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Crystal clear turquoise waters, white sand, clean and beautiful beaches, Andaman offers a plethora of opportunities to explore and experience the land of the naked one by one. The land of pristine blue waters, with a lot of fun and adventurous activities, is a must-visit destination for every travel enthusiast.
How to reach?
By air:-
Andaman has a very popular airport called Veer Savarkar named after a renowned freedom fighter. It is the only commercial airport located in Andaman. If you are traveling by air you will have to get down at the Veer Savarkar Airport in Port Blair. You can board a plane straight to Port Blair from Chennai, Kolkata, New Delhi, Bhubaneshwar, Bengaluru, and Visakhapatnam. These are the straight routes, in case you are boarding from elsewhere, you will have to take a hopping flight and reach Andaman. Most domestic flights like Indigo Airlines, Air India, Vistara, spice jet, Go air is available to Andaman.
A flight from Chennai will be the fastest route from India. The Flight might take around 2- 3
hours to reach your dream city. The Delhi route is the longest with 5 hours of travel.
By water:-
Passenger ships from all the port cities of India sail to Andaman daily. Traveling by sea you can get down at Haddo wharf port in Andaman. Since it takes 3-4 days to reach the destination it is not a very suggested mode of transport to reach Andaman. The main ships that connect to Port Blair are MV Nancowry, MV Nicobar, MV Harshvardhana, MV Swaraj Dweep, and MV Akbar.
The rates of tickets vary depending on the ships and class you board. The passengers can book their tickets from the respective ports in advance.
By train:-
For your information, since Andaman is an island there is no direct access to Andaman from India via train. However, the nearest railway station to Andaman is Chennai Central. After reaching Chennai Central you can take a flight, a car, or even a bus to reach Andaman.
By road:-
Andaman being an island one cannot reach here via means of road transport. However, you can travel within the Island by car. But still, a boat is a very common means of transport here.
Intrastate travel in Andaman:-
Once after reaching Port Blair you can hire an auto or a cab to reach your respective destination. However, Ferries are the most common means of transport here.
Auto and Cab drivers have fixed rates.Cab drivers mostly charge per hour.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Andaman is from October- March. It is the time of Winter in Andaman. Winter seasons are the best time to visit Andaman. The weather is calm and pleasant during the daytime with mild temperatures ideal for all the water and adventure activities. This is also the best time to visit Andaman for scuba diving.
But Andaman doesn't have a typical winter season as such. The temperature during this season ranges between 20-30 degrees celsius which is perfect for sightseeing. An added bonus of this time is that you can witness turtle nesting during this season. Winter will be the best time if you are looking for the cheapest time to visit Andaman. If you are looking for a less crowded time to Visit Andaman, the Winter seasons are the best.
You can also take part in the Andaman film festival and the Island tourism festival if you visit Andaman during this time.
Things to do:-
Unique things to do:-
Seakarting for the soul
If you like to give yourself an adrenaline rush, then the first thing you need to try in Andaman is Sea Karting. Seakarting is becoming a popular water sport in Andaman. The major attraction of this water sport is that you get to venture into the deep ocean of Port Blair with speed and comfort without compromising on safety. You also get a chance to self-drive, as an instructor accompanies you along your ride.
Location: Port Blair, Andaman
Duration:1.5 hours approx.
Cost per person: INR 5000/-
Snorkeling under the clean water
Snorkeling - the brother of Scuba diving. If you are afraid of diving into the deep ocean but still want to explore the inner sea, Snorkelling is the solution. It lets you swim on the surface of the water with the help of a breathing device and swim fins giving an experience similar to scuba-diving. Snorkeling in Andaman will be a unique and fun experience for you. It should rank at the top of your unique things to do in Andaman list.
Location: Havelock Island, Port Blair, Andaman, and Nicobar.
Duration:1 hour.
Cost per person: INR 1000/-
Sea Walking with the fishes
It is a new fun activity introduced in Andaman recently. While Sea walking in Andaman you will be given a helmet where you can easily walk on the seafloor at a depth of 7 meters. It is a one-of-a-kind activity every fellow traveler should experience. It is indeed one of those unique things to do in Andaman.
Location: North Bay Island, Havelock Island.
Duration:1 hour
Cost per person: INR 4000/-
Swim with elephants
Swimming with elephants!! How cool is that! Here in Andaman, you are offered a fun yet thrilling swimming experience that you can cherish for the rest of your life. Rajan the elephant is the major attraction of this activity, accompanied by 60 other elephants who are friendly and love the company of people. This is one of the inevitable activities to do in Andaman.
Location: Any beach
Duration:30 minutes
Beaches to visit:-
Radhanagar beach
Radhanagar beach is known as the official beach of Andaman. It is one of the best beaches in Andaman. The turquoise water, white sand remind me of Maldives. This is the best beach in Havelock. The neat and clean water is suitable for all the water activities especially snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming. The green palm trees are an identity of this beach. It is one of the white sand beaches in Andaman.
Elephant beach
A beach secluded from the mainland is a resort to people in search of peace and tranquility. Since the beach is a little far from the mainland one needs to take a boat ride to reach here. The beautiful and calm environment captures the heart of every tourist. You can also enjoy a lot of water activities in the clean waters. Elephants are very common here and activities like swim with elephants also happen here. Again, this is one of the best beaches in Andaman. This beach should be included in the places to visit in Port Blair.
Kalapathar beach
Away from the mainland lies a beautiful beach that captures the morning sun rays. The lush green thickets, the sparkling blue waters, and white sand is a hub for enjoying the solitude and celebrating inner peace. The island is a boat ride away from havelock island, so you need not worry about the crowd which makes it the best beach in Havelock and the best beach in Andaman.
Romantic things to do:-
Pamper yourself with a Couple massage
Not to mention, Andaman is a perfect honeymoon destination. The things that you can do as a couple are a plenty. Couple massages in PortBlair are the best things to revive and strengthen your love bond. The couple detox rituals help you relieve stress and relax your body and increases the production of a love hormone that enhances the love and bonding between you and your partner for eternity.
Candlelight dinner with your love
Take your love for a candlelight dinner on a private cruise and surprise her with your unconditional love. Andaman offers a lot of cruise ships that provide a fine dining experience customized as per your dining needs. You can also choose from Andaman honeymoon cruise packages according to your convenience and make your proposal day a memorable one.
Watch the blue creatures move
Walk hand in hand along the shores of Havelock island. Because this place has something special for you when visited at night. The water here sparkles at night leaving you in a sea of blue-colored stars. The blue-tinted glow of the water is absolutely stunning. This is the best thing to do in havelock.
Islands to visit:-
Havelock island
Also known as Swaraj dweep , is a jewel in the crown of Andaman. Andaman tour is incomplete without a visit to havelock. Tourists pour in just to visit havelock and to indulge in its beauty. Many of the popular beaches like Radha Nagar beach, kalapathar beach, elephant beach are present here which makes it the best honeymoon place in India.
The blue water, the white-sanded shore, the rich coral reef meets all your expectation of an ideal vacation. It is a must include in the places to visit in Port Blair.
Neil island
Neil islands an island without much fancy like the other islands is a place where you can relax and spend some quality time with your loved ones. The green palm trees and the rather calm environment attract a lot of tourists. The unexplored flora and fauna appeal to nature lovers. If you are looking for a peaceful environment to stay, Neil island is the best island to stay in Andaman.
The island is home to several nice beaches like Lakshmanpur beach, Sitapur beach. It is one of the best area to stay in Andaman.
North bay island
A beach lover will never forget a visit to the North bay island. The majestic palm trees, the rich marine fauna truly proclaims the beauty of nature. The magnificent coral reefs underwater, add up to the beauty of the island and is a bonus to scuba divers and snorkelers. It is one of the unique places to visit in Andaman.
Andaman delicacies to try
Being in a sea of fish, seafood is the most preferred food item in Andaman. The different seafood preparation is a must-try. The tasty fresh fish curry is absolutely mouth-watering. It will be your favorite food in Andaman and Nicobar islands. You can opt for your favorite fish of your choice and get it prepared the way you like.
Chilli fish curry
This is as same as but the little more spicy version of the regular fish curry. Even if you are a spice lover or not this is a must-try.
Macher jhol
As the name suggests it is a curry of Bengali origin. It is basically a fish curry which is loved by many due to its rare taste and different flavor.
Chicken tikka masala
This popular north Indian dish is a crowd puller food in Andaman and Nicobar islands. It is an indispensable meal in Andaman.
Coconut prawn curry
Ah!! I have dreamt of me having a thousand meals with this curry just by saying its name. The combination of coconut and prawn is heavenly. Once you try this, the flavor will never leave your taste buds.
Amritsari kulcha
It is a bread filled with veggies which makes a yummy and tasty meal for Andaman people. It is famous veg food in Andaman and Nicobar islands. When in Andaman you should definitely try this.
Barbeque
If you don't try barbeque in Andaman it's completely a waste. Relishing the juicy meat mixed with barbeque sauce on a campfire night reminds me of a perfect vacation.
Best restaurants to try in Andaman
Only the best restaurants can serve the best food. Just knowing the name of food items will not help unless you don't know where to get them. Here is a complete list of the best restaurants in the Andaman and Nicobar islands.
Full moon cafe
Full moon cafe is one of the best restaurants in Havelock. A trip to Andaman is incomplete without a visit to Fullmoon cafe. The cozy little cafe by the beach has a chilled-out vibe and yummy food.
Rating:4.5
The cuisine provided: Indian, Asian, international.
Annapurna restaurant
If you are a vegan or if you prefer veg food, then Annapurna restaurant is the right choice. This place will come under the best veg restaurants in port Blair. A famous south Indian restaurant with good food but not extraordinary.
Rating:3.5
The cuisine provided: Indian, Asian.
Bayview port Blair
Just as the name suggests this restaurant offers a spectacular view of the ocean and a garden on one side. It is one of the best restaurants in Havelock with great food to dine in and wine.
Rating:4
The cuisine provided: Indian, continental, Asian.
New lighthouse restaurant
Seafood is a major attraction here. Freshly caught fish is prepared as per your needs with great taste. If you like to try seafood in Andaman then this is the place.
Rating:3.5
The cuisine provided: Indian, Asian, seafood.
Amaya lounge bar
The ambiance of Amaya cafe is remarkable with live music. The seafood is top-notch. The rooftop is a perfect romantic dinner spot. It is indeed one of the top restaurants in Port Blair.
Rating:4.5
The cuisine provided: Seafood, Asian, Indian.
Andaman as you have seen is more than just an Island. The open skies, blue waters, tropical rainforest, marine life makes it a wonderful staycation destination. The very essence of Andaman lies in its islands and beaches. Take some time from your busy schedules to relish the beauty of nature and get absorbed in it, and take back some good memories to cherish. Next time you plan to visit Andaman make sure to include all these things in your list so that you don't miss out on the fun.
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