Nature's Aquarium

The long stretch of sand glistening like silver dust, the tropical green forest swaying to the rhythm of the breeze, the azure sea with the treasures of coral beds, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands float in splendid isolation and lie east of our mainland. The islands comprise 572 islands and islets, out of which 37 are inhabited. Eighty four per cent of the land has forest cover. Lying in the Bay of Bengal far from the mainland, hustle and humdrum, the islands provide a perfect break from the modern life and its hectic pace.

The islands are bestowed with lush green forests, some of the best beaches in the world, shallow crystal clear waters, rare flora and fauna, underwater marine life and mangrove-lined creeks. Enough to lure any nature lover. Adventure seekers can go trekking, camping, snorkeling and scuba diving. A visit to these islands is a memorable lifetime experience. Only the Andaman group of islands is open for tourism. And all its tourist destinations are safe and open even after the massive earthquake and tsunami which hit these islands on December 26 last year.

Attractions in and around Port Blair

The capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the beautiful town of Port Blair is where one must begin. It has a number of museums, beaches, water sports complex and the Cellular Jail. The saga of the heroic freedom struggle is brought alive in a moving son-et-lumiere, shown daily inside the Cellular Jail complex at 6.00 pm (Hindi) and 7.15 pm (English). The jail is our historical benchmark, it stood mute witness to the tortures meted out to freedom fighters, who were incarcerated here. It was constructed by prisoners under their foreign masters and completed in 1906. It's called Cellular because it houses a row of cells for solitary confinement. Originally, the jail was a seven pronged, puce-colored building having 696 cells with a central tower acting as its fulcrum and a massive structure comprising honeycomb like corridors. The building was subsequently damaged and at present, three of the seven prongs with 283 cells are safe. The jail, now a place of pilgrimage for post-Independent India, was declared a National Memorial on February 11, 1979.

The penal settlement established in Andamans by the British after the First War of Independence in 1857 was the beginning of the agonising story of freedom fighters in the massive and awful jails at Viper Island followed by the Cellular Jail. For more on their plight, visit the National Memorial where flogging stand, iron fetters and oil ghani used by prisoners are on display. The Chatham Saw Mill, one of the oldest mills in Asia, in built on a tiny island and is connected to Port Blair by a bridge. It is a storehouse of timber like Padauk, Gurjan, Marble and Satin Wood. This island has the second largest wharf where island-mainland ships can berth. It is near the Haddo wharf, the largest.

Corbyn's Cove, the coconut palm fringed beach ideal for sun-basking, is 6 km away from Port Blair. Facilities like hotel, restaurant and changing rooms are available near the beach. Historical remains like Japanese bunkers can be seen here. Anthropological museum near the Directorate of Tourism depicts the life of the Paleolithic islanders. It also houses the models of the aborigines and their tools. Capture the secrets of the sea at the Samudrika museum. For creatures of the island, there's the Zoological Survey of India Museum near the Andaman Teal House. A virtual tour of the islands' history and geography, complete with interactive exhibits depicting the genesis of the islands or volcanic activities, is possible at the Science Centre.

Mount Harriet (15 km by ferry and road from Port Blair) was the summer headquarters of the Chief Commissioner during British Raj. This place is ideal for having a nice and fascinating overview of the outer islands and the azure sea. It has the highest peak in the South Andamans (365 m high). One can trek from Bambooflat to Mount Harriet and from there upto Madhuban, it's a great nature trail. Mount Harriet is also a national park where you get rare endemic trees, orchids and other flowers, birds and butterflies.

Chdiya Tapu (25 km by road from Port Blair) is the southernmost tip of South Andaman Island. The lush green mangroves, forest cover with numerous chirping birds, sylvan sands and Munda pahar beaches make it an ideal picnic site. One can witness breath-taking sunsets here.




Ross Island was the capital of the islands during the British regime. This is situated very close to Port Blair and accessible by boat (15 minutes journey). The island at present houses the ruins of old buildings like Church, Cemetery, Subordinate Club, Farzand Ali store, Hospital, Bakery, Press, Swimming Pool and Water Treatment Plant, all reminiscent of the old British regime. The ruins are being restored now.

Nearby Viper Island witnessed the untold sufferings the freedom fighters had to undergo. Dangerous convicts found guilty of violating the rules of the Penal Settlement were put in fetters and forced to work shackled thus. Freedom fighters like Nanigopal and Nandlal Pulindas, who had resorted to a hungerstrike at the Cellular Jail, were imprisoned at Viper Island. Sher Ali, the Pathan, guilty of murdering Lord Mayo, was condemned to death and hanged in the gallows at the Viper Island. Now there are ruins. The jail at Viper, where prisoners deported from the mainland were confined, was built by the British under the supervision of Major Fort. Work on the prison was started in 1867. Owing to the working conditions, it earned the notorious name Viper Chain Gang Jail.

Collinpur Beach (40 km by road from Port Blair) situated near Tirur (on the western side of the South Andaman Islands) has a beautiful sandy beach with shallow water. Suitable for swimming, sun bathing and sunset. The beach is popular as Sunset Bay. Kurmadera Beach (40 km by road from Port Blair) situated near Collinpur, is crescent shaped, its white flats with shallow water suitable for swimming, sun basking and coral viewing. A perfect place for an enchanting sunset.


Neil Island

This is a beautiful tiny island with lush green forests and sandy beaches, aptly called the vegetable bowl of Andamans. Connected by boat from Port Blair four days a week, it provides an ideal holiday for eco-friendly tourists. One can feel the sincerity and serenity of village life here. Beautiful beaches at Laxmanpur, Bharatpur, Sitapur and natural bridge formations on the seashore are attractions. Corals and marine life are found abundantly in the sea around the island, offering excellent scope for scuba diving and snorkeling. Hawabill Nest (for booking Tel: 232747, 232694) provides comfortable accommodation here. Private hotels are also available.


Havelock Island (50 km by sea from Port Blair)

Located near Neil Island, Havelock is endowed with bewitching sandy beaches, lush green forest and coral gardens. Radhanager beach (12 km from the jetty) on the western side is one of the most sought after tourist destinations, having been rated as one of the best in Asia by Times Magazine. Fringed with green canopy of rain forest, it beckons everyone to the azure sea. Camping out is popular among tourists. Stay at this eco-friendly camp, right on the seashore, is a unique experience. It's a perfect place to unwind, where the crazing waves and the twittering crickets are the only disturbance. Vijaynagar beach (4 km away from the jetty) on the eastern side and Elephanta beach (10 km from the jetty, including trekking through the forest) on the northwestern part of the island are other beautiful spots. Scuba diving, snorkeling and trekking are important activities here. Havelock is connected by daily speedboat services from Port Blair. Dolphin Resort, Wild Orchid Silversand Resort and Jungle Resort provide comfortable accommodation at Havelock. Snorkeling and scuba diving facilities are provided by dive operators based at Jungle Resort and wild Orchid seasonally.

North Andaman Island

Located about 242 km north of Port Blair, North Andaman Island is famous for mud volcano, caves and the highest peak in the islands. Diglipur, about 80 km north of Mayabunder, is the main town. The Aerial bay jetty is 10 km northeast of Diglipur. Saddle Peak, the highest peak in Andamans, lies 20 km northeast of Diglipur. The entire peak is covered in rich evergreen forest, which is declared as a national park. Adventurous nature lovers can explore the lovely dark and deep forests while trekking to the peak. The rare phenomenon of a mud volcano can be seen at Shyamnagar, about 35 km northwest of Diglipur. The journey to the hillock having mud volcano involves trekking (for 40 minutes) from Hathilevel through villages and marshy areas. The mud volcano last erupted in 2003, the debris was spread over 250 sq m on the top of the hillock. Mud volcanoes are vents in the earth which emits gas and mud. This is a rare phenomenon and is found in only select places around the globe. In our country, Andamans is the only place where such volcanoes are found. Kalighat, 17 km south of Diglipur, is famous for its mangrove-frilled creek. One can travel through the creeks to Mayabunder (in Middle Andaman) from here, enjoying the varying colours, the green beauty shadowing the calm waters and if fortunate watching crocodiles resting along the roots of mangroves. Ram Nagar, another of the white sandy beaches, is 10 km east of Kalighat, which is a turtle nesting ground, too. For adventure seekers, there is trekking to the forest and villages. At Pathilevel, explore the Chalis Ek caves (which are also accessible by boat from Mayabunder in Middle Andaman Island). At Ross & Smith Islands, witness a sand bar that connects two islands coming up from the sea to be sunk after few hours. The best part about the sand bar connecting Ross & Smith Islands (15 minutes boat journey from Aerial bay jetty near Diglipur) is that it is surrounded by coral reefs. Shallow beaches are suitable for swimming and snorkeling, they are also ideal for turtle-nesting.

Baratang Island

Mud Valcano About 100 km north (by road) from Port Blair, Baratang is located between South Andaman and Middle Andaman Islands. It is blessed with limestone caves, mud volcano, mangrove frilled creeks and beautiful sandy beaches. Nilambur is the main town. While here, head for the Baludera beach. Lime Stone Cave The lime caves, full of splendid stalagmites, stalactites and pillar rocks, can be accessed by a 40-minute boat ride through the creeks from the Nilambur Jetty. And about 15-minute trek further through village and forest. It gives an immense sense of adventure to the tourist. The volcanoes are at a distance of 6 km from the Nilambaur Jetty and can be visited by road.

The Baludera beach, situated at a distance of 9 km from Nilambur, is a safe bay on the eastern side of Baratang Island. The beach has eco-friendly huts and tree top huts. One can also ride elephants.