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The forested islands of the Andamans in the Bay of Bengal, offer a complete escape to superb beaches and wonderful underwater sightseeing on the coral reefs.
Accessed by air from Kolkata (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday) or Chennai (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) to the capital in Port Blair.
The islands receive a trickle of visitors when compared with other islands and accommodations are basic yet comfortable.
The capital town of Port Blair has a tumultuous history beginning in 1789 when the East India Company chose the site as a safe harbour. Fifty years later, it became a notorious penal colony where political activists involved in the Indian Mutiny were imprisoned. Today, much of the island’s labour is carried out by elephants brought here many years ago.
The flora and fauna of the Andaman’s is superb and it is a bird watcher’s paradise with over 242 species, 58 species of mammals and 83 species of reptiles. Due to their long isolation, nature is almost totally undisturbed and it is like stepping back in time as you explore the islands by boat, spying many endemic species.
The Andaman Islands have restricted access with the Primitive Tribal Reserve areas being out of bounds completely. Many parts of the islands are off-limits, to preserve their rare bio-diversity and protect the six tribal groups, some of who are fiercely independent. |
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Ritchie’s Archipelago is a group of islands between 12 and 25 miles east of South Andaman. This tiny cluster of islands are protected and only three islands are open to visitors. One of these is Havelock Island, 34 miles northeast of Port Blair. At the western tip of the island, dolphins and turtles can be spotted from the long stretches of white sand. These islands are best known for excellent snorkeling and scuba diving.
In addition to ample opportunities and places for scuba diving, the Andaman’s offer something for most everyone. Surfing on Little Andaman Islands, glass bottom boat tour of the coral reefs off Jolly Buoy Island, overnight boat journey to India’s only active volcano on Barren Island, moon-bathing while planktons swim in a phosphorescent sea, gorgeous reserve forest walks, visit Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park.
Contact us to arrange your journey to the Andaman Islands. |
