Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

About:-

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 572, are covered with dense rain-fed, damp and evergreen forests and endless varieties of exotic flora and fauna.

Historically significant landmarks viz. Cellular Jail, Ross Island, Viper Island, Hopetown and Mount Harriet. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been declared as two of the 218 endemic bird area of the world. As many as 270 species and sub-species of birds have been reported existing in these islands, 106 of them being endemic. The Andaman Wood Pigeon, Andaman Padauk and Dugong are declared as State Bird, State Tree and State Animal respectively. There are about 96 Wildlife Sanctuaries, nine National Parks and one Biosphere Reserve in the islands. These islands are blessed with the bounties of both south-west and north-east monsoons.

PORT BLAIR:-

Port Blair is the capital of the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar 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 the capital of the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar 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 his tory 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.

ISLANDS AND ITS BEACHES

HAVELOCK  ISLAND:-

Havelock is a picturesque natural paradise with beautiful white sandy beaches, rich coral reefs and lush green forest. It is one of the populated islands in the Andaman group with an area of 113 sq. km. and is located 39 km of north-east of Port Blair.

This island, with beautiful sandy beaches fringed with green canopy of the rain-fed forests beckons everyone to enjoy the frolic and fun at the azure sea.

NEIL  ISLAND:-

Neil is a tiny but beautiful island located 37 Kms. to the south of the Andaman Islands. With unexplored coral reefs, brilliant bio-diversity, white sandy beaches and tropical forest and vegetation, it is one of the hot tourist spots in the Andamans.

Neil Island is known as the ‘vegetable bowl’ of the Andamans. The settlers named the beaches after mythical characters of the epic Ramayana (Bharatpur, Laxmanpur, Sitapur, Ramnagar etc.) The island, with its very relaxed vibes and long, deserted beaches is a place to chill out after the "bustle" of Havelock. The widest part of the island is about 5 km in length. You can walk the whole island in about two hours.

LONG ISLAND:-

Long Island, just 47 nautical miles from Port Blair, having an area of about 18 sq.km., is a modern village with population of around 2000 having many plus points and facilities generally not available in other villages of Bay Islands. It has its own power-house, a well equipped Boat Building Yard, Senior Secondary School, bank, wireless facilities, hospital, Range Forest Office and even police outpost.

ATTRACTIONS OF LONG ISLAND:-

Vast marine wealth and exclusive beaches, cosy caves, green hills and magnificent mangroves – a perfect package for adventure tourism.

The pristine beauty of Long Island and adjacent islands in the form of lush green tropical forests, untouched virgin beaches coupled with unique Marine ecosystem attracts the tourists from different parts of India and abroad. 

The Islands have dense tropical forests of all types ranging from Tidal Swamp forests to Evergreen Forests.

BARATANG ISLAND:-

This island between South and Middle Andaman has beautiful beaches, mangrove creeks, mud-volcanoes and limestone caves. Andaman Trunk Road to Rangat and Mayabunder goes through this island. Limestone cave can be explored with the permission of Forest Department at Baratang and proper local guidance.

How to Reach ?

Baratang is 100 kms away from Port Blair. One has to travel by road and cross a creek on a vehicle ferry at Middle Strait to reach Baratang. Government, private buses and other transport are available.

RANGAT ISLAND:-

ECO-TOURISM DESTINATION

Rangat is a 1070 sq. km. large island in Middle Andaman with pristine beaches, waterfalls, and interesting islands. This island is spread across 75 census villages and 14 gram panchayats. Fisheries and cultivation are the two primary occupations of people in this island.

Entry into Rangat is from Port Blair and by ferries from Havelock, Neil and Long Island. Therefore, tourists have to enter Andamans through Port Blair and travel to Rangat by road or sea.

BY SPEED BOATS

The island is 50 nautical miles by sea from Port Blair. Boats are available for 4-5 days in a week. The travel time is about 4-5 hours.

BY BUS

Morning bus services are available between Port Blair and Rangat. The travel time is about 6-7 hours. Road to Rangat from Port Blair passes through Jarawa reserves on the west coasts of South and Middle Andaman.

LITTLE ANDAMAN ISLAND:-

THE BEST SURFING DESTINATION IN INDIA

Little Andaman Island, located south of the South Andaman Island, is at a distance of 120 km. by sea from Port Blair. Little Andaman island offers a perfect mix of white sandy beaches bewitching Waterfalls, Boating through the Creeks, exciting Elephant Safari, Elephant lumbering, Elephant calves training, Surfing etc. All the places of tourist interest are approachable by the road, leading northwards from the Hutbay Jetty. Little Andaman has an evergreen rain forest which paves way for a very rich biodiversity.

GREAT NICOBAR:-

This place is 540 kms by sea from Port Blair open for only Indian tourists. The Great Nicobar Island has an area of 400 Sqr. miles. The southernmost tip of India, 'Indira Point' is in Great Nicobar Island. Megapode, a rare bird, is found in Great Nicobar. Great and Little Nicobar have the Giant Robber Crab. Campbell bay is the head quarter of Great Nicobar Island. The only Bio-sphere Reserve in A & N Islands –the Great Nicobar Bio-sphere Reserve is close to Campbell Bay.

ACTIVITIES ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS

WATER SPORTS:-

These pristine islands offer some of fun loving unforgettable water sports activities. The facilities for these water sport activities are available in Port Blair and other islands. Andaman & Nicobar Islands, which is surrounded by rich coral reef eco system, offers unique life time diving experience.

The Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex at Port Blair, offers Safe water sports activities and also Adventure water sports activities such as joy rides on speed boats, Jet Ski & Banana rides.

The North Bay beach, which is north of Port Blair, provides snorkeling opportunities around its fringing coral reefs. There are various adventure sport activities available at North Bay beach. These activities include scuba diving, sea walk, speed boat cruise, snorkeling. This place is also ideal for wilderness trekking.

GAME FISHING

There are organizations that offer all kinds of fishing equipments and boats. For fishing enthusiasts, the sea of the coasts of Havelock Island, Neil Island, Long Island and Ritchie's archipelago offer some of the best catches.

SEA WALK

North Bay beach near Port Blair and Havelock Island has this facility offered by a private entrepreneur to watch the underwater marine life by walking on the seabed.

TREKKING

Tourists can go trekking through the evergreen forest from Bambooflat to Mount Harriet, Mount Harriet to Madhuban in South Andaman.   In Diglipur, North Andaman from Kalipur to Saddle Peak , and also in Little Andaman to experience the life within the lovely, dark and deep forests.

HOW TO REACH ANDAMANS ?

BY AIR:-

The Veer Savarkar Airport, an International Airport is located in the capital town of Port Blair, the gateway to Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Port Blair, is connected with Chennai, Kolkata, New Delhi and Bhubaneswar by air. Air India, Jet Airways, Go Air, Spice Jet, Indigo & Air Vistara Airlines operate regular flights. Foreign chartered flights are also permitted to land at Port Blair subject to the fulfillment of guidelines of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

BY SHIP:-

Regular passenger ship services are available to Port Blair from Chennai, Kolkata and Visakhapatnam and back. There are three to four sailings every month from Kolkata and Chennai to Port Blair and vice-versa. There is only one sailing for Visakhapatnam in a month. The voyage takes about 50 to 60 hours during fair weather.