Pink Sand Beaches: Where to Find Them in India and Why They’re Rare

When you think of a beach, you picture white sand and blue water—but pink sand beaches, a rare natural phenomenon where sand takes on a soft rose or coral hue due to microscopic organisms. Also known as rose beaches, these are among the most unusual coastal features on Earth. Most people assume pink sand only exists in the Bahamas or Bermuda. But India? It’s not the first place you’d look. And yet, there are places along its 7,500-kilometer coastline where the tide leaves behind a blush of pink—tiny, quiet, and rarely talked about.

This color doesn’t come from dye or pollution. It’s made by foraminifera, a type of marine microorganism with red or pink shells. When these tiny creatures die, their shells wash ashore, mix with crushed coral and limestone, and blend into the sand. You’ll find them in places with calm waters, minimal human traffic, and healthy coral reefs nearby. That’s why most pink sand beaches in India are tucked away in remote parts of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, especially around Havelock and Neil Island. These spots aren’t marked on every map, and they don’t have resorts lining the shore. They’re quiet, untouched, and only visible at low tide. The same process happens in a few parts of Kerala’s backwaters and the Lakshadweep islands, but the color is fainter—more of a peachy glow than a true pink. What makes these beaches special isn’t just the color. It’s how rare they are. Out of over 200 beaches in India, fewer than five have any noticeable pink tint, and only two consistently show it year-round.

If you’ve ever wondered why your Instagram feed is full of pink beaches from overseas but nothing from India, it’s because most of these spots are hard to reach. No big airports nearby. No tour buses. You need a boat ride, a hike, or a local guide to find them. And even then, you might not see the pink unless you visit during the right season—dry months, low tide, after a calm night. That’s why most travel guides skip them. But if you’re someone who wants to see something real, not staged, these beaches are worth the effort.

What you’ll find in the posts below are real, verified stories from travelers who’ve tracked down these hidden shores. You’ll learn which beaches in India actually glow pink, when to go, how to get there without wasting time or money, and why some spots that look pink in photos aren’t pink at all. You’ll also see how safety, accessibility, and local conservation efforts shape whether these beaches stay beautiful—or disappear under foot traffic. This isn’t a list of tourist traps. It’s a guide to the quiet, fragile, and truly rare corners of India’s coast.