About Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Nestled at the meeting point of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea are 572 islands that make up the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Only roughly 38 of these 572 islands are inhabited. The Ten Degree Canal, a 150-kilometer-wide canal, divides the Nicobar group from the Andaman group.
There are 325 islands in the Andaman group and only 24 in the Nicobar group. The Great Andaman is the aggregate name for the North, Middle, and South Andaman Islands. The islands consist of Little Andaman in the south, which is divided from the Nicobar group of islands by the Ten Degree Channel, Landfall Island, Interview Island, the Sentinel Islands, Ritchie’s Archipelago, Rutland Island, and Little Andaman.
There are a lot of locations to visit in the Andaman Islands, but they are all worthwhile. We’ll start at the more traditional locations before moving on to the unusual ones.
Top places to visit in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
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Port Blair
The capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is Port Blair. It is the gateway to all the other islands and the largest town as well. This is where your journey will most likely begin.
The town has a few interesting locations, including the water sports complex, the Samudrika Marine Museum, and the Cellular Jail. Additionally, you can go to Corbyn’s Cove Beach if you’d like to visit a beach. Here, you can engage in aquatic activities as well.
Activities in Port Blair
- See and learn about the struggle of the freedom fighters who were transferred to this prison settlement to serve their sentences by visiting the Cellular Jail.
- Don’t miss the nightly light and sound spectacle.
- Through a light and sound performance, it tells the tale of the Indian independence fighters and how India became independent.
- Enjoy water activities at the Samudrika Marine Museum, a water sports complex.
- To feel the essence of the seashore, visit Corbyn’s Cove.
2. Ross Island (Netaji Subhash Chandra Dweep)
Another location that will captivate you is Ross Island. Before an earthquake devastated the island in 1941, this island served as the capital of the Andaman Islands. For almost eight decades, the Indian Penal Settlement’s headquarters were located on Ross Island.
The island featured a secretariat, a printing press, a tennis court, a bakery, shops, a water distillation plant, a church, an open-air theater, a hospital, and a cemetery, among other establishments. Everything has vanished as of late, with the exception of a few ancient, decaying structures that once held some of these famous.
3. Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep)
Backpackers will love this stunning island. A visual delight are the golden sand beaches and azure blue marine waves. Neil Island features a natural bridge in addition to its immaculate beaches. On a two-wheeler, you can cover the whole little island of Shaheed Dweep, also known as Neil Island, in a single day. Similar to Havelock, you can rent a scooter or motorcycle here and go island-hopping.
Although a day excursion to Neil Island or Shaheed Dweep is possible, spending the night is strongly advised. During our entire Andaman tour, Neil Island was our favorite location.
Places near Neil Island
- Explore the stunning beaches in Neil, including the natural beach, Sitapur beach, Bharatpur beach, and Laxmanpur beach.
- There is a diving center on Bharatpur Beach. Here, you can also go snorkeling, go on glass-bottom boat rides, and go scuba diving.
4. Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)
One of the highlights of your Andaman trip will be Havelock Island, the most visited island with the largest foot traffic. Havelock is home to some of South Asia’s top diving locations, turquoise waters, and stunning, unspoiled beaches.
Regarded as one of Asia’s most exquisite beaches, Radhanagar Beach. Like we did, you can rent a scooter or motorcycle and tour the island. We advise you to stay on Havelock Island for a minimum of two nights. Backpackers will also love Havelock Island.
Activities on Havelock Island
- Visit Havelock Island and have a blast on its stunning beaches. Explore the beaches in Kalapathar at sunrise and Radhanagar at twilight. Vijaynagar Beach is one of the other beaches.
- Give scuba diving a try. Havelock is home to some of South Asia’s top diving locations, as was previously reported. It is preferable to dive with one of the diving schools close to Beaches 3 and 4.
- Take a stroll along Elephant Beach. Havelock Island is about a 20-minute boat ride away from Elephant Beach.
- The location is fantastic, featuring gorgeous coral reefs and white beaches. In addition, you may enjoy water sports like glass-bottom boat rides, sea walks, and snorkeling here.
- Another option is to hike from Radhanagar village to Elephant Beach.
5.Baratang Island
Situated between the Middle and South Islands lies Baratang Island. It features mud volcanoes, limestone caves, mangrove streams, and lovely beaches.
It takes about five hours to travel the 100 kilometers to Baratang Island from Port Blair, and the road conditions there are not good. We are not deterred, but come here only if you enjoy venturing into the unknown and aren’t put off by the long hours and unfavorable travel circumstances.
6. North Andaman and Diglipur
Possibly the best-kept Andaman tour secret is this. There is yet much to discover in the island’s North Andaman region. By road, Diglipur can be reached from Port Blair in around 12 hours. However, once you arrive, you’ll be enthralled.But as soon as you arrive, the pristine beauty of the location will enchant you.
Diglipur tourist destinations
Ross and Smith Island
In reality, Ross and Smith Islands are two islands that are connected to form a single group of islands by a sand bar. At low tide, the sand bar is visible and the water is glistening clear. The sand bar vanishes during high tide, leaving a water trail connecting the two islands.
The highest peak in the North Andaman Islands, Saddle Peak, has a foothill marked by Lamiya Bay Beach.
Mud volcano at Shyamnagar, North Andaman, and limestone cave in Diglipur: Mud volcanoes, similar to those in Baratang, can be found in Shyamnagar. The limestone caverns in Diglipur, which are close to Ramnagar Beach, are also referred to as Alfred caves.