Bharatpur Beach - Neil Island

‌Bharatpur Beach is simply the best beach in Neill Island, that is both tranquil and picturesque. Located just 500 meters from the Neil Island jetty it is a perfect place to enjoy time with your friends and family.

The soft white sand beach lines the shore, along with a crystal clear shallow waters, that continues for almost 500 meters into the sea, making it one of those beaches where you can simply go halfway without being wet completely.

The shallow waters near the beach are free of large rocks and hard corals. Moreover, the water currents and waves are pretty low most of the time, making it a great place for swimming.

Bharatpur beach is also quite famous for its view of sunrise. The sun slowly rising in the sky, reflecting its colors on the water, early in the morning is a scene to watch. Moreover, the beach is also quite famous for its sunset.

The sea further down the shallow waters is pretty deep and has a rich marine life. Both hard and soft corals are abundant here, making it a perfect place to enjoy water sports like Snorkeling, Scuba Diving, and Glass Bottom Boat Rides. The deeper dive areas are located pretty close to the beach and have to be reached by boat, and from the experience of people who have tried, it is one of the best views of marine life you can have in the Andaman Islands.

Tall trees and greenery are also pretty close to the beach, so you can relax under the shade after a long day of fun and adventure. Be careful not to go near the boats and cruises tied near the beach, as the waves sometimes make it unstable.

Probably one of the sweetest things about visiting the Bharatpur beach is its location. Thanks to its location near the jetty, there are a lot of street food vendors and restaurants nearby that serve mouth-watering foods.

Moreover, small shops selling handicrafts and other souvenirs dot the roads near the beach, so you can easily buy something to remember Neill by.

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION‌ AND‌ TIPS:

• The beach opens at 8 AM and closes at 5 PM.
• There are no entry fees or charges to visit and explore the beach.Ideal visit duration is 2-3 hours.
• Small snack shops are available nearby but might charge a little extra money.
• The on-spot pricing for water-sports vary from vendor to vendor, so make sure to negotiate.
• There are no changing rooms or bathroom facilities at the beach.
• Bharatpur Beach is the only beach in Neill Island where water-sports are allowed.
• Make sure to negotiate the price before buying souvenirs.
• It is recommended to visit in the morning if you like sunrise and seclusion.
• You can also visit in the evening and enjoy the sunset.Cellular connectivity for BSNL is good here when compared to other areas in Neill Island.

For Kids:

For kids, Bharatpur Beach is a great place to be. Within the shade of large trees, they can make sandcastles, enjoy ice-cream, play in the sand, or get their feet wet in the shallow waters. Make sure to keep them under supervision at all times and not allow them too far into the water.‍

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Best Time to Visit:

The best time to visit is between 10:30 AM 4:00 PM, as most water sports centers are open at this time. If you’d like to experience the sunset, you can plan for a trip to the beach in the evening at 3 PM and enjoy water sports, finally leaving at 5:30 PM after watching the sunset.

If you are looking to watch the sunrise its best to visit is in the morning at 5:00 AM, because at this time the view of the sunrise is spectacular.

The best months to visit range from October to May, as the weather is clear and the sun is vibrant at this time.

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Fun Things to do in Bharatpur Beach:

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Scuba Diving:

Bharatpur beach is the only beach in Neil island where Scuba Diving is permitted. The whole activity is done a bit far from the shoreline of the beach, in the deeper sea. You will be taken there via a boat along with certified instructors who will dive alongside you.

The reefs at this spot harbor both hard and soft corals that houses a myriad of colorful fishes and other sea dwellers. The water is fairly clean and visibility is moderate, making the experience even more amazing. All dives here are done between 10 AM and 3 PM, so make sure to reach there on time.

You can easily find dive centers near the beach, or you can prebook them here. Scuba Diving rates are from Rs. 2500-4500 and a usual dive is around 30 minutes long.

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Snorkeling:

Snorkeling is yet another way of exploring the rich underwater diversity of Bharatpur beach.‌ The waters near the beach are too shallow and you might have to go a little deeper to find a decent spot. The water here is clear and the visibility of the sea near the shoreline is pretty great, making this experience wonderful.

You can find a lot of vendors who rent Snorkeling equipment near the beach. The usual rates are Rs. 500 for half-mask and Rs. 1000 for full-mask snorkels. Overall a great casual experience to have.

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‍Glass Bottom Boats:

Glass bottom boat is the best way to explore the corals if you don’t like to get wet. As the name suggests the boat is fitted with a bottom made of glass which lets you see underwater and enjoy the view of corals.

The boat leaves from the Bharatpur Beach and explored the shallow waters near the shoreline. You are taken to explore a few specific spots that are known to have good coral and fish populations. A usual boat ride is of 15 minutes and costs INR 500.

You can easily find vendors selling the tickets for glass-bottom boats near the beach. Make sure to compare the prices and negotiate if it's too high.‍

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Jet‌ Skiing:

‍Probably one of the most casual water sports you an have in Bharatpur Beach. The jet ski ride starts from the beach and takes you into the deeper waters around the area, to let you ride the waves and refresh yourself in the splash of cold seawater.‌ A usual ride is of 10 minutes and costs INR 500.

You are always accompanied by the rider for maximum safety and comfort so you can just relax and enjoy the exhilaration without a care in the world. You can easily find vendors on the right side of the beach, or you can pre-book it here.

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‍Photo Opp:‍

Bharatpur Beach presents a lot of great mini locations to get a few great photos nearby. One of those places is the lagoon on the right side of the beach. The water here is pretty clear, backdropped by the cyan-colored sea that makes it one of the best spots for a photoshoot in Neil. If you don’t plan on bringing a camera, you can still opt for a shoot by prebooking it.

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‍How to Reach:

Bharatpur beach is located 500 meters from the jetty and can be easily reached by taking a walk to the right side of the jetty. To reach, simply exit the jetty and follow the road for a few hundred meters and then take the pathway leading to the beach. Signs and directions are posted at the jetty to make it easy for you.

If you are planning to go to the hotel first, you can also reach the beach by taking a cab to explore the whole Neill Island. A simple 3-point tour of Neill costs INR 1500 for A/C cab and takes you to Laxmanpur Beach and Sitapur Beach, along with the Bharatpur Beach. You can learn more about it here.

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‍Where to eat:

Thanks to its location, the Bharatpur Beach is surrounded by shops and stalls. You can easily find a lot of great restaurants with a mouth-watering menu.

The best thing is that if you like sea-food, you can easily find small restaurants and street stalls offering fresh sea-food, caught from the oceans near the beach. Fish is as fresh as it gets and is a must-try here.

Some of the finest places to eat nearby are:

• Garden View Restaurant: Bamboo hut style dining area with continental and sea-food menu lineup.
• Blue Sea: Clean and luxury restaurant with great food. Perfect for family lunch and dinners.

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‍Nearby Hotels and Resorts:

Being near the jetty, there are a lot of great stay options close to Bharatpur Beach, especially for budget travelers. But for more exquisite stay experience, we recommend booking a stay at other nearby attractions who are more close to nature, as they offer better and pretty unique stay experiences.‌ As Neill is a very small island, transportation won’t be an issue, and staying close to the jetty is not that advantageous.

Some great options are Summer Sands Beach Resort, Sea Shell Samsara, Pearl Park Resort, and TSG‌ Aura.

You can learn more about different stay options in Neill Island, here.