Top 10 beaches you must visit in India

Obviously, Goa is home to almost all of them.

Some 43 km north of Goa’s capital, Panaji, is the fairly secluded Keri Beach (or Querim Beach). It take over an hour-and-a-half to reach this beach that’s even north of Arambol, but the ride is well worth the while. Keri Beach (or Querim Beach) ranks number 10 in the list of the best beaches in India, according to TripAdvisor users.
Photograph: Jo Kent/Flickr (Under Creative Commons License)

Arambol is just south of Keri and thanks to the lack of proximity to Panaji and the commercial beaches of Goa it has remained relatively off the radar. Favoured by foreign tourists, Arambol beach is broadly divided into two parts—the one at Harmal being more popular thanks to the cliffs that hug it. No major hotel chains have arrived at Arambol yet, making it the perfect getaway you’ve been looking for.
Photograph: Aleksandr Zykov/Flickr (Under Creative Commons License)

Stretching south of Benaulim, Varca is home to some of the more exclusive beach resorts. Of course, budget accommodations exist, but when in Varca you may just find yourself veering towards the expensive options.
Photograph: Noella C/Flickr (Under Creative Commons License)

Varkala may not have as intense a party scene as some of the Goa beaches, but don’t let that stop you from heading down there. Majestic cliffs overlook the clean beach that encourages long walks and moments of solitude. Avoid swimming here, though, since the currents tend to be strong.
Photograph: Peter Addor/Flickr (Under Creative Commons License)

Quite like Varca, Cavelossim is also home to high-end resorts, including the Leela Goa. Cavelossim is flanked on one side by coconut groves and on the other by paddy fields and ranks sixth on the list of the top 10 beaches in India, according to TripAdvisor users.
Photograph: Lisa Myring/Flickr (Under Creative Commons License)

One of the more popular beaches of south Goa, Palolem has come a long way from being a secret beach in Goa. Today, it boasts of a cool party scene and hip restaurants, which aren’t altogether unwelcome in the case of Palolem.
Photograph: Neil Hinchley/Flickr (Under Creative Commons License)

Think great seafood, Ayurvedic massages and amazing yoga classes with a Portuguese fort thrown in—Mandrem in Goa has it all. What else do you need anyway, right?
Photograph: Simon Alexander Jacob/Flickr (Under Creative Commons License)

Legend has it that Parsurama shot an arrow that landed here giving Benaulim or Banavalli (meaning arrow) its name. The Portuguese changed its name to Benaulim, which stuck. Quite like most of the beaches on this list Benalim is clean and among the less commercialised beaches in Goa. It ranks number three in the list of the best beaches in India.
Photograph: Pankaj Kaushal/Flickr (Under Creative Commons License)

Once rated among the top beaches in the world by New York Times, the Radhanagar Beach at Havelock continues to retain its charm. Sure the number of visitors have increased, but the clean waters and white sand beach earn Radhanagar a well-deserved second spot.
Photograph: Santanu Sen/Flickr (Under Creative Commons License)

TripAdvisor’s best beach in India stands almost at the southern tip of Goa, leaving it relatively unexplored. The village surrounding the beach is also a sleepy hamlet where sunsets are breathtaking and life is simple. What else can you ask for from a beach, really?

Photograph: Ram Joshi/Flickr (Under Creative Commons License)