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Plan your Andaman holiday with local experts based in Port Blair
Neil Island has three main beaches, and each one has its own personality. Bharatpur is the swimming beach, Sitapur is for sunrise, and Laxmanpur, well, Laxmanpur is where everyone gathers in the late afternoon to watch the sun drop into the sea. A long, wide stretch of sand on the western coast, Laxmanpur Beach faces the open ocean and catches every sunset that Neil Island has to offer. But this beach is not just about the evening show. At low tide, the water pulls back to reveal a vast stretch of exposed coral reef, turning the beach into a natural aquarium where you can walk among starfish, sea cucumbers, and stranded fish trapped in tidal pools. It is also home to the Howrah Bridge, a natural coral formation that has become the most photographed spot on the island. For anyone spending a couple of days on Neil, Laxmanpur is where you end every afternoon, barefoot, happy, and watching the sky change colour.
Laxmanpur Beach is located on the western coast of Neil Island (officially Shaheed Dweep), about 15 to 20 minutes by auto from the main jetty area. The beach is actually divided into two parts, Laxmanpur Beach No. 1 and Laxmanpur Beach No. 2, with the famous Howrah Bridge natural coral formation sitting between them. Most visitors head to the main stretch of Laxmanpur for sunset, then walk down to the natural bridge during low tide to get the classic photo.
The beach itself is long and wide, with fine white sand that turns golden in the late afternoon light. Unlike Bharatpur, the water here is deeper and the waves are bigger, so swimming is not recommended for beginners. But that is not why people come to Laxmanpur anyway. They come for the low tide reef walks, for the sea stars the size of dinner plates, for the feeling of walking on the ocean floor while the sun sinks behind the horizon.
Laxmanpur faces west, which means the sunsets here are exceptional. The sky shifts from blue to orange to pink to deep purple, and the exposed reef catches the colours, reflecting them back in the shallow water that remains in the tidal pools. By the time the sun is gone, the beach is almost empty, everyone heading back to their homestays for dinner, and the only sound is the waves and the distant barking of the island's stray dogs.
Laxmanpur Beach is named after the nearby village, one of the older settlements on Neil Island. For years, the beach was known mainly to local fishermen and the few travellers who found their way to the island before tourism took off. The natural coral bridge, now called Howrah Bridge by visitors because of its resemblance to the famous bridge in Kolkata, was just a local curiosity, something the islanders had known about for generations.
As Neil Island began appearing on backpacker itineraries, word spread about the sunset at Laxmanpur. Travellers told other travellers, photos appeared on blogs and social media, and soon enough, the beach became the top attraction on the island. Despite the growing popularity, Laxmanpur has kept its natural character. There are no big resorts on the beach, no rows of sunbeds, no loud music. Just sand, sea, and sky.
The low tide reef walks started organically. Visitors noticed that when the tide went out, the exposed reef was full of marine life, and they simply started walking on it. Local guides eventually began offering guided reef walks, pointing out the different species of starfish, sea cucumbers, and crabs that hide in the tidal pools. The activity caught on and is now one of the signature experiences on Neil Island.
Today, Laxmanpur Beach sees a steady stream of visitors every evening, but it never feels crowded. The beach is long enough that everyone finds their own patch of sand, and the sunset is big enough to be shared without anyone getting in anyone else's way. The natural bridge still stands, worn down a bit more each year by the waves, and the reef still teems with life, a reminder that some places improve with a little attention and a lot of respect.
Plan Your Laxmanpur Beach Visit with Our Local ExpertsLaxmanpur Beach is about timing. Come at the wrong time and you will find a nice but ordinary stretch of sand. Come at the right time, low tide and sunset, and you will understand why people fall in love with Neil Island. Here is what to plan for.
When the tide pulls out at Laxmanpur, the water disappears for hundreds of metres, leaving behind a exposed reef that feels like walking on the moon. The reef is covered in shallow pools, each one full of life. Blue starfish, the kind you usually only see in aquariums, sit in plain sight. Sea cucumbers lie motionless on the sand. Small crabs scuttle between rocks. And if you are lucky, you might spot an octopus hiding in a crevice or a moray eel peeking out from a coral head. Local guides offer guided reef walks, but you can also explore on your own, just watch your step and do not touch anything you do not recognise. The best low tide times change every day, ask at your hotel or at the beach for that day's timings.
Between Laxmanpur Beach No. 1 and No. 2 sits the Howrah Bridge, a natural coral formation that looks exactly like what it sounds like, a bridge made of stone and coral, carved by waves over thousands of years. You can only reach it during low tide, when the water level drops enough to walk across the exposed reef. The bridge itself is not big, maybe fifteen or twenty feet across, but it is photogenic as hell. The classic shot is taken from the side, showing the arch of the bridge against the background of the sea. Go early in the morning or late in the afternoon for the best light, and be prepared to wait your turn, this is the most popular photo spot on the island for good reason.
By 4:30 PM, people start arriving. By 5:00 PM, the beach is full. By 5:30 PM, everyone is staring west, phones out, waiting. The sunset at Laxmanpur is a ritual, and it delivers more often than it disappoints. The sun sinks directly into the sea, no islands in the way, no landmass on the horizon. The colours shift slowly, orange to pink to purple to grey, and the water reflects every stage of the change. The best spot is anywhere on the main stretch of Laxmanpur No. 1, facing west. Get there early enough to claim a good patch of sand, bring nothing except your camera and maybe a beer from the shop near the parking area, and do not leave until the last colour has faded from the sky.
When the sun is not setting and the tide is not low, Laxmanpur is still a lovely place to walk. The beach goes on for over a kilometre, wide and flat and usually not too crowded except during the sunset hour. The sand is mixed with broken coral and small shells, good for beachcombing if you have a sharp eye. Photographers will find endless compositions, the lone palm tree leaning out over the water, the fishing boats pulled up on the sand, the patterns left in the wet sand by the retreating tide. And if you walk far enough to the southern end of the beach, you will leave the crowds behind entirely, just you and the waves and the wide open sky.
| Location | Western coast of Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep), approximately 2.5 km from the Neil Island jetty, 15-20 minutes by auto or scooter |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Laxmanpur Beach No. 1, Laxmanpur Beach No. 2, Sunset Beach of Neil Island |
| How to Reach Neil Island | Ferry from Port Blair (approx. 1.5 to 2.5 hours) or from Havelock Island (approx. 45 minutes to 1.5 hours). From the jetty, take an auto or rent a two-wheeler to reach Laxmanpur |
| Best Time to Visit | October to May for clear skies and calm seas. Low tide periods (check daily tide charts) for reef walking and Howrah Bridge access. Late afternoon (4:30-6:30 PM) for sunset |
| Key Attractions | Sunset views, low tide reef walks, Howrah Bridge natural coral formation, starfish sightings, beachcombing, photography, long shoreline walks |
| Water Activities | No motorised water sports at Laxmanpur. Swimming is possible but caution is advised due to stronger currents compared to Bharatpur Beach |
| Accommodation | Tango Beach Resort, Pearl Park Beach Resort, and several homestays and eco-cottages within walking distance or a short auto ride from Laxmanpur |
| Facilities Available | Small parking area, basic snack shops near the entrance, coconut water and cold drink stalls. No changing rooms or beach showers. Carry your own water |
| Nearby Attractions | Howrah Bridge (between Laxmanpur No.1 and No.2), Sitapur Beach (20 min by auto), Bharatpur Beach (15 min by auto), Neil Island Market (15 min by auto) |
Check the low tide timings before you go. The reef walk and Howrah Bridge access depend entirely on the tide. At high tide, both are underwater and invisible. Your hotel or homestay will have a tide chart, or you can ask at the snack shops near the beach. Time your visit so you arrive at least an hour before low tide, giving yourself time to walk out to the reef and explore before the water starts coming back in.
Wear shoes with good grip if you plan to walk on the reef. The exposed coral is sharp, and the rocks near Howrah Bridge are slippery. Old trainers or sturdy water shoes work best, flip-flops are a bad idea. Also, do not touch the starfish or other marine life. They are living creatures, not souvenirs. Look with your eyes, take photos, and leave them where you found them.
For sunset, get to the beach by 4:30 PM at the latest, especially if you are visiting between November and February. The best spots fill up early, and the light starts getting interesting well before the sun actually drops. Bring a headlamp or use your phone light for the walk back to the parking area, it gets dark quickly after sunset, and the path is uneven.
Combine Laxmanpur with the Howrah Bridge and a low tide reef walk for a full late afternoon. Start at the natural bridge around 3:00 PM if the tide is right, spend an hour exploring the reef, then walk over to the main sunset stretch of Laxmanpur No. 1 by 4:30 PM. Watch the sunset, then head back. If you time it right, you will have experienced the two best things about Laxmanpur in one visit, the reef and the sunset, back to back.
Laxmanpur Beach is not just Neil Island's best sunset spot, it is one of the best sunset spots in the entire Andaman Islands. The combination of the wide western horizon, the exposed reef at low tide, and the famous natural bridge makes it a beach that rewards planning and repays patience. You cannot rush Laxmanpur, and you should not try. Give it a full late afternoon, do the reef walk, watch the sunset, and leave when the last light is gone. That is the Laxmanpur way.
Our team at Andaman Vacations India includes Laxmanpur Beach in every Neil Island itinerary, paired with Bharatpur for swimming and Sitapur for sunrise. We also help you time your visit so you catch the low tide and sunset together, the magic combination that turns a good beach visit into an unforgettable one. Tell us your travel dates and we will build a Neil Island plan that gets every beach, including this one, exactly the time of day it deserves.
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