About Andaman & Nicobar Islands
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, located in the Bay of
Bengal (east of the Indian mainland geographically), is a splendid tropical
island outpost, belonging to India but closer to south east Asia. From being
known as ‘Kalapani’ (Black waters) due to the atrocious history of the British
Regime in India, to being known as one of the best tourist destinations of
India, Andaman Islands have come a long way. They are no more being called by
that name.
These islands were once a
hill range extending form Myanmar to Indonesia, but are now a group of 572 near
deserted islets(small islands), covered with lush forests and endless varieties
of exotic flora and fauna. Incredible corals and marine life,crystal clear
water and mangrove-lined creeks lure travellers to these picturesque
islands.while the sandy beaches form as nesting homes to turtles, animals such
as spotted deer, wild boar, gecko,crab-eating macaque and python can be spotted
in the 86% area still covered by dense forests These islands were populated
mainly by indigenous tribes until the beginning of the colonial rule, but the
majority of the population now, comprise of mainland settlers who live in and
around PortBlair, the capital of South Andaman.
Even with tourist
infrastructure developments, these islands still remain virgin in the sense of
unpolluted natural beauty and unexplored marine life.There if you wish to visit
these islands, now would be a good time.It is not known when the first
inhabitants came to Andaman, but research shows that it has been inhabited for
at least several thousands years. Ptolemy, in the 2nd century first began to
document their presence which was further carried on by Xuang Zang in the 7th
century.
This island group has seen
several rulers before independence. It was annexed by the Marathas in late 17th
century, who consumed vast areas of India. Later, the British used it as a
penal colony mainly to detain regular criminals or freedom fighters, hence the
name kalapani or “black waters” and during World War – II, the island was occupied
by the Japanese. However through this vast majority of time, the various
Andamanese people have been successful in maintaining their separated existence
by diversifying into distinct linguistic, territorial and cultural groups.
Following independence in 1947, there are two main groups
that exist in the islands:
The Nicobari, who live throughout the many islands.
The Shompen, who are restricted to the interior of Great
Nicobar.
In recent times, things have
changed, so much so that people often refer to Andamans as “India in miniature”. All the major faiths
are represented: Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Islam without any
religious tension. All religious festivals are celebrated with pomp and vigour
and inter-marriage between communities is common. The main languages spoken are
Tamil, Bengali, Hindi and of course English.
Port Blair
Port Blair, the gateway to
the pristine islands, is the capital of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. A
typical small Indian city, where people of diversified cultures and religion
live together in peace and harmony. With over 5 tribes and many religions, it
is incredible how Port Blair has never faced any religion/region based
conflicts ever. With households celebrating every festival, whether big or
small, together, with pomp and vigour ,this city can undoubtedly be called
Mini-India.
Aberdeen Bazaar is the hub of
the town, located about 2 kms away from the airport and about 1 km away from
the Phoenix Bay Ship Dock. You can reach anyplace in Port Blair from anywhere
in the city in not more than 15 mins in a vehicle. So, distance is never an
issue here. You can choose to stay in the hotel of your choice and eat at a
place you like, even if they are little away from the city.
How
to Reach
There are only two ways to reach Port Blair – either by Air or by Sea.
Flight: You have direct daily flights
to Port Blair from Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai. And some flights from Bhuwaneshwar
on certain days. Flights from Kolkata & Chennai take roughly 2 hours while
the one from Delhi takes 5 hours.Refer : Getting there by Air
Ship: They sail from Chennai, Vizag
& Kolkata. There are usually 3-4 sailings every month and the tentative
sailing schedule can be found here. Ship voyage takes about 50-60 hours.Refer:
Getting there by Sea
Best
time to Travel
Best time to travel to Port
Blair would be between October to May. Though there are lots of tourists prefer
to come during the off-season.
Traveling
in the City
Walking - Port Blair is a small city
and you can choose to walk down especially at places like Aberdeen Bazaar,
Junglighat, etc.
Auto-rickshaw - For commuting short
distances auto-rickshaws are the best. Anything in the city should not cost
more than Rs 20-50. Bargain with them if they inflate their rates considering
you are a tourist.
Local buses - Not very convenient, but
if you are adventurous enough you can always commute in a local bus and save
some cash. Buses travel to almost every tourist destination in Port Blair and
you can ask any localite for directions and bus routes. People are very
friendly and always happy to help.
Rented private cars - The most common
mode of transport among tourists in Andamans. Extremely convenient to always
keep a vehicle at your disposal at all times. This way you can spend time at
the destinations of your choice at your will. You can get them on hire from any
tour operator there. It is advisable to pre-book a car before you reach. Rental starts Rs
2000/- for Non-A/C cars.
Places to See
Here
are select places you must visit when in Port Blair.
Cellular Jail
Andaman Island was called
the Kalapani because of this place where freedom fighters were kept under
rigorous imprisonment during the British regime in India. The saga of heroism
of our Freedom Fighters can be witnessed here. Not to be missed is the “Light
& Sound show” in the evening. More
details on timings, location and charges here.
Ross
Island
The former British
Head-Quarters in Andaman Islands. It is a treat to visit the island just to
watch the trees growing on the ancient buildings. Yes, you read me right ! See
for yourself; the picture beside says it all.
Ross Island is 25 mins from Port Blair. You can take a boat from
Aberdeen Jetty.
Corbyn’s
Cove Beach
A coconut palm
fringed beach located in Port Blair. If sunset watching is what is in your mind
and you don’t want to travel too far, this is the place to be. Being the only beach in Port Blair, you’ll
find a lot of localites here.
Imp:
There is no public transport available here. You may hire an auto on to and fro
basis, if you don’t have a rented vehicle with you.
Wandoor
A beautiful beach just 25
kms from Port Blair. Famous for snorkeling and coral watching in glass bottom
boat among tourists. A day trip to Wandoor might cost somewhere around
2000-4000 if you hire a rental car. You may take a bus from Aberdeen Bazar bus stop
if you are in backpacking mode.
Chidya Tapu
As the name suggests, Chidya
Tapu means the Bird Island. A place for picturesque sunset and bird watching
around 25kms from Port Blair. Taking a drive to ChidyaTapu, you will discover
the greener side of Andamans – the evergreen rain forests, the mangrove creeks
and the rich flora. Chidya Tapu also has a forest guest house situated on top
of a hillock. For bookings one may contact Forest Department.
Port
Blair
Getting
there by sea
If you looking to travel to
Port Blair by a ship, here is a clarification – This SHIP is not a cruise
liner. It has no entertainment facilities on-board and takes 3-4 days to reach
Port Blair.
Sea Port: Haddo Wharf port, Port Blair
Ships
availaible from: Regular passenger ship services are available
to Port Blair from Chennai, Kolkata ,Visakhapatnam and back.
There are three to four sailings every month from Kolkata
and Chennai to Port Blair and vice-versa. There is one sailing for
Visakhapatnam in a month. The voyage takes about 3-4 days (50-60 hours ideally)
and the ship normally berths at Port Blair for about two to four days.
Ship
Schedule: Normally sailing schedules are announced one month in
advance for the Mainland–island sector,5 days in advance for the inter-island
(for the southern group of islands ie. Port Blair – Nicobar, Nancowry, Katchal,
Campbell Bay) sector and 3 days in advance for theforeshore sector (Port Blair
– Diglipur, Mayabunder, Rangat, Neil, Havelock, and Hut Bay).
Havelock
How
to Reach
This island, with beautiful
sandy beaches fringed with green canopy of the rain forest beckons every one to
enjoy the fun at the azure sea. Vijaynagar beach, 5 Kms. away from the jetty on
the eastern side and Elephant beach, 10 Kms. from the jetty (including trekking
through the forest) on the north western part of the island are other
breathtaking beaches. The Tourism Department organizes Island camping (tented
accommodation) during the tourist season at Radha Nagar beach. One can enjoy
the stay right on the seashore by hearing the lulls of the solacing sea in this
camp. Havelock is connected by daily speed boat services from Port Blair.
Dolphin Resort provides comfortable accommodation at Havelock. Private Hotels
are also offering excellent accommodation facilities there. Snorkeling and
Scuba Diving facilities are offered by Scuba Dive Centre operators seasonally.
Accommodation at Dolphin Resort & Island camping could be made from the
Reception Desk of Directorate of Tourism, Port Blair on all working days during
office hours.
List
of the best beaches of Havelock
Radhanagar
Beach
Bestowed with the precious
award of ‘Asia’s best beach’ by TIME Magazine, Radha Nagar Beach situated 12kms
from Havelock’s ferry pier is undoubtedly one of the beat beaches of Andaman
Islands. Fine white sand, turquoise blue waters and a lot of peace and serenity
are the hallmark of this beautiful landmass. The water at the beach is of
exceptional quality as there is almost not turbidity and wave action. It is not
a huge island to explore. An overall length of 2 kms and width of 30-40 meters
is all that it extends to.
There is so much to do at
Radha Nagar that one could hardly get time to breathe. Yet, it is the place to
have a gulp of fresh air free from all the adulterations of a city life. It has
something for every kind of tourist – be it the adventure lover, the sports
freak, the family guy or the romantic soul! Couples prefer this beach over many
others as there is not much intrusion into their private moments. The sports
lover could go for a plethora of activities like Scuba Diving, Snorkelling,
Game Fishing, Swimming and many more that have been recently started there. In
fact, Radha Nagar beach has some of the best dive centers of Andaman Islands.
It is also a great place to
spend some quiet, quality moments with family and friends. A silent walk on the
beach or around the lining forests, enjoying a sunbath, reading that favorite
book in one of the coffee corners overlooking the ocean – what more could one
ask for! Tourists from all corners of the world flock the place for meeting new
people, clicking great pictures & adding beautiful moments to their holiday
album.
Vijaynagar
Beach
Vijayanagar Beach is also
one of the very sought after islands on Havelock, situated on the east coast
region. Apart from the sparkling waters and white sand, there are many things
that set the beach apart. There are rocky sections on the beach which one might
occasionally bump into. The beach line is a perfect setting for a quiet beach
walk. One very unique thing about the islands is that there are a lot of Mahua
trees which grow several feet along the ground before taking up virtual
heights. This gives a very distinct look to the shoreline and also a very
comfortable shade to the tourists just near the water!
Vijayanagar Beach has many comfortable options for stay.
Dolphin Resort run by the Tourism Department is the most famous one of them.
Elephant
Beach (Hathi Tapu)
Also known as ‘Haathi Tapu’;
the Hindi version of Elephant Beach. Weird name isn’t it? Well, the island
derives its name from the walks that the elephants of Havelock have been known
to take around this region. Though there is everything same about elephant
beach, there are small intricacies that set it apart from others. This place is
considered to be the best place for Snorkelling and Diving because of the clear
blue conditions. That it has a beautifully rich marine life would be like
making an obvious statement but one of the rare species spotted in the waters
of Elephant beach is the ‘sea horse’ & ‘fringe-lip flathead’. It is said to
be a treat for the Macro Photographer’s eyes, especially underwater macro
shots.
Having faced the brunt of
the Tsunami, the giant trees on the island have taken some sculptural form
which are very interesting to take note of & of course get clicked with!
Elephant beach can be reached on small cruise boats. Alternatively, there are
tours organized by private ferry operators which run from Havelock to Elephant
Beach and back.
What
to do in Andaman?
Scuba
Diving in Havelock
There is no better adventure
than diving. Whether you are a novice, or having been diving for many years,
there is always something new, fascinating or challenging about venturing into
the underwater world. Your mind may be mesmerized by clouds of colourful fish,
your curiosity raised by the mysterious remains of sunken ships or your
creativity awakened by the art of underwater photography. Your diving interests
may range from a casual pastime pursued on vacation, to constant passion, or
even a career.Diving offers something new for everyone.
Diving in Andamans is a
unique lifetime experience. The coastal water surrounding these islands are the
abode of one of the richest coral reef ecosystem is the world. The specialty is
that, here the coral-reefs and underwater formation are undamaged by human
activity. The best season for diving is from December to April.
Many of the islands are
surrounded by fringing reefs, often several hundred meters wide and separated
from the shore by a lagoon of similar width. There are also more steeply
undulating hills of volcanic lava, which makes for some unusual diving. There
are plenty of steeply sloping and shallow reefs suitable for snorkelling. Large
pelagic are plentiful in these waters, as are variety of sharks. Large schools
of hammerhead often patrol the waters away from the reefs and Grey, whitetip,
Nurse and leopard sharks are found closer inshore. Silvertip and ocean white
tips also sometimes appear out of the deep blue beyond. Enormous manta rays are
also often seen.
Havelock is the place to be
at if you are keen to scuba dive in the islands. Recently, more dive shops have
come up even in Port Blair. Some of them are coming up a Neil Island & Long
Island. Check out these lists of Dive Sites in Havelock & Dive Sites near
South Andaman Island.
Snorkeling
Andaman Islands posses rarest
varieties of coral reefs and marine life. It will be an incomplete vacation to
be at the islands and not experience the marine life. For travelers who are not
particular about going Scuba Diving must go for snorkeling. One of the best
activities to perform when in Andamans. You get to experience the marine
ecology being on the water surface. One does not need to know swimming to be
able to do snorkeling.
There are many snorkeling
site in Andamans tourists usually go to which includes North Bay (very close to
Port Blair), Red Skin, Jolly Buoy & other sites in Havelock too.
Climate
Like most islands in the Bay of Bengal, Andaman and
Nicobar too has a tropical climate with humidity about 80% and temperatures
varying from 23༠C to 31༠C.The
North East Monsoon sets in November
where as the South West Monsoon towards the end of May.Whether remains more or
less uniform throughout the year with neither extreme hot summers nor chilly winters, hence boating, swimming,
snorkeling, sight seeing is open all 12 months an year. May to December is the
season for nature lovers as the forest is lush green and water falls are at
their prime. December to April is the best season for divers where as bird
watchers enjoy mostly the winter months.
Geography
The 10° Channel (150 Kms. wide), separates The Andaman
& Nicobar Islands. Out of 572 islands which comprise this Union territory,
38 are permanently inhabited. This includes 28 in the Andaman Group and the
rest in smaller Nicobars.
Getting
there by air
Airport:
Veer Savarkar International Airport, Port Blair
Flights available from:
• Delhi
• Chennai
• Kolkata
• Bhubaneswar
• Foreign
charter flights are also permitted to land at Port Blair subject to the
fulfillment of guidelines of the Director General of Civil Aviation.
All flights from Kolkata, Bhubaneswar & Chennai are
direct flights and takes around 2 hours Flights from Delhi fly via Chennai or
Kolkata and take around 5 hours.
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