Surfing
Surfing
Finding surf breaks in India
The coastline gets hit with good north eastern swells that send out an invitation for surfing.
India is a peninsular country that stretches out with the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean on either side. Like its close neighbours Sri Lanka and Maldives, it gets hit with good north eastern swells and in the right season waves can get up to 12 feet.
Gujarat
It lies on the west coast which receives the last of the swell and works its way up to the islands. Dwarka in Gujarat receives 2-3 feet swell in the month of August but little is known about this break.
Maharashtra
The southern coast of this state, which is on the west coast of India, receives good pre-monsoon swell from the end of March to beginning of June. The well-known spots are Ganapathi Phule, Paradise Beach and Vengurla. Vengurla is a lesser known point break. It is a right peeling from the rock with at least a 100 meter ride. Ganpathi Phule and Paradise beach are beach breaks so the consistency of the waves is questionable.
Goa
Home to the hippie culture in India, Goa also has some nice waves. The Konkan state is dotted with beach breaks at beaches such as Arambol, Morjim, Chapora with a point break at Baga Beach. Colva, Benaulim, Agonda and Galgibaga are also surfing points but of all these places the surf spot to not miss is the point break at Baga which can only be accessed before 8 am at mid-tide. That’s when it works best.
Karnataka
The next state on the west coast as we move further south of the country is Karnataka.Home to the Surfing Federation of India, this state is hit by good 6-8 feet swells in the months of April, May and June. Its coastline consists of over twenty breaks and a few of them are still a secret. The most well-known spot is the Mangalore Jetty at Panambur Beach.
Kerala
Kerala-Surfing-India
© Petra Pastircakova
Also known as God’s own country, it is the surf haven of the peninsula. From Kannur – the northern-most tip – to Poovar – the southern-most tip of the state, this coconut heaven has great surf and even better food. With famous waves like the Kovalam lighthouse point making it on the cover of Surfer magazine, the chill cliff side of Varkala has powerful 6 ft. beasts and the countless point breaks till Kannur. Kerala does not disappoint as a surfer paradise.
Tamil Nadu
Beginning at the southern-most tip of India at Kanyakumari, this state is the home of surfing culture in India. With the highest number of surfers in India, there is little that Tamil Nadu surfers have not seen; with Mahabalipuram being the Motherland of surfing. Just an hour away is Pondicherry a thriving surf and skate spot in Tamil Nadu. They have a long season with waves from June to January and waves up to 12 feet.
Seemandra
The newest state in India is a great surf spot with Rishi Konda beach in Vizag being the hub of activity. It has great long-boarding waves peeling for 400 meters. Located on the east coast Vizag has a small and growing community of surfers. The surfing season is October to January.
Odisha
The remotest surf location of India, this state in Eastern India gets great open ocean swells from the Bay of Bengal with waves reaching up to 12 feet high. With its pristine beaches and stretches of beach breaks and point breaks, Odisha also happens to be the home of the Olive Ridley turtles in India. The best breaks are between Puri and Konark on the Puri - Konark marine drive. The season begins in December and lasts all the way till April.
Have we missed out on any secret Surfing spots? Do let us know in the comments below.
This article is courtesy The Outdoor Journal.
