Location
Havelock Island
Clear water, palm-fringed beaches and dense tropical forest in India's Andaman archipelago — an island made for slow mornings and golden evenings.
Havelock Island — also known as Swaraj Dweep — lies in the Andaman Sea, east of mainland India and reached by ferry from Port Blair. It is the best known of the Andaman Islands for good reason: wide white-sand beaches, water that shifts from pale green to deep blue within a few metres, and a forested interior that keeps the whole island green.
The island is small enough to explore in a few days and interesting enough to keep you longer. A single main road runs between the jetty, the village at Govind Nagar and the beaches on either coast, travelled mostly by scooter, auto and small taxi. Life moves at the pace of the ferry timetable.
Around it lies some of the clearest water in India. The reefs draw divers and snorkellers from around the world, and the shallow bays are calm enough for first-timers and children. Above the water, sunsets on the western shore are the island's daily event.
- Radhanagar Beach — a long crescent of white sand on the west coast
- Kalapathar Beach — dark rock formations against turquoise shallows
- Elephant Beach — reached by boat, the hub for water activities
- Govind Nagar — the island's main village, jetty and market
- Reef diving and snorkelling in warm, clear water
- Sunsets over the Andaman Sea almost every clear evening
Beaches & Shoreline
Havelock's beaches each have their own character. Radhanagar, on the west coast, is the famous one — a broad sweep of pale sand backed by forest, at its best in the last hour before sunset. Kalapathar, on the east, is quieter and defined by dark rocks scattered across shallow turquoise water, best in the early morning light.
Between them are smaller stretches of sand where you may be the only people there, and the shoreline in front of the resort for the days you do not feel like travelling at all.
Under The Water
The reefs around Havelock are the reason many people come. Warm, clear water for much of the year, coral gardens in the shallows and deeper sites offshore make this one of the best places in India to learn to dive or to log serious dives.
Snorkelling is just as rewarding and far less involved — a mask, a boat ride and an hour above the coral is enough for most people to understand why the island has the reputation it does.
Island Life
Away from the beaches, Havelock is a working island. Fishing boats come in at the jetty, the market at Govind Nagar sells the day's catch alongside fruit and coconuts, and scooters carry everything and everyone along the main road.
Spending an afternoon in the village, eating fresh seafood at a roadside kitchen or watching the boats return is as much a part of the island as any beach.
Getting Here
Havelock is reached by ferry from Port Blair, which is served by flights from mainland India. Ferries run to a published timetable and can be affected by sea conditions, so it is worth allowing a buffer day on either side of a flight.
Tell us your arrival plans with your enquiry and we will help you work out the journey. Exact travel times and transfer arrangements can be listed here once confirmed.
Good to know
- How do I reach Havelock Island?
- Fly to Port Blair, then take a ferry to Havelock. Ferry operators and timings are published locally and vary by season.
- How do people get around the island?
- Mostly by scooter, auto-rickshaw and small taxi along the single main road. Distances are short and the drive between coasts takes only a few minutes.
- Is the water safe for swimming?
- The bays are generally calm and shallow, though conditions change with the season and weather. Follow local guidance and any flags or advice from boat operators.
- Is there mobile signal and internet?
- Coverage exists but is slower and less consistent than the mainland. Plan for a lighter connection than you are used to — most guests come to consider that a feature.
Plan your stay
Travel and transfer details shown here are placeholders. Tell us your arrival plans and we will help you work out the journey.