South India is undoubtedly one of the best places to go if you love beaches. South India has many beaches that all types of people love. Read below to find out.
Marina Beach, Chennai:
Second largest beach globally, famed for stunning sunrise and sunset views, with activities like kite flying and pony rides for children.
Elliot Beach, Chennai:
Known as Besant Nagar Beach, it is a tranquil spot for sunbathing and walks, with nearby attractions like Velankanni Church and Ashtalakshmi Kovil Temple.
Cherai Beach, Kochi:
Beach with shallow waters perfect for swimming, with options for surfing and speed boat rides, complemented by Chinese fishing nets and backwater visits.
Varkala Beach, Thiruvananthapuram:
Varkala Beach offers water sports, sunbathing, and massages amidst stunning cliffs and a stream with curative properties.
Auroville Beach, Pondicherry:
Popularly known as Auro Beach, featuring golden and black volcanic sand, ideal for activities like beach volleyball and surfing, with prominent landmarks nearby.
Mahe Beach, Pondicherry:
This serene Beach is adorned with swaying palm trees, which are ideal for swimming and leisurely walks, offering picturesque sunrise and sunset vistas.
Mahabalipuram Beach, Mahabalipuram:
Offering views of the Bay of Bengal and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mahabalipuram Beach offers surfing and exploration opportunities of ancient temples and caves.
Dhanushkodi Beach, Tamil Nadu:
This beach is bordered by the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal and features remnants of a submerged town and myths from the Ramayana.
Rishikonda Beach, Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh:
This scenic beach has beautiful sands and ample shore space, is popular among tourists for relaxation, and offers water sports.
Manginapudi Beach, Andhra Pradesh:
Unique black soil coastline offering shallow waters ideal for swimming, with a rich historical background, including Dutch settlements and a vibrant local fishing culture.
Best ten beaches in South India to visit
Do you know that South India has a mosaic of breathtaking coastlines featuring the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, and Bay of Bengal? South India offers some of the most beautiful natural beaches, which offer a peaceful and serene space for beach lovers.
South Indian beaches are great travel destinations because they combine adventure, fine dining, leisure, and distinctive markets in the proper amount. If you want to know about them, this article invites you to read about what you can experience at these beaches. Here is the list of the top 10 Beaches in South India for travel and beach lovers.
Warm beaches to visit in Tamil Nadu
1.Marina Beach, Chennai
Chennai’s Marina Beach provides breathtaking views of the sun setting and rising. Thousands of locals and travelers visit the beach every day. It’s better to avoid swimming and bathing here due to the nature of the sea waters. Kids can go on pony rides and fly kites.
Don’t miss the evening’s delicious crispy murukku and sunal, which beachside hawkers offer. Marina Beach is situated along the Bay of Bengal. Several historical monuments are accessible from the beach. You can also buy some small amazing knick-knacks from the nearby beachside local market.
Famous for: Sunrise and sunset views, pony rides, and kite flying for children
Best time to visit: cooler parts of the day
2.Elliot Beach, Chennai
Elliot Beach, a favorite among the Beaches in South India for families and those seeking tranquility, is sometimes called Besant Nagar Beach or Edward Elliot Beach. Moreover, this beach is one of the cleanest in Chennai and is located south of Marina Beach. Additionally, two of the most well-liked sights in this area are the Ashtalakshmi Kovil Temple and the Velankanni Church. Notably, Elliot snack shops sell Chili Bhajji, a classic, delicious South Indian dish worth trying.
Famous for: Sunbathing, cleanliness, and tranquil surroundings
Beach timings: 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Welcoming, lovely beaches in Kerala
3.Varkala Beach, Thiruvananthapuram
Varkala Beach is a beach in Kerala located between Kovalam and Alleppey. If you enjoy water sports, you can swim, windsurf, and parasail here. The brook next to the beach is said to have healing and medical qualities in addition to its religious significance.
The Sivagiri Mutt and the 2000-year-old Janardhanaswamy Temple are well-liked attractions here. To forget the fatigue of the day, try yoga and Ayurvedic massages available nearby.
Famous for: Yoga and ayurveda, sightseeing, sunbathing, windsurfing, and parasailing
Beach timings: 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM.
4.Cherai Beach, Kochi
Cherai Beach is a shallow beach that is perfect for swimming and is 30 miles away from the major city. You can do water sports like canoeing, speed boat rides, surfing, and other water sports here. Situated near the northern tip of Vypeen Island, this is one of the Beaches in South India that offers a combination of sea and backwater. Another sight along the waterfront is the Chinese fishing nets.
Remember to take a trip to the backwaters conveniently close to Cherai Beach. If you are lucky, you might see a dolphin in the sea. You can pick colorful shells on the shore of this beach. You can also take a bicycle ride to the neighboring villages or enjoy Kite flying here.
Famous for: Swimming, water sports, backwater visits, kite flying, and bicycle rides.
Beach timings: Open throughout the day.
Fresh and laid-back beaches in South India
5.Auroville Beach, Pondicherry
Auroville Beach in Pondicherry tops the list of the best Beaches in South India. This volcanic sand beach has soft, golden, and black hues and is 12 kilometers from the town. Travelers love the subset views of this beach, which resembles an orange ball that radiates healing energy. Tourists mainly come to this beach on the weekends, and young people particularly like to come here.
You can play beach volleyball, swim, sunbathe, and do other stress-relieving activities here. People also come to this beach to surf. The beach also features a 4-meter-long statue of Mahatma Gandhi and a military memorial honoring the First World War’s military martyrs, which are worth visiting.
Famous for: Sightseeing, sunset views, fun activities
Beach timings: 5:30 AM to 6:30 PM.
6.Mahe Beach, Kerala
Mahe Beach is a lovely beach with swaying palm trees scattered along it. It is located 22 kilometers south of Kannur and is one of the serene and most popular beaches in Kerala. There are also a few fishing villages close to this beach. You can swim here if that’s your thing. The beach is a great place for leisure travelers to relax and unwind since it really revitalizes you.
You can also take a leisurely stroll along the gorgeous and quaint Mahe beach. Most Beaches in South India cannot match the cleanliness levels and crowd levels similar to Mahe. Don’t forget to gather shells that wash up on the beach. If you go to this beach early in the morning, enjoy watching the fishermen as they fish.
Best time to visit: Evening
Famous for: Sunrise and sunset views, shells on the beach, swimming
Beaches to bask in history’s remains
7.Mahabalipuram Beach, Mahabalipuram
The beach at Mahabalipuram overlooks the expansive blue Bay of Bengal and is another great place for tourists to visit. This beach is very special because the Mahabalipuram Group of Monuments on this beach is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This seashore is home to several of Mahabalipuram’s well-known attractions, including temples, historical sites, and caverns. When you come here, explore the chariots, ancient caves, rock-cut sculptors, and Monolith Ratha.
The architectural marvels on Mahabalipuram Beach show the opulence of Pallava kings. Cacophonous sea waves sometimes break the calm scattered across this beach. Mahabalipuram is one of Tamil Nadu’s most popular beaches. You can try surfing here, relax at the beach, and enjoy sightseeing.
Famous for: Surfing and Mahabalipuram Group of monuments (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Beach timings: 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM.
8.Dhanushkodi Beach, Tamil Nadu
Dhanushkodi Beach is one of the Beaches in South India that offer a strange fusion of natural attractiveness and historical intrigue. The Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal flank it. Without a doubt, it also has tranquil beauty and pristine waters. Many tourists come to see the vestiges of a town near this beach that was submerged by a storm in 1964. The beach is particularly popular for having been described in the epic Ramayana as the beginning of Rama’s bridge, giving it legendary significance.
Beach Timings: Open throughout the day, best visited between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM.
Best Time: October to February
Moist and relaxing beaches in Andhra Pradesh
9.Rishikonda Beach, Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
Rishikonda Beach is a beautiful beach located eight kilometers from Vishakhapatnam. This beach is a favorite spot for tourists from all over the world. It has beautiful sands and a huge shore that is relaxing. Travelers can come to this simple beach to unwind and enjoy the stunning surroundings. The 14th-century Sapta Rusheswara Temple is another popular site here.
Some examples of water sports here are windsurfing, swimming, speed boating, and water skiing. You can also enjoy the waves of the Bay of Bengal at this beach.
Famous for: Water skiing, windsurfing, swimming
Beach timings: The beach is open 24 hours, but for safety, it’s recommended to visit between 6 AM and 6 PM.
10.Manginapudi Beach
Manginapudi in Andhra Pradesh is one of the Beaches in South India that is a popular swimming destination because of its shallow seas and distinctive black soil shoreline. Manginapudi Beach is situated close to Machelipatnam. Visitors can explore the ruins of Dutch towns. When you come here, take leisurely strolls along the beach and experience the local fishing culture. You will also love the area’s rich historical heritage as a major port in ancient India.
Famous for: Historical port of ancient India
Beach timings: Open throughout the day.
Final thoughts
These are the ten best Beaches in South India that you must visit as a beach enthusiast. Note these down and choose one to make your travel experience amazing.
What are the typical water sports activities you can do at South Indian beaches?
Beachgoers can experience thrill and adventure with a variety of water sports available on South Indian beaches. Some of them are windsurfing, swimming, parasailing, and speed boat rides.
Are South Indian beaches good for families with children?
Indeed, a lot of the Beaches in South India are suitable for families, offering kids safe and enjoyable activities. Some of them are kite flying, pony rides, and sandcastle building.
What distinguishes Kerala beaches?
Kerala has the best Beaches in South India, and they are well-known for their calm backwaters, cultural immersion opportunities, and revitalizing seaside escapes.
