Havelock Island
Swaraj Dweep, Andaman Islands; Radhanagar Beach Holds Blue Flag Certification · Swaraj Dweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The best-known island of the Andaman archipelago, in the Bay of Bengal far closer to Myanmar than to mainland India, officially renamed Swaraj Dweep in 2018 but still called Havelock by everyone. Its fame rests on Radhanagar Beach, a long curve of white sand backed by tall tropical forest that regularly appears on lists of the best beaches in Asia, and on the diving: clear water, coral reefs, and dive schools that make it one of the cheapest places in the region to learn. Elephant Beach, reached by boat or a forest walk, is the snorkelling spot, and Kalapathar the quiet one. The island is small, green and slow, with guesthouses and resorts spread along a few roads, patchy internet and limited ATMs. Getting here takes effort: a flight to Port Blair, then a government or private ferry of two hours or more, and in the monsoon from May to September crossings are cancelled in rough seas. Saltwater crocodiles live in the islands and one killed a snorkeller off Havelock in 2010, so swim only where it is known to be safe.
Havelock Jetty, Govind Nagar, Swaraj Dweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 744211, India
NO OPENING TIME HERE WAS CHECKED AND ALL TIMES MUST BE CONFIRMED. The typical pattern: the beaches are open at all times, with lifeguards and flagged swimming at Radhanagar in the daytime and swimming restricted after they leave around sunset. Ferries between Port Blair, Havelock and Neil Island run to a daily schedule, mostly in the morning and early afternoon, and are cancelled or delayed in rough weather. Dive schools operate daily in season, with early morning boat departures, and many reduce services from May to September. The traps: no ferry booking in peak season, no buffer day before the flight home, and no cash when the island's ATMs are empty.