The coastline of India has a great choice of beaches from Orissa to Gujarat. Here’s a sneak peek on some of the best.
Orissa
Puri in Orissa is a fine beach on the east coast of India. The Puri Beach Festival, attracts tourists from all over the country. It is a good mix of modern and classical forms of entertainment.
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Orissa also has on offer Gopalpur-at-Sea, Chandrabhaga and Paradeep. The sea at Gopalpur is tranquil and you cannot resist the temptation of the blue waters. The Chandrabhaga beach is close to the Sun Temple and this is an added draw. The warm, shimmering sands and the casuarina trees are enticing. However, there is a dramatic change when the Chadrabhaga fair is on. Paradeep is the port city. The city boasts of one of the most important and oldest ports in India. The beach is vast, calm and serene. The famous Tulasi Kshetra is here.
Kerala
Kerala too has a fabulous range to choose from. Here you find a mixture of history and beauty. The Bekal fort, in Kannur, is probably the best preserved fort in Kerala. On a rocky promontory between two scenic palm fringed beaches it makes for a majestic sight. Swimming off the sea here is safe.
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If you want to watch an unforgettable sunset then head to the Kozhikode beach. This is where Vasco Da Gama landed on his quest for spice. The beach also boasts of a lighthouse and two very old piers that extend towards the sea.
Kannur has the Payyambalam beach which is not only beautiful but perfectly serene.
The Kannur town itself is interesting being the cradle of art forms like the Theyyam, folk music and more.
Varkala is a resort and spa and in recent years has found popularity among tourists from other countries. Varkala is known for its mineral springs and rocky cliffs. The two main attractions are Sree Janardhana Swamy Temple and the nature care centre.
But perhaps the most talked about and the best known beach is the Kovalam beach. There are three beaches — Hawah, Lighthouse and Samudra.
Mangalore
In Mangalore you come across the Someshwara beach. This is a rocky beach and the large rocks are called Rudra Shile. The Somnath temple which was constructed during the reign of Abbakka Devi is on the northern side.
The Ullal beach on the south side houses the ruined fort of Abbakka Devi and some 16th century Jain temples. There is also a famous dargah here — the dargah of Sayed Mohammed Shereful Madani.
On the Mangalore — Udupi highway you will be dazzled by the Panambur beach. This beach stretches as far as Surathkal.
Surathkal is picturesque and also very clean. Near the beach is the temple of Sadashiva. There is also a big lighthouse which overlooks the Arabian Sea.
Finally, there is the Sasihithlu beach which is singular in its beauty. On one side is the Munda island which is surrounded by Shambhave and Nandini rivers and on the other side is the Arabian Sea.