ANDAMAN TRIP - March 2008

Andaman - The Naturalist's Heaven...

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The Andaman & Nicobar Islands are a once in a lifetime holiday experience. It's a marvelous mix of nature's most precious delights. We wanted to share our trip experience to help you exploring the island.

Andaman Tour Diary- 2008:

Day 0 (In Flight): We started from Bangalore for Chennai by Jet Airways at 11PM. (Ticket Rs 2.5K/persons). We stayed Overnight in Chennai Airport and early morning (5:45AM) boarded Indian Airlines Flight to Port Blair (Ticket Rs 4800/person). Duration was a 2hrs 20 mins. If you are sitting near window, while landing you can get glimpse of the scattered islands......this view is never to be missed.

Day 1 (Port Blair): Like any other tourist destinations, while exiting the Port Blair Airport, you will be welcomed by a herd of brokers with numerous offers. We somehow managed one taxi which took us to a Hotel named 'NK International'. The hotel old but it was not so bad, and room rate was Rs 600 per night for Non A/C. We planned to stay only one day in Port Blair and leave for Havelock Island next morning. The Auto/Taxi charge from Airport to city is normally about Rs 30 to 50.

The Hotel was very near to Phoenix Bay Jetty (port), so without any delay as per the plan we walked up to the reservation counter in the Jetty for buying ticket to Havelock Island. Be prepared!!! You might have to stand in a long queue and do not forget to carry a pen and Identity card with you. They will verify your identity whether you are local or tourist. Then we filled up the form and bought ticket (Rs 150/person) for Ship (MV Straight Island) for the next day morning at 6.00 AM.

Next thing we had to do is to book accommodation in Havelock. Before planning the trip we did some research and came to conclusion that Govt accommodation (Dolphin Resort) in Havelock would probably be the best choice. So we took Auto (Rs 20) from Jetty to Andaman Tourism Office. But we were not lucky enough to get the reservation done as it was fully booked already. As we were about the exit the Office; the receptionist told us that she can give us a contact about a Broker in Havelock who can arrange for some other Resort out there. In fact she called from the office phone and we talked with the broker who confirmed us the hotel booking.

Then we went back to Hotel, had lunch and rested for a while. In the mean time we planned to visit Ross Island in the late afternoon. So we caught an Auto (Rs 30) from Hotel and rushed to Ross Island Jetty since the last boat from there was at 3PM. From the jetty we boarded a Speed boat for Ross Island (Rs 60/person).

It was 10 mins ride. This Island is the erstwhile capital of Port Blair during the British regime, and it presently houses the ruins of old buildings. It's an excellent place for photography. The last boat from Ross Island leaves at 5pm and also the sky was getting darker because of cloud, so we had to leave that place soon before it starts raining.

Then we thought to view the sunset at Corvyn Cove's beach won't be a bad idea. So we hired an Auto for going there and coming back to hotel (Rs180) but by the time we reached there it was almost dark. That beach was pretty ordinary like any other beach in mainland India, but still not a bad place to spend some time.

That was all for that day. It was very dark when we returned back to Hotel. We had to sleep early as next morning we had ship for Havelock Island.

Day 2 (Havelock Elephant Beach): We checked out early morning from the Hotel (It’s hard to believe at 4 o'clock in the morning the sky was so bright) and along with luggage started walking towards the Jetty (the same place from where we had booked ticket for Havelock). It was about 15mins walk. It was our first journey in a ship, and it started exactly at 6AM. Seating arrangement was good and clean. Once the ship started, we decided to look around and then climbed on top of the deck. Though it was very Hot and Humid but it was worth tolerating the heat as the view was amazing and it was very windy.

Entire journey we spent sitting in the front deck. After about 2.5 hrs (54kms) we reached Havelock Island. It's a very small island with very less population, majority of them are Bengali. The broker (Rishi 09434299490) with whom we talked earlier, welcomed us in the Havelock Jetty, and took us in his car to a Resort (Bay View Inn) near Govindnagar beach. Our 3 day stay there was already confirmed (Rs 800/night Non AC). It was an independent cottage and the beach was adjacent to our room.

At around 11, the broker (Rishi) took us to the Jetty, and arranged for a wooden motor boat for Elephant beach. The half an hour boat ride was just amazing, the view was nothing less than what we see in movies. We never got tired taking pictures and videos. Once we reached the beach, we were silenced by nature's creation; it was just like a dreamland.

It was a very small island beach (hardly 100mts). The boat rider took me for Snorkeling. My wife was scared of going deep down the sea, so I had to make the journey alone with the snorkeling guide. It was one of the best moments in my journey. I could see the underwater coral, fishes moving around my legs, and other sea creatures. The water was so colorful and clear. We spent few hours there taking pictures and drinking coconut water.

Then we started back for Havelock. Once we were back, Rishi was waiting with a bike for me as I requester for one earlier. His job was done here, and he charged me only about 1K for everything (including pick n drop, hotel arranging, Elephant beach boat ride & snorkeling). So we were on our own with the rented bike (Rs 250 per day rent + own petrol). Then we had lunch n went back to Hotel.

In the evening, we went to the market, filled petrol in my bike (from backside of a Grocery shop as I could not find a Petrol Station). Then went to Wild Orchid Resort's Restaurant, and had a nice candle light dinner which was a must for our Honeymoon trip!! And then we were back to the hotel.

Day 3 (Havelock Radhanagar Beach): In the morning, after breakfast we started for the very famous Radhanagar Beach. The 30 min bike ride was very nice, good roads, greenery all around, sometimes dense forest on both the sides, and some houses of the local people.

Radhanagar Beach is one of the largest beaches in India, it's huge, lonely, very clean and breathtakingly beautiful. It has been ranked world's 2nd most beautiful beach by Times Magazine, 2004. We could not stop ourselves from diving in the waves in the water. We spent a lot of time in the water in the scorching heat. All the sunscreens were ineffective after some time, and we were tanned. But still it was a wonderful experience, more because it was not crowded, and a perfect place for Honeymoon!!!

After spending a long time there, tired, tanned and dehydrated (though we carried enough food with us), we were back to Hotel, and rested till it was dark outside. We were till then not very happy with the food; as we didn’t get any good sea food restaurant. So we went looking for a good restaurant, and our search ended when a local resort owner guided us to Nala's Kingdom near Jetty. We asked the shop owner if he has fish, and without hesitation he got 2-3 big raw whole fishes and asked which one we want. We randomly pointed out to one of them and after few mins he got us the same fish, fried and well garnished.

It was very tasty, and that was the best food we had in Andaman. Then we returned back, and were planning for the next day

Day 4 (Havelock Kalapathar Beach): We decided that we will just roam around and explore the whole island, as there was nothing more to see. We heard from our broker that there is a place called Kalapathar at the other end of the Island. So we decided we will just give it a try, so we started again in bike towards that place. It was a long drive, road was not good all the way but not that bad too. It was very lonely and sometime scary as we could not see a single human being on the way. We could see the sea along the road. That was an excellent view and we could not stop ourselves in the middle of the road to capture some shots.

Then we went until we reached almost the dead end. There is no big beach out there, but it’s lonely and very colorful. Also the best part was dead corals all along the beach, and also the big black rocks in the sea (that's why it's called Kalapathar). We collected some dead corals from the shore (I wish we could have collected more). But that place was worth visiting, and I don't know why people coming to Havelock miss that place.

Then we returned and had lunch again in Nala's Kingdom (Each fish costs around Rs 125 to Rs 200 and meal separate Rs 40/meal, of course the prawns and lobster costs more). It was again amazing food as usual. That was all for Havelock, we came back to hotel and spent some leisure time in the beach in front of our cottage, and slept early as next morning we had to go back to Port Blair.

Day 5 (Port Blair): In the morning we woke up early, checked out from the Hotel. Rishi (broker) came in time to drop us back to Jetty and I handed over to him the bike key and the bike rent (Rs 250 * 3 days). Then we bought ticket for the ship (Rangat) which was about to leave in an hour. Luckily we go the special seats (push back seat along with air cooler) costing Rs 200 each and it started at about 9AM.

We reached Port Blair in 2.5 hrs, and went back to the same hotel (NK International) where we stayed on Day 1. After relaxing we planned for one final sightseeing, i.e. Cellular Jail. So we took an auto (Rs 30) up to there. There is a nominal entry fee (Rs 5/person and camera extra). The view of the Jail from outside is spectacular. It has got a typical shape. Every evening at 7PM, they play light & sound show but we din wait for it. Then we came to the city roamed around and came back to hotel.

Day 6 (Back Home to B'lore): Checked out from hotel at 6.30 AM as our flight Indian Airlines was at 8AM. Auto was easily available so reached airport on time. By 10:30 AM we reached Chennai and from there back home to B'lore by Paramount airways.

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Checklist for Andaman:

1. A good camera along with tripod. Tripod is needed as sometimes you won’t get any one to take your snaps.

2. Good Sunscreen (High SPF), Sunglass and a Cap.

3. Carry a pen and ID Card for ship reservation in Port Blair Jetty

4. In Havelock Island only Airtel and BSNL mobiles work (in March 08), so if u have Vodafone or something else, then you may face difficulty.

5. Carry enough of cash in Havelock as we didn’t see any ATM there.

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That was end to our most exciting and adventurous trip, and we will cherish it forever.