Andaman & Nicobar Island is easily one of the best-kept secrets of India. Pristine virgin beaches, white sands, unpolluted environment and absolute privacy make it a great family holiday and an ideal honeymoon destination.
I visit Andamans at least once in two years. My job takes me round the world, but when it is time to unwind with the family, I always prefer Andamans. In this travel guide, I have used all my experience of being a frequent traveler to Andamans and have tried to provide all information and tips necessary to help others plan their first trip to Andamans (Also called Emerald Islands)
Brief Orientation:
Most people mistake Andamans to be one large Island with excellent beaches. Well, the beach part of the assumption is true (there are plenty of beaches in Andamans whose natural beauty will surpass many of the lists complied about the best beaches of the world. If Andamans has not made it to the list, blame it on relative inaccessibility and poor marketing), the other assumption of it being one large island is erroneous. There are total of 572 islands that form Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Of these, only 36 are inhabited and as a tourist you will be visiting a small part of these inhabited Islands. Given the diversity, one should be decide on what holiday theme to pursue at Andamans (More about it later).
Geographically, Andamans should be in another time zone, but unfortunately, the Islands follow Indian Standard Time and hence dawn will break when your clock still reads 4 AM and darkness will set by 6 PM. (Andamans are closer to Thailand than Indian mainland).
Reaching Andamans:
Andamans is now more accessible than say ten years ago when there were limited flights operating to Port Blair (The capital of Andaman & Nicobar Administrative Region). Today regular flights operate from Chennai and Kolkatta. If time is not an issue, you can even reach Andamans by sea. Passenger ships operate from Chennai, Kolkatta and Vishakapatnam. These ships run by Shipping Corporation (SCI) take anywhere between 2 –3 days to reach Port Blair (For schedules and other information Contact SCI on +91-22-22026666 Extn: 2550). Unfortunately, these are not cruise ships and hence not very popular with tourists.
Permits
Indian citizen do not need any permit to visit Andamans (Barring Nicobar islands). Foreign visitors need special permit, which are issued by Indian Mission abroad. I would urge all International tourist visiting India to include Andamans in the Itinerary and obtain the permit while applying for Indian Visa. If you have forgotten to obtain a permit, it is possible to obtain one at the Port Blair airport (Given the hassles of dealing with Indian Bureaucracy, I suggest you to obtain one prior to making the journey to Port Blair)
Accommodation:
There are plenty of Hotels and Resorts in Andamans across all budgets. The most economical one will meet expectation of any hard-nosed backpacker while the expensive ones are well maintained, offer all luxuries and worth every Rupee spent. Listing of Hotels and Resorts at Andaman Islands with Reviews
Personally, I prefer to stay at the resorts run by the Government. They are affordable, comfortable and very economical. In a way, it makes up for the high transportation cost to reach Andamans.
It is not necessary to stay at Port Blair; there are excellent resorts in some of the other Islands. If you are on a honeymoon, it will be advisable to avoid a resort at Port Blair and instead book one at one of the more secluded Islands. If you are with Children or senior citizens, I would suggest a hotel or a resort at Port Blair for two reasons – Most of the attractions can be accessed easily from Port Blair and medical facilities are best at Port Blair.
Andaman Holiday ideas
Given the sheer diversity at Andamans, it can support different holiday themes. Popular Holiday Ideas at Andamans include:
A: Family Vacation
B: Honeymoon
C: Adventure & Water Sports
D: Naturalist holiday
You should first decide on the holiday idea that most suits your expectation and prepare accordingly. Naturalists wanting to stay and explore remote Islands need to seek prior permission and chart out their itinerary.
If you are on a family vacation and want to explore Andamans with little or no hassle, then conducted tours organized by Department of Tourism is ideal. These start from Andaman Teal House (Telephone # : 32642/34060/34061).
I would suggest following tours: City tour (Covering attractions - Chatham Saw Mill, Mini Zoo, Museums and Cellular Jail), Wandoor tour (Covering National Park) and the tour to Water Sports Complex.
I would recommend the conducted city tour (and not others) even those on honeymoon and those who prefer to explore destinations on their own. The advantage of the city tour is that it covers all the popular attractions in Port Blair city. (It might be a good idea to book at Andaman Teal House for one or two days, before proceeding to resorts in other islands, so that you can see the attractions of Port Blair and explore Andaman’s Water Sports Complex and Mahatma Gandhi National Park at leisure)
Andaman Water Sports Complex:
Andaman Water Sports Complex (near the cellular jail) was a must visit destination before the onslaught of Tsunami in 2004. The complex used to boast of fairly large collection of water sport options including glass-bottomed boats, water scooters and wind surfing. It was a boon to amateur tourists who wanted to experience the thrill of water sports. Unfortunately, this place had little to offer in my last visit, though the administration had promised to rebuild and revamp the place.
Mahatma Gandhi National Park
This is a naturalists delight and awe-inspiring for any tourist visiting Andamans. It is in the Wandoor area (29 Kms from Port Blair). Park boasts some of the best underwater flora and fauna. The glass bottom boats at the park allow one to view the mesmerizing beauty of the nature – Multi colored corals, starfishes and other splendors of marine world.
There are arrangements for SCUBA diving and snorkeling at the park. It is a must-have experience even for those on family holiday or on a honeymoon. In fact, the best experience, I have had in snorkeling was in my first trip to Andamans, when I was a rank amateur. (In my subsequent trips to Andamans, I went thru’ formal training in underwater diving. I would suggest the 5-day course offered by any of the well-established resorts having diving instructors. I had enrolled at Sinclair Bay)
Andaman Beaches:
At the end of the day, Andamans are known for its pristine beaches. My favourite and my recommendation for Honeymooners are the beaches in Havelock Islands. While on a honeymoon, it might be a good option to stay at one of the many resorts that have come up at Havelock islands .The popular beaches at Havelock Islands are the Radhanagar and Vijaynagar Beaches. Both the beaches are pristine, unpolluted and make an excellent honeymoon. Havelock Islands are approximately 36 Kms from Port Blair and can be reached by ferries. They start at around 6 AM from the main jetty at Port Blair.
At Havelock Islands, Andaman Scuba Club (located on Beach No. 3) offers good SCUBA diving facilities.
The other picture perfect beach is the Harminder Bay Beach situated at around 100 Kms from Port Blair. If you a bit adventurous and seek off beat destinations, then Hawabill Nest guest house at Neil Island is perfect. The silver sands, clear waters add to the charm of the honeymoon. Boats to Neil islands are available only four days a week (at the time of this writing)
Diglipur
Those into trekking and want to add a bit of action should try Diglipur. Trek to Saddle peak is extremely enjoyable. Turtle Resort at Kalipur is an excellent base for those who want to trek as the resort also provides trekking equipments.
Nature has been at its romantic best while creating Andamans. Unfortunately, unplanned tourism and inadequate investments in infrastructure is taking little sheen away from this paradise on the earth. It might come as a surprise, but it is true – In spite of thick vegetation and copious rainfall during monsoons, Andamans face severe water scarcity in summer – Nothing can be more ironical than this!
Contribution from Palaniselvam, Resident of Chennai
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