India has more than 7,000 km of coastline. These are the beach destinations worth planning a trip around.
India’s beach state, with Portuguese churches, spice farms and seafood shacks. Party in the north, slow down in the south.
Nov-Mar 4-7 days
A temple town with a string of secluded beaches (Om, Kudle, Half Moon and Paradise) joined by coastal trails.
Oct-Mar 2-3 days
Red laterite cliffs above a golden beach, with cliff-top cafés, yoga and Ayurveda.
Nov-Mar 2-4 days
A former French enclave with mustard-yellow villas, bougainvillea, cafés and the Auroville community nearby.
Dec-Mar 2 days
Seventh-century Pallava rock-cut temples and a shore temple on the Bay of Bengal: a UNESCO site an hour from Chennai.
Nov-Feb 1 day
Turquoise water, white sand and coral reefs: India’s best beaches and diving, in the Bay of Bengal.
Nov-Apr 5-7 days
The Jagannath Temple, one of the Char Dham, the Rath Yatra chariot festival, a long beach and the Sun Temple at Konark (UNESCO), 35 km up the coast.
Oct-Mar 2-4 days
Two great temples on the Gujarat coast: the Dwarkadhish temple, one of the Char Dham, and Somnath, the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas.
Oct-Mar 3-4 days
Mumbai’s beach weekend: a short ferry ride across the harbour to beaches, sea forts and seafood.
Oct-Mar 1-2 days
A small former Portuguese island off Gujarat: a sea fort, white churches, quiet beaches and Somnath just 90 km away.
Oct-Mar 2-3 days
India’s southern tip: the Ramanathaswamy Jyotirlinga on Rameswaram island, the ruined town of Dhanushkodi, and sunrise where three seas meet at Kanya…
Oct-Mar 3-4 days
Karnataka’s coast of great temples and beaches: Udupi’s Sri Krishna Matha, Murudeshwar’s giant Shiva, Kollur Mookambika, Dharmasthala and Kukke Subra…
Oct-Mar 3-4 days
Not sure where to start? Try the trip finder: tell us when you’re going and what you love, and we’ll match destinations.
See also: best time to visit India · where to go each month.
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