Andaman and Nicobar Islands is paradise of the sort that has been lost in most tourist spots today. An oasis of peace and tranquility, Andamans is everything that you imagined your dream tropical island to be. We spent around 10 days travelling around the various islands, making this a one-of-a-kind experience for us. We stayed at the capital city of Port Blair at the Palm Grove Eco Resort which has a very back-to-nature sort of vibe.
Our first stop was the famous Cellular Jail. Erected to imprison Indian freedom fighters, the jail remains a symbol of the brutalities and atrocities done to our people by the colonizers. It is a seven-block structure with three stories and a central tower acting as its fulcrum, standing tall among its honeycomb-like corridors. This jail now draws everyone down memory lane and reminds every visitor of the martyrs who laid down their life for the country. I would definitely recommend the sound and light show at the Cellular Jail to understand better the poignant tale of the Indian freedom struggle. Another must-visit place is the Anthropological Museum in Port Blair. This ethnographic museum is a great way of getting to know the ethnicity and culture of the area. It depicts the four Negrito tribes of the Andaman - the Jarawas, Sentinelese, Great Andamanese and the Onges as well as the two Mongoloid Nicobari tribes - the Nicobarese and the Shompens. There are other museums here and each of them have their own significance. The fisheries museum exhibits species of marine life endemic to the islands and found in the Indo-Pacific and the Bay of Bengal. Samudrika or the Naval Marine Museum creates awareness on various aspects of oceanic environment and showcases a vast collection of cells, corals and a few species of colorful fishes of the sea around the islands. The Zoological Survey of India Museum exhibits several varieties of sponges, corals, butterflies and centipedes.
No trip to the Andamans is complete without a visit to the various islands that make up this archipelago and each one provides insight into a different kind of life which also showcases myriad flora and fauna. The first island we visited was Ross Island. An erstwhile British capital, this island was later occupied by the Japanese. It consists of the ruins of an old church, the Chief Commissioner’s house, the Cathedral and a British-era cemetery. Many of the other landmarks have fallen into a state of disrepair and are covered in wild vines and roots of century-old trees.
Our next stop was the Havelock island which is mind-boggling in its natural beauty and pristine beaches. This island is the hub for various water activities like sea walking, scuba-diving and snorkeling, but I was only able to go for snorkeling. Despite my sea-sickness woes, the ferry ride to Havelock is a treat through the open seas. This island with its beautiful white sand beaches fringed with the green canopy of the rain-fed forests and facing an azure sea is a picture postcard in itself.
Radhanagar Beach, the main beach in this area is fantastic with its crystal-clear waters. The Elephant Beach is another great spot and an ideal site for snorkeling. It has a rich coral reef and amazing underwater marine life. There were shells and corals in colours so vivid, that it all remains imprinted on my mind.
Apart from Havelock, the other islands we visited included the Baratang Island which is home to several natural formations from the mud volcanoes to limestone caves. The latter full of splendid stalagmites, stalactites and pillar rocks, remains one of my favourite tourist destinations especially as the trek to reach these caves is as adventurous as it is breathtaking. The limestone caves remain largely unexplored and it is a unique experience. The mud volcano is created by natural gases emitted by decaying organic matter underground. As more mud oozes out and spills over the edge, the volcano grows in size.
Our last island hop was the Jolly Buoy island. The way to the island is through deep waters and I would advise the glass bottomed boat ride as it will allow you to see the rich marine life at this depth which includes myriad sponges, colourful jellyfishes and dazzling corals.
Taking a break from the sea, our entire group decided to go in for some retail therapy. We returned with a loot which included a lot of shell items and wooden toys crafted by the tribals which were quite reasonably priced.
Another great facet of the Andamans is its delightful food especially if you are a seafood lover. In Port Blair, there are a lot of restaurants and hotels and even if you are a vegetarian like me, there are enough options to be had.
I call Andaman paradise regained because it has retained its pristine beauty and stayed untouched by commercialism which makes it unique and different from other tourist spots in India. The islands are very beautiful with crystal-clear waters, a rich marine life and marvellous beaches. The sun shines over the sea making it glint like a diamond...really, nothing could be more perfect.