When it comes to holiday destinations no one can deny the indubitable attraction of the seas. The serenity or the calmness of the infinite blue, the sound of waves splashing on the golden sand, walking hand in hand with your loved one watching the dreamy sunset or those moments of crazy adrenaline rush while scuba diving into the deep blue water…whatever be your idea of happiness the thought of spending your holiday by an offbeat sea side would surely cause you enough exhilaration.
TW shares with you five of the lesser known but breathtakingly beautiful sea-beaches from different parts of the country :
Yarada Beach, Andha Pradesh
Located on the west coast of Bay of Bengal in Yarada, a village at a distance of 15 kilometers from Visakhapatnam is one of the most picturesque sea beaches in India. A treasure for nature lovers this amazing landscape is mostly hidden from the crowded tourist destinations. Nestled with the lush green trees on one side, hilly grounds covering it from one corner and beyond the golden sand the dark blue Bay of Bengal is indeed bliss for the eyes and souls.
Arguably one of the safest and cleanest beaches in the country , a sunset view on the horizon of blue waves with the golden beams embracing the green coconut and banana plantations surrounding the hills is an ‘out of the world’ of experience. The less number of tourists in the vicinity make this even more attractive for photographers and travelers alike.
How to reach:
By Air
The nearest airport to reach Yarada Beach is Visakhapatnam International Airport.
By Train
The nearest railway station for tourists to reach Yarada Beach is the Visakhapatnam railway station, about 12 km away. From Visakhapatnam Junction, tourists can choose a shared cab to go to Yarada Beach at their convenience.
By Road
The nearest bus station to Yarada Beach is Scindia. There are many private and state owned buses available to reach this beach. These buses run on routes that take tourists from South Indian metropolises like Vijayawada, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad to Visakhapatnam.
Bangaram beach, Lakshadweep Islands
Imagine a little island in the shape of a tear drop in the middle of nowhere surrounded by the deep blue ocean- that’s Bangaram beach for you. Right from the scenes of a Steven Spielberg or Jamaes Cameron’ s adventure site the stunning island is full of palm trees with white sands playing hide and seek with dark blue waves.
Another interesting attraction of this fantasy island is the “glowing” sea in the night. Bioluminescence as it is called in scientific language is caused by phytoplankton and algae that inhabit some beaches on Bangaram. Aquatic animals such as the jellyfish get washed up to the edges of the water during high tide and glow like jewels during the nights. This bluish white glow makes for a spectacular view. It is also known as the milky sea phenomenon.
Bangaram is spread across 120 acres of land in almost un-inhabited except for occasional tourists from the nearby islands. This spectacular and yet serene island has ranked among the world’s most beautiful gateway beaches in many international journals and travel magazines.
One can enjoy various water sports activities like scuba diving, beach games, swimming, snorkeling, deep fishing etc or else, one can choose to lie down at the beach and quietly enjoy this amazing beauty of nature.
HOW TO REACH
The nearest airport is at Agatti Island.
There are a limited number of resorts there. The Bangaram island beach resort and Thinakkar tent houses are two places where you can stay overnight in these islands.
Butterfly Beach, Goa
Literally hidden from the world, not-so-easy to reach, arguably the most photogenic beaches in the whole Arabina sea- a true fairyland – that’s Butterfly Beach for you! Also known as ‘Honeymoon Beach’ this wonder of nature is surrounded by dense trees and rocky hilly grounds.
Butterfly beach is situated at the south of Palolem beach in Cancona, Goa. The semi circular shaped landscape is a treasure for nature and adventure lovers. One can actually experience millions of butterflies flying over the hilltop blossoms or the friendly Dolphins jumping off the blue waves to welcome you.
The remote location makes it impossible to reach by car or two-wheeler and the only way one can reach there comfortably is by taking a ferry from the neighboring Palolem beach. This spectacular beach is a well-known site to spot some dolphins, crabs, and goldfish. Here at Butterfly Beach, you will have an opportunity to observe the most amazing sunset while you sit on a rock with your picnic basket.
How to reach:
Butterfly beach is 37 km from Margao, 69 km from Panjim, around 80 km from Calangute and around 61 km from Dabolim Airport.
If you are fond of trek and with an adventurous soul, a short trek from Palolem Beach, will take you there . Travelers will have to go through brooks, steep climbs, fields, and forested areas to get to Butterfly beach by trekking.
The other option is hiring a boat from either Palolem or Agonda beaches. You may hire a cab or take a bus up to Palolem beach from Panaji. From the Palolem beach, take a short boat ride that will get you to Butterfly Island.
Astaranga Beach, Odisha
A little known sea side in the eastern coast of India is the hamlet of fishing village called Asta Ranga. A hidden beauty of peace and tranquility Astaranga as the name suggests is the land of ethereal sunset-serenity.
A landscape and nature photographers’ paradise the lonely and completely natural sea beach is the perfect gateway for travelers looking for a different experience compared to the otherwise famous and commercial sea beaches in India.
The area belongs to the local fisher men who gather every morning and evening by the sea side for their day to day work on fishing and fish trading.
There are many areas around this beach that comprise of quicksand and hence one need to be a bit careful while exploring the sea beach around.
How To Reach
The closest airport and major railway station to this beach is located in Bhubaneswar. Driving Distance from Bhubaneswar to Astaranga is 77 kilometers.
Astaranga is located 34 kilometer from Konark a popular tourist destination in the state of Orissa.
Havelock, Andaman
A long lazy walk down the virgin golden sands watching the ink blue sky kissing the crystal azure sea , bright sunshine – taking a break by the sea facing restaurants sipping your favorite drink with an English Breakfast or Mediterranean starters- AND if know you are not actually dreaming , you are in Havelock island beach of Andaman & Nicobar.
This is indeed a place where you can have it all you have imagined in a sea beach. The clear turquoise waters, stunning rainforests, gorgeous corals, paddy fields, and coconut & banana plantations around – this is a true tropical paradise for travelers.
The sea along the coast of Havelock has an abundance of coral and marine life and provides a rich variety of diving possibilities. It has a many diving sites.
How to reach:
The best way to reach Havelock is by the air conditioned catamaran ferry, which takes only 90 minutes from Port Blair. There are government ferry services available as well which take about 2.5 hours.
