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 the 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 whooshing out of water in their splendid glory, this article is for you. 

Here, we have curated a list of the best destinations in India for Dolphin spotting, 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. Moreover, there are many guided dolphin-watching tours thattake 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. 

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

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 Varca Beach and are a perfect base for your Goan adventures. 

Best Time to Visit: November to February

• Andaman Island

Andaman is a popular tourist place in India 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 most uniquely. A boat ride will take you up close and personal with the exotic world underwater world 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. 

Book a stay at Club Mahindra’s associate resorts like the Symphony Palms in Havelock Island and enjoy Spinner and Bottlenose dolphins splashing along the Andaman coast. Apart from dolphin watching, you can enjoy the glass-bottom boat rides.

Best Time to Visit: October to May

• Maharashtra

Maharashtra has a huge coastline and is home to 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 undiluted natural surroundings that would leave you in awe of its beauty. 

But, if you are in search of destinations in India for Dolphin spotting, Dapoli is the ideal destination to fulfill your dreams. 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.

Best Time to Visit: November to February

• Kerala

The ‘God's own Country’ is one of the most popular destinations in India for dolphin spotting. You can go on a boat ride from Cherai Beach in the suburban area of Kochi city 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 there, you can indulge in various activities as you please like cooking with the chef, going on a leisurely boating ride,  or you can go fishing at a private lake nearby and turn the fresh catch into a scrumptious fish curry. 

Best Time to Visit: October to March

• 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 spirituality. Moreover, if you are a nature enthusiast, a visit to the National Chambal Sanctuary offers a chance to encounter 320 species of birds. The sanctuary is also home to some endangered species. 

Best Time to Visit: October to March

• 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 km and people from all over the country come for dolphin sightings. You can see the dolphins 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. 

Best Time to Visit: October to June 

• Assam

Popular worldwide for its tea, Assam is home to the magnificent freshwater Gangetic Dolphins. You can watch the dolphins at the Dibru Saikowa National Park- a biosphere reserve. You can also enjoy some of the most exotic indigenous flora and fauna in the biosphere reserve.  

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. 

Best Time to Visit: November to April

• Lakshadweep

Lakshwadeep, besides playing host to some of the country's most captivating water sports such as scuba diving and windsurfing, boosts a collection of islands and mesmerizing pristine waters waiting to be explored.  Water activities like sea walking, snorkelling, scuba diving, and kayaking also give you glimpses of the most exotic coral reefs and marine life that you will never 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. 

Best Time to Visit: October and May

• West Bengal

The Sundarbans in West Bengal is a marshland located in the Ganges Delta. Known for being the home to the famed Royal Bengal Tigers, the Sundarbans is also home to several other 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 the unique flora and fauna along with the Irrawaddy and Gangetic dolphins. Over the years, the dolphin population in the area has been declining rapidly but efforts are being made to conserve these endangered species. 

Best Time to Visit: September to March 

• 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 in India. You can watch dolphins at the Chilika Lake in Odisha, a thriving biodiversity spot.

There are many Dolphin safaris organised at the Chilika Lake that take you deep into the blue lagoons and the guides generally help you spot the Irrawaddy Dolphins. 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. 

Best Time to Visit: November to February 

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 you in awe. Now that you know the best places to see Dolphins in India, choose a destination closer to your home, pack your bags, and tick off the dolphin spotting from your list.