Three Indian beaches among Asia's top 10: survey

Mumbai: India has three of the top 10 beaches in Asia favoured by travellers, a survey by travel website TripAdvisor said.

The beaches are Agonda, Palolem (both in Goa) and Radhanagar on the Havelock Island in the Andamans, according to TripAdvisor's top 10 'Asia's Travellers' Choice Award-Winning Beaches'.

"India, with its extensive shoreline, is dotted with beautiful stretches of sand and it's great to see these gems gaining recognition globally," TripAdvisor India's Country Manager Nikhil Ganju said.

Travellers' Choice Award-winning beaches were determined on the quantity and quality of traveller reviews and ratings on the TripAdvisor website gathered over a 12-month period.

This year's awards honour 343 beaches, including the top 10 in the world and lists for Asia, Africa, Australia, the Caribbean, Central America, Europe, South America, the South Pacific, the UK and the US.

Three of India's beaches have featured in the list of top 10 beaches in Asia.

Agonda beach (Goa) has been ranked at number four position in the Asia top 10 list, mostly for being wide, quiet, picturesque and a great spot for sunbathing and relaxing with relatively few tourists around, the survey said.

Goa's Palolem beach has been ranked 8th in the list for its beach hut accommodations.

Stretching between two magnificent head lands, Palolem beach is lined with towering coconut palms and is largely unspoiled. It is inhabited by local fishermen and foreign tourists alike.

Radhanagar Beach on the Havelock Island in the Andamans has been placed at number 10 in the list for its stretch of white sand with picture perfect waters lined with palm trees, it said.

Ngapali beach in Myanmar has topped the list, followed by Nacpan Beach in Philippines and Kata Noi beach in Thailand, it said.

Yapak beach in Philippines stood at number five, followed by Nai Harn beach in Thailand at number six and Sunrise beach in Thailand at the seventh spot, while Otres beach in Cambodia was ranked number nine, it said.

However, none of the beaches from India feature in the category of the world's best beaches.

Grace Bay beach in the Caribbean has topped as the world's number one traveller's choice beach, followed by Baia do Sancho beach in Brazil and Playa Paraiso beach in Cuba, the survey said.