Express TravelWorld checks out unique accommodations located on India’s scenic beaches which can be packaged as niche products for both, leisure and MICE segments
West Bengal
Known for its rich architectural and cultural diversity, West Bengal is also a state abound with many beautiful beaches ranging from the popular beaches of Digha and Mandarmani to the virgin beach locations of Tajpur, Shankarpur and Bakkhali. All of these beaches boast of excellent, luxurious resorts and hotels. A favourite among the Bengalis, the Digha beach is one of the most visited and crowded beaches in Bengal. Digha has two sections – Old Digha and New Digha. While Old Digha is crowded, New Digha is rather quiet and has many resorts ideal for honeymooners. The Palm Resort Digha is a picturesque retreat in this location. Guests can either laze on its beautiful lawn or relax in the swimming pool or curl up in a hammock sipping cocktail from the resort bar. Another property is the Ownland Resort – Digha, which is situated within five minutes walking distance from the Old Digha Beach.
A newly developed tourist spot, Mandarmani is popular for water sports and is comparatively less crowded than Digha. The hotels here are beautiful and visitors can avail a sea-facing room or suite throughout the year. The Sana Beach is a chic and sophisticated resort set amidst coastal trees. The Sana Beach has both rooms and cottages, whose architectural characteristics are inspired by Hawa Mahal. Very close to Digha is Shankarpur, a beautiful sea beach. Again, its beauty comes from it being a rather virgin and nascent location. Hotel Nest in Shankarpur is a leisure hotel with beautiful interiors and luxurious suites. A five to seven minutes walk from the hotel leads guests to the sea beach.
Bakkhali is one of the most unexplored beaches in West Bengal. The resorts here are beautiful and some have the look and feel of farm houses with green trees and bushes. Located 300 metres from the Bakkhali sea beach is Hotel Amarabati, which opened in 1997 and is one of the best hotels at this location.
The Tajpur Beach is located in the east of Midnapore or Purba Medinipur. A quiet and beautiful beach, Tajpur is slowly being discovered by tourists and adventurers. The Tajpur Nature Camp is a stylish beach front hotel boasting of lush greenery and eco-friendly accommodations.
Daman and Diu
The beaches of Daman and Diu form an integral part of its tourism industry. Nagoa, Devka and Jampore are some of the famous beaches of Daman and Diu attracting tourists from different parts of the world. The Nagoa Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches of the country and is situated about 20 minutes from Diu, while Devka Beach is another beautiful tourist spot situated in the north of Daman. Besides, tourists can also unwind themselves at Jampore Beach which is situated near Gujarat in the southern fringe of the union territory. Tourists willing to explore more can also visit the Chakratirth, Gomatimala, Kevdi and Ghoghla beaches in Daman and Diu.
Travellers looking to explore the beautiful beaches of Daman and Diu can choose from a diverse range of accommodations. For instance, spread across 10,000 sq feet of landscaped gardens, The Deltin, Daman has 176 rooms and offers views of greenery and the meandering pool. While The Gold Beach Resort sits on a serene beachfront overlooking the Arabian Sea. Spread across two acres of the Devka Beach in Daman, this resort is a four-star property replete with world-class rooms and suites along with other modern amenities like themed restaurants, swimming pool, boardroom and more. Nestled in the serene surrounds of Daman is the Sandy Resort. Guests here can stay in air-conditioned, deluxe rooms with a sea view or can arrange important meetings, discuss future ventures, and organise conferences, seminars or get togethers at its well-furnished conference hall or have a memorable wedding ceremony at its lavish banquet hall.
Situated in the picturesque seaside town of Diu, Radhika Beach Resort offers rooms which have been tastefully done up. All rooms are spacious with a great view, either pool side or garden. Guests can either dine at the in-house multi-cuisine restaurant ‘Rivera’ which offers a variety of cuisines – Indian, Chinese or Continental – or relax at its tavern.
Another property, Hotel Palms is located on the peaceful, quiet, picturesque Khodidhar Beach in Nagoa area.
Kerala
The beaches of Kerala are amongst the best in India. While some of the beaches are extremely popular pulling in crowds from various parts of the country, others remain relatively deserted. Located not far from Alleppey, Marari Beach makes it convenient for those who would like to spend some time at the beach while going on a houseboat trip along the backwaters. A big attraction there is the Marari Beach resort of CGH Earth set on a sprawling property filled with coconut groves and lotus ponds. The resort offers three types of accommodations – Garden Villas, Garden Pool Villas and Deluxe Pool Villas – along with Ayurveda treatments and yoga classes which are conducted on the beach.
The small town of Kannur in northern Kerala is known for its secluded beaches. There are some laid back beach houses in the Thottada beach area. While Kannur Beach House offers optimal views of the breathtaking Malabar coast, the Chera Rock Beach House offers a relaxing stay in the ambiance of a traditional Kerala home. Bekal Beach in north Kerala is famous for its old fort considered to be one of the largest in Kerala. The most popular resort here is the Vivanta by Taj – Bekal. It has 71 laterite lined villas and rooms inspired by the design of Kettuvallam houseboats and reflect Chitra Pothi art on the walls. Surrounded by river Nombili on three sides in the lap of the Arabian Sea, The Lalit Resort & Spa Bekal is a serene heaven in God’s Own Country. Kovalam, a beach town by the Arabian Sea in Thiruvananthapuram, is another famous tourist spot and the Leela Kovalam is a popular hotel with a cliff-top setting . The resort is known for its world class dining, seamless service, and palatial accommodations. The 10 km long Cherai Beach on Vypeen Island, makes an appealing side trip from Kochi. Travellers to this beach can stay at Les 3 Elephants, a boutique eco resort facing the backwaters, built with local materials.
Karnataka
With a 320 km long coastline, Karnataka is one of the most popular beach destinations in India. The picturesque beauty and charm of Karnataka’s beaches make them must-visit destinations of the state. Some of the popular beaches include Gokarna Beach whose main attraction is the Mahabaleshwar temple; while the Kaup Beach is known for its 100 ft high light house and a ruined fort. Other major beaches include – Karwar Beach, Kudle Beach, Malpe Beach, Maravanthe Beach, Murudeshwar Beach, Netrani Island, St Mary’s Islands, Ullal Beach.
Paradise Isle Beach Resort is one of the first luxury beach resorts in coastal Karnataka and is located right on Malpe Beach. The property has 70 rooms and 10 cottages most of which offer spectacular views of the sea. Located on the famous Ullal-Someshwar Beach, the Summer Sands Beach Resort, is spread across 15 acres and has two and three bedroom villas, a multi-cuisine restaurant with an alfresco ambiance, and a 1000 foot beach front. Conferencing facility, live music on the weekends by the beach and cultural entertainment make it a popular conferencing venue as well.
Located at the scenic Trasi Maravanthe area of Karnataka, Turtlebay on Sea, Trasi – A jüSTa Resort offers guests the luxury of lounging on pristine golden sands, amidst coconut palms and the sea.
The scenic beauty of the Arabian Sea, the calm backwaters of River Sowparnika, breathtaking nature walks, treks along the scenic coast, peace and quiet, clean water for snorkeling, scuba diving and swimming, and delicious coastal cuisine sums up the experience at Turtlebay.
The Om Beach that traces the shape of the Hindu symbol ‘Om’ is the most popular of Gokarna’s beaches and lends its name to the Om Beach Resort perched on the slopes of a hillock overlooking a verdant valley. The Om Beach Resort has Konkan style cottages, all of which are air conditioned and have spacious bedrooms and bathrooms. The rustic cottages are spread across the entire landscape of the resort. Another beautiful property is Leisure Vacations Tarang Resort which is set amidst the spectacular setting of Karwar. The resort offers 12 rooms which include four deluxe cottages and eight superior rooms, fully equipped with all modern facilities for a comfortable stay.
Odisha
Odisha is famous for its languid beaches of the Bay of Bengal that is popular in the domestic tourism market, particularly among tourists from eastern states. The beach destinations of Odisha range from famous names like Puri, Gopalpur, Paradeep, Chandipur to little known but equally beautiful Baliharchandani, Balighai, Aryapalli and Balaramgadi.
The accommodation options at these beach destinations are varied – from deluxe luxury resorts to many beach facing budget hotels. Gopalpur-on Sea is a perfect location for sailing and surfing. The Mayfair Palm Beach Resort Gopalpur-on-Sea is one of the most prestigious beach properties in Odisha with an interesting history. It is a heritage property built in 1914 by an Italian Signor Maglioni. Believed to be the first hotel in Odisha it was a part of the Oberoi Group till 2003. At a distance of two hours drive from Bhubaneswar, the property is a popular getaway for families and conferencing crowd and of course a sought after venue for weddings. Another picturesque resort located at the historic seaport of Gopalpur is Swosti Palm Resort. Toshali Sands Puri is a 25 acres property near Balighai beach. The extensive property has categories including executive villas, cottages and deluxe rooms. Puri Golden Sands, A Sterling Holidays Resort is located at the scenic spot where Bhargavi river meets the sea. Situated next to Brahma Kumari Ashram, the resort is perfect for those seeking a spiritual retreat in the temple town. One of the most fascinating aspects of Chandipur Beach in Odisha is the sight of the receding sea during low tide till five km and return of the water. Located not too far from the unique beach is Arpita Beach Resort which is the best hotel in Chandipur. About two km from Chandipur is the beautiful beach of Balaramgadi, which is at the confluence of the Budhabalanga river with the Bay of Bengal. The port town of Paradeep mostly attracts business visitors and not surprisingly, one of the best hotels here is Empires – Paradip , a business hotel approximately 500 metres from the beach. Commemorating the legendary spirit of the Kalinga dynasty, the hotel recreates an ambience reflecting Konark art. The hotel also offers conferencing facilities.
Puducherry
With a vast coastline of 45 km the union territory of Puducherry consists of four small unconnected districts- Puducherry, Karaikal and Yanam on the Bay of Bengal and Mahe on the Arabian Sea. Puducherry and Karaikal have the largest areas and population. The beaches are gifted with many backwater lagoons and estuaries and vast stretch of palm trees. The other beaches in Puducherry are Mahe Beach, Paradise Beach, The Auroville Beach, Serenity Beach. Chunnambar has established itself on the tourist map of India as the ultimate destination for numerous adventure sports like kayaking, canoeing, boating, and sailing. Veerampattinam Festival and Masi Magam are some of the festivals celebrated by people on the beaches. Among the four regions of Puducherry, Karaikal Beach occupies a place of prominence as a tourist destination. Le Pondy, is a premium leisure resort lounged at an estuary between Chunnambar River and the Bay of Bengal.
The Promenade Beach is also one of the popular and most frequented by the local people and tourists. It lies over a stretch of 1.5 kilometre or 1500 metres. On the southern end of the Promenade lies the statue of the most popular French Governor of the region, Monsieur Dupleix. Beyond the statue of the governor is the new pier that stretches along 284 metres. The Promenade-A Hidesign Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel on the ocean front of one of India’s most beautiful and romantic towns.
The ancient fishermen hamlet of Pudukkupam established during the Chola period (IX-XII century) is located 10 km south of Puducherry city, in the Coromandel coast of the Bay of Bengal. Being near to the estuary of the Chunnambar river and the Indian Ocean it has a privileged ecological position, not far from the Roman ruins of Arikkamedu, a port established in the first century of the era. It is between this hamlet and Pooranankuppam, the rice bowl of this region, that Kailash Beach Resort came up as the first establishment of this class in Puducherry. Kailash Beach Resort is a three-star hotel with 38 air-conditioned rooms, each provided with a balcony.
The Dune Eco Village & Spa, Puducherry is an eco-friendly beach hotel on 35 acres, offering 55 uniquely designed bungalows fusing traditional and modern architecture. Set in picturesque ChinnaVeerampattinam, the Windflower Pondicherry is perched between backwaters and bright blue ocean. Le Royal Park One is one of the elite hotels in Puducherry. The hotel is located close to all major tourist attractions within one kilometre.
Tamil Nadu
Boasting of a vast coastline of 1076 km and known as the second largest coastline from Chennai on the Coromandel Coast, Tamil Nadu’s beaches have elaborate water sports activities and others are alligned with exotic attractions like monuments, forts, popular temples and churches. The Marina Beach is the second longest beach in the world. It is a 13 km stretch beach from Fort St George to the north of Besant Nagar. The Covelong Beach also known as Kovalam beach along the Coromandel Coast now called as East Coast Road was originally a fisherman’s village located around 40 km from Chennai city. The other significant beaches are Mamallapuram Beach, Kanyakumari Beach and Poompuhar Beach.
Vivanta by Taj – Fisherman’s Cove, Chennai, built on the ramparts of an old Dutch fort, is now riding on a fresh new wave. Yet it remains the charming beach resort that’s almost one with the Bay of Bengal. While the Radisson BLU Resort Temple Bay located along the shores of Bay of Bengal at Mamallapuram is a 65 km drive from Chennai. This seaside town is an acclaimed World Heritage Centre with centuries old historic monuments and temples.
Radisson BLU Resort Temple Bay, easily the most visited luxury resort, provides accommodations on the beach front. Another luxury property in the state is the MGM Beach Resorts, which has 30 acres of lush, sprawling lawns, dotted with over 88 cottages, rooms and suites.
Lakshwadweep
The word Lakshwadweep is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Lakshadweepa’, which means ‘one hundred thousand islands’. The archipelago has thirty-nine islands and islets. The pristine beaches and coral reef make the Union Territory a haven for water sports activities. International and domestic tourists come here for activities like scuba diving, wind surfing, snorkelling, surfing, kayaking, canoeing, water skiing, sportfishing and yachting. Bangaram and Kadmat islands are major destinations for tourists.
Agatti is the gateway to Lakshwadeep and the only island with an airport. Agatti Island Beach Resort is located in the most serene spot of the island. The resort has a beach and lagoon. The lagoon is expansive and shallow, and consequently a perfect place for swimming. Additional beauty is added by the numerous coconut trees surrounding the resort. It has nine beach huts and 10 detached beach bungalows. They are at a distance of about 50 yards from the sandy bay. There are standard and deluxe category cottages. All cottages are eco-friendly and overlook the beach and lagoon. Also popular is Seashells Beach Resort in Agatti, located in a pristine 2.5 acres of beach surrounded by two lagoons. It offers air conditioned and non-airconditioned beach villas in tranquil surroundings. Kadmat Island Beach Resort at the isolated south tip of the island, offers rooms with views of the lagoons. Guests get the opportunity to see dolphins frolicking in the surrounding waters. Minicoy Island Beach Resort offers many packages to visitors interested in scuba diving, snorkelling and other water sports activities or just lazing around in the sun.
Lakshwadeep has many privately owned guest houses that are popular accommodation options, among both domestic and foreign tourists. Among the well known is Island Holiday Home in Agatti, which is located 3.5 km from the airport. Kasim’s Homestay in Agatti has beach villas, single and double occupancy rooms. It also organises diving courses with certification. Other interesting activities are turtle watch, day/ night lagoon fishing, deep sea fishing and un-inhabited island excursions.
Andhra Pradesh
Boasting of few exotic beaches along its 970 km coastline, Andhra Pradesh can offer visitors plenty of sun, sand and sea. Beach tourism in the state is people-centric while ensuring that the biodiversity and socio-economic needs of the community are maintained. The well known ones are Mypadu Beach, unique for its vast stretch of greenery and clear waters has the Haritha Hotel in Mypadu Nellore which offers economical tariff and prompt service to ensure that guests have a memorable stay. The Vodarevu Beach is about six km from Chirala. The exquisite natural beauty of Rama Krishna Beach has to be experienced to understand why visitors flock to it. Located just eight km from the port city of Visakahapatnam, RushiKonda Beach is known as the Jewel of the East Coast. The Haritha Beach Resort Visakahapatnam located on Bhimli road, RushiKonda, has a presidential suite, 10 luxury rooms, air-conditioned executive and deluxe rooms and standard air-conditioned rooms.
Located just nine km from Bapatla in Guntur district, Suryalanka is the perfect weekend getaway beach destination. Located in Bapatla Mandal in Guntur district, Suryalanka Beach Resort allows visitors to enjoy the pristine beach and crystal clear waters in a tranquil and serene ambience. The resort has air-conditioned rooms for weekdays as well as weekend, and also offers two dormitories.
Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach, is the first and only five-star deluxe hotel in the city and the entire state of Andhra Pradesh. The hotel holds the credential of having the largest pillarless banquet hall by any hotel in the state, called the V-Convention, which can accommodate up to 1250 guests. The roof-top Infinity bar and kitchen placed 150 ft above the sea level serves multi-cuisine food. A panoramic aerial-like view of the Bay of Bengal is its USP. The in-house guests are lodged in a vast abode of 225 rooms, all with a sea-facing view.
Andaman & Nicobar
The pristine exotic beaches and many options for adventure water sports have made the Andaman & Nicobar Islands a major tourism destination. Havelock is a picturesque natural paradise with white sandy beaches fringed with green canopy of the rain-fed forests. The sandy beaches of Neil Island are connected by boat from Port Blair. Long Island has a beautiful beach called Lalaji Bay and Baratang Island is known for its mangrove creeks, mud volcanes and limestone caves. Great Nicobar is open only for Indian tourists and so is Campbell Bay which is a part of Great Nicobar island. Diglipur is an ideal location for eco-friendly tourists while Little Andaman offers an exciting mix of white sandy beaches, boating through the creeks and other activities. Adventure water sports, game fishing, beach camping, mangrove creek safari, snorkelling, scuba diving and sea walk are the activities that attract tourists to these islands.
The islands have good accommodation options across all categories. Fortune Resort Bay Island, Port Blair overlooks the waters of Bay of Bengal. Designed by Charles Correa, the architectural style of the hotel reflects the native life of the Islands. Most of the resort is built of the native ‘Padouk’ wood, the red timber that is found only here. In Port Blair, the Peerless Sarovar Portico is in Corbyn’s Cove that has 12 acres of lush lawns for organising MICE events and banquets. Sinclairs Bayview’s 46 rooms and suites almost open out to the crystal blue waters of the Indian Ocean.
The Barefoot at Havelock, located on Beach No. 7 has 25 elegantly designed thatched tents, cottages and villas constructed mainly out of bamboo, wood and palm leaves. SilverSand Beach Resort in the heart of Havelock Island, has 39 luxurious rooms in different categories. The Scubaworld Dive-Centre at SilverSand offers exciting day trips for certified divers and Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) diving courses. Another unique property is Ixzire, “The Minimalistic Nature Resort”, which is about 30 minutes from Port Blair and has spacious individual wooden cottages.
Gujarat
With a coastline of 1,600 km, Gujarat has one of the most unexplored beaches in the country. Most of the coastline lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. The most famous beaches in Gujarat are Ahmedpur Mandvi Beach, Chorwad Beach, Somnath Beach, Gopnath Beach, Dwarka Beach, Kutch Mandvi Beach, Nagoa Beach, Ghoghla Beach and Gomtimata Beach.
Kutch Mandvi Beach is one of the finest beaches situated along the Gujarat coastline. The port of Mandvi was an important sea trading point between the near east and the far east which brought prosperity to the royal family. Next to the beach are the docks where wooden ships are built.
Set up on a sprawling 50 acres of prime beach property, Serena Beach Resort in Mandvi, Kutch offers 26 fully air conditioned tents decorated with distinct architecture sourced from all over India and four sea view villas with their own private plunge pool. The Beach at Mandvi Palace is a deluxe camp, comprising, ten handcrafted tents. Each tent has its own verandah, and the interior of the tents are decorated to resemble the colonial-period camps of erstwhile royalty with carved furniture. HV Beach Hotel is another popular hotel in Mandvi town of Kutch district.
The holy city of Dwarka is not only a major pilgrimage site but also a famous spot for a beach holiday. Located in one of the four most holy pilgrimage places (chardham) of India, Dwarkadhish Lords’ Eco Inn Dwarka is a budget hotel with 36 rooms.
Maharashtra
Bordered with the Arabian Sea on its west, Maharashtra has a total coastline of 720 km. This destination is known for some of the most picturesque beaches in the country. Be it the blue-green waters of Shreevardhan or the virgin beaches on the Konkan belt, every beach has a different experience. Some of the beaches which are known as a perfect weekend getaways are Vasai, Dahanu and Bordi. For adventure aficionados beaches like Tarkarli, Kihim offers adventure activities like water-scooter and snorkelling. One can take a de-stressing languid stroll amongst dense coconut trees on Vengurla’s fine white sands with cashew, jackfruit and mango orchards. For those who find spirituality near the ocean, Maharashtra offers pilgrim-centric beaches like Ganapatipule and Shreevardhan. Finally a trip to Maharashtra is incomplete without visiting Juhu Beach and Marine Drive.
Overlooking Juhu Beach is the JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu which is a 356 room property including 29 suites. The hotel boasts of three outdoor pools, the award-winning Quan Spa and eight dining options including a bakery. Guestrooms are luxurious and offer breathtaking views of the Arabian Sea. Another iconic hotel located across Mumbai’s harbour is The Taj Mahal Palace. Overlooking the Gateway of India, every one of the 560 rooms including 44 suites have a perfect blend of rich history and modern convenience. Known as one of the ideal weekend getaway resorts, The Retreat Hotel & Convention Center is located at Madh Island in Mumbai. Apart from leisure travellers, this pristine beach front hotel is well known for its MICE facilities.
Moving towards the Konkan belt, the MTDC resort at Ganapatipule overlooks the beautiful Ganpatipule Beach and the Lord Ganesha Temple. This 120 room resort is further categorised into cottages, rooms and Konkani houses. Facing the serene waters of the Arabian Sea, The Sagar Sparsh – The Sea Touch, is a budget hotel located close to the Sindhudurg Fort near Malvan city. This place is known as one of the best diving sites in India. The resort has three sea facing rooms on Tarkarli Beach.
Goa
Arguably one of the best beach destinations in India, Goa is visited by many international and domestic tourists each year for its beaches. Goa’s beaches cover about 125 km of its coastline. These beaches are located either in North or South Goa. North Goa is more commercial with an abundance of low and medium budget tourist accommodations; whereas South Goa is where most of the high-end hotels and private beaches are located. A notable exception in South Goa is Palolem Beach which features basic accommodation and is one of the most visited beaches in Goa. Some of the more popular beaches are Colva, Calangute, Baga, Anjuna, Arambol, Cavelossim, Candolim, Vagator, Agonda and Majorda.
Nestled on the soft white sands of Cavelossim Beach, Dona Sylvia Beach Resort offers 181 rooms with all modern amenities in Mediterranean style villas with verandahs and roof-top terraces. This hotel also features five dining options. The Zuri White Sands in Goa sits on one of the most scenic, picturesque white-sands beach, Varca. This resort boasts of a spectacular view of the sea from their Goan-style luxury rooms. This hotel is known for destination weddings on its private beach.
Nestled on the shores of Bogmalo Beach, the Bogmalo Beach Resort is a 145 keys property. Compared to the other North Goan beaches, this beach is not very crowded and the water is quite safe for swimming. The property also houses a casino and traditional Indian spa. The Holiday Inn Resort, Goa located at Mobor Beach, Cavelossim, is a huge property with a captivating style that combines traditional Goan architecture with contemporary design and luxurious finishing. The resort offers accommodation in a beachfront setting with the option of a garden view, pool view or sea view – with attached balconies.