The short answer
Bheemili Beach and the Dutch Cemetery: what visitors should know first
Yes, for a slower, less crowded alternative to the city beaches, especially combined with Thotlakonda on the same road. Allow half a day; the beach itself is unremarkable for swimming, but the lighthouse and cemetery add genuine history you won't find on RK Beach.
History and context
The story behind Bheemili Beach and the Dutch Cemetery
Bheemunipatnam was established as a Dutch trading settlement around 1652, part of the Dutch presence along the Coromandel Coast that lasted through the 17th and into the 18th century. The Dutch and Flag Staff Cemetery near the lighthouse holds around fifty pyramid-shaped tombs from this period, recording relatives and officials connected to the Dutch East India Company (VOC), with some later British burials near the entrance.
The Bheemili Lighthouse was built in 1868, well after the Dutch period had ended, as a circular brick masonry tower roughly 11 metres tall, positioned where the Gosthani River meets the Bay of Bengal to guide vessels along this stretch of coast.
Useful facts
Bheemili Beach and the Dutch Cemetery facts at a glance
- Location
- Bheemunipatnam (Bheemili), north of Visakhapatnam
- Experience type
- Coastal town with a historic cemetery, lighthouse and beach
- Known for
- 17th–18th century Dutch and British graves; an 1868 lighthouse
- Architect/Built
- Dutch settlement from c. 1652; lighthouse built 1868
- Time or schedule
- Daylight hours; lighthouse interior access varies
Why it matters
Why Bheemili Beach and the Dutch Cemetery is worth your time
Bheemunipatnam's Dutch period, from around 1652 into the 18th century, makes it one of relatively few places on India's east coast where that specific colonial presence left lasting, visitable traces rather than just documentary records. The cemetery's inscribed tombstones are a direct, physical record of the traders and officials who lived and died here, in a way that most accounts of the Coromandel Coast's Dutch trade do not offer.
The lighthouse, built later in 1868 under British administration, marks the point where river met sea and shipping needed guidance, a reminder that this small town continued to matter for coastal trade and navigation long after the Dutch had gone. Together, the beach town, cemetery and lighthouse give Visakhapatnam a colonial layer that is easy to miss if you stay only in the city centre.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
The Dutch and Flag Staff Cemetery
Around fifty pyramid-shaped 17th- and 18th-century tombs, many with legible inscriptions naming the deceased and cause of death.
- 02
The 1868 lighthouse
A working brick tower marking where the Gosthani River meets the sea, still in navigational use today.
- 03
A quieter beach
Less crowded and less developed than the city's central beaches, better suited to a slow walk than a swim.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Bheemunipatnam, known locally as Bheemili, was a Dutch settlement from around 1652 until the British took over the coast, and that history is still visible if you know where to look. The beach itself is quieter and less developed than RK Beach or Rushikonda, used more by local families and fishermen than by tourists, which is part of its appeal for a slower morning out.
A short walk or drive from the beach brings you to the Dutch and Flag Staff Cemetery, a walled burial ground with around fifty pyramid-shaped tombs, most bearing inscriptions of Dutch East India Company officials and their families from the 17th and 18th centuries, with some later British graves near the entrance. Nearby stands the Bheemili Lighthouse, a circular brick tower built in 1868 at the point where the Gosthani River meets the sea, still an active navigational aid rather than a purely decorative structure.
Treat the visit as a slow historical wander rather than a beach day: walk the cemetery respectfully, view the lighthouse from outside unless public access is confirmed on the day, and use the beach itself for a walk rather than a swim. Combine it naturally with Thotlakonda, which sits on the same road north of the city.
Plan with confidence
Small decisions that make the visit easier.
- Confirm lighthouse access locally before planning to climb it
- Visit the cemetery respectfully; it remains a burial ground
- Bring water and a hat; there is little shade at the cemetery or lighthouse
- Combine with Thotlakonda, on the same road north of the city
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Bheemunipatnam (Bheemili), about 20–25 km north of central Visakhapatnam
- Time needed
- 1.5–2.5 hours for the beach, lighthouse and cemetery together
- Best time
- Morning to early afternoon, since the lighthouse and cemetery are outdoor, unshaded sites
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- The beach and cemetery are on level, walkable ground; the lighthouse itself may have limited or no public climbing access, so check locally, and most visitors view it from outside rather than ascending it.
- Tickets and access
- The beach and cemetery are generally free to enter; the lighthouse's interior access depends on Coast Guard or lighthouse authority permission and is not always open to the public, so treat it as an exterior view unless told otherwise on the day.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Bheemili Beach and the Dutch Cemetery
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
The beach and cemetery are on level, walkable ground; the lighthouse itself may have limited or no public climbing access, so check locally, and most visitors view it from outside rather than ascending it.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Can I go inside the Bheemili Lighthouse?
Not always. Interior access depends on permission from the lighthouse authority or Coast Guard and is not guaranteed on any given day, so plan to view it from outside unless told otherwise locally.
Is Bheemili Beach good for swimming?
It is calmer and less crowded than RK Beach or Rushikonda but not specifically set up for safe swimming. Treat it as a walking beach and check locally about conditions before entering the water.
How far is Bheemili from central Visakhapatnam?
About 20–25 kilometres, roughly 45 minutes to an hour by road, making it an easy half-day trip, especially combined with Thotlakonda on the same route.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
