Havelock

About Havelock — Paradise Beaches

Havelock Island (officially renamed Swaraj Dweep in 2018, but everyone still calls it Havelock) is home to Radhanagar Beach — consistently rated among Asia’s most beautiful beaches. Pure white sand, turquoise water, palm-lined silence. Add Elephant Beach for snorkelling, Kalapathar Beach for sunrises, world-class scuba diving with sea turtles, manta rays and parrotfish, kayaking through mangroves, and stargazing nights with the Milky Way perfectly visible — and Havelock becomes paradise on Earth. The 113-sq-km island, part of the Andaman archipelago, has just 5 villages connected by a single road.

Best Time to Visit

• October – May — perfect (24–30 °C). Calm seas, good visibility for diving.
• December – February — best diving (visibility 25–30m). Peak tourist season — book ahead.
• April – May — slightly hotter; great rates and fewer tourists.
• June – September — heavy monsoon, ferries unreliable, diving conditions poor.

Top Beaches

Radhanagar Beach (Beach No. 7)

The crown jewel — 2-km arc of pure white sand, turquoise water, palm-fringed. Rated by TIME Magazine as “Asia’s Best Beach” in 2004 (and consistently in top 10 lists since). Sunsets here are unforgettable. Limited shacks, no crowds, watch for the elusive saltwater crocodiles in the lagoon area.

Elephant Beach

Reachable only by 2-km jungle trek or 20-min boat. Famous for shallow coral reefs just 50m from shore — perfect for first-time snorkelling. Live coral gardens with parrotfish, sergeant majors, butterflyfish.

Kalapathar Beach

“Black Stone Beach” — long quiet beach on the eastern side. Best for sunrises, walking, and photography. Rocky headlands at both ends.

Vijaynagar Beach (Beach No. 5)

2 km — the closest beach to the resorts area. Calm waters, good for swimming, beachside cafés.

Scuba Diving & Snorkelling

World-Class Diving

Havelock is India’s premier scuba diving destination — registered PADI / SSI dive centres offer everything from try-dives to advanced open-water certifications.

• Try-dive (Discover Scuba) — ₹4,000–6,000 — first-time divers, no experience required, 1 dive at 6–8m depth
• Open Water Diver (PADI) — ₹25,000–35,000 — 4 days, 4 dives + theory, lifetime certification
• Advanced Open Water — ₹15,000–22,000 — for certified divers
• Top dive sites: Lighthouse, Elephanta, Aquarium, Wall, Pilot Reef, Johnny’s Gorge
• Marine life: manta rays, sea turtles (green & hawksbill), reef sharks, parrotfish, lionfish, octopus, schools of barracudas
• Best dive shops: Barefoot Scuba, Dive India, ScubaLov, Andaman Bubbles

Snorkelling

For non-divers — Elephant Beach has shallow coral 50m from shore. Boat trips visit several reef sites (₹500–1,500). Rent gear at the beach.

Sea Walking, Glass Bottom Boat

For non-swimmers — walk on the seafloor in special helmets. Glass-bottom boats let you see reefs without getting wet.

Things to Do

• Sunset at Radhanagar Beach (essential)
• Snorkelling at Elephant Beach
• Try a discover scuba dive (₹5,000)
• 4-day Open Water diving certification
• Sunrise at Kalapathar Beach
• Mangrove kayak trip (Havelock has India’s most accessible mangrove ecosystem)
• Standing-paddle (SUP) lessons
• Stargazing at Radhanagar — Milky Way visible
• Bicycle around the island (single road, 18 km)
• Stay at Barefoot at Havelock (eco-luxury), Taj Exotica, or Munjoh Ocean Resort
• Ferry to Neil Island for a day
• Beach yoga at sunrise
• Photography of the Andaman Bubbletop sunset

Local Food

• Fresh seafood — fish, lobster, crab, squid, prawn (every restaurant)
• Coconut prawn curry, fish moilee — Bengali-Andaman fusion
• Roti-curry-rice combos at most cafés
• Best places: Anju Coco Resto, Full Moon Café, Welcome Restaurant, Red Snapper (at Wild Orchid), Italian Pizzeria, Barefoot Restaurant
• Continental, Italian, Mexican — international backpacker scene means excellent variety
• Try fresh tuna sashimi or grilled fish caught that morning

How to Reach

By Sea (only way)

Ferry from Port Blair — 2-hour scenic ride:

• Government ferry — ₹600–1,200 — economy, deluxe and premium classes. Book 30+ days ahead via Director of Shipping Services portal
• Private ferries — Makruzz, Green Ocean, ITT Cruises — ₹1,500–4,000 — faster, more reliable, AC seats. Book 30+ days ahead online.
• 3 daily sailings in peak season; reduced in monsoon
• Carry seasickness pills

Travel Tips

• 3 nights minimum (5 nights ideal for diving certification)
• Stay at Barefoot at Havelock (eco-luxury near Beach No. 7) or Taj Exotica for ultra-luxury; Wild Orchid, Symphony Palms for mid-range; Sunset Resort, Coconut Grove for budget
• Book ferry & resort 30+ days ahead — peak season fills up
• ATMs are limited — carry cash from Port Blair
• No mobile signal in many parts of the island — disconnect, enjoy
• Avoid Radhanagar at high tide — saltwater crocodiles do come to the lagoon
• Coral reefs are fragile — don’t touch, don’t step on, don’t take corals
• Reef-safe sunscreen recommended
• Bring a snorkel set (rentals available but quality varies)
• Bicycle rental ₹100–200/day is the best way to explore
• Don’t dive within 24 hours of flying out
• For 7-day trip: Port Blair (1 night) → Havelock (3 nights) → Neil (2 nights) → Port Blair (1 night)

Ready for paradise? Use the booking card or message Prithvi on WhatsApp — we’ll plan your full Havelock + Neil + Port Blair trip with private ferry tickets, scuba certification, beach resort and snorkelling tours.