An ocean breeze puts a mind at ease.
The gentle sea breeze rustling through your hair, glistening turquoise waves, and the smell of the salty sea, isn’t it a soothing and calm feeling?
9 beaches in India have been awarded the Blue Tag certification for being the cleanest beaches in the world. Across five states and two union territories, these beaches are Shivrajpur (Dwarka, Gujarat), Ghoghla (Diu), Kasarkod and Padubidri (Karnataka), Kappad (Kerala), Rushikonda (Andhra Pradesh), Golden Beach (Puri, Odisha), and Radhanagar (Andaman & Nicobar Islands).
The Union Environment Ministry, last year submitted names of these beaches for the ‘Blue Flag’ certification.
What is Blue Flag certification?
It is a coveted award given to some of the cleanest beaches in the world by Denmark-based agency ‘Foundation for Environment Education’. Beaches are awarded on the basis of 33 criteria, mainly under 4 heads –
(i) Environmental education and information
(ii) Water quality
(iii) Environment management
(iv) Safety and services
Shivrajpur Beach, Dwarka, Gujarat
![Shivrajpur Beach](https://cms-in.musafir.com/uploads/Shivrajpur_Beach_9afcd6e8ab.png)
Ghoghla Beach, Diu
![Ghoghla Beach](https://cms-in.musafir.com/uploads/Ghoghla_Beach_34f303a51e.png)
Kasarkod Beach and Padubidri Beach, Karnataka
![Padubidri Beach](https://cms-in.musafir.com/uploads/Padubidri_Beach_166408fc68.jpg)
Kappad Beach, Kerala
![Kappad Beach](https://cms-in.musafir.com/uploads/Kappad_Beach_2f722e5dea.png)
Rushikonda Beach, Andhra Pradesh
![Rushikonda Beach](https://cms-in.musafir.com/uploads/Rushikonda_Beach_a8634a9c7d.jpg)
Golden Beach, Puri, Odisha
![Golden Beach, Puri](https://cms-in.musafir.com/uploads/Golden_Beach_Puri_9d4d5482a9.png)
Radhanagar Beach, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
![Radhanagar Beach](https://cms-in.musafir.com/uploads/Radhanagar_Beach_d61f4a8e3b.png)