Barefoot Scuba

Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)


Smart, orange-walled, polished-wood cottages with terraces and a bit of style, in a knot of palms just steps from the beach. The most affordable 'cottages' are tentlike canvas constructions. Free water refills.

It's attached to long-running dive operation Barefoot Scuba and there are budget A-frame huts (₹400) for divers.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) attractions

1. Beach 3

0.16 MILES

A slender strip of platinum east-coast beach, dotted with palms and a few fishing boats and overlooked by clumps of natural jungle. Beautiful, though not…

2. Beach 5

0.8 MILES

On Havelock's eastern coast, palm-ringed Beach 5 has your classic tropical vibe with cream-coloured sand, cerulean sea, shady patches and few sandflies…

3. Kalapathar

3.77 MILES

Pristine Kalapathar is a salt-white swathe of sand lapped by clear turquoise water. It's a favourite sunrise-gazing spot, and you may have to walk a bit…

4. Elephant Beach

3.83 MILES

Along the island's northwest coastline, the alabaster sands of Elephant Beach, a popular snorkelling spot, are reached by a 40-minute, 1.8km walk through…

5. Radhanagar Beach

4.51 MILES

One of India’s (and indeed Asia's) most fabulous and famous stretches of sand: a beautiful bleach-blonde curve of powdery sugar fronted by perfectly…

6. Neil's Cove

5.05 MILES

With its gorgeous teal ‘lagoon’, Neil's Cove is a gem of sheltered sand and crystalline water. Swimming is prohibited at dusk and dawn; take heed of any…

7. Beach 1

12.57 MILES

A long sweep of sandy white coastline and mangroves wrapping around the northwest end of the island, 2km from the jetty, and gazing across to Havelock …

8. Beach 2

13.57 MILES

On the southwest side of the island, signposted from Neil Kendra (1.5km), this rocky cove is famous for its striking Natural Bridge rock formation,…