Andaman Islands: An Uncharted Paradise in India

The Andaman Islands are a large archipelago located in the Indian Ocean, namely between Myanmar and India. It consists of 204 islands, most of them uninhabited and dangerous for tourists, because they are covered with impenetrable vegetation, and insects are more like dangerous predators ready to eat their prey. Therefore, the article will focus only on tourist places where quite decent conditions have been created for a pampered European tourist.

General information

Despite the fact that the Andaman Islands are part of India, they still remain the most unexplored object in the Bay of Bengal. Today, more and more tourists are discovering the islands for diving and snorkeling.

Interesting fact! For more than half a century, the islands were completely isolated from the outside world, but then the Indian government decided to allow access to some areas so as not to disrupt the ecological balance.

The history of the Andamans began rather sadly — this was the territory where Indian criminals were heading. Then, during World War II, the islands were occupied by the Japanese army. When India gained full independence from Great Britain, the Government put in place a program to protect the local tribes and the native Andaman people, as well as the flora and fauna.

Geographical information:

• the archipelago consists of 204 islands;
• the archipelago covers an area of 6408 km2;
• the population of the archipelago is 343 thousand people;
• The administrative center is Port Blair, where 100.5 thousand people live.;
• the highest point is Diglipur;
• only 10 islands are accessible to tourists;
• the archipelago also includes the Nicobar Islands, but they are closed to tourists.

Interesting fact! The Andaman Islands are home to the Negrito people, who are recognized as the oldest people on the planet. The height of an adult, as a rule, does not exceed 155 cm.

Tourists, first of all, are attracted by the picturesque nature, comfortable conditions for beach holidays, diving and snorkeling. Fans of ecotourism, peace, tranquility and solitude also come here. Please note that nature reserves of national significance on islands in India are a restricted area and you will need a permit to visit them.

Visa application form

To get to the Andaman Islands in India, you will need more than just an Indian visa. Each tourist must issue a special permit, which is issued by representatives of the migration service directly at the airport. Tourists who travel by water can get a permit in Chennai or Kolkata. The permit is also issued when obtaining a visa for Russians to travel to the Andaman Islands in India.

The permit is issued for 30 days, if the tourist does not have confirmation of booking from the hotel and tickets for the return trip, the permit is valid for only 15 days. The penalty for violation is$600. You must always have a permit with you in order to present it at the first request and to visit other islands of the archipelago.

Important! If you want to stay in the Andaman Islands in India for another two weeks, buy return tickets 14 days after the permit expires.

How to get to the Andaman Islands

Preparing for a trip should start with the question-how to get to the Andaman Islands in India. You can fly on national airlines. Flights are operated daily from Chennai (formerly Madras), as well as Calcutta. You can fly from Delhi with a stopover in Kolkata. There are flights from Goa and Thailand with a stopover in Chennai.

All flights are operated by an airport located in Port Blair.

Important! Book your tickets in advance to save money on the flight.

On average, a flight from Chennai and Kolkata by Indian Airlines takes about 2 hours. JetLite flights from Delhi or Chennai reach Port Blair in 4 hours.

If you are not afraid of adventures and are ready for them, use the waterway. Ships depart from Chennai and Calcutta, but get ready — the journey will take several days-from 3 to 4. The water crossing conditions are significantly inferior to traveling by air.

Travel between islands

There is a ferry service between the islands, and you can also fly by helicopter. Ferries leave only in good weather, the fare is about 250 rupees or $ 3.5. the ferry capacity is 100 people, there are air conditioners.

Regular ferries carry up to 400 people, the ticket price depends on the conditions of the trip – from 600 to 1000 rupees or$8-14. It is better to buy tickets in the women’s queue, as there is always a rush and a lot of people in the men’s queue.

Andaman Holidays

Where to stay

All tourists arrive in Port Blair, but do not stay here for long, since there are no conditions for a beach holiday here. The most popular island in the archipelago is Havelok. Another island accessible to travelers is the Nile, but here the rocky coast and swimming in the sea is not comfortable.

Important! After arriving in Port Blair, you need to take the ferry to Havelock as quickly as possible, otherwise you will have to spend the night in a guesthouse in Port Blair.

Do you dream of a paradise vacation in the Andaman Islands? Then you need to choose a hotel in Havelock. By the way, here you can rent not only a hotel room, but also a cozy bungalow. We are talking about India, it is customary to bargain here, so feel free to knock down the price of a bungalow. Many lodge owners first ask for Rs 1,000, but this amount can be reduced to Rs 700 or even 500 (from$ 7 to$10).

Interesting to know! It is on Havelok that you can meet swimming elephants.

Prices on the island are almost the same as on Goa in India. Most housing options are available offline, although the booking service offers several accommodation options. Be careful — if you are offered expensive housing in the Andamans, this does not mean that the quality will match the stated price. A room in an expensive hotel will cost from $ 110 for one night.

The Andaman Islands in India are one of the few places on the planet where good accommodation conditions are offered by state-owned hotels. Tourists who have visited here, strongly recommend choosing a room in the state hotel. If you can’t rent a room, try to eat in restaurants attached to state-owned hotels

Where to eat

There are no problems with this in the Andaman Islands — places where delicious, satisfying and inexpensive food is prepared are quite common, but first of all travelers recommend Port Blair and Havelock Island . Prices are not very different from those in Goa.

Most often they order curry, rice with saffron, carrot halva, cakes based on semolina and milk. Milkshakes and fresh drinks are in high demand. In most establishments, the menu is aimed at the European tourist, you can order dishes without hot pepper. You can also buy food at the market or in food stalls. A large selection of street food is presented in sheki, they are placed right on the beach for the entire tourist season.

An inexpensive lunch for one person costs about$3,

dinner for two with alcohol in the restaurant will cost$ 11-14, and a snack in the diner — $8.

Diving and snorkeling

Havelok offers the best conditions for diving and snorkeling in the Andaman Islands. Visit Vijayanagar and Radhanagar beaches to enjoy the underwater world. There are diving centers with the necessary equipment, you can pay for the services of instructors and go on a sea trip.

For beginners, North Bay, located on MuaTerra Beach, is more suitable. And on Jolly Buoy, tourists are offered excursions on glass-bottomed boats.

Important! The best time to dive in the Andaman Islands in India is from January to mid-spring.

The coastal waters of the archipelago in India have preserved one of the richest reef ecosystems in the world. The water is so clear that visibility reaches 50 m.

During the dive, you can see reefs, various types of sharks, frozen lava flows, manta rays, flocks of small colorful fish, stingrays.

Travelers note that the most fantastic dive is near an extinct volcano. In this place, right at the shore, there are steep cliffs that go to a depth of 500 m. Experienced divers claim that it is a paradise for diving, you can meet tuna up to 3 m long, and schools of rays number up to fifty specimens. They can be fed and swum together.

Training courses cost from$ 50 to $ 250. Prices vary depending on the location of the beach, the duration of training, and the number of participants in the group. Multiple dives cost from$ 28 to $ 48. Diving in a national park will cost$ 7 more.

Beaches

• Corbin Bay is probably the best place for a beach break in Port Blair. The beach is covered with fine white sand, palm trees grow. Nearby there is a restaurant, hotel, guesthouse.
• Viper Island is a small island located in the harbor of Port Blair, the coast is sandy, the rest of the island is covered with dense vegetation.
• Vijayanagar and Radhanagar are the best beaches on Havelok Island, suitable for diving. Elephants live in the jungle nearby.
• Karmatang — located on the island of Middle Andaman, turtles come here to lay eggs.
• Ramnagar Beach is located on Diglipur Island. The place is famous for its orange groves, and the water is full of fish.
• Rutland Island welcomes eco-tourists. Here you can explore corals, take a walk in the mangroves.
• Nail Island is famous for its picturesque beaches and excellent conditions for snorkeling.
• If you love surfing, visit Little Andaman.
• Unique, pristine nature has been preserved on the island of Baratang.
• If you want to feel like Robinson Crusoe, visit Long Andaman Island.

What else to do in the Andaman Islands in India

In addition to diving and snorkeling on the islands in India, you can engage in water sports, while the initial level of training of the tourist does not matter at all.

Enjoy a beach holiday, enjoy the nature, because it is unique. There are also museums on the islands where you can learn about the history of the Andaman Islands, the culture and traditions of local residents. There are also 9 national parks located on the territory of the archipelago. Another interesting destination for tourists is national cuisine.

If you like noisy parties and night discos, the Andaman Islands will not be interesting.

What else you need to know about the islands

The Islanders

Only 12% of the population of the Andaman Islands is indigenous. Unfortunately, this percentage is constantly decreasing. Some ethnic groups have already completely disappeared.

• The Onge are aborigines of the Andaman Islands, with a population of only 100 people, and live on an area of 25 km2.
• Sentinelese-in an aggressive form, they resist any external contacts. The size of the tribe is 150 people.
• Andamanese-the tribe’s population is rapidly declining, with only 70 Andamanese left today and they live on Straight Island.
• Jarawa-the number of the tribe is 350 people, they live on two islands — Southern and Middle Andaman, most of the representatives of the people are extremely hostile to tourists.
• The Shompen are a tribe of 250 people living on the island of Greater Nicobar. Representatives of the ethnic group avoid territories where they live as migrants from India.
• The Nicobar people are the largest tribe of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The population is 30 thousand people, many have converted to Christianity and successfully adapted to modern society. The tribe occupies several islands.

Climate, when it’s best to visit

Throughout the year, the Andaman Islands in India maintain a temperature regime of +23 to +31 degrees and humidity in the range of 80%. Almost the entire territory of the islands is covered with dense forests. The climate can be divided into two seasons: rainy (starts in the second half of spring and ends in December), and dry (starts in January and lasts until mid — spring).

Important! In the second half of summer, strong storms occur at sea.

The Internet

Be prepared for the fact that the world wide web networks of the Andaman Islands have not yet reached. At first glance, this may seem strange, but the facts speak for themselves. The fact is that the islands in India are not yet connected by optical cable to the mainland, so the Internet, if anywhere, is very slow and unstable.

Useful to know! Free wi-fi in the Andaman Islands does not exist, if you need access to an international network, use the services in special cafes, an hour of Internet will cost$5.

Useful tips and interesting facts

1. Did you know that in the Andaman Islands, fish die of old age?
2. 50% of the butterflies and 98 plant species in the Andaman Islands are found here alone.
3. The legendary Jacques Yves Cousteau dedicated the film to the Andamans in India and called it “Invisible Islands”.
4. On the Andaman Islands, huge turtles lay their eggs every year, this species is threatened with extinction. There are only four such places on the planet.
5. Credit cards are only accepted in Port Blair, and you will need cash to travel to other locations in the Andaman Islands in India.
6. As a souvenir from the Andaman Islands, bring textiles made of natural silk, the cost of products from $ 2.5, pay attention to the unique spices in India (nutmeg, black cardamom, cumin, tamarind and ajwan). Natural Ayurvedic cosmetics, starting from$1, are in high demand.
7. There is no Tax Free service in the Andaman Islands.
8. There are certain rules for traveling around the Andaman Islands. Tourists are not restricted in their movements, with the exception of areas where access is restricted to all travelers.
9. No vaccination certificate is required to visit the Andaman Islands.
10. There are certain restrictions on the import and export of goods, products, and money. This information should be reviewed before traveling.

Organizational issues

1. There are two types of ferries between the islands of the archipelago in India — public and private. In terms of comfort, it is better to choose private transport, it is equipped with air conditioning, comfortable seats. The advantage of state-owned ferries is the ability to go on deck, but no one guarantees the availability of free seats, and there are cockroaches. Tickets for State ferries must be purchased in advance. In addition, there is no water or food on state ferries, and tourists take care of this on their own.
2. On some islands of the archipelago, for example, on Long Island, tickets are on sale only 2-3 hours a day, so you need to take care of the return trip in advance.
3. Mobile communication is only available in Port Blair, the further away from the administrative center, the worse the situation. Interent is also considered a great luxury, if you are lucky, you can find it in hotels and special cafes, but do not count on good speed.
4. Renting a car without a driver is very difficult.
5. Many tourists note that the importance of the attractions of the Andaman Islands is significantly exaggerated. Just enjoy the scenic views and scenery.
6. Prices are slightly higher than the average in India. Please note that ATMs operate intermittently and on their own schedule, so try to withdraw as much money as possible.
7. Surprisingly, there are almost no insects on the Andaman Islands, spiders and all sorts of moths are rare here.
8. The food here is delicious, but the prices are slightly higher than the average in India. There is no alcohol on the islands, only in Port Blair there are several specialty stores, they open after 15-00.
9. On many beaches, access to the water is complicated by a large number of reefs, but it is very clear and transparent water and a sandy bottom.
10. The local population is quite friendly, and when a tourist smiles, they will definitely smile back.

Restrictions for tourists

Certain restrictions have been imposed on tourists, primarily due to the desire of the Indian authorities to preserve the unique nature and ethnic tribes living on the Andaman Islands.

Restrictions for tourists

• it is forbidden to leave garbage on land and in the sea;
• you can not collect corals and shells not only in the sea, but also on land;
• all existing narcotic substances are prohibited;
• sunbathing without clothes on;
• independently visit islands that are closed to tourists;
• coconuts in the Andaman Islands are private property, and it is forbidden to collect them;
• it is forbidden to spend the night on the shore, on the beaches, light fires and hunt;
• take photos on islands where local tribes live;
• many types of plants and animals are poisonous, so think carefully before you pick up something.

The Andaman Islands are a unique, untouched corner of nature, where you can feel disconnected from civilization and enjoy the picturesque landscapes.