Andaman & Nicobar Islands Travel Guide 2026: Port Blair, Havelock, Radhanagar, Cellular Jail & Baratang

Browse more guides: India travel | Asia destinations

TL;DR

I spent twelve days in India's Andaman & Nicobar Islands, splitting time between Port Blair's Cellular Jail history, Havelock's Radhanagar Beach, Neil Island's quiet coves, and a long boat run to Baratang's limestone caves. The archipelago sits 1,200 km east of Chennai in the Bay of Bengal. Indian travelers enter free, foreigners pay USD 25 for the e-visa and receive a Restricted Area Permit on arrival. Expect tropical heat, slow ferries, and diving with 30-meter visibility.

Why Visit the Andaman & Nicobar Islands in 2026

I went because two things lined up. First, direct flights from every major Indian city (Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad) now land at Veer Savarkar International Airport (IXZ) in Port Blair, and the e-visa for foreign nationals costs USD 25 for a 60-day stay. Second, Radhanagar Beach on Havelock (renamed Swaraj Island in 2018) was named Asia's best beach by TIME magazine in 2004, and the reefs around Havelock and Neil offer some of the clearest diving water in the Indian Ocean.

There is also the historical reason. The Cellular Jail in Port Blair, built by the British in 1906, held Indian freedom fighters like Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (1911 to 1924) and Batukeshwar Dutt. The compound was called Kala Pani, the black water, because exile across the sea was considered a loss of caste. Walking through the three surviving wings is the closest a visitor can get to the freedom movement's hardest chapter.

Scuba diving sealed the decision. Operators in Havelock such as Aquatica, Dive India (Mike Madhumati), Barefoot Scuba, and DIVEIndia run PADI Open Water courses for USD 350 to 500. Day dives run USD 80 to 150. April and May give the calmest seas and visibility close to 30 meters. After ten days of Cellular Jail, mangrove caves, and reef walls, I understood why the islands appear on every long-form India list.

Background and Context

The Andaman & Nicobar Islands are a Union Territory of India covering 8,249 km² spread across 572 islands, of which only 38 are inhabited. The territory splits into two groups: the Andaman group (6,408 km²) in the north and the Nicobar group (1,841 km²) in the south, separated by the Ten Degree Channel. The Andamans further break into North Andaman, Middle Andaman, South Andaman, Little Andaman, and a chain of smaller satellites. The Nicobars run from Car Nicobar down to Great Nicobar and Little Nicobar near the Sumatra coast.

Population is roughly 380,000. About 96 percent are descendants of mainland Indian settlers (Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Malayali, and Hindi-speaking migrants from the post-partition refugee resettlement and earlier penal-colony labor). The remaining 4 percent belong to six recognized indigenous tribes. The capital, Port Blair, holds about 100,000 residents. The Government of India officially renamed Port Blair to Sri Vijaya Puram on September 13, 2024, although most signage and ferry schedules still use the older name and locals use both interchangeably.

Languages I heard most often were Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, and Telugu, with Nicobarese spoken in the southern group. English works in tourist areas. The currency is the Indian Rupee (INR). The time zone is Indian Standard Time (UTC+5:30), although the islands sit at a longitude that would naturally place them at UTC+6, so sunrise lands earlier than mainland clocks suggest. The islands were formed as a Union Territory in 1956 and remain India's easternmost UT, lying about 1,200 km from Chennai and just 150 km north of Sumatra at the closest point.

Cellular Jail and the Port Blair Anchor

Port Blair was my first stop, and the Cellular Jail was my first morning. The British completed the structure in 1906 after seven years of construction, designing it with seven radial wings around a central watchtower, each wing holding 696 solitary cells. The layout was deliberate: every cell faced the back of the cell across the courtyard, so no prisoner could communicate visually with another. Three wings remain after a 1941 earthquake and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami damaged the structure.

I walked through Savarkar's cell on the third floor of the second wing. A small plaque marks the dates of his confinement, 1911 to 1924. Batukeshwar Dutt, who threw the Central Legislative Assembly bomb with Bhagat Singh in 1929, was also held here. The Veer Savarkar Memorial outside the jail was inaugurated in 1989. The evening Light and Sound Show, narrated in Hindi and English on alternating nights, runs through the timeline of the jail from the 1857 revolt through Japanese occupation (1942 to 1945) to the post-independence preservation effort. Subhash Chandra Bose visited the islands on December 29, 1943, when the Japanese briefly transferred administrative control to the Azad Hind government, making the Andamans the first Indian territory raised under a free Indian flag.

The rest of Port Blair filled out the historical picture. The Samudrika Naval Marine Museum, run by the Indian Navy, holds a clear introduction to local ecology and the six indigenous tribes. The Anthropological Museum on Phoenix Bay Road covers the Onge, Jarawa, Sentinelese, Great Andamanese, Shompen, and Nicobarese peoples with photographs, tools, and ethnographic notes from the 1858 to 1947 colonial period. The Chatham Saw Mill, founded in 1883 on a small island connected by bridge, was once Asia's largest. It still operates at reduced capacity and offers guided tours through the timber sheds.

I gave Port Blair two and a half days. Corbyn's Cove Beach, ten minutes south of town, gave me my first swim. The seafront promenade at Marina Park filled with families after sunset. Dinner at Annapurna on Aberdeen Bazaar Road and a fish thali at New Lighthouse Restaurant gave me the Bengali rice-and-fish-curry rhythm I would follow for the next ten days.

Havelock Island, Renamed Swaraj Island

The Makruzz Pearl ferry from Phoenix Bay Jetty to Havelock takes two and a half hours and costs INR 1,500 to 2,200 (USD 18 to 25) depending on class. The Green Ocean line runs the same route at similar prices. I booked online a week ahead through the Makruzz website; walk-up tickets are possible but slots fill in peak season.

Radhanagar Beach, marked on most maps as Beach Number 7, runs two kilometers along the western side of Havelock. The sand is fine and pale, the slope into the water gentle, and the tree line of mahua and padauk pressed close to the high-tide mark. TIME magazine called it Asia's best beach in 2004. I went at 5 PM on my first day and stayed for sunset. The next morning I returned at 6 AM and had the whole beach to myself for forty minutes. There is no commercial development on the beach itself, which keeps the line of sight clean from the water back to the forest.

Elephant Beach, on the north side, requires either a thirty-minute trek through swampy forest or a fifteen-minute speedboat from the main jetty. I took the boat. The snorkeling here is the most accessible coral on Havelock, with shallow reef starting four meters from the beach. Operators run snorkeling sets for INR 600, sea-walk helmets for INR 3,500, and parasailing for INR 3,500. The crowd builds by 10 AM, so I went on the first boat at 8.

Kalapathar Beach, on the southeast side, has black volcanic rocks at the tide line and is the quietest of the three. I drove there on a rented scooter (INR 500 per day) and stayed for two hours with a coconut from the single stall at the entrance.

Diving consumed three of my five Havelock days. I booked with Dive India, run by Mike and Madhumati, who have operated on the island since 2004. My check dive at Lighthouse Reef showed 28 meters of horizontal visibility. Subsequent dives at Johnny's Gorge, Dixon's Pinnacle, and Jackson's Bar gave me reef sharks, large groupers, and a single eagle ray. PADI Open Water certification runs four days and costs INR 28,000 to 38,000 (USD 350 to 500). Single fun dives for certified divers run INR 6,500 to 12,000 (USD 80 to 150). The best diving window is April to May when surface chop drops to almost nothing.

I stayed at Symphony Palms (mid-range, INR 6,000 a night) for three nights and moved to Munjoh Ocean Resort for two nights (INR 9,500 a night) for the eco-cabana experience. Barefoot at Havelock and the Taj Exotica Resort sit at the top end above INR 25,000 a night.

Neil Island, Renamed Shaheed Dweep

The ferry from Havelock to Neil takes about one hour and runs three times a day. Neil is the quieter sibling. The island is small enough that a scooter circuit takes ninety minutes, and the population sits around 3,000.

Bharatpur Beach, next to the jetty, has clear shallow water and the busiest beach scene on the island. Glass-bottom boats run from here for INR 500 to 800 per person across the patch reef just offshore. Laxmanpur Beach, on the western side, sits at the end of a sand spit that emerges fully at low tide. I walked out three hundred meters at minus-tide and watched fiddler crabs work the wet sand around my feet.

Sitapur Beach, also called Sunrise Beach, lies on the southeast tip and is the calm-water spot for morning swims. The most photographed feature is the Natural Bridge, also called Howrah Bridge, a limestone arch over a tide pool reached by a fifteen-minute scramble across reef flat at low tide. The arch was carved by wave action over centuries and is fragile; the local conservation office now restricts walking on top of the bridge.

I gave Neil two nights at SeaShell Neil, ate dinner at Garden View Restaurant (tandoori fish, dal, jeera rice for INR 450), and caught the early Makruzz back to Port Blair for the next leg.

Baratang Island and the Jarawa Reserve

Baratang sits between South Andaman and Middle Andaman and is reached by road from Port Blair followed by a short ferry crossing at Jirkatang. The drive takes about four hours one way, which made it a long day trip from Port Blair. The road passes through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve.

The Jarawa Reserve covers a section of South Andaman and Middle Andaman that has been protected since 1956. The Jarawa tribe, numbering about 550 individuals, was almost entirely uncontacted until the late 1990s, when a young Jarawa boy named Enmei broke a leg, was treated at GB Pant Hospital in Port Blair, and returned to his community. Limited contact has continued cautiously since. The Andaman Trunk Road passes through the reserve, and travel is permitted only in escorted convoys at fixed times: roughly 6 AM, 9 AM, 12 PM, and 2:30 PM departures from the Jirkatang check post. Photography and video recording inside the reserve are prohibited by law. Stopping is prohibited. Offering food, water, or anything else to Jarawa people on the road is prohibited and carries fines and imprisonment. I kept my phone inside my bag for the full crossing.

Beyond the reserve, Baratang opened up to two attractions I had come for. The limestone caves at Nayadera require a one-hour boat ride through mangrove channels followed by a fifteen-minute walk through paddy fields. Inside, calcium carbonate formations have built up over centuries into columns and curtains. A local guide pointed out shapes the community has named over the decades.

The mud volcanoes at Jalkayi are one of only two confirmed mud-volcano sites in India. They are small, knee-high cones that periodically belch grey clay-water mixed with subterranean gas. The drive in passes through fields and the cones themselves sit in a clearing maintained by the forest department. The earlier 2005 post-tsunami eruption raised the highest cone briefly above two meters; today they remain modest.

The full day, Port Blair return, ran INR 1,500 per head in a shared minibus including the ferry, boat, and entry fees.

Ross Island and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island

Ross Island, renamed Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island in 2018, was the headquarters of British administration in the Andamans from 1858 to 1942. The Japanese occupied it from 1942 to 1945. A magnitude 7.7 earthquake in 1941 had already damaged many buildings, and post-war neglect finished the job. Today the ruins of the Chief Commissioner's residence, the Anglican church, the bakery, the printing press, the cemetery, and the swimming pool sit under banyan roots and tropical vines.

The boat from Aberdeen Jetty in Port Blair takes fifteen minutes and runs throughout the day. The Indian Navy maintains the small museum near the landing. The evening Light and Sound Show, narrated by Roshan Seth in some seasons and Amitabh Bachchan in others, traces the island's history from penal colony to occupation to abandonment. I spent four hours on Ross including the show and the slow walk through the ruins.

Diglipur and North Andaman

Diglipur sits at the northern end of North Andaman, roughly 300 km from Port Blair by road. The drive takes 10 to 12 hours including the Jarawa Reserve convoy timings and three vehicular ferries at Middle Strait, Humphrey Strait, and Austin Strait. There is also a government ship service from Port Blair to Diglipur that takes 12 to 14 hours overnight, and a quicker option of flying to Diglipur's small airstrip when Pawan Hans helicopter service is running.

I went for three reasons. Saddle Peak, at 732 meters, is the highest point in the Andaman group; the hike from Lamiya Bay takes four hours up and three down through evergreen forest. Ross and Smith Islands, connected by a 200-meter sandbar exposed at low tide, sit a short boat ride offshore from Aerial Bay and form one of the prettier swim spots in the territory. And Kalipur and Ramnagar beaches on the eastern side of Diglipur host Olive Ridley turtle nesting from April through May, with green and leatherback turtles also recorded in smaller numbers.

I stayed two nights at Pristine Beach Resort near Kalipur (INR 4,500 a night). At 9 PM the resort's turtle volunteer woke our group, and we walked the beach in the dark and watched two Olive Ridley females finish digging and start laying. Lights, flash photography, and loud noise are prohibited during nesting.

Long Island and the Quieter North

Long Island sits between Havelock and Diglipur off the eastern coast of Middle Andaman. There is no resort scene. The single guesthouse cluster at Lalaji Bay handles most visitors, and the beach itself is reached by a ninety-minute walk through forest from the jetty village or by a dunghy boat from Yerrata. I gave it one overnight as a stopover between Havelock and Diglipur, and the entire beach held five people including me on the second morning.

Cinque Islands and the Southern Day Trips

Cinque Islands lie about thirty kilometers south of Port Blair and consist of two small islands connected by a sandbar. The waters are protected and the marine life is excellent, but access requires a special permit issued by the forest department and a chartered boat that takes about two hours each way. Day trips from Havelock are easier than from Port Blair on weather grounds. Turtles are common on the sandbar. Snorkeling is the main draw. I did not make Cinque on this trip; the weather window did not open during my stay. I have it on the list for a return visit.

Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Wandoor

Twenty-nine kilometers south of Port Blair, the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park covers 281 km² and protects fifteen islands including Jolly Buoy, Red Skin, Boat, Hobday, Pluto, Tarmugli, and Alexandra. The park headquarters and boat departures are at Wandoor village. Boats run to either Jolly Buoy or Red Skin (the two islands rotate based on conservation cycles, with one open and one closed at any given time).

Glass-bottom boats float over reef gardens of staghorn, brain, and table corals. Snorkeling is permitted from the beach in shallow water. I went on a Tuesday when Jolly Buoy was open and saw butterflyfish, parrotfish, and a single juvenile blacktip reef shark. The boat ride takes about ninety minutes each way and the day costs INR 2,500 including entry fees. Plastic is banned on park boats and beaches.

Chidiya Tapu and the Sunset South

Chidiya Tapu (Bird Island) lies thirteen kilometers south of Port Blair at the southern tip of South Andaman. The Munda Pahad trek climbs through forest to a viewpoint overlooking the western sea. The drive itself, on the curving Chidiya Tapu road, passes mangrove inlets where I saw kingfishers and one white-bellied sea eagle. The sunset point at the end of the road was crowded on the evening I visited, but the colors over the offshore islets were worth the wait.

Cost Table (Per Day, Average)

Category	Budget	Mid-range	Luxury
Accommodation	INR 1,500 to 4,500 (USD 18 to 55)	INR 5,000 to 16,000 (USD 60 to 195)	INR 20,000 to 70,000+ (USD 250 to 850+) Taj Exotica, Munjoh, Barefoot
Meals	INR 200 to 500 (USD 2.50 to 6)	INR 600 to 1,500 (USD 7 to 18)	INR 2,000 to 5,000 (USD 25 to 60)
Local transport (scooter day)	INR 400 to 600	INR 800 cab half-day	INR 3,500+ private car day
Port Blair to Havelock ferry	Govt INR 600	Makruzz Economy INR 1,500 (USD 18)	Makruzz Premium INR 2,200 (USD 26)
Port Blair to Neil ferry	Govt INR 500	Makruzz INR 1,200	Premium INR 1,800
Scuba (per dive certified)	n/a	INR 6,500 (USD 80)	INR 12,000 (USD 150)
PADI Open Water course	n/a	INR 28,000 (USD 350)	INR 38,000 (USD 500)

Flights from mainland India to Port Blair (IXZ) round trip cost USD 100 to 250 depending on city and season. Chennai and Kolkata are the cheapest gateways.

Planning Notes

The best time to visit runs October through May, with the cleanest seas and clearest diving water from December to April. April and May are hot (29 to 32 Celsius) but the water is at its calmest. The southwest monsoon runs June through September with heavy rain, rougher seas, and frequent ferry cancellations. The northeast monsoon brings smaller secondary rain in November, and the rare cyclone tracks across the Bay of Bengal in November and early December. Daytime temperatures stay between 24 and 32 Celsius year-round, with humidity above 70 percent.

Visa policy is straightforward. Indian nationals do not need a visa. Foreign nationals can apply for the India e-visa online for USD 25 and receive a sixty-day stay. On arrival in Port Blair, foreign visitors are issued a thirty-day Restricted Area Permit (RAP) at the airport free of charge; extensions are available at the Immigration Office on Aberdeen Bazaar Road. The RAP covers most tourist-permitted islands. Some islands (Cinque, Boat, North Passage, Interview, Long, Strait, Baratang, North Sentinel restricted, Little Andaman partially) require additional permits issued by the Deputy Commissioner's office.

Flights to Port Blair operate from Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Visakhapatnam. Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Vistara, and Akasa Air all serve the route. Flight times range from 2.5 hours (Chennai) to 5 hours (Delhi via stop). Veer Savarkar International Airport (IXZ) is small but functional. Customs and the RAP desk are clearly marked on arrival.

Internal travel runs on ferries and a single Andaman Trunk Road. Port Blair to Havelock by Makruzz or Green Ocean takes 2.5 hours over 60 km of open sea. Port Blair to Neil takes about one hour. Helicopter service is run intermittently by Pawan Hans for inter-island connections and bookings have to be made through the Directorate of Civil Aviation in Port Blair. The road to Diglipur involves the Jarawa Reserve convoy, three vehicular ferries, and 10 to 12 hours of driving.

Climate is tropical year-round. Pack light, breathable cotton or linen. A light rain shell helps during shoulder months. Reef-safe sunscreen is required in marine parks (oxybenzone-based sunscreens are banned). Plug type is C, D, and M at 230 volts and 50 hertz. Cellular Jail and the few temples I visited expect dignified dress (shoulders covered for entry to the inner sanctum at temples, and modest dress throughout the Cellular Jail compound out of respect for the freedom-fighter memorial).

Budget tip: ferry tickets, scuba slots, and resort rooms on Havelock all sell out two weeks ahead in December and January. I booked ferries online a week ahead through Makruzz.in and Greenoceanseaways.com, and the scuba course directly through DiveIndia. Diglipur logistics are easier to arrange through a Port Blair travel desk once on the ground.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need a visa for the Andaman Islands?
Indian nationals do not. Foreign nationals need an India e-visa (USD 25 for 60 days, applied online) plus a Restricted Area Permit issued free at Port Blair airport on arrival for 30 days. Extensions are available.

2. How easy is ATM access and cash withdrawal?
ATMs and card payments are common in Port Blair, Havelock, and Neil. Diglipur has limited ATM coverage and frequent network outages. The remote islands and Baratang have almost no banking infrastructure. Carry sufficient INR cash for trips outside Port Blair. Currency exchange is available at the airport and at SBI branches in Port Blair.

3. Is alcohol available?
Yes, in licensed hotels, resorts, and restaurants in Port Blair, Havelock, and Neil. The territory observes dry days on specific religious and national holidays. Liquor shops operate in Port Blair but are scarce on smaller islands.

4. What food can I expect, and are there vegetarian options?
Bengali and South Indian cooking dominate. Fish curry, prawn malai curry, crab masala, and lobster (in season) are the headline non-vegetarian dishes. Vegetarian thalis, dosa, idli, sambar, and Punjabi-style paneer dishes are widely available. Tribal community cooking is not served in tourist restaurants out of respect for those communities.

5. How do I book ferries?
Online through Makruzz.in and Greenoceanseaways.com is the easiest. Government-run ferries (cheaper but slower and less reliable) book at Phoenix Bay Jetty in Port Blair and require advance queuing. Helicopter service for some inter-island routes runs intermittently through Pawan Hans; bookings happen through the Directorate of Civil Aviation in Port Blair.

6. What is the dress code at Cellular Jail and other sites?
Cellular Jail expects dignified dress out of respect for the freedom-fighter memorial; shoulders and knees covered is appropriate. Temples require shoes off and shoulders covered. Beach and resort dress is casual.

7. How is the scuba diving and when is the best season?
Havelock is one of the best diving destinations in India, with 25 to 30 meters of visibility from December to May and peak conditions in April and May. PADI Open Water certification costs USD 350 to 500 over four days. Fun dives for certified divers cost USD 80 to 150. DiveIndia, Aquatica, Barefoot Scuba, and DIVEIndia are the long-running operators.

8. What are the rules at the Jarawa Reserve and around the Sentinelese?
The Andaman Trunk Road through the Jarawa Reserve is open only to escorted convoys at specific times. Photography, video, stopping, and offering anything to Jarawa people are prohibited by law. The Sentinelese live on North Sentinel Island under a complete five-kilometer exclusion zone enforced by the Indian Navy. Contact is prohibited. The 2018 case of American John Allen Chau, who entered the island on November 17 and was killed, underlined how absolute the protection is. Respect for indigenous self-determination is non-negotiable.

Useful Phrases (Hindi, Bengali, English)

Phrase	Hindi	Bengali
Hello	Namaste	Nomoshkar
Thank you	Dhanyavaad	Dhonnobad
You are welcome	Aapka swagat hai	Aapnar shagotom
Yes	Haan	Haan
No	Nahin	Na
Please	Kripya	Doya kore
Excuse me	Maaf kijiye	Maaf korben
How much?	Kitne ka hai?	Koto?
Where is...?	Kahaan hai?	Kothay?
Water	Paani	Jol
Food	Khana	Khabar
Help	Madad	Shahajjo
I do not understand	Main samjha nahin	Ami bujhte parchhi na
Goodbye	Alvida	Bidaay
Beach	Samudra tat	Shomudro tot
Boat	Naav	Nouka

Cultural Notes

The population mix in the Andamans reflects waves of mainland migration. Hindi-speaking settlers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar arrived first as penal-colony labor and later as post-1947 government postings. Bengali refugees arrived after partition in 1947 and again in 1971. Tamil and Malayali workers came for fisheries and construction. The Nicobars hold a distinct ethnic and linguistic identity tied more closely to Southeast Asia than to the mainland.

Religious distribution sits roughly at 70 percent Hindu, 22 percent Christian (largely Catholic, particularly among Nicobarese communities), and 8 percent Muslim and Sikh combined, with a small Buddhist minority. Tibetan refugees settled in a few small communities in the 1960s.

Six indigenous tribes are recognized under Schedule V of the Indian Constitution. The Great Andamanese, now numbering about 10 individuals, are settled on Strait Island. The Onge, about 100 individuals, live on Little Andaman. The Jarawa, about 550 individuals, live in the reserve I described above. The Sentinelese, estimated at 50 to 200 individuals, live in self-chosen isolation on North Sentinel Island under a five-kilometer exclusion zone. The Shompen, about 250 individuals, live in the rainforest interior of Great Nicobar. The Nicobarese, about 28,000 individuals, are the most populous indigenous group and live across the Nicobar group.

The Negrito-descended tribes (Onge, Jarawa, Sentinelese, Great Andamanese) descend from one of the earliest human migrations out of Africa, with genetic studies placing their separation from other populations at over 60,000 years ago. The Mongoloid-descended Shompen and Nicobarese migrated from Southeast Asia roughly 2,000 to 3,000 years ago. The continued protection of these communities by the Indian government is legally absolute, and any visitor approach is treated as a serious offense.

The Cellular Jail story sits at the emotional center of the Andamans for Indian travelers. The 1906 construction held political prisoners through three decades. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's incarceration from 1911 to 1924, Batukeshwar Dutt's confinement, the hunger strikes of 1933 and 1937, and the daily reality of the oil-mill punishment shaped a generation of the freedom movement. The Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945 added another layer. Subhash Chandra Bose's brief visit in December 1943 and the raising of the Azad Hind flag made the Andamans the first territory of India to fly an independent flag, even if the conditions were complex.

The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami on December 26 affected the islands heavily. The 9.1 to 9.3 magnitude quake's epicenter lay just south of the territory, and the resulting waves caused around 1,000 deaths in the Andaman group and over 5,000 deaths in the Nicobar group, with the southern Nicobars suffering the heaviest losses. The 2004 event reshaped some coastlines, particularly around Trinket Island, and rebuilt infrastructure across the territory. Acknowledgment of this loss is part of any thoughtful conversation about the islands.

The Andaman and Nicobar Command of the Indian Armed Forces, formed in 2001, is the first integrated tri-service command of India, combining Army, Navy, and Air Force units under one operational headquarters in Port Blair. The strategic position of the islands at the entrance to the Strait of Malacca shapes the territory's quiet but visible military presence.

Pre-Trip Preparation Checklist

E-visa applied online (foreign nationals; USD 25) at least 7 days before travel
Restricted Area Permit (free) collected at Port Blair airport on arrival
Makruzz or Green Ocean ferry tickets booked online for Port Blair to Havelock and Havelock to Neil
INR cash withdrawn at Port Blair airport or city ATMs (cash needed for Baratang and Diglipur)
Scuba diving slots reserved with DiveIndia, Aquatica, or Barefoot Scuba (if interested)
Reef-safe sunscreen packed (oxybenzone-based banned in marine parks)
Modest dress packed for Cellular Jail and any temple visits
Light tropical clothing, swim gear, and a light rain shell
Plug adapter type C, D, or M for 230 volt outlets
Travel insurance covering scuba diving (if certified) and tropical destinations
Avoid June through September (monsoon) unless price is the primary driver

Three Sample Itineraries

5-Day: Port Blair, Havelock, Neil
- Day 1: Arrive Port Blair (IXZ). Cellular Jail and Light Show in the evening.
- Day 2: Samudrika Museum, Anthropological Museum, Chatham Saw Mill. Evening ferry to Havelock.
- Day 3: Radhanagar Beach sunrise. Elephant Beach snorkel. Kalapathar at sunset.
- Day 4: Morning Havelock to Neil ferry. Bharatpur, Laxmanpur, Natural Bridge at low tide.
- Day 5: Neil to Port Blair ferry. Corbyn's Cove. Evening flight out.

8-Day: Add Baratang and Diglipur
- Days 1 to 5 as above, but skip the Neil ferry on Day 5.
- Day 6: Baratang day trip (limestone caves and mud volcanoes) from Port Blair.
- Day 7: Drive to Diglipur (overnight) or take the government ship.
- Day 8: Ross and Smith Islands, then evening Olive Ridley turtle nesting (April and May). Return overnight to Port Blair.

12-Day Full Loop with Diving
- Days 1 to 2: Port Blair (Cellular Jail, museums, Ross Island).
- Days 3 to 7: Havelock with PADI Open Water certification (four days) plus a free day for Radhanagar.
- Days 8 to 9: Neil Island for two slow days.
- Day 10: Baratang day trip.
- Day 11: Wandoor and Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park.
- Day 12: Chidiya Tapu sunset, flight home.

Six Related Guides

India Tamil Nadu Chennai: Marina Beach, Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Fort St. George (the most common Andaman gateway from the mainland).
India West Bengal Kolkata: Victoria Memorial, Howrah Bridge, Sundarbans (the alternative gateway with strong Bengali cultural overlap).
India Odisha Bhubaneswar: Konark Sun Temple, Puri, Chilika Lake (eastern coast complement).
Thailand Phuket and Phi Phi Islands (Indian Ocean reef destination at comparable latitude).
Myanmar Mergui Archipelago (the closest analogue archipelago across the Bay of Bengal).
Indonesia Aceh and Pulau Weh (the next reef-rich destination south of the Nicobars).

External References

Wikipedia, Andaman and Nicobar Islands: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andaman_and_Nicobar_Islands
UNESCO Tentative List, Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park and Andaman Tropical Evergreen Forests: whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/
Andaman and Nicobar Tourism, official government portal: andamantourism.gov.in
Wikivoyage, Andaman and Nicobar Islands: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Andaman_and_Nicobar_Islands
Lonely Planet, Andaman Islands: lonelyplanet.com/india/andaman-islands

Last updated: 2026-05-19.

Search This Blog

Your Local Guide to Visiting Places | visitingplacesin.com