The Andaman Nicobar islands have been favorite holiday destinations for families and honeymooners alike. The islands white beaches, azure waters and undulating waves are the reasons why thousands of tourists are attracted to this beautiful archipelago located in Andaman Sea.
Though the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a group of 572 islands, most of the popular tourist spots and beaches are scattered around a few islands. Some of these popular beaches are:
Havelock Island or Swaraj Island– Havelock Island is one of the biggest islands of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is home to Radhanagar Beach-a blue flag certified and one of the most beautiful beaches in the Andaman Sea. Other beaches on the islands are Vijay Nagar Beach (No. 5), the silver colored Kalapathar Beach and the stunning Elephant Beach which is accessible by a small boat or through a small trek. Other lesser known beaches include the Beach No. 3 and Beach No. 1 on the east coast.
Neil Island or Shaheed Dweep Island- 36 kms from Port Blair, Neil Island with is lush vegetation is the vegetable bowl of the Andaman Nicobar Islands. Like Swaraj Island, Neil Island is also famed for its beaches and water activities. Bharatpur Beach , Laxmanpur Beach and Sitapur Beach are some of the popular beaches of Shaheed Dweep Island.
Port Blair- The capital of Andaman and Nicobar Island, Port Blair is famous for its museums that traces the history of the islands and its tribal natives; the cellular jail where many popular freedom fighters including Batukeshwar Dutt ,V.D. Sarvakar where imprisoned and whose history is told through an illuminating light show; Mount Harriet from where one can get a spectacular view of the city. Other attractions include Corbyn Cove. Chidya Tapu, Wandoor Beach and the Rajiv Gandhi water sports complex.
Ross Island or Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island – Once the seat of the British administration, Ross Island is a great place to see the flora and fauna of the Islands in addition to several old buildings like the cathedral, the hief Commissioner’s house and the graveyard where many Britishers are buried.
Viper Island- Before the Cellular Jail, Viper Island is the place where most of the political prisoners were imprisoned.
Digilipur Island- Though not as popular as Havelock or Neil islands, Digliipur located 290 kms from Port Blair by road and 190 kms by sea is slowly gaining in popularity. The island is mostly famed for its natural wonders which include the pristine beaches of Ross and Smith islands; Saddle peak through which Kalpong, the only river of the Andamans flows; the Kalipur beach where the Olive Ridley turtles nest every year ; the Mud volcanoes and the Alfred Caves.
Baratang Island- Located 100 kms from Port Blair, the Baratang Islands are famous for their mangrove creeks, limestone caves and mud volcanoes. Accommodations are very limited at Bartang and for this reason many prefer to visit the island as a day trip from Port Blair. Do remember that one must be prepared to leave very early (3am-4am) for tour to Bartang.
Must do Activities
There is never a dull moment for tourists visiting the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for there are a variety of water sports that one can participate in. Scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, banana rides, glass bottom boating, trekking, cycling etc are some of the popular activities that one can enjoy with families. If you want to see the coral reefs and swim with the fishes then scuba diving and snorkeling on Havelock and Neil Islands are highly recommended.
Besides these seven popular islands, there are quite a few lesser known islands in North and Middle Andaman’s that are known for their beaches and natural wonders. If you wish to visit those places, do reach out to your travel agent at Swosti Travels to book a fabulous Andaman holiday just for you.
