Beautiful places for beach bums in India this winter

It's winters again and the weather is just perfect to step outside and get some sun. If the balmy days are luring you as well and you are keen on a beach vacation, we have handpicked some of the prettiest beach destinations in India. Pick one, pick all - a lot of fun is guaranteed!

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The Andamans & Nicobar islands are one of the rawest, untouched beach destinations in India. While we hope that the place manages to stay off the radar of commercialisation and half-baked development projects, it is a must-visit if you know how to travel responsibly. Some of the most beautiful beaches and marine life is here; visiting it could be like a first love, ardent and irrevocable!

Read more: A 7-day itinerary for Andamans

Alibaug, close to Mumbai, shot to limelight with a number of A-listers making vacation homes here. A ferry ride away from Mumbai, Alibaug is a little piece of beach heaven close to the rather bustling city. You can choose to do nothing other than listening to the roaring ocean here. Also, some beautiful private villas and stays here are no less than alluring.

Read more: Alibaug beaches for a quiet vacation

Diu is a hitherto untouched beach destination, sitting right by the Gujarat border. A far cry from all the crowded beach destinations around, Diu should be your go to for a cultural experience, an interesting cuisine that has fair traces of Portuguese food, surprisingly interesting architecture and solitary beaches.

Varkala in Kerala is a hippie haven but loved in equal measures by almost everyone. Backpackers, hippies, luxe travellers, solitary wanderers, hostellers - everyone feels at home in Varkala.

Good coffee, great food and the best of views from this clifftop beach destination, Varkala is where you can have it all. Surfing and yoga schools add to the charm as well if you are looking for a longer, more interesting stay.

We will never be over Puducherry for the ocean is so much fun here! While it's one of the most alluring destinations for food lovers, with a very mix of French and Konkan food, the beachside here, usually not crowded, is a delight. It is also home to India's first surfing school, so you can have a lot of fun experiences when here.

While Goa is beautiful, South Goa is where my heart is. The lagoons here and inviting, stay options are inviting and right by the beach (if you know where to look!), the landscapes are surreal, commercialisation still has not hit with all its might, people are warm and you can simply go dolphin watching every morning.

What more can one ask for when in Goa!

PS: South Goa, famously Agonda, is also home to some exclusive boutiques, where you can shop for some great, quirky as well as classy stuff - right from table ware to a wardrobe revamp.

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Tarkarli is a village in Maharashtra's Malvan region, and is loved for its clean blue water, offbeat settings, white sands and more. It is also home to the famous Sindhudurg Fort and the pristine backwaters of Karli river. With some luck, you can spot dolphins as well!