Due to the variety of thrilling water sports activities available here, Havelock Island's Elephant Beach, also known as Elephanta Beach at times, is the second most visited location in the island after Radhanagar Beach. Due to a few elephants being present on the beach in the past to provide rides on them, the location acquired its name. There are no longer any elephants on the beach because the last one died in the year 2017. The area is well-known for its breathtaking scenery, which includes a white sand beach that is completely surrounded by dense woodland and vibrantly coloured shrubs. Together with a variety of thrilling water activities including jet skiing, parasailing, glass-bottom boat rides, speed boat rides, sea walks, and snorkelling, this location is perfect for simply relaxing on one of the wooden benches and taking in the beach. Even if you don't like participating in water sports, you can still enjoy swimming at the beach because the sea is calm and clear close to the coast and the beach is covered in soft sand without any stones or hard corals. Another intriguing aspect of the location is that you may either take a speed boat from Havelock Jetty to get there, or if you enjoy trekking, you can choose to walk through the verdant forests to get there. The starting point for trekking is located around 8 kilometres from the jetty on the way to Radhanagar beach and is identified on the right side of the road by a sign board that reads "Way to Elephant Beach." The trekking route is around 2.5 kilometres long, and it is led by an expert local guide. From Ferry Ghat, which is close to Havelock Jetty, one could take a boat ride to Elephant beach. Tickets for adults cost Rs. 1050; tickets for children under 3 are free. The typical window for catching the ride is from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and the trip takes 20 to 25 minutes. With the beach admission, a complimentary snorkeling session is being provided. There are facilities for changing, lockers, and bathrooms on the beach. Although a full meal is not an option here, you may still have light refreshments like samosa, pakoda, and vada from little stores that are located along the shore. Your best bet is to use an agency to reserve your preferred water sport because paying on-site will be highly expensive.
The best way to reach there is to take a speed boat ride, which takes 20 minutes and costs INR 1,050 (free for children under 3 years old) from Havelock Jetty. The ticket also includes a free snorkeling session at the beach. Alternatively, for INR 200 per person, walk 2 km from the forest with a guide.
The place is open to the public on all days from 08:00 AM to 05:00 PM.