Havelock Island, officially renamed Swaraj Dweep, is the crown jewel of the Andaman archipelago and home to Radhanagar Beach — consistently rated one of the best beaches in Asia for its extraordinary...
Havelock Island
Paradise Found in the Andamans
Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
4.9
Radhanagar BeachDiving & SnorkelingPristine Nature
islandbeach
Duration: 2–3 Days
Budget/day: ₹2,000 – ₹7,000
Best season: Nov – May
Altitude: Sea level
Nearest airport: Veer Savarkar Airport, Port Blair (ferry + 2 hrs)
Nearest railway: No railway on island. Base from Port Blair.
Best places to visit in Havelock Island
Things to do in Havelock Island
- No photoLeisure / BeachView full guide
Half day to full day
Radhanagar Beach (Beach No. 7)
Radhanagar Beach has been repeatedly ranked among Asia's finest beaches — a sweeping crescent of powdery white sand backed by dense tropical forest meeting the impossibly blue Andaman Sea. Swimming, sunset watching, and simply lying on the sand are all the activity you need here.
- No photoAdventure / Water SportsView full guide
Half day (2–3 dives)
Scuba Diving at Elephant Beach and The Wall
Havelock Island offers some of the most spectacular scuba diving in Asia, with sites like Elephant Beach, The Wall, and Johnny's Gorge delivering extraordinary visibility, pristine hard corals, and sightings of turtles, reef sharks, barracuda, and the occasional manta ray.
- No photoAdventure / NatureView full guide
2–3 hours (including boat ride)
Sea Walk at Elephant Beach
Take a glass-bottom boat to Elephant Beach and experience the unique underwater walk — wearing a specially designed helmet that pumps air, you walk on the sandy ocean floor while colourful fish swim around you. It requires no swimming ability and gives a genuine feel for the underwater world.
Best Time to Visit and Weather Info
Best time: November to May
The island is best from November to May. Monsoon (June–September) brings rough seas and most activities shut down.
Peak Season
Best Time ⭐Dec – Feb
24°C – 30°C
Clearest water, calmest seas, and best diving visibility. Radhanagar Beach at its absolute finest. Book everything months in advance.
- Book ferries from Port Blair to Havelock at least 2–4 weeks in advance
- Radhanagar Beach (Beach No. 7) — arrive for sunset
Shoulder
Good 🟡Nov & Mar – May
25°C – 33°C
Good weather with fewer tourists than peak season. Slightly lower prices.
- March–April: good diving conditions but warmer
- May: water warms up, visibility slightly reduced
Monsoon
Avoid 🔴Jun – Oct
26°C – 32°C
Very rough seas, ferries cancelled frequently, and most water activities suspended.
- Most dive shops and resorts close
- Ferries from Port Blair are frequently cancelled
How to Reach
✈️By Air
Airport: Veer Savarkar Airport, Port Blair (70 km by sea from Havelock)
Duration: 1.5–2 hrs by ferry from Port Blair
Fly to Port Blair, then take a government ferry or private speed boat to Havelock Island.
Taxi: Ferry: ₹300–₹500 (government); ₹900–₹1,500 (private speed boat)
Airlines: IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet
🚂By Train
Station: No railway. Access only via Port Blair by air or ship.
No rail connection. Base yourself in Port Blair and take a ferry to Havelock.
🚌By Road
On Havelock Island, motorcycles and cycles are rented for exploring. The island is 11 km × 6 km — easily navigable.
- Port Blair (Haddo Jetty): Sea route, 1.5 hrs (government ferry) via Makruzz / Nautika / government ferry
Itineraries
Local Food
Havelock has a small but good restaurant scene — seafood-heavy, with beach shack culture and some quality cafés.
Freshly Grilled Snapper
Whole fish grilled on a beachfront barbecue with lemon and herbs — fresh from the ocean.
Where: Full Moon Café; Anju Coco Resto near Radhanagar
₹350 – ₹600
Andaman Lobster
Grilled or butter-garlic lobster — freshest available at Havelock's beach restaurants.
Where: Beach restaurants near Radhanagar Beach
₹500 – ₹1,500
Coconut Prawn Curry
Locally caught prawns in coconut milk and island spices — the island's signature dish.
Where: Fat Martin's Restaurant; Something Different Café
₹300 – ₹600
Tuna Steak
Fresh tuna from the surrounding waters — grilled or pan-seared with garlic butter.
Where: Beach cafés at Beach No. 5 area
₹300 – ₹550
Green Coconut Water
Fresh tender coconuts from island palms — the best natural refreshment after a hot beach day.
Where: Vendors on all beaches
₹30 – ₹50
Banana Pancakes
Backpacker-beloved breakfast at beachside cafés — simple, fresh, and delicious.
Where: Most café-restaurants on the island
₹80 – ₹140
Beach No. 3 (Vijaynagar Beach) area has the most restaurant options. Book dinner tables in advance during peak season as the island has a limited number of good restaurants.
FAQs
- Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) is famous for Radhanagar Beach — consistently ranked among Asia's best beaches — and world-class scuba diving and snorkelling at Elephant Beach, Johnny's Gorge, and Barracuda City dive sites.
Best Places Similar
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
The Andaman & Nicobar Islands, an archipelago of 572 islands in the Bay of Bengal, is India's tropical island paradise — home to some of Asia's finest beaches, world-class diving and snorkeling in pristine coral reefs, dense tropical rainforests, and some of the world's last surviving isolated indigenous tribes. Port Blair, the capital, is home to the historic Cellular Jail — a sobering reminder of India's freedom struggle — while the turquoise waters and white sand beaches of Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) and Neil (Shaheed Dweep) Islands consistently rank among the world's best beaches. The marine biodiversity, including sea turtles, manta rays, whale sharks, and rare endemic bird species, make the Andamans a dream destination for divers and nature lovers.
Neil Island
Neil Island, officially renamed Shaheed Dweep, is the smallest and most laid-back of the major tourist islands in the Andamans, offering an idyllic combination of pristine beaches, natural coral bridges, and a pace of life so relaxed it feels like time has stopped. The iconic Natural Bridge rock formation at Laxmanpur Beach, carved by waves into an arching coral doorway, is one of the Andamans' most photographed natural wonders. With excellent snorkeling directly from its beaches, firefly-lit evenings, and a handful of charming guesthouses serving fresh seafood, Neil Island is the perfect antidote to modern travel stress and a paradise for those seeking simple, authentic island living.
Goa
Goa, India's smallest state nestled on the Konkan Coast, is the country's premier beach destination and a unique cultural fusion of Portuguese colonial heritage, vibrant Hindu traditions, and a cosmopolitan party spirit that draws millions of domestic and international tourists year-round. From the lively club scene of Baga and Calangute in North Goa to the serene palm-fringed shores of Palolem and Agonda in the south, Goa caters to every type of traveler. The spice markets of Old Goa, the baroque cathedrals and churches of Portuguese heritage, the seafood shacks on the beach, and the legendary Goa Carnival make this coastal paradise endlessly appealing.
Nearby destinations
Neil Island
22 km · Neil Island, officially renamed Shaheed Dweep, is the smallest and most laid-back of the major tourist islands in the Andamans, offering an idyllic combination of pristine beaches, natural coral bridges, and a pace of life so relaxed it feels like time has stopped. The iconic Natural Bridge rock formation at Laxmanpur Beach, carved by waves into an arching coral doorway, is one of the Andamans' most photographed natural wonders. With excellent snorkeling directly from its beaches, firefly-lit evenings, and a handful of charming guesthouses serving fresh seafood, Neil Island is the perfect antidote to modern travel stress and a paradise for those seeking simple, authentic island living.
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
46 km · The Andaman & Nicobar Islands, an archipelago of 572 islands in the Bay of Bengal, is India's tropical island paradise — home to some of Asia's finest beaches, world-class diving and snorkeling in pristine coral reefs, dense tropical rainforests, and some of the world's last surviving isolated indigenous tribes. Port Blair, the capital, is home to the historic Cellular Jail — a sobering reminder of India's freedom struggle — while the turquoise waters and white sand beaches of Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) and Neil (Shaheed Dweep) Islands consistently rank among the world's best beaches. The marine biodiversity, including sea turtles, manta rays, whale sharks, and rare endemic bird species, make the Andamans a dream destination for divers and nature lovers.
Konark
1144 km · Konark, a small town on Odisha's coast 35 kilometers from Puri, is home to one of India's greatest architectural wonders — the Sun Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 13th century by King Narasimhadeva I, conceived as a colossal stone chariot of the Sun God Surya with 24 intricately carved wheels and seven horses. The temple's thousands of sculptures depicting celestial beings, erotic carvings, animals, and mythological scenes represent the apex of Odishan temple architecture and craftsmanship. The annual Konark Dance Festival held against the dramatic backdrop of the illuminated Sun Temple is one of India's most magnificent cultural events.