What is famous in Andaman?

Coral Reefs
Head to Jolly Buoy Island or Red Skin Island for the best view of the multicoloured coral reefs that Andaman is famous for.

Ever noticed the scenery on a 20 Rupee note? The image of a picturesque bay lined with lush greenery captured on the red-coloured note is the North Bay Island and the same view can be see on the way to Mount Harriet. Mount Harriet is the second highest peak in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago.

It is always amazing to look at something from the last glacial period when the melting ice caused sea levels to rise and flood the continental shelves.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands were so remote that they became the dreaded Kala Pani penal colony for Indian freedom fighters under the British. The Cellular Jail was built to disconnect the prisoners from the outer world – the prisoners were kept in solitary cells and made to work for long hours on a hand driven oil extractor made of iron. Today, the jail is open to tourists, and has a light and sound show in evening.

Venturing into this geographical realm of Earth is another adventure altogether. The islands are open for tourists alternately for six months each.

As per available records, the first observed mud volcano explosion was observed in March 1983 in Nilambur Village in Baratang Island. A mud volcano is formed by emission of depressurized pore water and natural gases from decaying organic matter underground, accompanied by loud explosions and fire flares. This gradually forms a miniature volcano with rich, creamy mud crater at the top.

Sea planes are amphibious aircrafts that can take off and land on water and as well as on land. Calling it the Jal Hans, government-owned Pawan Hans launched India’s first seaplane operation in Andaman and Nicobar Islands in 2013. Jal Hans is an eight seater Cessna 208 A that is fitted with modern navigation features, can travel up to 250 km in an hour and can also land on ground.

Island Hopping

Neil Island of Havelock and Ross Island off Port Blair are pleasant half-day trips..

Meander around the beaches of Neil Island and try to catch the sunrise or sunset or explore the Naval Museum, cemetery and ruins of old buildings on Ross Island.

The Ross Island was the erstwhile British headquarter for the most of the Andaman Islands from 1858 till it was rocked by an earthquake in 1941. In 1941, the Japanese converted the site into POW camp, and built war installations, remnants of which can still be seen. Now under the control of Indian Navy, the island with its jungle-clad colonial ruins and creepy World War II tunnels, is a popular tourist spot.

These islands are a paragon of beauty and they provide with a picturesque landscape shimmering like gems in the Bay of Bengal.

With an ecosystem of their own, the kayaking through the mangroves is an exciting way to view the Havelock island’s exotic wildlife. Acting as both a nursery as well as a breeding ground, the mangroves host a large number of life forms such as shrimps, algae, barnacles, oysters, sponges, mud lobsters and mangrove crabs to name a few.

You can experience all sorts of adventure activities on these islands.

India lost strategic land to the 2004 tsunami forever as large stretches of its southernmost tip, the Indira Point, about 120 km from the Indonesian shores, remain underwater years after the mammoth natural disaster. Located at 6o 45′ N latitude, Indira Point was formerly known as the Pygmalion Point.

There are two beautiful waterfalls on the Little Andaman island – the White Surf waterfall which is 6.5 km from Hut Bay Jetty and the Whisper Wave, which is 20 km from the same. One can take an elephant safari or trek through the verdant forests of the island to reach the pristine waterfalls.

Museum Trail

Port Blair houses some fantastic museums. The Anthropological Museum portrays the islands’ 4 Negrioto tribes of Andamanese, the Jarawas, Sentinels and the onges

A beautiful island, coupled with serene ambience and picturesque view, there's nothing not to love about Andaman.

The location of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands straddles one of the most critical naval and trade choke points in the world. The Andaman and Nicobar Command is India’s first and only joint tri-service command, with rotating three-star commanders-in-chief from the Army, Navy and Air Force reporting directly to the chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.It also the focal point for Indian engagement with regional navies in Southeast Asia.

the Samudrika Marine Museum displays the biodiversity found on the islands.

Historically, Rajendra Chola I of the Tamil Chola dynasty too had conquered the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to use them as a strategic naval base to launch a naval expedition against the Srivijaya Empire of Indonesia. The islands had also provided a temporary maritime base for ships of the Maratha Empire under Admiral Kanhoji Angre in the 17th century.

It is run by Indian navy in the Andaman province and the Forest Museum at Chatham Island (connected by a road bridge to Port Blair) houses a saw mill set up by the British.

Nestled among evergreen forests, the Andaman Islands are among the most beautiful places in the world to visit.

Sea-Walking

One of the biggest attractions in Andaman is the underwater walk at North Bay Island and Havelock Island.

One of the union territories of India, Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a glittering archipelago in the Bay of Bengal. Naturally, thousands of tourists and passionate travellers make their way to the enchanting islands every year. There are many exotic beaches here with pristine white sand, blessed with coral reefs, lush greenery, splendid natural wonders and exquisite marine life.

You wear a helmet that lets you breathe normally and the walk brings you up close and personal with corals and fish.