Must Visit Places in Andaman

Andaman is blessed with natural endowments and beauty in plenty. The place is a perfect tourist destination with so many places to see, things to do and natural beauty to enjoy. The Andaman Islands form an archipelago in the Bay of Bengal between India, to the west, and Myanmar, to the north and east. Here are some of the places you must visit in Andaman.

• Port Blair - Also known as Kaala Pani in Port Blair, this jail has the memories of the freedom fighters during the time of Independence in the British era. This place is one of the most sought spots in Andaman for tourists globally.
• Neil Island - This island is part of the South Andaman Administrative District that belongs to the archipelago of Bay of Bengal that separates Ross Island from Havelock Island. This island has some specialties like Bharatpur Beach, Sitapur Beach, and Lakshmanpur beach.
• Havelock Island - This island is full of water sports for adventure lovers. You can enjoy snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing, and kayaking in the waters that give you the perfect reason to visit Andaman.
• Barren Island - Located exactly 135 km away from Port Blair, this Barren Island serves as one of the least known tourist spots in Andaman. It is almost 1.8 million years old and is home to an active volcano in the Indian subcontinent. You will love ferry and boat rides in this place to take you around the island.
• Radhanagar Beach - Radhanagar beach is awarded as Asia’s Best Beach by the Times Magazine in the year 2004. It has turquoise blue waters that have beautiful sands to stroll, making it one of the most visited locations in Andaman.
• Ross Island - Located right 13 km away from the city center, this Island is also known as the Netaji Subhas Bose Island that was once the British headquarters. It is also visited by tourists for its magnificent significance.
• Sitapur Beach - Sitapur Beach is also known as Sunrise Beach because people visit this place especially to witness the sunrise early in the morning. The smooth sands and clear waters complement the sunrise and sunsets in this place.
• Elephant Beach - This beach is located on Havelock Island. What makes this place one of the best tourist places in andaman in the beautiful coral reefs and bright waters where you can undergo several water sports like snorkeling, swimming, banana boat rides, speed boats, and diving. Also, you can go for boat rides to reach the main jetty.
• Cellular Jail - The Cellular Jail, also known as Kāla Pānī, was a colonial prison in the Indian Ocean archipelago of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The prison was used by the British East India Company for the incarceration of Indian independence activists, and other political prisoners during, and after, the Indian Rebellion of 1857 until 1914.The prison was demolished in 1929, but its legacy continues to influence Indian society. After the independence of India in 1947, the prison was used to house Indian convicts until 1963. In 1969, the Cellular Jail was declared a National Memorial and is now a perfect tourist attraction. With the museum inside makes it even more interesting and appealing during your Andaman Trip.
• Viper Island - Located in Port Blair, Viper Island is another extravagant site to come across. This place is 10 km away from Port Blair where you can find remains of the jail which was built in the year 1867. This place is just a ferry ride away from Port Blair.
• Chidiya Tapu - Also known as Bird Island, a nature reserve, Chidiya Tapu is a must visit place on your Andaman tour as it offers visitors a chance to get close to wild creatures like flamingos, sea turtles, and even the odd coconut crab. Visitors can also observe birds including the sacred laughing falcon, which is often seen perched on the tops of palm trees. The best way to experience the reserve is on a boat ride, which allows you to get close to the animals without disturbing them. You can also explore the island on a half-day tour, which takes you to the top of the island and back, or a full-day tour, which includes a boat ride to the other side of the island.
• Baratang - This island is also known as the Rachiwalas island that is situated 100 km away from Port Blair. The place is well known for the lush green mangrove trees, mud volcanoes, and limestone caves that tourists come to watch from faraway places.
• Corbyn’s Cove Beach - You must have heard about Corbyn’s Cove Beach that is located in Port Blair and is the nearest to the place. It is very popular among tourists because of its astonishing beauty coverage.
• Forest Museum - The Forest Museum of Andaman is a unique museum that is dedicated to the history and ecology of the Andaman Islands. The museum is located in Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The museum was established in 1996 and is run by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Forest Department. The Forest Museum of Andaman is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Port Blair.The museum houses a collection of more than 5,000 specimens of flora and fauna from all over the world. The museum is open to the public from 9:00am to 5:00pm.
• Anthropological Museum - The Anthropological Museum in Port Blair was established in 1975 to highlight the culture and way of life of the Andamanese, one of the four Negrito tribes of the Andaman Islands. The museum showcases the material culture of the Andamanese, their musical instruments, hunting and fishing gear, and their unique basketry. The museum also has a small library with a collection of books on the Andaman Islands. The museum has a collection of more than 1,000 artifacts from the Andaman Islands. The collection includes tools, weapons, pottery, and clothing which will make you fall in love with the Andaman culture on your Andaman tour.
• Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park - The Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, formerly the Sagarika Marine National Park, is a national park of India in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The park covers an area of 281 km2 (108 sq mi) of open sea, reefs, and islands and is the second largest marine protected area of the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The park was created on 19 May 1983 by the Government of India under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. The park is named after Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation. The park covers a total area of 12 nautical miles and is made up of fifteen islands. The fifteen islands that make up the park are Agatti, Bangaram, Bitra, Chetlat, Kadmat, Kavaratti, Kiltan, Minicoy, and Suheli Resolute offers a huge variety of marine life to explore during the Andaman tour.
• Samudrika Naval Museum - Samudrika Naval Museum run by the Indian Navy is located near Andaman Teal House in Port Blair. It indulges interesting awareness on various aspects of marine life and its conservation. The museum is built around a lighthouse and takes roughly 20 minutes to explore the whole museum. There is also a tiny zoo that shelters saltwater crocodiles in Haddo of Andaman Island.
• Mount Harriet National Park - The first time you visit Mount Harriet National Park, you will see the famous hunchback rock on the way to the peak. This iconic formation juts out from a granite hillside and is a very spectacular sight, but you may wonder why it is so important. It is the only place on the island where it can be seen from four sides; it is a perfect spot to get panoramic views of Roque Sanchez Beach and the surrounding area. The park has a rich variety of well-known faunal species are Andaman wild pigs (an endangered species), saltwater crocodiles, turtles and robber crabs. The park is also a butterfly hotspot. The picture on the back side of the ₹ 20 banknote has been taken at the park.
• Diglipur - Being the largest town in the Andaman archipelago, located in the southern side of Aerial Bay crossed by Kalpong River, the only river in the Andaman Islands.It is a famous tourist attraction for Kalipur turtle nesting and Saddle Peak Trekking along with Alfred Caves making it the must visit place in Andaman tour.
• North Bay
• Kalapani Museum
• Samudrika Marine Museum

Activities in Andaman

Snorkeling: Snorkeling is the type of swimming which can also be done by non-swimmers. It requires a basic diving mask and snorkel (breathing tube). If you are traveling with your family or with your partner Snorkeling in Andaman is a must try. The price of Snorkeling ranges from ₹500 - ₹1400 and is easily available. However, an instructor is provided to keep you safe from accidents. With the Andaman tour packages snorkeling adds fun to your trip with very less danger.

Scuba Diving : One of the most adventurous water sports which you must have a try on customizable travel packages for Andaman is Scuba Diving. Without Scuba diving an Andaman tour is incomplete. With heart wrenching corals, blissful ocean waves and ever moving shores an Andaman tour package provides a bag full of opportunities to enjoy Scuba Diving. The average cost of a single dive in scuba diving costs around ₹4,000 - ₹5,000. Preferred for swimmers, scuba diving is best when performed with an instructor with all the safety equipment. The best places in Andaman for scuba diving are -

• North Bay Beach
• Carbyn's Cove Beach
• Dongi Dive
• Laxmanpur Beach

Dolphin Watching: Dolphin Watching is one of the most soothing sights for couples to enjoy their honeymoon in Andaman. The beautiful scenes of the playful dolphins along and watching the beauty along with your partner also provides a boost to your new life and creates a romantic feel in your trip too. For dolphin watching you can have a glass boat ride which costs nearly ₹2000 on an average.We have listed some places where you can look for Dolphin watching in Andaman -

• Havelock Island
• North Bay Island
• Ross Island
• Elephant Beach

Bird Watching: Bird Watching, also known as Twitching, is highly enjoyable and one of the most attractive tourist activities in Andaman. You can watching the heart pleasing Bird Watching tour in Andaman with your family and loved ones in the following famous places -

• Chidiya Tapu
• Havelock
• Fajargunj
• Sippi Ghat

Sea Walking: Sea Walk in Andaman offers the most unique experience during the whole tour to Andaman Islands. Undersea walk is exclusively available at North Bay Beach and Elephant Beach where you can dive a maximum depth of 7 meters in calm water.

Parasailing: Parasailing in Andaman offers you a top notch scenic beauty view of Andaman from the sky. It is the most exciting and thrilling activity in Andaman. It is exclusively available in Corbyn’s Cove Beach and also in North Bay Island. The average parasailing cost in Andaman ranges between ₹2000-₹5000 per person and onwards. Each parasailing ride lasts 8-10 minutes.

Kayaking: Kayaking, one of the most famous water sports in Andaman, promises the adventurous tour with the best experiences to carry packing home. Havelock Island is the home to Kayaking in Andaman which is filled with wild forests and deep lagoons which makes it perfect for Kayaking.

Glass Bottom Boat Rides: The most frequent attraction for tourists in Andaman is the Glass Bottom Boat Rides in Andaman which is a special boat with glass bottom where you can see the marine beauty beneath your boat so that you can enjoy the glimpse of water as you sail through it. It is the safest way to explore the oceanic beauty without even getting wet.