India has a surf scene now & here's where to find it

Surfing in India isn't the fringe pursuit it once was. Over two decades, a real circuit has taken shape along the country's 7,500km coastline, mostly forgiving beach breaks over sandbars, warm water all year, and no wetsuit required.

If you can swim, you're basically qualified. Here's where the surf schools have actually taken root.

Devgad, Maharashtra

On the quieter Konkan coast, away from the Goa crowds, Flying Konkan Surfing School works out of Devgad and Taramburi beaches. It caters to beginners and seasoned surfers alike, with a beachside zipline for downtime between sets.

Mulki and Kodi Bengre, Karnataka

This is where it all began. Jack Hebner, the Surfing Swami founded Ashram Surf Retreat in Mulki in 2004, regarded as India's first surf school, gentle 3ft waves and a rock-free sandy bottom make it ideal for absolute beginners.

Nearby in Kodi Bengre, Ishita Malaviya, India's first female professional surfer, runs Shaka Surf Club on similar river-mouth swells. Both are an easy drive from Mangalore airport.

Gokarna, Karnataka

Clean, uncluttered water and Cocopelli Surf School, the town's original surf outfit make Gokarna a solid spot for newcomers to learn and then rent boards to keep practicing solo.

Goa

From Ashwem to Arambol, the coast swells between October and April. Banana Surf School and Vayu Waterman's Village are among several outfits teaching everyone from first-timers to intermediates on sandbar-broken waves, conveniently timed with Goa's usual tourist rush.

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Varkala, Kerala

Calmer water and dramatic cliffs make Varkala a gentler entry point even non-swimmers at ease near water can get started. Soul & Surf, a beachfront guesthouse blending surf lessons with yoga, has been running here since 2010.

Auroville and Puducherry, Tamil Nadu

Juan and Samai Reboul's Kallialay Surf School operates off Bodhi Beach, on what's considered one of India's steadier, more approachable breaks. November through March, with cooler and breezier weather, is the best stretch to visit.

Mahabalipuram and Covelong Point, Tamil Nadu

One of India's busiest surf hubs. Covelong Point is anchored by Murthy Megavan, a former fisherman turned Masters-division surfer, whose school also trains local kids. A short way off, Mumu Surf School teaches beginners on Mahabalipuram's crescent beach.

Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu

On the Gulf of Mannar, Quest Adventure Sports Academy runs everything from quick morning or evening sessions to multi-day expeditions that fold in navigation and rescue training, a good pick for anyone wanting more than a single lesson.

Little Andaman

Less a lesson than an expedition. A&N Surf Academy's multi-day camps out of Butler Bay Beach run a shorter season than the mainland, but the swells are reliably worth the trip.