Vacation in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
One of the most scenic places to visit in India is Andaman and Nicobar Island. If the picture of India that you have in your head is composed entirely of hot plains and ancient, rustic monuments, then you couldn’t be further from the truth. While that is certainly a part of India, and lots of tourists restrict themselves to seeing no more than this part, the wonderful thing about India is that India is made up of more than 1 kind of terrain. You can also have a spectacular beach vacation in India by going down to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
A Union Territory of India with more than 500 islands out of which only 37 are inhabited and only a few open to tourists, these islands are a little piece of paradise with a small corner all their own on the East Indian coast. Port Blair, the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, will lead you through ferries and cruises to other islands with stunning beaches, blue waters, and a unique history of British colonialism and Japanese occupation during the Second World War. Here are all of the places you must visit if you want to vacation in and explore the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on your visit to India.
Must see places in Andaman & Nicobar Islands for Tourists
Havelock Island
Havelock Island, officially known as Swaraj Island since 2018, is 1 of the largest and most popular islands in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and is 1 of the main tourist attractions of the Islands. With gorgeous white sand beaches, deep blue shimmering waters, rich coral reefs, and lush, dense forests, the island is quite a picturesque place to spend your vacation in. Elephant beach, Kalapather beach, Radhanagar beach, and Vijaynagar beach are some of its most popular beaches. Apart from the beautiful view you’ll get to see at all times while at Havelock Island you can also have a fun adventure there with scuba diving, snorkelling, and deep sea diving.
Little Andaman
The fourth largest island of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Little Andaman is also a popular tourist destination. Apart from its pretty beaches with white sand and blue waters it is also famous for the rainforest surrounding it, the many mesmerizing waterfalls found on it, and a rare species of marine turtle. Some popular activities to do on the island are boating, elephant safari, and especially surfing, which has become 1 of the most popular activities on the island, so much so that there’s a surfing school also that has opened on the island.
Barren Island
Barren Island is fascinating because in it is located India’s only active volcano and because of the possibility of volcano eruptions it is mostly uninhabited. You cannot sightsee around the island, although citizens of India can visit it by obtaining permission from the Forest Department, but foreign nationals are not allowed to land ashore and can only see it from a distance from a boat on the sea. But even from a distance, this is 1 of the most unique things you could see in a lifetime, and it’s a mystifying sight too, with the island’s purple-black sand and the blue waters. The island is somewhat of an unexplored mystery and seeing it, albeit from a safe distance, would be quite an interesting experience.
Viper Island
What makes Andaman and Nicobar Islands interesting is that they are not just made up of scenic beaches but there are also things like an active volcano on 1 of the islands and other islands that are stamped with reminders of colonial times. Viper Island, for instance, though it’s quite beautiful, cannot be separated from its history as a place used by the British (the name of the island also comes from the name of the vessel in which the British came to the island) to imprison Indian freedom fighters to keep them far away from the Indian mainland and who were often subjected to inhuman treatment. It was later occupied by the Japanese during the Second World War. Its beauty when combined with the history that is trapped there makes for a very interesting visit there. Its historical buildings are still being restored and if you are interested in Indian colonial history you should definitely visit this island.
Cellular Jail
This is another 1 of interesting places in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Standing in Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Cellular Jail or Kala Pani was a colonial jail used by the British. Built like 7 spokes of a bicycle, this 3 storied jail was the first of its kind to be constructed in India with 693 cells built for solitary confinement where none of the prisoners could communicate with each other. There is also a jail hospital there and the place that served as the gallows for execution. Many Indian freedom fighters were imprisoned in this jail. It is a national memorial monument today, showcasing the Indian freedom fighters, and has exhibition galleries and a library on the freedom movement. There is Light and Sound show organised in Cellular Jail. It’s quite a fascinating yet disturbing place to visit.
Ensure that you have checked the eligibility for your India eVisa.
United States citizens, United Kingdom citizens, Spanish citizens, French citizens, German citizens, Israeli citizens and Australian citizens can apply online for India eVisa.
Please apply for a India Visa 4-7 days in advance of your flight.