Varkala, but at only 15km away from the capital city, it’s easily reachable and a good place to enjoy the sun, sand and sea.

Located on the utmost southern tip of the country, Kanyakumari is a town where you can see the sun both rise and set from the same place. In April (during full moon) you also have the chance to see the sun setting and the moon rising at the same time! Furthermore, Kanyakumari is the meeting spot for three seas (The Arabian Sea, The Indian Ocean and the Bay Of Bengal) and it’s for all of these reasons that tourists like to visit this place. It’s easy to make a day trip to Kanyakumari from the popular beach resorts of southern Kerala, although you might want to spend a night here to admire the early sun rising on the three converging seas.

Geographically the Andaman Islands are located closer to Thailand than they are to mainland India, but (thankfully) the Indian government has restricted access from South-east Asia, meaning you can only visit this region by either flying or taking a ship directly from the mainland. For this reason alone, the Andaman Islands are all the more special. The fact they are so remote and difficult to access makes it ever more rewarding to reach them and then, when you discover just how stunning the beaches are, you feel even more satisfied at having made the journey. By far the best place to check out for a first time visitor is Havelock Island. The north east coast of this micro island is the most developed section, with the bulk of guesthouses to choose from. It’s also one of the cheapest places in the world to learn diving with qualified level 5 PADI instructors and some amazing corals nearby. On the west coast though is where you’ll find the best beaches. Elephant beach is accessed by a 20 min jungle trek and is a perfect snorkelling spot. While Radhnagar beach was once voted as Asia’s greatest beach by Time magazine (and rightfully so) for its powder white sands and strikingly still seawater making it a perfect choice for swimming.