Overview
About Vijaynagar Beach (Beach No. 5)
Vijaynagar runs for a couple of kilometres along Havelock's east coast, shaded almost its whole length by mahua trees that lean out over the sand. The water is shallow a long way out — at low tide you can walk a hundred metres and still be at your knees — which makes it gentle, warm and completely unthreatening, and less interesting for a proper swim.
This is Havelock's resort coast. Most of the island's beachfront properties are along here or just behind it, which means the beach is dotted with sun loungers, small cafés and dive-shop signboards, and there is usually somewhere to get a coffee within a few minutes' walk.
It faces east, so it gets the sunrise, and because it is more built up than Kalapathar there are usually a few people out for it. Early morning walks along the tide line, past fishing boats and the outer edge of the mahua shade, are the best thing this beach does.
Practically, it is the sensible place to base yourself on Havelock: close enough to the jetty for ferry mornings, walking distance to dive centres and restaurants, and a beach outside your room that you will use every day even if the famous one is across the island.
Why people come here
- Mahua-shaded sand for most of its length
- Very shallow, calm water — good with small children
- Most of Havelock's beachfront resorts and dive centres
- Quiet east-facing sunrises
- Walking distance to Govind Nagar's restaurants
Things to do
What to do here
Sunrise walk
The full length of the beach at low tide, past fishing boats and out along the sand flats.
Dive centre briefings
Several of Havelock's PADI and SSI centres sit on this stretch. Certification courses start here and boats leave from the jetty nearby.
Shallow-water swimming
Warm, calm and waist-deep a long way out — the most forgiving water on the island for small children.
Beachfront cafés
Coffee, breakfasts and fresh seafood along the road behind the beach, most of them open to non-guests.
Getting there
How to reach
From Havelock jetty
10 to 15 minutes by auto; a short scooter ride on a good road.
From Port Blair
Ferry to Havelock, then the short transfer north from the jetty. Most resorts here arrange the pickup.
Best time to visit · November to April · early morning and late afternoon
Shade holds under the mahua trees most of the day, but the shallows get very warm at midday. Low tide exposes long sand flats worth walking.
Good to know
Travel tips
- Check tide times — at low tide the water retreats a long way and swimming is not really on.
- Stretches in front of resorts are used by their guests; the beach itself is public but read the room.
- Best base on Havelock for a first visit: close to the jetty, the restaurants and the dive shops.
- Book dive courses from here rather than from Port Blair — the sites are better and the centres are on the doorstep.
Gallery
Vijaynagar Beach (Beach No. 5) in pictures
Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)
Combine it with
Tour packages
