Kiteboarding in India is a reality thanks to the expansive coastline.
© Jehan Driver
Kitesurfing

Top 4 Kiteboarding Spots in India

Fly with the wind at these epic spots in India.
Written by Jehan Driver/The Outdoor Journal
4 min readPublished on
India has a massive coastline and as a peninsula, it has the benefits of trade winds on three sides. Kite spots in India can be divided into the two coastlines - west and east. The strongest wind can be found along the east coast of India around the Island town of Rameswaram with Sri Lanka just 30 km off the mainland. The venturi between the two countries creates some crazy wind ranging from 25 to 35 knots in prime season (June to September). Since it does not rain June to September, the skies are blue and so is the water. The west coast of India relies on thermal wind cycles as well as the south-west trade winds which also bring rain.
Being a kite addict and an instructor, I have ridden along coastal India many times to find the best locations to kite looking for the best wind and wave conditions along with water quality. Sometimes the best locations are best kept secrets and not that easy to reach but for those who want to learn how to ride or practice seriously, these locations can be paradise. Having run a kite school near Mumbai (Mandwa) and Goa (South Goa), my team finally decided to venture further along the east coast where we can have a longer season of almost 250 days of wind per year.
Here’s my list of the country’s top spots to catch the wind and fly with it!

1. Rameswaram Island (Tamil Nadu) - Swami's Bay

A person clicked while kiteboarding at Swami's Bay.

Swami’s Bay

© Jehan Driver

  • Wind season: June to September
  • Kite school: Quest Academy
Rameswaram is a well-kept secret and one of the best kitesurfing spots in India. The eastern coast of India receives stable and strong trade winds almost 9 months every year giving us a really long kiteboarding season. There are many kite spots on this island which is nestled in the Gulf of Mannar Marine Reserve making it a paradise for beginners and pro-riders who would like to explore. The location is just 30 km across the bay from the world famous kite spots of Kalpitiya in Sri Lanka but a better kept secret with just a handful of kiteboarders. Kitesurfing in the area requires permits which can be managed through the local kite school.
Rameswaram has two wind seasons, each for 4-5 months, sometimes more. The South west winds start around April and last till September with winds blowing in the 18-25 knots range, while the North wind blows between December and March ranging 15-20 knots.

2. Manapad Lagoon (Tamil Nadu)

A person kiteboards at Manapad Lagoon.

Manapad Lagoon

© Jehan Driver

  • Wind season: December to March
  • Kiteschool: Villa de Joseph
Manapad is a small hamlet that is nestled between naturally formed sand dunes on one side and encircled by clear blue seas on three sides. The naturally formed hillock converges into the sea resulting in a unique point which has been formed due to ancient lava flow that extends well into the ocean.
Manapadu is famous for its unique coastline formed by lava accumulation on the beach over hundreds of years. It has wind speed from anywhere between 20 to 30 knots that blow over two magnificent lagoons. Shallow and flat water for those interested in boosting tricks and a good point break around the peninsula for catching waves. The town is extremely picturesque with Portuguese villas overlooking the lagoons. Although there is wind almost through the year the best season would be from December to March when the North East trade winds blow making it a side shore wind perfect for the lagoon.

3. Blue Bell Beach Dwarka (Gujarat)

A person is seen kiteboarding on the flat waters of Dwarka.

The flat waters of Dwarka

© Jehan Driver

  • Wind season: October to February
  • Kiteschool: Nil
Located 144 km from the town of Jamnagar, Shivrajpur (Blue Bell) beach is as north-west as we can get. The beach is a beautiful cove which works for Kitesurfing with both wind cycles North East and South West keeping it side shore. Blue Bell beach is not well-known among the kiteboarders but it has some good conditions for the sport. Although you will find no kiteboarding school at Dwarka, but you can take your own equipment and enjoy the winds.

4. Morjem Beach (Goa)

Multiple kiteboarding enthusiasts clicked at the shore break of Goa.

The shore break of Goa

© Philip Dartnell/Yogi Kite

  • Spot Name: Mondego Bay
  • Season: September to May
  • Kiteschool: Yogi Kiting and Vaayu
Goa is a hotspot location for water sports, nightlife and spiritual seekers with an amazing blend of cultures, people and lifestyle. Goa has many beautiful beaches which are often crowded with tourist activities so for some quieter kite spots the extreme north of coastal Goa has beaches which are well tuned for the sport with a few kite schools and a surf shop as well. Mondego Bay is a very nice location at Morjim beach which is good for land kiting as well. If you would like to cruise further north there is a magic lagoon on the border of Maharashtra and Goa.
This article is courtesy The Outdoor Journal.