Beaches are always alluring. Having grown up in Chennai with Marina Beach nearby, visiting the beach has always been a fond childhood memory. After moving to Hyderabad 28 years ago, I visited beaches much less often. I’ve had the chance to see beaches in Goa, Mauritius, and Antigua, so I wasn’t expecting Andaman to be very different. But once again, Andaman surprised me.
The beaches were well-maintained, less commercialized, and breathtakingly beautiful. The professionalism, safety, and warmth of the service during the adventure activities made the trip truly memorable.
Corbyn’s Cove Beach
We spent our first evening strolling along Corbyn’s Cove Beach, just across from our resort. One thing that was noticeably missing was the usual chaotic commercial activity found at most tourist spots. The beach had only a few simple huts selling basic food, souvenirs, and fruits. This was true for all the tourist spots we visited in Andaman—a good lesson for other destinations.
Chidia Tapu
One evening, we went to Chidia Tapu, a place known for its sunsets. It was cloudy the day we went, so we missed the sunset, but the place was still great for spending time and taking photos. The beach had beautiful trees, a mix of sand and rocks, and even some rocks in the water where you could sit and relax.
North Bay Island
A 30-minute ferry ride from Port Blair takes you to North Bay Island, which is full of adventure activities. If you don’t plan to visit Elephant Beach on Swaraj Dweep, North Bay is a great place for water sports. Since we were heading to Swaraj Dweep, we skipped the sports and just enjoyed the beach.
Kala Pathar Beach, Swaraj Dweep
This was the first beach we visited on Swaraj Dweep. With its white sands, green trees, turquoise water, and black rocks, it was a beautiful sight. The place is known for its sunrises, but it’s a beautiful spot to admire and take photos at any time of day.
Vijaya Nagar Beach, Swaraj Dweep
Our resort on Swaraj Dweep was on Vijaya Nagar Beach. It’s a calm, serene beach with clear water and white sand, with a few trees providing shade. It’s also known as a great place for scuba diving.
Elephant Beach, Swaraj Dweep
We took a 25-minute boat ride to reach Elephant Beach, where we had booked snorkeling, a sea walk, and parasailing. The system for the rides, which was based on the boat you arrived in, was well-organized. Normally, waiting for others to finish their activities would be annoying, but the beautiful location made it a pleasure to watch people enjoy the water sports. We saw everyone from small children to the elderly having a great time. The only ride that didn’t seem to meet expectations was the submarine ride.
Radha Nagar Beach
We saved the best for last. Considered one of the best beaches in the world, we had high expectations, and this beach exceeded them. It’s a long, clean, and well-maintained stretch of sand with turquoise water. Even with a large crowd, it didn’t feel packed, and everyone had their own space to enjoy.
In fact, we loved it so much that we returned the next morning. There were fewer people, and it was incredibly calm and soothing.
Summary
In summary, the beaches across Andaman make it a tropical paradise that I believe every Indian should visit before heading to global destinations like Mauritius and the Maldives.
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