Have you ever wondered about India’s surfing scene? Even with over 7,500 kilometres of coastline we were a little late to the party, but we’re making up for it now with some really cool little surf spots dotted around the country just waiting to be discovered.
Here’s our pick of India’s best surf schools, from Goa to Pondicherry.
The Ashram Surf Retreat near Mangalore
India’s surf story begins with the Surfing Swami, an American named Jack Hebner who discovered some sweet surf locations whilst travelling India in the 1970s. His spiritual trip turned into an exploration of India’s coastline, surfboard in hand, culminating in him starting the Surf Ashram near Mangalore, the first surf school in India.
Situated in the village of Mulki, about 30 kilometres from Mangalore, the Ashram Surf Retreat offers simple and comfortable non-A/C rooms, healthy vegetarian food and the beautiful setting of the Arabian sea on one side and the Shambhavi River on the other. Besides surfing and yoga lessons you can also kayak, wakeboard, paddleboard and snorkel at one of the nearby islands. The school is also involved with community projects in the area.
Accommodation: starts at 2,500 INR for single occupancy and 3,500 INR for double occupancy.
Surf lessons: 2,200 INR per day
Surf board rentals: 700 INR per day
Website: http://surfingindia.net/ashram-surf-retreat
Covelong Point Surf School near Chennai
In 2001 the Surfing Swami was in Mahabalipuram scouting surf locations near Chennai when he found the perfect contour at Fisherman’s Cove. He began frequenting the spot and one day was approached by a young fisherman named Murthy who asked to borrow his board. Not only had Murthy never tried his hand at surfing, he had never even seen anyone surf before that day. But still he paddled out, stood up and rode a wave out to shore on his very first try.
Now, 15 years later, Murthy runs the Covelong Point Surf School with several young fishermen from his village who have become some of the best surfers in the country. Surfing has provided many boys from the village, which has a high incidence of alcoholism, with a new life. Some have become self-appointed lifeguards and keep the beach spotlessly clean.
Covelong Point also has SUP boards, kayaks, bodyboards, windsurfing equipment and a Rip Curl store, and Barefoot Scuba Diving from Havelock in the Andamans has also recently opened shop here.
Surf Turf offers small but excellent and comfortable rooms, and a café with delicious, fresh seafood.
Accommodation: starts at 2,500 INR + tax per night with a shared bathroom.
Surf lessons: 1,500 INR per lesson
Rentals: 500 INR
Website: http://www.covelongpoint.com/
Shaka Surf Club near Mangalore
Ishita and Tushar were studying in Manipal when they met the Swami and found their way to surfing. In 2007 they decided not to return to their homes in Bombay, bought their first surfboard and started The Shaka Surf Club. Located in Kodi Bengre, a fishing village in Udupi not far from Mangalore, it is a great place for beginner surfers as well as for the more experienced. The location is gorgeous—a strip of land surrounded by water with the Arabian Sea on one side and the Suvarna River on the other. Ishita and Tushar are keen to promote the sport and put India on the global surfing map, and work closely with the community, providing delicious, fresh food for guests and keeping the beach clean. Ishita is considered one of the first women in surfing in India, and has played an important role in inspiring more girls to take to the waves.
Accommodation: The Shaka Surf Club offers 2 nights/ 3 days packages starting at Rs. 8,000 per person, including accommodation in a tent on the beach, all meals and surf sessions.
Surf sessions start at 1,500 INR per person.
Website: http://www.theshakasurfclub.com/
Soul & Surf at Varkala, Kerala
In 2008, Ed and Sofie Templeton quit their jobs and moved to India to set up their surf school on ‘a little patch of paradise’ at Varkala in Kerala, a state known for its lush countryside but much less so for what are some of India’s loveliest beaches.
Today, Ed and Sofie run Soul & Surf in Varkala, and have also set up in Sri Lanka and the Andaman Islands. At Varkala they are closely involved with the community and you’re bound to meet some interesting people while surfing here. Stunning views from their secluded cliff-top property (plus sunset yoga sessions on the rooftop), occasional pizza and barbecue nights, plus lots of time to unwind, are a plus.
Accommodation: Soul and Surf offers three types of rooms, Quite Nice, Nice, and Really Nice, the most basic costing around Rs. 3,000 per night, inclusive of breakfast and daily surf guides to the best spots.
Surf lessons start from approximately 2,200 INR
Yoga classes: start from approximately 600 INR per 1.5 hrs
Website: http://www.soulandsurf.com/
Kallialay Surf School near Pondicherry
Pondicherry’s Kallialay Surf School is run by Spanish brothers Juan and Samai Reboul, who were notorious for skipping school to surf ever since they moved to Auroville at ages 9 and 10. Their passion for surfing turned into a career with one of Pondicherry’s oldest and best known schools. With 10 years of experience surfing here, and their knowledge of English, Tamil, French and Spanish, they are great instructors for beginners and promise a fun and thrilling experience in this lovely part of South India. The location also offers more advanced surfers an exciting ride.
Kallialay is all about surfing, with a range of packages to choose from, starting with a single group-lesson at 1,000 INR, and going up to a 10-day course, which will have you catching waves on your own at 9,500 INR.
(If you want to stay boutique and learn how to surf, check out our selection of Pondicherry hotels)
Website: http://www.surfschoolindia.com/
Banana Surf School at Ashwem Beach, north Goa
Goa has seen several surf schools open up in recent times, but one that comes highly recommended is the Banana Surf School at beautiful Ashwem Beach in the north. The experienced instructors have taught at some of the world’s best spots, including Bali and Australia. The school is open during the Goan holiday season from November to April, not the best time for waves but certainly the most pleasant and easiest time to visit. Banana Surf is great for beginners as they follow a simple step-by-step process to help you start catching waves on your own. The school is also part of Ashvem’s Shanti Beach Club, which hosts some of the best parties in the area.
Surfing lessons start at approximately 4,500 INR for a two-hour session; there are also three-day and five-day courses.
For accommodation in Ashwem, check out our favourite boutique hotels in north Goa.
Website: http://goasurf.com/
Apart from our curated list, do also look-up the Lonely Surfers School in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, and Surfing Yogis in Puri, Orissa. In Goa, there’s always more than one option for everything, so do also check out Surf Wala (at Arambol) and Vaayu (at Ashwem). Also keep an eye open for the India Surf Festival that takes place in Puri, Orissa every year—a celebration of the ocean through competitions, art, music and design. Covelong Point also has its own fun little festival around September every year.