10 Places for Dolphin Watching in India

Being a peninsula, India is naturally blessed with a long coastline. It is surrounded by the Arabian Sea on the west, the Indian ocean in the south and Bay of Bengal on the East coast. With such diverse water bodies and rivers flowing through the length and breadth of the country, India is home to some of the most beautiful aquatic animals. 

 If you have been fascinated by the dolphins taking a dip in and out of the water and leaving a big splash, you see different species of dolphins at different places. We have curated a list of the best places where you can see Bottlenose dolphins, Irrawaddy dolphins and the endangered Ganges river dolphins at their playful best.

Goa

Goa is one of the most popular beach holiday destinations in India. We all know its pristine beaches are a perfect place to relax, unwind and enjoy a laid back holiday. But do you know, the beaches in Goa are also one of the best places for dolphin watching in India. 

There are many beaches in Goa where you can spot oceanic dolphins. Many people organise dolphin watching tours and take you on a boat ride to see the beautiful mammals swimming freely in the natural habitat. And, if you are lucky, you can see them displaying their playful nature and being acrobatic as they take a leap out of the water and dive back in. 

Best places to spot dolphins in Goa are Palolem beach, Morjim beach, Coco beach, Cavelossim beach, Sinquerim beach. It is best to take a boat ride early in the morning as the chances of sighting are high. Sometimes you can spot pods of dolphins swimming close to your boat as they display their playful, docile and charming nature. 

If you are visiting south Goa, you can book your stay at Club Mahindra Emerald Palms Resort in Varca or the Club Mahindra Varca Resort. Both the resorts are located close to the Varca beach, this resort in Goa and are a perfect base for your Goan adventures. You can explore the other beaches and head to Cavelossim, which is about 8kms or 15-min drive away to see dolphins. 

Andaman Island

Andaman is a popular tourist place in India for honeymoon goers and beach lovers alike. But, it is also a wonderful place to indulge in some adventure and water sports activities like scuba diving, hiking, snorkelling, underwater walking, kayaking and dolphin watching. 

 Here you can see the gorgeous marine life in the most unique way. You can see the dolphins swim freely in the ocean through a glass bottom on the boat. The boat ride will also take you up close and personal with the exotic world underwater without diving into the ocean. The best places to see dolphins where these beautiful mammals are spotted frequently are Lalaji Bay Beach and Havelock Island. 

Apart from dolphin watching, the Andaman Islands has plenty of other things to offer and you can enjoy exploring one of the most beautiful islands in the world by booking a stay at some of the Club Mahindra associate resorts in Adaman like the Symphony Palms in Havelock Island. It is the perfect place to bring out the adventurous side of you, enjoy the amazing local cuisine, and retire peacefully at night after a long day and recharge your spirit and senses for the next fun-filled day for as long as you are here. 

Maharashtra

Maharashtra has a huge coastline and is home some of the most amazing beaches you will find anywhere in the world. The beaches here, especially in the Konkan region of Maharashtra are clean, and have an undiluted natural surrounding that would leave you in awe of its beauty. 

But, if you are on a mission on a dolphin watching mission, the best place to be is Dapoli. It is a quaint town in the Ratnagiri district and it is adorned with some secluded beaches and small fishing villages. There are many beaches in Dapoli where you have a fantastic experience watching the Dolphins. Some of the best places are Murud, Anjarle Beach, Tarkarli Beach, and Ladghar Beach

Apart from watching the dolphins, you can visit to experience living a humble village life and dig into the delectable local cuisine, especially the endless varieties of fish preparations.

Kerala

The ‘Gods own Country’ is one of the most tourist destinations in India. Famed for its exotic backwaters, mesmerising hill stations, and serene beaches, Kerala is also one of the best places to see dolphins in India. You can go on a boat ride from Cherai Beach in the suburban area of Kochi city to venture out in the sea to watch the dolphins. 

After your rendezvous with the dolphins, you can explore the rest of the Kochi city and visit the other attractions. A perfect end to an eventful day in Kochi would be to relax at the Club Mahindra Resort Cherai Resort. While you are here, you can be sure there will be never be a dull moment, you can indulge in various activities as you please like cooking with the chef, or going on a leisurely boating in the backwaters or you can fishing with your buddies at a private lake nearby and turn the fresh catch into a scrumptious fish curry for your next meal. 

Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh is the best place to see River dolphins in India. The endangered Ganges river dolphins are commonly sighted in the Chambal River, near Etawah. Apart from watching Dolphins, Uttar Pradesh has plenty of other enthralling experiences to offer. It is also the best place to explore your spirituality. 

Bihar

To protect the endangered Ganges river dolphins that are on the verge of extinction, the Government of Bihar has entrusted the Vikramshila Dolphin Sanctuary, which is located in the Bhagalpur district to conserve and protect the dolphins. It is also the first dolphin observatory in India. 

The sanctuary stretches over an area of 50 kms and dolphin sightings are pretty common here. There are a few hundred dolphins in this sanctuary and you can see them display their playful nature as they whizz past your boat. Sometimes the pods may swim along the boat and you can just have enough of the beautiful creature. 

Assam

Known for its tea, and being the home to the magnificent one-horned Rhinoceros Assam is a great place to see the freshwater Gangetic Dolphins at the Dibru Saikowa National Park. Since it is a biosphere reserve, you can enjoy some of the most exotic indigenous flora and fauna in one place. 

One of the things that deserve a special mention about this place is that it is the only place in India where you can see (if you are lucky) the rare and endangered Pink river dolphins found in India. You can enjoy watching the dolphins and the natural surroundings around the national park as you cruise along the mighty Brahmaputra river. 

Lakshadweep

An archipelago in the southwestern coast of India, Lakshadweep is a place no other. Home to some of the most secluded and uninhabited islands,  its natural surrounding is so picturesque that it may well be a dream. While you are here, you can enjoy the various experiences it has to offer like sea walking, snorkelling, scuba diving, kayaking, which will give you glimpses of the most exotic coral reefs and marine life that you will ever see anywhere in the world.  

And while you indulge these activities keep an eye for the dolphins. Here you can spot the ocean bottlenose dolphins. The best time to visit the place is between October and May. 

West Bengal

The Sundarbans in West Bengal is a marshy land that is located in the Ganges Delta. Known for being the home to the famed Royal Bengal Tigers, the Sundarbans is also home to several other animal species, including the Irrawaddy Dolphins and the Gangetic Dolphins. 

You can go on a river cruise excursion in this UNESCO World Heritage Site and enjoy seeing a mass of unique flora and fauna and the dolphins too. According to conservationists, over the years, the dolphin population in the area has been declining rapidly but efforts are made to conserve these endangered species. 

Odisha

Odisha is perhaps most popular for its Jagannath Temple in Puri. But only a few people know that it is also one of the best places for dolphin watching. You can watch dolphins at the Chilika Lake in Odisha, a thriving biodiversity spot.

There are many Dolphin safaris organised here that take you deep into the blue lagoons and the guides generally help spot the Irrawaddy Dolphins for you. So, keep your camera ready to capture these wonderful animals being playful as they swim along with their buddies.

Apart from watching the dolphins, you can take a stop at the different islands on the lake and explore the place and if you are lucky, you may spot other animals like deer, hyenas and golden jackals. 

Dolphins are one of the friendliest and the cutest marine creatures in the world. No matter if you are an animal lover or not, getting a glimpse of beautiful dolphins will surely leave in awe. Now that you know the best place to see Dolphins, choose a destination closer to your home, pack your bags, and tick off the dolphin spotting from your list.