Month: March 2020

Havelock Island has always been the first choice for adventure and nature lovers in Andaman. It attracts a lot of tourists all the year round. Some of the activities you can enjoy here are scuba diving, snorkeling, trekking, diving, parasailing and sailing. You can visit the island to enjoy a lot of adventure sports or just sunbathe and relax. Savor some mouth-watering seafood and shop for beautiful handicrafts. Revel in the festivities and explore the clean and fresh air, pristine beaches, and relax your senses well. Beach and adventure lovers can enjoy a lot of things on this island. 

Some of the famous things to enjoy include water activities, such as sunbathing, scuba diving, water sports, beach combing, surf riding, sea walk, swimming, snorkeling, game fishing, watching sunrise or sunset, bird watching, elephant ride, kayaking and even more. Havelock Island Andaman is the most popular destination for adventure seekers which attracts lots of scuba divers.  

Sightseeing 

Elephant Beach and Radhanagar Beach are two of the most popular beaches for sightseeing in Havelock Island. Radhanagar Beach is well known as a beautiful beach in Asia. Located further north of Radhanagar Beach, Elephant Beach is visited by a lot of tourists. You can best explore the corals and it is an ideal attraction for snorkeling. It is well known to have clean and beautiful beaches. 

You can also find dolphins here if you are in luck. This stunning island is the best epitome of ecotourism where you can witness palm fringed beaches, marine species, lush greens, and dense forests. You can easily get here with great diversity of flora and fauna. You can enjoy brisk walks with exotic views and white sandy beaches. 

Scuba Diving 

It is another well-known activity and a must do in this island. Havelock is open for tourists with stunning coral reefs and crystal clear waters, making it ideal for this activity. It has some of the diving attractions ideal for both experienced and first time divers. It has visibility of over 40 meters underwater and you can spot beautiful fishes like BannerFish, Manta Rays, Snappers, Angelfish, Cuttlefish, Stingrays, Barracuda, Tuna, and Glassfish, apart from stunning corals. 

You can explore the rich variety of diving spots and plenty of marine species. Some of the best diving sites are Aquarium, Seduction Point, Pilot Reef, Lighthouse, Mac Point, Turtle Bay, and Minerva ledge. December to May is the best season for diving. 

Drive through the beaches 

Havelock Island is blessed with natural greens and beaches. You can easily explore this tiny island by 2- wheeler or car. It is an ideal attraction for bird watching and hiking through the dense green jungles. You can explore the hidden beaches in two days by scooter or bike.

Witness the beautiful Sunrise and Sunset 

Radhanagar Beach is another popular tourist attraction where you can watch the beautiful sunset. There is no better place than Radhanagar Beach to watch the beautiful sun going down through the refreshing and cool breeze. Neil’s Cove is another popular attraction to watch the beautiful sunset. 

Snorkeling/Swimming 

Tourists can swim at the crystal clear and calm waters of various beaches like Elephant Beach, Vijayanagar and Radhanagar. You can snorkel in shallow waters to witness the coral reefs without having to go underwater. You can glide along the shelf and witness the vivid coral formations underwater. You can see colorful algae, fish, plankton and sea anemones next to you. It is a fun and adventurous activity where you can witness the shallow reef areas. You can enjoy snorkeling at most beaches, including Elephant and Radhanagar beaches. 

Ride an Elephant 

Havelock Island has a spectacle of elephants that bathe and swim in the nearby ocean and it is a great attraction. The Forest Department manages the Elephant Training Camp at Kalapathar which has opened its doors to tourists. You can ride these elephants at Elephant Beach. 

Bird Watching 

The island is covered by emerald greens and lagoons. The shores are also lined by mangrove swamps in some stretches. This landscape is well regarded for its primeval splendor. You can witness white-barred black mantle, woodpecker or white-headed mynas here along with fulvous-breasted, red crown woodpecker. These species are native to this place. Other endemic birds are Andaman swallow and olive-backed sunbird. Hence, it is a paradise for bird watchers. It is definitely the best thing to enjoy here for nature lovers. 

Game Fishing 

It is another popular activity you can enjoy in Havelock. Ritchie’s archipelago offers the best catches for fishing lovers. A lot of organizations offer different fishing boats and equipment. You can also find fishing competitions organized over the years. 

Kayaking 

It is another popular activity you can enjoy at Havelock Island. This island has calm and safe creeks offering an ideal scope for kayakers. It has a lot of travel agencies offering all gears for hire. 

Trekking 

You can explore the scenic beauty on foot in this island and trekking is a well-known activity to enjoy in this place. This activity is the best way for adventure lovers. You can witness the dense greens at Havelock with this activity. 

Shopping 

You cannot find enough shopping options in Havelock like in other islands. Village No. 2 and Market No. 3 have a few local shops which open only from morning till afternoon. It has small markets selling a lot of items, such as basic food items, toiletries, chocolate, bottled water, as well as soft drinks. You can also buy jewelry made of wood and shells which are good options. Shop some old crafts on the island or some t-shirts with block printing.  

Bottom Line 

There are plenty of activities to do in Havelock Island. It is totally up to you as what you want to enjoy here. You can just relax on the beach or enjoy a lot of water sports.

Neil Island is a small yet exotic island known for ultimate biodiversity, unmatched coral reefs, lush greens and white sandy beaches capped with beautiful vegetation and tropical forest. Hence, Neil Island has been the ultimate tourist destination of Andaman Islands. 

It is well known to have high density of forest and vegetation. This is why Neil Island is considered as the “Vegetable bowl of Andaman”. Its beaches are natively named after the epic Ramayana’s characters like Laxmanpur, Bharatpur, Ramanagar, Sitapur etc. You can easily walk around this tiny island and cover it within 2 hours. 

You can enjoy a lot of activities here while visiting Neil Island. These things are categorized into activities and sightseeing. You can visit this place for some of the natural and heart-warming views. You can enjoy all the fun activities listed here with family friends and others – 

1. Scuba Diving 

Scuba Diving is the most popular and exciting activity for your Andaman tour plan. Thousands of tourists visit Andaman just to enjoy this activity and get certification in this activity. The crystal clear water and soothing temperature makes Neil Island popular for this activity. You can witness favorable temperatures all year round. One can also get SSI/PADI certification for Open Water Diving. 

It is truly a wonderful sport which gives you some amazing experience to explore the underwater world with still sea and marine life to accompany you. You just have to follow certain rules while swimming and diving. Don’t wear jewelry or shiny clothes as they attract predators and sharks while diving. Keep in mind all the rules when diving in. 

2. Snorkeling 

With plenty of corals, crystal clear waters and vivid marine creatures, Bharatpur Beach is famed for underwater sports. Snorkeling is one of the ideal sports for having meditative experience and exploration. Here, you can enjoy great underwater life without having to enter the deep sea. If you are on a budget trip, it is recommended to visit this beach. You can go for dedicated snorkeling trips if you want to reach the advanced level. You can even visit nearby resorts or shops to rent proper snorkeling gear.

3. Swimming 

Neil Island is known to offer an ideal environment with clear and shallow waters and beaches to enjoy swimming. It is a complete exercise and you can also please your mind and soul. This island has shallow waters which are ideal for swimming for the people of all ages. You can also rent floaters to swim in deeper waters. 

4. Game Fishing 

The sea of Neil Island is a breeding ground for a range of fish thanks to the presence of plaintiffs. Hence, this island is an ideal place for tourists who get there for fishing. A lot of groups or organizations offer a lot of fishing gears and boats. There are also guides available who have knowledge in all fishing grounds. 

5. Other Water Activities 

If you don’t know swimming or don’t want to dive or perform any water activity, Bharatpur Beach also has other activities to try. You can ride a Glass Bottom Boat for a nominal price. You can have a 10-minute ride but it is super fun and memorable. You can enjoy the thrilling and adrenaline filled jet skiing here. Keep in mind that these activities are open from 9 am to 4 pm every day. 

6. Cycling 

Neil Island is a close knit, small island which is stretched over just 17 sq. km. A lot of tourists prefer to visit this island while walking and complete visiting in just two hours. But cycling is an even better way to explore this island. You can easily get around while cycling for recreational purposes. Water sports and beach explorations have different attractions and you can easily cycle around the roads while covering the rolls of greens, farms, and sweet breeze. You can easily rent a cycle at a lot of resorts. 

7. Relax on the beach 

Neil is a quaint, sleepy and slow-paced island. Here, life seems to go slow with a wet and calm breeze. It’s a great place to take a pause from your mundane life, rest, and stretch out on white sandy beach without any disturbance. You can take a sunbath, laze in the sands, listen to calm waves crashing around and see the sunset behind your eyes. In every breath, you will feel the time passing by. 

8. Eating Out 

Neil Island is known to have peculiar restaurants where you need to order food up to 3 hours before. It is because the chef has to shop for fresh vegetables and seafood from the local market, come back and prepare your meal. Though it takes time but it is worth it. It will definitely tingle with your taste buds and refresh your mood. 

A lot of restaurants are known to offer Chinese and Indian dishes. You can definitely find a homely touch on all food items. French and Italian dishes are also available here along with local ones. You can find a few eateries here which open till midnight.  

9. Embark on 3 Point Tour 

Neil Island is well known for its wonderful beaches. This 3-point tour is a worthwhile attraction here and it is something you shouldn’t miss. You can start with Natural Rock Formation or Howrah Bridge and reach Bharatpur Beach. You can enjoy a lot of water sports and underwater activities here. Don’t forget to cover the sunset at Laxmanpur Beach and Bharatpur Beach.   

Planning a visit to Neil Island? Be sure to book an Andaman trip package at reasonable prices. You can choose from the best packages from our experts.

Port Blair is the only place to enter and exit from the Andaman Islands. Andaman and Nicobar Islands are the Union Territories of India in Bay of Bengal and North and Middle Andaman are two districts and third one is district headquarter, Mayabunder town. This district covers around 3251.85 sq. km. On August 18, 2006, this district was built with the bifurcation of Andaman district.  Rangat, Diglipur, and Mayabunder are three tehsils of the district. 

1. Karmatang Beach 

Karmatang Beach is a popular settling ground for hawksbill turtles, olive ridley turtles, green ocean turtles, and leatherback turtles. This beach is being developed as a famous tourist spot and is considered ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving. 

2. Lamiya Bay Beach 

On the foothills of Saddle Beach, Lamiya Bay Beach is well connected to Kalipur Beach. It lies at the highest peak of the archipelago. You can take the road to Kalipur beach to reach Lamiya Bay from the jetty and travel ahead of the beach. You can find absolute peace and solitude here at this beach while hearing the waves and sitting on the rocks. It really brings a great sound to bring calmness and peace. 

3. Ramnagar Beach 

It is a beautiful beach around 70 km from Mayabunder, which is easy to reach from Kalara Junction and 35 km away from Diglipur. It is well suited to enjoy swimming. You can definitely enjoy the nature trail here. You can access seating arrangements, eco huts, benches and other environmental friendly beach facilities and you can also witness turtle nesting here. 

4. Kalpong Dam

Kalpong Dam or Kalpong Hydroelectric Project is known to be the largest dam built around Kalpong River. It is a concrete and Rockfill gravity dam with 15,270,000 m3 of storage capacity with 1.84 km2 of reservoir area. On the left fork, the concrete dam is 138m long and 34m high. The Rockfill dam is 146m long on the right fork and 27m high. This hydroelectric project has 5.25 Mw of power capacity. It is the one and only hydro-electric dam in Andaman. 

5. Shyam Nagar Mud Volcano 

Located around 20 km from Diglipur near Hathilevel, Shyam Nagar has dense green jungles and a chain of mud volcanoes at Diglipur. You need to walk through the lush greens for 15 minutes to get there. You can spot the dormant and big mud volcano. You can also witness the emerging and fresh mud volcanoes when going further. You can also find seating facilities with information boards. 

6. Turtle Nesting Ground in Kalipur Beach 

You can spot thousands of turtles in Andaman and Nicobar Islands on their nesting season. Turtle nesting started in the winter months of December and January in Andaman Islands. You can witness turtle nesting at Ramnagar Beach and Kalipur Beach at Diglipur. Forest Department also offers facilities for this activity at Kalipur. 

7. Twin Islands – Smith and Ross Islands 

Ross and Smith are joined together to make a group of islands by a sandbar. Otherwise, they are two islands. You need to get a forest permit to visit Ross and Smith Islands from the Forest Office, Diglipur. The cost of entry permit is Rs. 50 for Indians and Rs. 500 for tourists. You can obtain the same on weekdays (Monday to Saturday) from 6am to 2pm. You can hire a speed boat or dinghi ‘fisherman’s boat’ from Ariel Bay jetty, Diglipur, which takes up to 25 minutes. 

These islands really look stunning and stay ahead of other islands in natural beauty. Their base is connected by a sandbar. It has gem green and crystal clear water. You can have a great sunbathing experience here. The sand bar leaves a trail of water and disappears in high tide. The sand bar appears again in low tide and makes the islands look more beautiful. 

The Island has a Marine Sanctuary where you can spot vivid species and coral reefs from underwater. The beach is the best choice for trail hiking and trekking by several tourists and is covered by tropical greens. You can also enjoy activities like snorkeling and scuba diving here. It adds a natural charm with crystal clear waters. You can also spot olive ridley turtles in Ross and Smith Islands. You can also spot turtle nesting if you reach there at the right time. 

8. Saddle Peak 

For eco tourists, a rare experience is awaiting at Diglipur. It is well known for its rice, oranges and forests along with marine species. At 732m lies Saddle Peak as the highest peak in Andaman. 

9. Alfred Caves 

These are the limestone caves near Ramnagar Beach in Diglipur subdivision. You need to reach Kalara Jn first and then Ramnagar to reach Alfred Caves. You can also hop on a bus from Diglipur towards Ramnagar. You can seek a forest guard or guide to help you along the way. You need to start your trip early in the morning to get back by evening. You can enjoy the trek through the main jungle which takes you to these caves. It is a combination of 41 limestone caves. Fruit eating bats and swiftlets call these caves their den. October to March is the best time to explore these caves. These caves open up in small caves with steep entrances. 

Getting There 

You can get there by booking the Andaman trip package which includes these places as part of your itinerary. 

Road – Both private and government buses are available to reach Mayabunder, Diglipur, and Rangat from Port Blair. 

Boat – You can avail regular boat on weekdays to Mayabunder, Diglipur, and Rangat. These boats are provided by the Directorate of Shipping Services. 

Sea Plane – Sea Plane is another great way to access Diglipur. It is available on weekdays by the Civil Aviation Department. 

Pawan Hans – You can access this service on weekdays to reach Rangat, Diglipur, and Mayabunder by the Civil Aviation Department according to schedule.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands are usually known for their pristine beaches and heritage sites to attract tourism. But it has a lot of places of worship to attract a consistent flow of pilgrims. This archipelago attracts people from different religions. 

Cerulean waters, melodious sun, and soothing breeze caressing palm trees – these are the images that come to our mind when we think of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Andaman and Nicobar Islands are one of the most popular spots from different parts of the world. 

The archipelago is also famous for its amazing architectural landmarks along with its untouched beauty and both shouldn’t be missed. These landmarks are more than just places of worship. They are well known for their architectural brilliance. Thousands of tourists and devotees have gathered to these places over the years. Here is the detailed list of temples and churches in Andaman you must visit at least once. 

1. Roman Catholic Church 

This church is based at Phoenix Bay and is a great epitome of architecture in Andaman. It is very appealing and beautiful with intricate patterns to take you straight to the Victorian era. Located in the capital city Port Blair, Roman Catholic Church lies in proximity to the marine museum. 

2. Sri Karpaga Vinayagar Temple 

Located at Golghar, Port Blair, Sri Karpaga Vinayagar Temple has great spiritual value. Ganesh Puja is celebrated on the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi (birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha) which is the most vital festival here. It usually falls in the month of September or early October. Lord Ganesha’s idol is built with black clay and adorning glittering ornaments. This event is celebrated for three days. The temple is well decorated. It is believed that all the wishes of devotees are fulfilled here. Book your Andaman and Nicobar Islands tour package during this time to get there.  

Sri Karpaga Vinayagar Temple is located on RGT Road at Golghar. It is located only 2 km from Port Blair airport. Timings are from 5am to 12pm and from 4pm to 9pm every day. 

3. Brethren Assembly 

Since January 1968, this church has been serving the Lord and was established by P.G. Samuel Thomas Phillip Kurien. The church is located only around 3 km from Port Blair Airport, one of the major landmarks in the island. This church offers its services in Hindi, Tamil, English and Malayalam. 

4. Police Gurudwara 

Located in the heart of Aberdeen Bazaar, Police Gurudwara is among the oldest gurudwaras. The gurudwara was built in 1937 by martyr Dr. Diwan Singh Kalapani. He sacrificed his life as a freedom fighter before independence. The Sikh shrine was built on an iron base and is made of wood. It is truly a great place to make a spiritual bond on the island. You can easily get here via RGT road by car as it is located in Aberdeen Bazaar on Mahatma Gandhi Road. It is located around 7 km from Port Blair. 

5. St. Joseph Catholic Church 

Located at Prothrapur Dist in Port Blair, St. Joseph Catholic Church has just been established in 2007. St. Joseph is the patron saint here. The Society of Jesus serves this church in the Andaman Islands. The community has around 2340 Catholics. It is gathered by both visitors and pilgrims every day and all the year round.

6. Vetrimalai Murugan Temple 

This ancient temple has always been the first choice for visitors and locals when it comes to heritage tourism. The temple is devoted to Lord Murugan. There are also shrines devoted to Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati located here. The pyramidal or ‘gopuram’ styled tower gate is adorned with beautiful paintings and the temple is built with Dravidian architecture. The outer precinct is known to have a beautiful garden in the temple. 

The temple is located near Gandhi Park, Port Blair on RGT Road and around 6 ½ km from Port Blair. The timings are from 5AM to 12 noon and from 4 PM to 9 PM. However, you can get there at any convenient time. 

7. St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church 

This church has been managed by the Society of Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier Catholic in Andaman Islands. Built in 1996 in Rangat, this church is devoted to parish Priest Father Pritam Toppo and patron St. Francis Xavier.  This beautifully adorned church has over 4152 Catholics. It is one of the best places to discover your spiritual side. It is usually the main reason why a lot of tourists and worshippers flock here all the year round. 

8. St. Ignatius Catholic Church 

St. Ignatius Catholic Church is well regarded as one of the oldest churches in the Andaman Islands. It is truly a great religious attraction in Diglipur. This church was founded in 1987 to worship in a serene and pleasant environment. Both travelers and worships flock here in this church. It is truly an architectural masterpiece with very intricate carvings and detailing. Its interior will definitely leave you stunned. In this church, St. Ignatius of Loyola is the patron saint and is served by the Society of Jesus.

9. Our Lady of the Catholic Church 

It is another most well-revered beauty in Andaman which is managed by Diocesan Clergy. It is well located in Oralkatcha region. In Baratang Island, it is an old Roman Catholic Church established in 1968. This church is associated with 2748 Catholics.

10. Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church 

This church was built recently in 2003 in Ramnagar. It has been served by the Society of Jesus. It has been associated with 843 Catholics and they really admire the same. 

Bottom Line 

So these were the most prominent and popular religious attractions in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. We hope you liked the above places and you would consider them for your next Andaman trip.