Post by Admin on Nov 20, 2014 23:21:14 GMT 5.5
Cities:
Port Blair - the laid-back capital of the Andamans and the sole entry/exit point. Spend a day or two here walking around and enjoying fresh seafood and seeing a couple of the nearby sites.
Diglipur - take a road trip to the far north of the island chain, a base for visits to nearby Smith and Ross Islands.
What to see here:
The Craggy Island across Kalipur beach is a little island known for fishes and corals.
Ross and Smith Islands are twin Islands bridged by pristine white sandy beach that has a swimming pool lagoon on one side and a snorkelling paradise on the other.
Mud Volcanoes could be witnessed in the green jungle of Shyamnagar and Diglipur.
A trek through primary jungle leads to Alfred Caves- a cluster of amazing 41 caves. It is a den for swiflets and fruit eating bats.
Turtles nesting could be seen in the beaches of Kalipur and Ramnagar during December- May.
Rangat
Mayabunder
Other destinations
Havelock Island, the most visited of the islands, with the most (although still minimal) infrastructure. Beautiful beaches, great snorkeling and scuba diving.
What to see here:
Radhanagar Beach (Beach #7) is the most beautiful on the island and was rated as the best in Asia by Time in 2004. Gorgeous, silky white sand backed by a forest that provides welcome shade looks out over turquoise water, some stretches with a sandy bottom good for swimming and some with excellent coral reefs that are great for snorkeling – a great combination indeed. Sunsets here are often spectacular and it's a popular time to be at the beach, but be careful not to miss the last trucks back if you're not staying here. A man with an elephant walks through the forest occasionally, offering rides for a fee. Buses run throughout the day until sunset, as do auto-rickshaws and shared 4 wheel-drive trucks. There are a few food shacks where the road hits the beach, all of which rent snorkels and fins. Also if you walk all the way on the right side of the beach, there is a lagoon also called Blue Lagoon. Very less crowded and beautiful. Although it is not as shallow as the main beach but definitely worth beating the crowd for some quite time. The other way to reach would be to take your bike all the way in the forest pass Barefoot and walk a little. As soon as you cross the big rocks, the lagoon is there.
An elephant near Beach #7
Elephant Beach is further north from Radhanagar and is popular with Indian tourists. The shoreline here was largely swept away by the 2004 tsunami and the beach is a fraction of what it used to be; however, the coral here is probably the best on the island, making this an excellent spot for snorkeling. It's reachable on foot from Beach #7 or by fishing boat from the east side of the island; many resorts arrange snorkeling and diving trips here. A path to the beach starts from the road to Radhanagar — look for a dip in the road on a curve where there will usually be a few motorbikes parked. Several paths head off from this point, ask around for the correct one. If you choose to trek alone through the forest then stick to broad path since there are forks along the way. The walk is about 30 minutes at an easy pace with dry weather. Since the tsunami, the path ends in an expanse of un-inviting looking swampy water. Rather than attempting to go around, wade straight through it — the beach is only 100 meters straight ahead, the water is rarely above knee-height and the ground is solid. As you enter the swamp, you would see a small red board ahead, to your left; bear towards it. Wear sandals when crossing to avoid sharp shells. Note: During high tide, water may be a foot deeper in last 20 feet or so. While snorkeling, keep an eye out for the glass-bottom boats. If trek and get to the beach and are tired to trek back an option would be to take a boat ride from there to Jetty , normally they charge Rs 100 per person, only challenge is finding someone who is willing to take you and then take an Auto ride for Rs 100 again to the point where the vehicle is parked. Beach is mostly crowded in the morning till lunch, after which all tourists start to take the returning boat. This would be a ideal time for those who would like some privacy. Of course you should have come by Trek to enjoy the afternoons. Remember to pack food and water, there is very limited option like Tender Coconut and Bhel Puri.
Kalapathar Beach: The Kalapathar beach is situated on one corner of Havelock Island.You have to travel along the Road From Beach no#3 and Beach no#5 The beach gets its name from the surrounding village called Kalapathar Village and the black rocks (Kalapathar Rocks) that adorn the coastline here. The emerald seas, the tropical forests on one side of the road(Kalapathar Rocks) the coastline,and on other side the silken smooth silver sands and the sheer solitude make this beach a great place to relax.
Rutland Island, is pristine, non-polluted and least visited island. Beautiful Mangrove forest and coral reefs welcomes you to the 274 sq.km island. There is also a 45 acre Totani Resort which has quaint little huts which can be used as a base camp for exploring the island. It is the ideal place for eco-tourists.
Neil Island, quieter than Havelock with nice beaches and decent snorkeling.
What to See here :
Natural bridge: A small strip of land that connects the mainland to a small(3*3) island of sorts (not worth it but the rockpools around this at low tide are worth checking out).
Beach #8: Snorkeling here plus a small cave to check out. Lots of shells around if you are a shell collector.
Sitapur beach: Lovely sunrise. Serene beach. Good for a swim.
Ramnagar beach: Beautiful shady beach. Light blue crystal clear water. See corals in glass-bottom boats. Huge coral beds with lot of fish present. Very good visibility. Snorkeling, water scooter, bathing and other water activities can be done here.
Lakshmanpur beach: Lovely sunset. Serene and long beach.
Wandoor, a relaxed destination in its own right, but known more as the gateway to the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park.There is a newly setup luxury resort called Sea Princess Beach Resort. Easily reached, and near the Wandoor jetty is Anugama Resort, the newest property there.
Baratang Island, Mud volcano, Limestone caves, and Mangrove creeks in back waters.
What too see here:
At Baratang you can see Mud Volcano
Mud Volcano at Baratang
which is about 4 km away from the jetty. To reach there you can hire a shared taxi @ Rs. 400/- per one jeep to and from. From Baratang, regular boat services are available for Limestone Caves . These ancient caves are located about 30 minutes (by beautiful sea channel) away from Baratang Jetty. Boats are starting at 8am. The fare of boat is Rs. 300/- per head for both ways. It includes speed boat fare also which is required to reach Limestone Caves. The boat journey through the heart of dense mangrove forest is simply breathtaking. The boat ride here is a lifetime experience for some. Its something you get to see only in channels like NatGeo or Discovery otherwise. At the limestone caves remember to carry a torchlight, its very dark inside.
Mangrove forest on the way to limestone_caves by speedboat
Another must-see attraction is Parrot Island. The experience at Parrot Island at sunset, when all the parrots are returning home is indeed a mesmerizing experience. For this a night's stay is required at Baratang. Boats to Parrot Island start after 4pm and cost 1500-1800 per boat so do find a company to share.
Barren Island, an island with the only volcano in all of India.
Long Island, great if you're looking for Robinson Crusoe style camping. Nothing exists here, so you must bring all of your own gear and food.
Little Andaman, once popular for surfing, it was devastated in the 2004 tsunami. Ask around in Port Blair to find out the current situation.
Jolly Buoy Island, a small island, is a part of the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park. It is undoubtedly the best place for snorkeling with its extremely clear waters and a rich and diverse marine life. It has a small beach with thatched huts and the location is quiet scenic. To reach here, one has to first go to Wandoor and then take a jetty from there.
Port Blair - the laid-back capital of the Andamans and the sole entry/exit point. Spend a day or two here walking around and enjoying fresh seafood and seeing a couple of the nearby sites.
Diglipur - take a road trip to the far north of the island chain, a base for visits to nearby Smith and Ross Islands.
What to see here:
The Craggy Island across Kalipur beach is a little island known for fishes and corals.
Ross and Smith Islands are twin Islands bridged by pristine white sandy beach that has a swimming pool lagoon on one side and a snorkelling paradise on the other.
Mud Volcanoes could be witnessed in the green jungle of Shyamnagar and Diglipur.
A trek through primary jungle leads to Alfred Caves- a cluster of amazing 41 caves. It is a den for swiflets and fruit eating bats.
Turtles nesting could be seen in the beaches of Kalipur and Ramnagar during December- May.
Rangat
Mayabunder
Other destinations
Havelock Island, the most visited of the islands, with the most (although still minimal) infrastructure. Beautiful beaches, great snorkeling and scuba diving.
What to see here:
Radhanagar Beach (Beach #7) is the most beautiful on the island and was rated as the best in Asia by Time in 2004. Gorgeous, silky white sand backed by a forest that provides welcome shade looks out over turquoise water, some stretches with a sandy bottom good for swimming and some with excellent coral reefs that are great for snorkeling – a great combination indeed. Sunsets here are often spectacular and it's a popular time to be at the beach, but be careful not to miss the last trucks back if you're not staying here. A man with an elephant walks through the forest occasionally, offering rides for a fee. Buses run throughout the day until sunset, as do auto-rickshaws and shared 4 wheel-drive trucks. There are a few food shacks where the road hits the beach, all of which rent snorkels and fins. Also if you walk all the way on the right side of the beach, there is a lagoon also called Blue Lagoon. Very less crowded and beautiful. Although it is not as shallow as the main beach but definitely worth beating the crowd for some quite time. The other way to reach would be to take your bike all the way in the forest pass Barefoot and walk a little. As soon as you cross the big rocks, the lagoon is there.
An elephant near Beach #7
Elephant Beach is further north from Radhanagar and is popular with Indian tourists. The shoreline here was largely swept away by the 2004 tsunami and the beach is a fraction of what it used to be; however, the coral here is probably the best on the island, making this an excellent spot for snorkeling. It's reachable on foot from Beach #7 or by fishing boat from the east side of the island; many resorts arrange snorkeling and diving trips here. A path to the beach starts from the road to Radhanagar — look for a dip in the road on a curve where there will usually be a few motorbikes parked. Several paths head off from this point, ask around for the correct one. If you choose to trek alone through the forest then stick to broad path since there are forks along the way. The walk is about 30 minutes at an easy pace with dry weather. Since the tsunami, the path ends in an expanse of un-inviting looking swampy water. Rather than attempting to go around, wade straight through it — the beach is only 100 meters straight ahead, the water is rarely above knee-height and the ground is solid. As you enter the swamp, you would see a small red board ahead, to your left; bear towards it. Wear sandals when crossing to avoid sharp shells. Note: During high tide, water may be a foot deeper in last 20 feet or so. While snorkeling, keep an eye out for the glass-bottom boats. If trek and get to the beach and are tired to trek back an option would be to take a boat ride from there to Jetty , normally they charge Rs 100 per person, only challenge is finding someone who is willing to take you and then take an Auto ride for Rs 100 again to the point where the vehicle is parked. Beach is mostly crowded in the morning till lunch, after which all tourists start to take the returning boat. This would be a ideal time for those who would like some privacy. Of course you should have come by Trek to enjoy the afternoons. Remember to pack food and water, there is very limited option like Tender Coconut and Bhel Puri.
Kalapathar Beach: The Kalapathar beach is situated on one corner of Havelock Island.You have to travel along the Road From Beach no#3 and Beach no#5 The beach gets its name from the surrounding village called Kalapathar Village and the black rocks (Kalapathar Rocks) that adorn the coastline here. The emerald seas, the tropical forests on one side of the road(Kalapathar Rocks) the coastline,and on other side the silken smooth silver sands and the sheer solitude make this beach a great place to relax.
Rutland Island, is pristine, non-polluted and least visited island. Beautiful Mangrove forest and coral reefs welcomes you to the 274 sq.km island. There is also a 45 acre Totani Resort which has quaint little huts which can be used as a base camp for exploring the island. It is the ideal place for eco-tourists.
Neil Island, quieter than Havelock with nice beaches and decent snorkeling.
What to See here :
Natural bridge: A small strip of land that connects the mainland to a small(3*3) island of sorts (not worth it but the rockpools around this at low tide are worth checking out).
Beach #8: Snorkeling here plus a small cave to check out. Lots of shells around if you are a shell collector.
Sitapur beach: Lovely sunrise. Serene beach. Good for a swim.
Ramnagar beach: Beautiful shady beach. Light blue crystal clear water. See corals in glass-bottom boats. Huge coral beds with lot of fish present. Very good visibility. Snorkeling, water scooter, bathing and other water activities can be done here.
Lakshmanpur beach: Lovely sunset. Serene and long beach.
Wandoor, a relaxed destination in its own right, but known more as the gateway to the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park.There is a newly setup luxury resort called Sea Princess Beach Resort. Easily reached, and near the Wandoor jetty is Anugama Resort, the newest property there.
Baratang Island, Mud volcano, Limestone caves, and Mangrove creeks in back waters.
What too see here:
At Baratang you can see Mud Volcano
Mud Volcano at Baratang
which is about 4 km away from the jetty. To reach there you can hire a shared taxi @ Rs. 400/- per one jeep to and from. From Baratang, regular boat services are available for Limestone Caves . These ancient caves are located about 30 minutes (by beautiful sea channel) away from Baratang Jetty. Boats are starting at 8am. The fare of boat is Rs. 300/- per head for both ways. It includes speed boat fare also which is required to reach Limestone Caves. The boat journey through the heart of dense mangrove forest is simply breathtaking. The boat ride here is a lifetime experience for some. Its something you get to see only in channels like NatGeo or Discovery otherwise. At the limestone caves remember to carry a torchlight, its very dark inside.
Mangrove forest on the way to limestone_caves by speedboat
Another must-see attraction is Parrot Island. The experience at Parrot Island at sunset, when all the parrots are returning home is indeed a mesmerizing experience. For this a night's stay is required at Baratang. Boats to Parrot Island start after 4pm and cost 1500-1800 per boat so do find a company to share.
Barren Island, an island with the only volcano in all of India.
Long Island, great if you're looking for Robinson Crusoe style camping. Nothing exists here, so you must bring all of your own gear and food.
Little Andaman, once popular for surfing, it was devastated in the 2004 tsunami. Ask around in Port Blair to find out the current situation.
Jolly Buoy Island, a small island, is a part of the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park. It is undoubtedly the best place for snorkeling with its extremely clear waters and a rich and diverse marine life. It has a small beach with thatched huts and the location is quiet scenic. To reach here, one has to first go to Wandoor and then take a jetty from there.