Throwback to good old memories: A Magical trip to Andaman

A magical trip to Andaman. Sometimes when I look back I always remember the good old memories, also our trip to Andaman. The gladdest moment in a human’s life, he thinks, may be a departure into unknown lands. What comes to mind when it comes to the word “unknown land”? It can be anywhere, one of which I personally visited twice: the Andaman Islands. One word to describe the Andaman Islands would be a “surreal mix of facts and fantasy.” Andaman and Nicobar Islands are the most remote islands in the Indian subcontinent, having exotic beaches, rich marine biodiversity, and the best coral reefs, which makes them a perfect holiday destination. Andaman Island is truly an ideal tourist destination for relaxed vacations, nature lovers, or explorers.

Everyone who travels to Andaman has to visit Port Blair, as it serves as an entry point to these islands. We visited the well known place called “The Cellular Jail“. Port Blair has got the identity of “The Land of Kala Pani because of The Cellular Jail. There are plenty of other attractions, such as Ross Island, North Bay, and a few museums.

Port Blair, being the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has many accommodation and food options across all budget ranges.

The Cellular Jail– A magical Trip to Andamans

We started our journey in Port Blair. First, we visited the cellular jail The Islands were occupied by Europeans in the middle of the 18th century. There were no communication possible between the prisoners in the same of different wing. The accommodation for the officers and jailor was provided within the jail.
We attended the light and sound show, which depicted the story of one of the greatest freedom fighters. Shri. Vinayak Damodar Sawarkar (Veer Sawarkar).

North Bay

At North Bay we did water sports such as scuba diving, snorkeling etc. The government of Andaman Island has made sure of cleanliness and good management across all beaches and islands to maintain its originality.

The next day we visited Ross Island, formerly known as “Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island,” named by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018. This island was first occupied in 1782 and it was named after captain Daniel Ross. The ruins of the old buildings made by Indian prisoners are still present at Ross, textured by thick roots of peepal and serie trees that take us back to an era long gone yet still remembered.

Neil Island- Journey from cruise

Starting your travel journey from the capital of Andaman itself was amazing, after which we proceeded further to Neil Island and Havlock Island. The journey to Neil Island and Havlock Island from Portblair is two and a half hours by traveling through Cruse. Usually people visit Havlock Island first and then Neil Island; in our case, we changed it and visited Neil Island first.

Neil Island is situated in the Bay of Bengal and is also known as “Shaeed Dweep“. It has coral reefs teeming with tropical fish. We visited Laxmanpur Beach which is also known for its sunset points. This island has the most enchanting beaches in the entire Andaman Islands. Most of the tourists miss out on this island. Shaheed Dweep is fascinating, and nature here is at its utmost beauty. If you want to keep yourself away from the outside world for a while, this can be the best place, as there is no network coverage from any of the mobile phone operators. Sometimes it’s good to keep yourself isolated for a while and heal within.

Neil Island is a thinly populated village with people living simple lives. Basic facilities are available on this island, but it has poor network connectivity. The island is still under development.

The main travel attractions on Neil Island are Bhartpur Beach, where all the water sports activities can be done, like swimming, speed boat rides, glass bottom, etc. The waters at Neil Island are clear blue and shallow, and they have exotic corals and multiple species of vibrant fish. The resort where we were staying had a nice sea view from which one could view the sunset.

Havlock Island– A magical Trip to Andamans

At last, we planned our trip from Neil Island to Havlock Island, where we planned to stay for a night. Havlock Island is also known as “Swaraj Dweep” and is known for its dive sites and beaches, like Elephant Beach, with its coral reefs and crescent-shaped Radhanagar Beach, which is popular for watching sunsets. Radhanagar Beach is the most beautiful beach on the island, which was rated as the best in Asia in 2004. The beach is a great combination of silky white sand, backed by a forest and turquoise water, along with some excellent coral reefs that are great for snorkeling. One specialty of this beach is that it is crowded mostly until 5:15 PM, that is, until the sun sets, after which government officials ask to leave to maintain the habitat and cleanliness. Tourists can then enjoy the bhelpuri or other snacks or go for other activities.

Another scenic destination on Havlock Island would be Kalapatthar Beach, which is situated on one corner of Havlock Island. The beach got its name from the surrounding village, known as Kalapatthar village, and the black rocks (Kala Patthar) that adorn the coastline here. The emerald seas, the tropical forests on one side of the road, and the silken smooth silver sands make this beach a wonderful place to relax.

Occasional traveling is like therapy, where you get to explore, roam, learn about new places, cultures, etc. One should travel not to escape life but for life not to escape us. Once a year, go to some places you have never been before. I hope that my travel story may inspire my readers to escape into unknown lands and bring out magical stories of their own. As a well-known quote says, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” Helen Keller.