Essential Andaman in 8 night / 9 days - Detailed Travelogue - Day V

The visit to Havelock island was to end today. Today we were to take boat for Neil island, one of the smaller and relatively less visited place in Andamans.

We however had an important place on havelock that was still due for visiting.

After a leisurely breakfast at TSG Blue resort and doing lots of photography in the premise of TSG, we left for Kalapathar beach for a visit. This beach is the farthest beach on Sh 5 (only other road on Havelock that goes to Govind Nagar Beach is SH 4).

TSG Poolside

It is third popular beach among Radha Nagar, Elephant and Kala Pathar. Does that mean this beach is less beautiful? Actually, being third popular may give one such a feeling but it is not true. It is a beautiful beach with torquoise blue water, just that it seems to have rocky base to the sandy beach and lots of broken coral in the sand and thus the name looks like "Kala Pathar", Let Pictures speak in support of Kala Patthar Beach.

Breathless Beauty 

Emerald green 

Shadow play

See "Kala Patthars" on the beach

Tiny Marine Life, in safe hands

Me and my Soulmate

 It was a hot and sunny afternoon but beach was breezy and enjoyable. Even this beach is not recommended to venture into the sea but being on the beach by itself was fun. Also, along the beach there were trees offering shade and a small forest like area where there were sit outs made. After spending some time on beach we moved to forest part of the beach and had fun there too (what with our number one priority that is to Have Fun, we were certain to have fun where ever we went). We also photographed the fabulous sea and even better us (pun intended) in large measures.

Thick Jungle

Monkey is Jealous of my Monkey Pose

Relaxing Time

Shelter in the Forest to take rest

It was actually lunch time by the time we finished our Kala Pathar visit but having had very heavy breakfast we choose to just hydrate ourselves  with coconut water (The Andamans coconut is bigger than what we get in Mumbai and has much more water in it).

It was time to go to Jetty to catch our Makruzz boat (Name of Shipping company). Boat was already on the jetty but there was still some time for boarding. We utilized it to just see around the jetty. at about 1400 we boarded the boat and got seats right next to the snack bar that they have below deck. Soon we departed for Neil Island by boat and reached there by 1545. 

After checking in at the Hotel (Tango Beach Resort) and having a cup of tea we had to rush to laxmanput II beach through sandy and sometimes slushy (where water existed) beach side which connects Laxmanpur II beach to the hotel. Since both sunrise and sunset are early in Andamans, we had to really walk fast to make it on time to Laxmanpur II to not to miss the sunset. Walking on sand is tough and walking fast on sand is too tough. My wife who has back problem is still battling the increased back pain three months after the visit. Wish we had skipped our cup of tea and left early for Laxmanpur II beach at a less hectic pace. We made it to the beach well before sunset.

Laxmanpur II is not a big beach. The water is not safe to venture into the sea as the gradient in to the sea is rapid. However, since this beach is the west of the beach, this is the place to view the sunset. There were sizeable number of people on the beach (by Andaman standards). Slowly the sun started setting and we started clicking. It was a memorable sunset in which some clouds tried to mar it but did not succeed in spoiling the fun. I even tried to capture the sun in our figures (and did not succeed as I do not know the trick).

Walking Fast to reach Laxmanpur II beach

Still Blazing 

Glorious Golden

Did I catch the Sun in my Figures?

Sun under Cloud Canopy 

Should I say Good Bye!

Almost setting

Sun and a Ship

Setting Sun is a Promise of a new Tomorrow

See you Soon

After the sunset we were not ready to take the beach route again and hence stuck to Tar road and walked back to the resort. Being tired, the distance appeared to be too much (not in reality). After returning to resort the usual food and sleep followed.

Essential Andaman in 8 night / 9 days - Detailed Travelogue - Day I

Day I - 17th Jan 17

Mumbai - Chennai - Port Blair

Departed at 0615 and reached Port Blair at 1240 hrs via Chennai. Chennai layover was short. The replica of one of the temples of Mahabalipuram opposite Security area was the highlight of the short stay.

We were picked up by the travel agent’s car that dropped us at Hotel Shreesh. We were skeptical about this small hotel but realized later that it is a reasonably functional hotel. Post Check-in at hotel it was lunch time.

Our visit started at 1430 post a quick lunch. First place that we visited was Cellular Jail, a jail built by British to intern dreaded criminals from the main land India. Sadly, to the oppressive British, a freedom warrior of 1857 failed war of independence  or revolutionaries of later years from the main land were at par with the dreaded criminals.

Model of Cellular Jail

On Top of the Watch Tower

Roof Top of Two existing wings (only Three wings have survived)

Two childhood Friends between Two Wings

Sitting in mainland India, very few of us actually know anything about how badly  our freedom fighters treated were by that regime. The enumerable sacrifices given by our forefathers must be known.

Ways of putting Fetters (Hathkadi N Bedi)

Oil Extraction Mill that had to be worked by Prisoners

Tied up for lashing Punishment

A visit to Cellular Jail is thus not a visit, it is a pilgrimage to the holy land of India’s freedom struggle.  A place where those who fought for us were inhumanly tortured by the British.  It is a must visit place by every Indian. 

Even if one has no interest in beaches and under sea sports in rest of Andamans, Port Blair should be visited to even if only to  pay homage to these brave men who gave up  everything for us. 

While there were many freedom fighters that were jailed, Swatantra Veer Shri Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and his brother Shri GD Savarkar were the famous prisoners of Cellular Jail.

Veer Sawarkar's Cell with his Photo

Savarkar in Fetters

One of the Eternal flame

As this visit wound up by about 1600 hrs, we went to a government aquarium near by. It was a small setup but it had many corals and fishes of Andaman water displayed in it. The information on exhibition is also very good. Time and inclination permitting, one should visit this place.

We were booked for 1700 Light and Sound Show at Cellular Jail. As we reached the jail gate, there were queues for entry to the jail. On the lighter side, I thought, here is one jail, where people are queuing up to go (in) to Jail in hundreds whereas in actual life, everyone inside the jail queues up to go out of it.

It is a show that moves every one. I though felt that it could have had more information component and little less of emotional component. I would not fault the producer for keeping the show emotional; the place is worth all the emotions, it is just that I gave my view that it could have been more informative. The visit to Cellular jail is incomplete without attending the Light and Sound Show.

Entrance of Cellular Jail, Illuminated at Night

The day has been hectic. As for Port Blair is concerned, we hardly had any time to look at the city. But we felt that the day has been well spent, after all, did not we did a national pilgrimage to Cellular Jail. 

View of Ross Island, Administrative Headquarter of British those days

Essential Andaman in 8 night / 9 days

Dear All,

Just today we finished long awaited Andaman tour. Detailed travel blog would follow this post, however, this is a Teaser to entice others to visit Andamans ASAP. This post also is to show that it can be done very comfortably in just 8 nights / 9 days (9 th day is for return journey).

Lets go.

Day I - 17th Jan

Mumbai - Chennai - Port Blair

Departed at 0615 and reached Port Blair at 1240 hrs via Chennai. Post Check in at hotel Visited Cellular Jail, a must visit place and a memorial to countless freedom fighters since 1857 who suffered British atrocities. Also visited the Aquarium. Thereafter witnessed Light and Sound Show in the Cellular Jail.

Day 2 - 18th Jan

Trip to North Bay Island (water borne and Under water activities) and Viper Island Where freedom fighters of first war of independence were jailed by british. Viper now has a Gallow Room on a hillock where some very famous peole were hanged by british. Most other old structures are now non existent. This is a Trip by boat.

Day 3 - 19th Jan

Transfer to to Havelock Island through Boat Journey. Visited Radha Nagar beach, the most beautiful beach as per travel sites post Check-in in the hotel. Sunset at Radha nagar is wonderful (we missed it due to clouds).

Day 4 - 20th Jan

Visited Elephanta Beach, another beautiful beach at Havelock where we did snorkelling. All water related activities can be done. This visit was by boat but a beautiful Jungle trek also can be done to this beach.

We also had lunch at a very unusual place having many kind of seating and which is on a beach (beach no 2) called Something Different. There are many other options for food. Evening was again spent at Radha Nagar and this day we could see beautiful Sunset.

Day 5 - 21st Jan

Visited Kala Pathar Beach (third of the three beaches of Havelock) post check out and enjoyed this quick trip. Departed for Neil Island by boat and reached there by 1545. After checking in at Hotel visited Laxmanpur 2 beach, famous at Neil for majestic Sun Set. It was really magical. This beach is unsafe for venturing in the water.

Day 6 - 22nd Jan

After breakfast and check out We visited a natural wonder called Natural Bridge at Laxmanpur 1 beach. Also could see some very cute sea animals and some beautiful live corals. Guides cost very little and taking a guide is highly recommended.

Thereafter we went to Bharatpur beach, the beach where activities like fun dive, glass bottom boat ride, snorkelling, etc can be done. Otherwise also it is a pristine beach with emerald colour water. Also paid a afternoon visit to Sitapur beach where sun rise is at its best. The boat Journey to Port blair was the next event of the day. We reached PB after 5 pm which is the sunset time in Andamans.

Day 7 - 23rd Jan

Visited Ross island, the administrative seat of British at Andamans before it shifted to Port Blair. Every building there is in ruins but it gives a glimpse of the grandeur in which British lived there. Post this visit and lunch we visited Chatham Saw Mill (of the Government), biggest and oldest saw mill in Asia.

After this visit we travelled to Chidiya Tapu (just a name but this place is not a island) for (yet another) sunset view. Swimming can be done here in a very small protected area as crocodiles have been seen in this area.

Day 8 - 24rd Jan

Getting up very early we left for Bartang by road. The travel through reserve forest (also Jarawa Tribe country) is in convoys at fixed time. We took 6 Am convoy. After a 2.5 hrs road journey Bartang is reached by a RO - RO boat which joins Mid Andaman with North Andaman.

AFter reaching Bartang we had to go to Lime Stone Caves by about 40 minutes of very enjoyable speed boat ride. Lime Stone Caves are a real wonder. The return trip also is by Speed Boat. Next place that we visited by a short car trip from Bartang jetty was Mud Volcano. Not a grand site as one associates with volcano but a very rare natural phenomenon in which steam gushes out through mud at a very slow speed.

After this visit, we started our return trip with 1230 hrs convoy and reached Port Blair at 1500 hrs. Then we visited Anthropology Museum. This museum gives us lot of detailed information about the tribes of Andaman and Nicobar.

With this we would up our visit.

Day 9 - 25 Jan

Return trip from Port Blair to Mumbai via Chennai.

Outcome - This trip was at a slow speed and enough time was available for all visits. Our costs were modest Rs 30000 per person for trip stay, transport (AC for surface and AC / Non AC boats for water), entry fees and food.

The water related activities are better done at Havelock or Neil though even North Bay activities are also good but costly.

Anybody motivated to visit Andamans after this quick Teaser post? Do visit this paradise which is very much part of our own country. Highly recommended for people of all ages. Specially recommended for Honeymooners.