Slip into flip-flops, grab a coconut, these beaches don’t care who you were back home, says SAKSHI PRIYA
There’s something quietly healing about standing at the edge of the sea, the sun overhead and sand beneath your feet. The summer breeze pulls at your clothes, the waves move gently and all that noise in your head finally settles. While popular beach destinations stay crowded through the season, the real charm of summer lies in lesser-known shores across India, places not found in every guidebook, places where the beach feels like your own.
In Andhra Pradesh, Mypadu Beach rarely finds a spot on tourist maps. The sea here stretches long and easy. The fishermen return early, their boats lined in crooked rows on the shore. The sand is cool under the shade of casuarina trees, where families sit on handwoven mats, slicing mangoes and peeling bananas brought from home. There are no shops nearby, just the sound of the trees and the crash of the waves. Travellers often come to places like Mypadu for the quiet. It’s a place to bring a picnic basket and a bottle of nimbu-paani, to flip through a dog-eared book while the sun glints off your sunglasses.
There’s no dress code except ease: soft cotton tops, airy blouses and slippers that slide on and off without a thought. Further down the coast, in Tamil Nadu, lies Dhanushkodi. This ghost town by the sea carries stories in its bones. The abandoned railway station, the half-buried church, the wind constantly shifting the sands. But just beyond the ruins lies a stretch of shore so still, so empty, it could be a dream. The water is clear, the horizon sharp and there’s nothing to do except breathe deeply and walk barefoot along the tide line. Travellers who come here often carry nothing but a cloth bag with summer fruits papaya, watermelon, maybe a coconut or two. Some sit under umbrellas they brought themselves, sipping homemade lemonade from glass bottles. Others lie flat on their beach towels, letting the sun tan their skin, SPF re-applied every hour like a careful ritual. In Karnataka, there’s a small beach called Ottinene, hidden between rocky cliffs and forests. It takes a bit of walking to reach, but that’s part of its charm. There’s a small freshwater stream that flows into the sea. By late afternoon, the light begins to shift. The shadows stretch long across the sand. Seagulls hover above, dipping close and the waves grow louder. Some gather driftwood to make little bonfires, others just sit and stare into the sea.
One of the most striking moments happened in Kerala, at Kappil Beach, near Varkala. The beach is flanked by a lagoon on one side and the sea on the other. Around sunset, the sky began to change, first pale yellow, then orange, and then an unreal shade of pink. Taking a nap in the shade, sketching in a notebook, eating fruit with sticky fingers. India’s coastline holds secrets some hidden in plain sight, others waiting down forested trails or behind sleepy villages. What makes them special isn’t big resorts or beach parties. It’s the simplicity. The stillness. The sound of slippers on wooden boats, the smell of fresh coconut, the way strangers smile as they pass.
Lost in a sea of sand
In the sun-kissed state of Goa, beyond the crowded beaches of Baga and Calangute, lies a secluded paradise called Kakolem Beach. Often dubbed the “Tiger Beach,” it’s accessible only through a steep, secret trail, but those who make the journey are rewarded with untouched golden sands and the endless blue expanse of the Arabian Sea. For every traveller chasing the summer sun, the journey to these hidden beaches is about connecting with nature’s raw beauty, unfiltered by crowds and commercial hustle.
Sunkissed Serenity
This summer, let the beaches be your escape. Bring your SPF, a picnic basket with juicy fruit, and a sun hat that’s seen many summers. Forget the filters and itineraries. Let your day be guided by the tide, your night by the stars and your heart by the gentle call of the sea.