Journey To The Sea – Best Places To Visit In Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The island in the Bay of Bengal, which is popularly known as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands contains 300 islands that are well known for their mangroves, white sand, palm-lined beaches, and especially the tropical rain forests. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are considered a union territory of India which mainly consists of about 572 small islands and out of that 37 islands are inhabited.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are located at the meeting points of two seas and that is the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. The two Island groups combined to form the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. One is the Andaman Islands and the other is the Nicobar Islands. These two islands are separated by a distance of about 150 kilometers.

The islands are thought to have been formed by the submerged extension of the Arakan mountains long before. The capital city of Andaman and Nicobar Island is called the city of Port Blair. The total land area of the island is found to be about 8249 square kilometers.

The whole area is divided into three districts named Nicobar district, South Andaman district, and Middle Andaman district. As per history, the Andamanese people were isolated from other people during the Middle Paleolithic age which ended about 30,000 years ago. They developed their own unique linguistic and cultural ways gradually through the years. 

The Nicobar Island people are from various backgrounds. At present, Andaman and Nicobar Island are considered to be one of the best places to visit as a part of holidays or academics or for travel pleasure. Some of the best places to visit in Andaman and Nicobar Islands are listed below.

Top Places To Visit In Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The Limestone Caves, Port Blair

The Limestone caves on the island are a natural wonder. It is formed by the natural deposits of sand which are pressed together and gradually it forms a sedimentary rock and as time passes by it is developed like a big cave-like structure. Limestone comes under the category of sedimentary rocks. Wetlands are the main depository area of these sedimentary rocks.

Limestone deposits are generally formed in warm and shallow sea water where flora and fauna exist and when they die their skeletons and shells come in contact with the seabed and out of the reaction a mineral is formed which is called the limestone. Gradually the movement in the earth’s crust led to the upliftment of the sedimentary rocks that leads to the formation of mountains and hills.

This is a long process as trees and plants will start growing on these rocks and slowly cracks will be formed in these rocks. As time passes by, the rain will come, and cracks become a passage for the rainwater. Since the rocks are made of limestone, it will begin to dissolve and thus beautiful caves are formed. One of the interesting features of these caves is the formation of stalactites and stalagmites. 

There will be guides to provide you with further information about these wonderful caves. During the season you can expect a crowd. It will be a little difficult for senior citizens to visit the place because of the long-distance walk through the jungle and village. Tourists can visit the place on all weekdays and weekends. It’s a journey of about 3 hours and boating also is included.

Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Port Blair

Wandoor is the place on Andaman Island where the Mahatma Gandhi National Park is located. It is well known for being home to a variety of magnificent coral reefs and colorful fishes of different sizes and shapes. The actual location is at Wandoor on the bank of Indra Crick and about 17-20 kilometers to the west of Port Blair.

Almost one hour journey by road from Port Blair. The journey by road is scenic and government transport is available for the travel from Port Blair. Multiple reserved islands are a part of the island and one or two are open for visitors.

Jolly Buoy and Red Skin are the two beautiful islands that you can visit here. Crystal clear water can be seen here and the scenic beaches all over makes it a wonderful tourism hot spot. Crocodile in the sea makes it dangerous and swimming is not allowed.

Rose Island

The best reason to visit Rose island is nothing but the history that is associated with it. The island has a mysterious gathering of some of the oldest British and Japanese structures in the country. It reveals how the British people lead a luxurious life over here.

One hour is enough to explore Rose Island. The boat journey is arranged to and fro from the  Sports complex center by the government and they usually charge the sum of rupees 350 per person.

You can also see a lot of deer here as a bonus and are fed and managed by the government. Ritchie’s Archipelago, Andaman and Nicobar islands are the island group over here. It’s a great place where you can find peace and happiness. November through February is the ideal time to come.

Barren Island

You can see the Barren island in the Andaman sea. The only active volcano in South Asia is present on the island. It is a restricted zone and you need special permission to visit the place. The place is uninhibited by humans but you can spot different varieties of animals over here. It’s a rare and spectacular experience watching the volcano splash out the lava and flames.

The sea that is covering the island is known to be one of the best scuba diving destinations and the water over here is crystal clear. The region over here is of great geological importance and helps to maintain the continental climate stable. Indeed once in a lifetime experience if you get a chance to explore the island.

Aamkunj Beach, Port Blair

The beach is located in Rangat, Middle Andaman. The beach comprises rocky and coral formations all over and visitors are not allowed to swim due to the crocodile warning boards. Those who are fond of sea turtles can visit the beach. The place is famous for sea turtle breeding and its moves.

The tourist department has set up Bamboo benches for the visitors and pure and fresh coconut water is available at a very cheap rate. One can also spot tree houses over here. If unexplored it can be the best destination for your new year celebrations.

Radhanagar beach, Havelock Island

The beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Asia ranked as the 7th most beautiful beach in the world. Its awesome beauty attracts huge tourism to the island. The beach is located on the Havelock Island of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The beach is very well maintained by the government and the coastline over here is very big and it offers you a lot of privacy. Neat and clean beach with turquoise Blue water and white sand. Sunset here is a must-watch when you plan to visit the same. One can swim and snorkel on this beach.

Howrah Bridge

The location of Howrah bridge is about 40 kilometers away from Port Blair city and is called the vegetable bowl of Andaman due to the rich agricultural production in the area. It’s a natural bridge formed out of corals. If you are nature lover, Howrah bridge is among the best places to visit in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The rock formation was named Rabindra Sethu by Bengalis who were settled there years before and later the name was changed to Howrah bridge. The best seen time for the Howrah bridge is during low tide. The island on which it is located is called Neil island.

Stewart Island Beach

The beach is open for visitors and can be explored year in and out. Visitors usually chose this beautiful beach for sunbath and the best months to visit the place from October to May. Natural calamities during the month of July to September distracts tourism over here. However, the beach is worth visiting once you are on the island as you can relax with bird songs and natural landscapes.

The beach is active day and night. If you are lucky, you can spot rare yellow-eyed penguins and blue penguins waddling around the rocks. As a bonus, the beach is a predator-free bird sanctuary with more than a dozen of native species in and around. It will be awesome if you spend 2-3 nights over here. You can go fishing, have a marine walk and enjoy the wonderful bird life.

Bharatpur Beach

The beach is on Neil island, which one of the best places to visit in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The beach is well known for its exotic coral reef and colorful aquatic life. In order to explore the underwater world it is the best place. Must-try activities of this place are boat rides, snorkeling, and scuba diving which fill your visit with more fun and excitement. The clear water, sparkling sand, and comparatively bigger tides will make your day the visit to Bharatpur beach.

The spot is considered a perfect place for professional swimmers to enjoy and improve their talents. The best time to visit the beach is during the month of November to the month of February. The Summer season starts here in the month of March and remains till the month of June.

Andaman Islands Reopens For Tourists

As per the recent circular by the Andaman and Nicobar administration, the Middle and North Andaman Islands are also opened to tourists. https://t.co/nrF4wt27JL#andamanandnicobar #travel #tourism #adventuretours #adventuretravel #icpb pic.twitter.com/4oO0ulf2j2

— ICPB (@info_icpb) May 6, 2021

Parrot Island

It is also called Baratang island and it is a part of the Andaman Islands. One has to travel about 150 kilometers to reach the island from Port Blair city. As the name indicates this uninhibited island is a bird paradise and thousands of parrots have built their nest on this beautiful island. The place is a protected reserve.

One can sail through the mangrove forest on this island. The Jarawa tribal people are living on this island. Rarely you can spot the tribe people during the visit. The place is a bus or boat ride away from Port Blair. The limestone cave and boat ride are the highlights of this place.

An exciting forest journey is awaiting you on Parrot Island and you will reach a ferry point and from this ferry point, you have to take the ferry. Also, you have the option to sit inside the ferry or you can move to the upper deck where you can enjoy the island views. Also, the speed boat journey through the mangrove forest is mesmerizing.

Laxmanpur Beach

The beach is famous for its beautiful sunset. Adding to that the beach is peaceful and photogenic. It is not that Big one. You can expect a crowd here during the time of sunset. There are so many local stalls nearby that offer tea and snacks. The beach is open for visitors from around 8 pm at the night.

Best Time To Visit The Andaman Islands

The best time to visit the Island is between the month of October and May as the weather conditions are favorable. The island is perfect for sightseeing, water sports, and beach exploring. The monsoon days, that is usually from July to September are not recommended because of the heavy rains, strong winds, and high tides. In order to cover all the important places on the island, one can choose a travel schedule of about a week.

How To Reach The Andaman And Nicobar Islands?

There are daily flights from various cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai to Port Blair, the capital city. The Veer Savarkar International airport has daily flights to these cities. The airlines serving the airport are Air India, GoAir, Indigo, Spicejet, and Vistara.

The average cost ranges between 15 thousand to 28 thousand for a one-week visit to the island. Flights from these airports will take you to the best places to visit in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Conclusion

The tourism industry in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is increasing day by day. The popularity of beaches among tourists and the adventure sports in the water attracts tourists globally to the island. Plans to develop various islands under Aayog are also under process. In the future too, there will be many places to visit in Andaman and Nicobar Islands for travel freaks across the world.

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