Havelock Island, Andaman & Nicobar · luxury

Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Andamans

★★★★★

Taj Exotica sits on Radhanagar Beach No. 7, once named Asia's best beach by Time magazine. The resort spreads across 46.5 acres of tropical forest on Havelock Island, known locally as Swaraj Dweep. Every stay here is a villa stay. There are no standard rooms, only 72 pool and garden villas raised on stilts among the trees. The architecture borrows from the design language of the Jarawa tribe, native to these islands. Thatched roofs, natural wood, and wide balconies keep the resort in conversation with its forest setting. Villas open onto private plunge pools or shared garden views, depending on category. Interiors mix minimalist comfort with local craft touches. Dining follows the same island-forward approach. Restaurants serve fresh local seafood alongside international menus, often under open sky. The Jiva Spa offers treatments drawing on Ayurvedic tradition, set within its own garden pavilion. An Olympic-length infinity pool overlooks the sea, and a second pool sits closer to the beach for quieter mornings. Active travellers have plenty to do. The resort runs snorkelling trips to nearby reefs, and Havelock's dive schools are a short trip away. Kayaking, cycling, and nature walks through the surrounding forest round out the activity list. A kids' club keeps the resort family-friendly without disrupting its quiet luxury feel. Reaching Havelock takes some effort. Most guests fly into Port Blair, then take a ferry of roughly ninety minutes to two and a half hours depending on the vessel. That journey is part of the appeal. Few five-star resorts in India feel this remote, or this untouched. For travellers chasing a genuine barefoot-luxury escape, Taj Exotica delivers a rare combination: five-star service on one of the world's most celebrated beaches.