It’s high time we take a break from our hectic schedules and ascent to the most beautiful group of islands of India. The monsoon is arriving and everyone is running a finger through the maps of places to visit near India for a quick vacation. And finally, one should tick on the soothing beaches of Andaman & Nicobar. It’s not every day that you are adventurous enough to choose this place and if have done so, be ready to have the time of your life. It’s affordable and plus, you don’t even need a passport.
Andaman & Nicobar is a group of 572 islands spread over the Bay of Bengal. It is very near to Thailand and Malaysia but is a Union Territory of India. Port Blair, the capital of Andaman & Nicobar, is the largest city of the island group and has a population of approximately 100,000 people. The weather is pleasant with wind blowing all across the place and much to the delight of the visitors, the temperature doesn’t exceed 27 degree Celsius. So, we can certainly give this heat a miss and start packing our bags for a relaxing trip. The beaches are refreshing, the food is delicious and luckily Hindi is the most spoken language there.
Port Blair is no different from any other city of India. The lush green mangroves and the golden sandy beaches make it a divine and carefree destination. There are plenty of places the people can visit. Its seaside promenade is one of the few pleasant bits of the town.
The Cellular Jail is the most talked about tourist destination here. What makes this jail a sacred spot is the fact that some of India’s most distinguished freedom fighters were incarcerated here. Built by the British, the jail kept all prisoners in isolation. It was slightly taken over by the Japanese during World War II which brought more torture to the palette. Today, the jail is a much transformed monument for the tourists, complete with gardens, to take out the horror attached to it.
Gandhi Park, as the name suggests, is not just an ordinary park. Facilities like amusement rides, water sports, restaurant and historic places are a wonder. It is open seven days a week and the entry is free.
Corbyn’s cove beach is the closest beach to Port Blair. It is good to go with the locals of the city flocking it during the evenings. People go for a swim or just sit and watch the sunset. The currents go a little high at times ever after the 2004 tsunami.
Mini zoo, now shifted to its new place in Chidiya Tapu which is 25 km away from Port Blair, is a regular sized zoo which showcases the species of creatures only found on islands.
Apart from the sight-seeing, people enjoy a number of activities that take place there. North Bay is a great place which one cannot miss. One can go scuba diving, snorkelling, jet skiing, sea walking etc. One needs to book the tickets in advance as they are limited for a few activities. Extremely scheduled and particular they are!
Ross Island has a lot of deers and peacocks. A wonderful place where one can sit and admire the beauty of the nature.
The Aberdeen Bazaar is the most liked market of the locals of Andaman & Nicobar. It is a good and economical place to shop, eat and accommodate. A few restaurants are located in the market and things like jewellery, wood carvings and clothes can also be purchased over here.
If one is looking for a complete relaxing vacation, the beaches are their escape to heaven. Neil is a tiny but beautiful island, located 37 km to the south of Andaman Islands. With unexplored coral reefs, brilliant bio-diversity, white sandy beaches and tropical forest and vegetation, it has become one of the hot spots for tourists. It is known as the ‘vegetable bowl’ of the Andamans’. The island, with its very moderate vibes and long deserted beaches is a place undisturbed. Similarly, plenty of other beaches like the Aamkunj beach, Moricedera beach, Lalaji Bay beach, Gultar Island, Lakshmanpur-I beach, Lakshmanpur-II beach, Sitapur beach, Hut bay beach, Kalapathar beach and Butler Bay beach are situated in Andaman & Nicobar and are worth a visit for the serenity they posses.
The food is reasonable as there are no flashy restaurants, South-Indian food is the staple food of that region. So, rasam and sambar lovers are in for a treat here! Again, no cheesy bars and restaurants which you find almost all over the world, only adds to the natural element of the pleasant islands.
Picture Credits : Simranjeet Singh, One World News
