Guide · ISLANDS · Updated 22 OCTOBER 2026
Use Kala Pathar as a shore stop, not your main Havelock beach.
Plan Kala Pathar Beach on Havelock without assuming timings or facilities. Check road access, swimming limits, amenities and who should visit.
SOURCES CITED INSIDE · CHECKED 22 OCTOBER 2026 · DRAWBACKS INCLUDED
Short answer: visit Kala Pathar Beach for a simple road-side shore stop on Swaraj Dweep, still widely called Havelock Island. It suits a slower morning or afternoon when you want coastal scenery without committing to a boat or organised activity. Keep Radhanagar for the main beach outing and Elephant Beach for an activity-led plan.
Do not arrive expecting guaranteed swimming, a complete visitor complex or fixed opening hours. The current official sources do not establish those promises. Read the signs on arrival, ask about the safe swimming area and carry the essentials you need.
Location, road-access, beach-safety and amenity-status sources checked on 22 October 2026 against Andaman and Nicobar Tourism and the Administration's Daily Telegrams.
Is Kala Pathar Beach worth visiting?
Yes, as a secondary Havelock stop. The Tourism Department identifies Kala Pathar as one of the visitor beaches on Swaraj Dweep and describes the dark rock and pebble shoreline as its main visual feature. The official suggested itinerary places it on a slower second day on the island rather than making it the centre of an activity day.
Skip it when the island stay is short and Radhanagar or a booked activity matters more. Kala Pathar is also a weak choice for anyone who needs confirmed toilets, changing rooms, seating, food, parking or step-free access before leaving the hotel. Current official sources do not publish a dependable facilities list.
| Choose Kala Pathar when | Choose another beach when |
|---|---|
| You want a road-accessible shore stop | You want the main beach day and sunset at Radhanagar |
| You do not need an organised activity | You want the boat, trail or water-activity format of Elephant Beach |
| You can check signs and facilities on arrival | Your group needs confirmed visitor infrastructure in advance |
| You can leave swimming out if conditions are unclear | Swimming is the main purpose of the outing |
How to reach Kala Pathar Beach
Kala Pathar Beach is reached by road on Swaraj Dweep. The current Tourism page places it about 14 km from the jetty and gives a 30 to 45 minute scooter-or-taxi estimate. Treat both as planning references, not guaranteed journey times. Pickup location, traffic, rain, road work and stops can change the actual trip.
The same source describes the road as paved but winding. A scooter is sensible only for a licensed rider who is comfortable on an unfamiliar island road. Otherwise, arrange a cab or auto and agree on the return before leaving. No fixed fare is published here because a current primary source for it was not established.
If this visit sits near a ferry, work backwards from the reporting time and baggage plan. Do not make a beach stop the reason you miss the sailing. Use the local transport guide for vehicle and quote checks.
Can you swim at Kala Pathar Beach?
Do not treat Kala Pathar as a guaranteed swimming beach. The official page gives general beach-safety instructions, but it does not publish a permanent Kala Pathar swimming zone or a promise that a lifeguard will always be present.
- Read the warning and safety signs. A closed or restricted area on the day overrides any online description.
- Ask staff or a lifeguard where swimming is allowed. Check currents, tides, visibility and marine-creature warnings.
- Stay out if the safe area is unclear. Clear-looking water is not proof that entry is suitable.
- Keep children within reach. A scenic shore stop can remain worthwhile without entering the sea.
If dependable swimming time is the main aim, compare the current zone and lifeguard guidance in the Radhanagar Beach guide. No beach receives a universal safety promise.
What facilities should you expect?
Plan conservatively. On 10 October 2026, the Administration inspected Kala Pathar Beach and directed officials to expedite five solar lights, parking facilities and two eco-huts. That is evidence of planned work, not confirmation that those amenities were complete or available to visitors by 22 October.
Carry water, sun and rain protection, suitable footwear, essential medicines, a dry pouch and the return driver's contact. Before leaving your stay, ask specifically about the current toilet, changing, seating, food, parking and walking setup if any of these is necessary for the group.
How long should you keep?
Keep it flexible rather than assigning an official duration that does not exist. A short shore stop can be enough for travellers who want the scenery. A slower visit works when the group wants to sit, walk and avoid a packed island schedule.
Do not force Kala Pathar, Radhanagar and Elephant Beach into one checklist day. Choose one main commitment, then add Kala Pathar only if the road plan, daylight and energy leave room. The Havelock beaches comparison maps the four main beach choices.
Children and limited mobility
Road access removes the boat or forest-trail decision, but it does not prove an easy final approach. The surface, distance from the vehicle, available shade and current facilities need checking on the day.
For children, keep the visit shore-led unless the marked swimming area and current instructions are clear. For a traveller with limited mobility, ask the driver or stay to confirm the drop-off and walking surface before departure. If they cannot confirm it, choose a plan with better established access.
Questions answered
What are the current Kala Pathar Beach timings?
The current official sources checked for this guide do not publish dependable opening or closing hours. Check the local entrance notice and return-transport limit on your date.
Is there an entry fee?
No current official entry-fee field was established. Do not assume that an old third-party price or “free entry” statement is permanent.
Is Kala Pathar a sunrise beach?
The official sources checked here do not make a sunrise-specific recommendation. Weather, cloud and local access also affect an early visit, so do not build the plan around an online sunrise promise.
Is Kala Pathar Beach the same place as Black Rock near Hut Bay?
No. The Tourism website currently has another page carrying the Kala Pathar name that describes Black Rock near Hut Bay and Butler Bay on Little Andaman. This guide covers Kala Pathar Beach on Swaraj Dweep. Check the island name before following a map pin or transport quote.
Can you combine Kala Pathar with Radhanagar?
Yes, as an editorial plan when Kala Pathar remains the lighter stop and the road arrangement leaves enough daylight for Radhanagar. It is not an official timed route, and it should not create a rushed return after sunset.
Sources checked
Access, safety instructions and amenities can change. These official sources were checked on 22 October 2026:
- Andaman and Nicobar Tourism: Kala Pathar Beach on Swaraj Dweep
- Andaman and Nicobar Tourism: Swaraj Dweep
- Andaman and Nicobar Tourism: suggested itineraries
- The Daily Telegrams: Administration inspection and amenity direction, 11 October 2026
- Andaman and Nicobar Tourism: conflicting Little Andaman page recorded for disambiguation