The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, located in the east of the Indian mainland geographically, float in splendid isolation in the Bay of Bengal. Once a hill range extending from Myanmar to Indonesia, these picturesque undulating islands, islets numbering around 836, are covered with dense rain-fed, damp and evergreen forests and endless varieties of exotic flora and fauna. Most of these islands (about 550) are in the Andaman Group, 28 of which are inhabited. The smaller Nicobars, comprise some 22 main islands (10 inhabited).
The capital of the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands is Port Blair which is the gateway to the pristine islands. It is located on the east coast of the South Andaman Island. Port Blair is the gateway to the pristine islands.
Port Blair is also an Island town offering water based activities like snorkeling, scuba diving, sea-cruises, and glimpses of the history and culture of the region. The Aberdeen Bazaar forms the centre of the town. Most of the restaurants and hotels are around this area. The main bus station is just west of the bazaar and the Airport 4 Kms.to the south west.The main passenger dock for ferries-the Phoenix Bay Jetty is 1 Km. to the North West.
The islands have a tropical climate. The months of December to March are warm, sunny days with optimal diving conditions and turtle nesting, while the months of October to December and March to mid-May have a mixed bag of weather with very few tourists and lower costs. And the months from February to August have the ultimate pumping waves on Little Andaman for experienced surfers.
For those who want to enjoy boating, swimming, snorkelling, sightseeing all 12 months in the season.
Normal rainfall at Port Blair : 3900 mm
Minimum Temperature : 23.2° C
Maximum Temperature : 25° C
Veer Savarkar International Airport, also known as Port Blair Airport (IATA: IXZ, ICAO: VOPB), is a customs airport located 2 km (1.2 mi) south of Port Blair and is the main airport of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India.
Being an island, Andaman is connected with India through sea and air routes only. The airport is located at Port Blair and there are direct flights from Kolkata, Chennai and Vishakhapatnam. Air India, Jet Airways, Go Air and Spice Jet airlines offer their services here.
The official language which is spoken in Andaman and Nicobar Island is Hindi and English. The dominant language is Bengali which is the most spoken language. Other languages like Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Nicobarese are also spoken here.
Makruzz is a deluxe ferry to travel to nearby places like havelock and neil island and a nicely maintained ferry with LED and carpets and nice air conditioned.
Once you are in port blair , ferry/cruise is the best means to reach Havelock/Neil Island. Private ferry operates daily from phoenix bay jetty in Port Blair which is very close to city. There are number of private ferry/cruise connecting port blair Havelock and neil island Like Green Ocean ,Sea Link and Makruzz.Each of these private ferry has something different to offer in terms of comfort and luxury.Almost all ferry takes 1.45 to 2 hrs for Port Blair – Havelock trips.
kruzz Is The Best Ferry In Andaman.
Highlights: Chidiya Tapu is a great place for the photography lover and bird watchers. While birdwatching is the main allure of the location, there are some fun water activities like snorkelling, scuba diving, deep-sea walking, pearl hunting, and boating that one could engage in along its shores. The Sunset point of the island considered one of the best sunset points in the Andamans.
Location: This place is located at a distance of 25 km from Port Blair
Located in the south-western coast of the Andaman Islands, Wandoor National Park is a marine life conservation area situated at a distance of 25 km from the capital city of Port Blair. Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park was established in the year 1983 in order to conserve the marine life of the area.
Long Island is a small island in Andaman mostly recognized for village tourism. It is famous for its untouched white sand beaches, dense natural vegetation that forms the tropical forests and its marine life. The untouched scenery and exquisite beauty of Long Island attract tourists with an eye for beauty and a sense of adventure. It is also one of the islands famous for water sports and ocean cruises.
Highlights: Chidiya Tapu is a great place for the photography lover and bird watchers. While birdwatching is the main allure of the location, there are some fun water activities like snorkelling, scuba diving, deep-sea walking, pearl hunting, and boating that one could engage in along its shores. The Sunset point of the island considered one of the best sunset points in the Andamans.
Location: This place is located at a distance of 25 km from Port Blair
Known as the 7th best beach in the world Radhanagar beach is another beach which is a must visit for you in the Andaman. This unordinary shoreline is around 7 kms path from the eminent Vijaynagar shoreline and Dolphin Yatri Niwas.
Awarded with the title of ‘Asia’s Best Beach’ by the TIMES magazine in 2004, Radhanagar Beach in Havelock Island with its turquoise blue waters and powdery white sands lives up to the moniker.
Beach Highlights : Swimming, snorkelling, parasailing and sea walking are one of the best activities which is famous in this beach.
Known for its beauty with the vivid surroundings Elephant Beach is another beach which is a must visit for you in the Andaman. It’s a standout amongst the most flabbergasting shorelines in the Andaman’s.
The white sandy shoreline and the turquoise waters pull in voyagers from over the globe. Those of you are who are searching for that flawless tan then this is certainly the place for you.
Highlights: Snorkeling, Sea walking, and Scuba diving are few of the activities which are very famous here. One can also enjoy boat rides on the beach or go for cruise ride for leisure.
Wandoor Beach is located at a distance of 25 km from Port Blair. As the beach is very near to the Wandoor village one can also head out for a stroll in the village Wandoor is most recognized for the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, which is among the regions with the richest marine biodiversity.
Few of the activities which are famous on the beach are snorkeling, scuba diving, and fishing as well. One can also head out for trekking in the nearby woods and explore the beauty of the region.
Beach Highlights: Swimming is one of the most favorite activity here.
Location: Guitar Island can be reached from Long Island in a dinghy boat, which is 89-90 km away from the capital Port Blair.
While you are going by the Andaman you may have certainly caught wind of the popular Baratang Island. This is one more of the best island in the Andaman which is unquestionably a must visit for you. This island was once considered as the most angered zone here due to the tribe which inhabitant in the island.
Hot Spots
- Limestone Caves and Mangrove Forests
- Mud Valcanoes
- Parrot Island
Activities: Trekking, mangrove boat ride, tropical forest rides are few of the activities here.
Enjoy Glass bottom boat ride with Andaman Dolphin at North Bay Island. Most of you might have already heard about the one of a kind dolphin glass bottom boat in the Andamans. This is another most loved activity in the Andaman Islands which lets you explore the underwater marine life. And the best thing is that you will experience this everything like as if you are in the middle of the sea.
Uncover the rich coral reef and the colourful underwater marine life through this glass boat. There is a lot of boats in the Andamans which provides this exciting activity. The luxurious windows will take you through a journey of the underwater at a high speed. Make your 60 minutes the most memorable one as you enjoy this amazing glass boat ride in the Port Blair.
Location: Dolphin Beach, Havelock Island
Price: The approximate price per adult is Rs. 3500 and per child is Rs. 2500
Also known as the Andaman Water Sports Complex, the place offers a complete fun-package in the form of enthralling water sports activities. Now you must be curious to know the kind of activities Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex hosts – these are paddle boats, row boats, banana boats, parasailing, speed boats, snorkelling, scuba diving, sea walking and much more.
If you have plans to fly, you must reach the nearest airport in Port Blair, Veer Savarkar International Airport. From the airport, Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex is located 4 km away. From Port Blair, Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex is 9.8 km away which can be covered in 20-30 minutes
Located on Havelock Island, Kalapathar Beach is a beautiful beach offering a stunning view of the Bay of Bengal and a long stretch of white sand with big boulders of black stone on the beach and underwater.
Located just 2 kilometres east of Port Blair is Ross Island (now known as Netaji Subhash Bose Island); an island which was once the administrative headquarters of the British, but today is only an uninhabited island.
To get to Ross Island, you will have to take a ferry from the Water Sports Complex or Aberdeen Jetty. The trip to the island from there is a fifteen-minute ride.
Neil Island is a part of the South Andaman Administrative District and belongs to Ritchie’s Archipelago in the Bay of Bengal. Perhaps the most endearing feature of this island is its three sandy beaches, namely Bharatpur Beach, Sitapur Beach and Lakshmanpur Beach
A ferry can be taken from Havelock Island to Neil Island. You can also take a ferry from Port Blair to Neil ISland. Ferry timing from Port Blair to Neil (via Havelock) is 6:00 AM and 11:00 AM. The fare for the same is INR 195, INR 250 or INR 350 depending on the type of service you choose.
Going for the sea plane ride is one of the best things to do in Andaman that you can have while your visit to this tranquil cluster of islands. The sea plane ride in Andaman is an Amphibian Aircraft that offers a beautiful and mesmerizing view of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
During your trip, you can have the sight of some of the major islands of Andaman and Nicobar like the Port Blair, which is also the starting point of the trip, Neil Island, Havelock Island, Long Island and many more.
Location: Neil Island, Havelock Island, Long Island
Price: The approximate cost of a single flight per person is 4100 Rs.
The Cellular Jail, also known as ‘Kala Pani’ is an old colonial prison situated in Port Blair, the capital of Andaman and Nicobar islands.
Popularly known as Kala Pani, this jail is a three-storied building with a central tower that is connected to seven wings. Connected in the shape of a starfish, it contains a total of 698 cells. When you visit this place, also be sure to watch the sound and light show in the evening, to get a peek into the historical struggle for Indian independence.
Havelock Island is one of the largest and most popular isles in the Andaman and Nicobar group of islands. Spread over a massive area of 113.93 square kilometres, Havelock Island is situated 57 km north-east of the capital city Port Blair. The southern coast of the island has the charming Radhanagar Beach, while the azure beauty of Vijayanagar Beach is situated towards the east of the island.
Elephant beach and Kalapathar beach are two other destinations where the sunrise and sunsets are absolutely divine.
Going for the sea plane ride is one of the best things to do in Andaman that you can have while your visit to this tranquil cluster of islands. The sea plane ride in Andaman is an Amphibian Aircraft that offers a beautiful and mesmerizing view of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
During your trip, you can have the sight of some of the major islands of Andaman and Nicobar like the Port Blair, which is also the starting point of the trip, Neil Island, Havelock Island, Long Island and many more.
Location: Neil Island, Havelock Island, Long Island
Price: The approximate cost of a single flight per person is 4100 Rs.
North Bay Island in Andaman is most preferred by tourists for its breathtaking coral reefs and exhilarating adventure activities. Interestingly, the picture of an island on the back of a 20 Rupee note is of North Bay Island.
North Bay Island competes with some of the most beautiful islands all over the world when it comes to attracting tourists. Activities like scuba diving, snorkelling, sea walking, and glass boat rides are what allures tourists the most. You will find more things to do here than at Neil Island or Havelock.
Cost for Water Sport & Activities
Scuba diving – INR 3500 onwards per person
Snorkelling – INR 500 per person
Sea Walking – INR 3500 per person
Glass Boat Ride – INR 500 person for the shorter route. INR 800 per person for the longer route.
How to Reach North Bay Island A boat ride to the North Bay Island starts from 2 points depending on government authority – the Junglighat Jetty and the Andaman Water Sports Complex. These boats can carry up to 200 people at a time and are equipped with necessary safety measures. The boat trip also comes with a guide who briefs the passengers about the history of the island.
Boat trip cost – INR 750 (return)
- Snorkeling
- Scuba Diving
- Swimming
- Banana Boat Ride
- Sea Walk
- Glass Boats
- Parasailing
- Kayaking
- Game Fishing
- Jet Skiing