Kalapathar Beach, Havelock: The Island's Sunrise Beach
Kalapathar is the Havelock beach you visit before breakfast. It is on the east coast of the island, past Vijaynagar, where the road runs right beside the sand and big black boulders sit along the waterline. The sun comes up straight out of the sea here, and on a clear morning the water goes from grey to pale green in about twenty minutes.
Most people come for that, stay an hour and head back to their hotel to eat. This page covers how to get there from the jetty, sunrise times through the year, where you can safely get into the water, and the beaches close by.
Updated October 2026 by the Blue Bubble Andaman team in Port Blair
Kalapathar Beach at a Glance
Kala pathar means "black stone" in Hindi. The beach takes its name from the village of Kalapathar at the end of the coast road, and from the dark rocks scattered along the shore. Havelock itself was renamed Swaraj Dweep in 2018, though almost everyone, drivers included, still calls it Havelock.
| Where | East coast of Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep), just past Vijaynagar (Beach No. 5) |
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| From Havelock Jetty | About 10 km, 20 to 25 minutes by road |
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| Timings | Open from early morning. Head back before dark. |
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| Entry Fee | Free |
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| Best Time of Day | Sunrise, between about 5 am and 6 am depending on the month |
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| Swimming | Only in calm, sandy patches away from the rocks. No lifeguards. |
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| Facilities | Toilet block, a few tea and coconut stalls, roadside parking |
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| Time Needed | One to two hours |
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Only one morning on Havelock? Leave your hotel 30 to 40 minutes before sunrise, watch it from Kalapathar, then stop at Vijaynagar on the drive back for breakfast. Keep the afternoon for Radhanagar, which faces west and is at its best at sunset.
Things To Do at Kalapathar Beach
There are no water sports or beach shacks here, and that is the point. These are the things our guests actually end up doing.
Early Morning
Watch the Sunrise
Reach 20 minutes before sunrise · Faces east over the sea
This is why people come. The beach faces due east, so there is nothing between you and the horizon, and the colour starts well before the sun actually shows.
Find a spot on the sand rather than on the road, since cabs and scooties keep arriving until the sun is up.
Photography
Photograph the Black Rocks
Best light from sunrise to about 7:30 am
The dark boulders against white sand and green water make Kalapathar the easiest beach on Havelock to photograph well. A low angle with a rock in the foreground works nicely at sunrise.
The rocks get slippery once they are wet, so stay off the ones the waves are reaching.
Easy Walk
Walk the Shoreline
Flat sand · 30 to 45 minutes there and back
The beach is long and fairly narrow, with tall trees between the sand and the road. Walk a few minutes away from the parking area and you will usually have a stretch to yourself.
Mornings are cool enough for a proper walk. By 9 am the sun is strong and there is little shade on the sand itself.
Low Tide
Look Into the Rock Pools
Check tide times the evening before
When the tide is out, small pools form between the rocks. Look closely and you will find crabs, tiny fish and sea snails. Kids love this part.
Look, but leave everything where it is. Taking shells or coral is against the law in the Andamans.
Breakfast Stop
Chai and Coconut at the Stalls
Cash only · Open early in season
A handful of small stalls along the road sell chai, tender coconut and simple snacks. A hot cup of tea after the sunrise is one of the small pleasures of a Havelock morning.
Mobile payments do not always go through here, so carry some cash.
Scenic Drive
Ride the Coast Road
Vijaynagar to Kalapathar · 2 to 3 km of sea views
Past Vijaynagar the road hugs the coast, with the sea on one side and paddy fields and forest on the other. On a rented scooty it is the nicest stretch of road on the island.
The road carries on to Kalapathar village, a small farming settlement where tourists rarely stop.
Kalapathar Beach Sunrise Times and Best Time To Visit
The Andamans run on Indian Standard Time but sit far to the east, so the sun rises much earlier than most visitors expect. Use these as a rough guide and reach 20 minutes ahead.
| Months | Approx. Sunrise | What to Expect |
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| November to January | 5:30 to 6:00 am | Cool, dry mornings and mostly clear skies. Peak season. |
| February to April | 5:20 to 5:55 am | Warm, calm sea and very clear water. |
| May to September | 4:55 to 5:20 am | Monsoon. Cloud often hides the sunrise and the sea can be rough. |
| October | 5:15 to 5:25 am | Season starts. Green after the rains, with some cloudy mornings. |
October to May is the best time to visit. December to March gives the most reliable clear mornings. Afternoons at Kalapathar are quiet and pleasant too, but there is no sunset view because the beach faces east.
Can You Swim at Kalapathar Beach?
You can get into the water in the sandy, rock-free patches when the sea is calm, and many people do. There is no marked swimming zone and no lifeguard on duty, so treat it as a place to wade and float near the shore, not a place for a long swim.
Stay well clear of the rocks when waves are coming in, wear sandals if you plan to walk over the rocky sections, and get out if the sea turns choppy. Read any advisory boards at the entrance, including crocodile warnings, and do not go into the water after dark.
If swimming is the main plan, Radhanagar Beach has lifeguards and a marked zone. For snorkelling and water sports, take the boat to Elephant Beach.
How To Reach Kalapathar Beach
Port Blair to Havelock Island
Fly into Port Blair and take a ferry to Havelock. The private ferries take about 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on the boat, and morning sailings sell out in peak season, so book ahead. Government ferries are cheaper but slower and hard to book at short notice. If you travel with us, we buy the ferry tickets for you.
Havelock Jetty to Kalapathar Beach
From the jetty the road goes past Govind Nagar (Beach No. 3) and Vijaynagar (Beach No. 5). Kalapathar is the next stretch of coast, about 20 to 25 minutes from the jetty and 5 to 10 minutes from most Vijaynagar hotels.
For sunrise, book a cab the night before, because very few are around at 5 am. Rented scooties are a good option if you are a confident rider. The local bus and shared autos do not run early enough for sunrise.
If you are on a Blue Bubble Andaman package, tell our team and we will add the early transfer to your Havelock day.
Beaches and Places Near Kalapathar
Kalapathar pairs well with the rest of Havelock. These are the ones we usually plan around it.
2 to 3 km Away
Vijaynagar Beach (Beach No. 5)
Next beach up the coast · Many hotels on this stretch
Calm and shallow, with old mahua trees leaning over the sand. If you stay here, Kalapathar is a five-minute ride for sunrise.
Best for Sunset
West side of the island · Lifeguarded swimming zone
Havelock's most famous beach. Sunrise at Kalapathar and sunset at Radhanagar is the classic Havelock day.
Read our Radhanagar Beach guide
Snorkelling
Elephant Beach
Boat from Havelock jetty · Snorkel, sea walk, jet ski
The place for coral and water sports on Havelock. Boats leave from the jetty in the morning, so it fits after an early Kalapathar sunrise.
Near the Market
Govind Nagar Beach (Beach No. 3)
Close to the jetty and main market
A handy beach near the island's restaurants and shops. Good for an evening stroll on the day you arrive.
See our full Havelock Island guide or the list of Andaman beaches for more.
Where To Stay Near Kalapathar Beach
There are only a few small stays right at Kalapathar. Most guests pick a hotel at Vijaynagar, a few minutes up the road, which makes the early start much easier. Tell us your budget and dates and we will suggest options in the Standard, Deluxe or Premium range.
Want a Kalapathar sunrise built into your Havelock days?