Radhanagar Beach and the Case for Flying Further Within India

Radhanagar Beach, on Havelock Island in the Andamans, has been named among Asia's best beaches by international travel press more than once, and it still remains oddly under-visited by Indian travellers who default to Goa or a Southeast Asian island for the same turquoise-water fantasy. The water here does not need the comparison; it is simply that good on its own terms.

Why the extra travel time is worth it

Havelock, officially Swaraj Dweep, sits roughly ninety minutes by ferry from Port Blair, itself a two-and-a-half-hour flight from Chennai. That extra half-day of travel is exactly what keeps the beach as clean and quiet as it is; the effort filters out the day-tripper crowds that overwhelm more accessible coastlines.

Getting the timing right

Stay on Havelock itself rather than day-tripping from Port Blair; the last ferry back leaves mid-afternoon, well before the beach empties out and the light turns best. Sunset here faces west directly over the Andaman Sea, and the fifteen minutes after the sun drops, when the crowds that do show up for sunset have already left, is consistently the calmest window on the beach.

What else the island offers

Elephant Beach, a short boat ride or a muddy forest trek from the main jetty, is the better choice for snorkelling, with visibly healthier coral than most of Havelock's other accessible reefs. Kalapathar Beach, quieter again than Radhanagar and a short drive across the island, is worth the detour for travellers who find even Radhanagar too busy.

Practicalities

November through February brings the calmest seas and least humidity; the islands see heavy rain and rougher ferry crossings from June through September. A foreigner-restricted permit area, the Andamans require no special permit for Indian citizens, but do carry a valid photo ID for the ferry booking and the mandatory forest permit for Elephant Beach.