Things to do in Andaman and nicobar islands

The Aberdeen Check Tower lies in the main area of a bustling commercial center in Port Blair. This tower was built in the remembrance of those English and Indian soldiers, who died fighting while defending this island during the First World War. This clock tower, also known as Ghanta Ghar, is quite unique looking in its simple but light yellow hues. This monolith molded clock tower reminds you of the British period and is an ideal meeting point if you are planning to visit the Port Blair Cellular Jail or any other nearby tourist destinations. The significant aspect of this place is that there are four clocks in this tower all showing distinct time as per the four different time zones. If you plan your travel well, then you can cover some other attractions of Port Blair nearby along with the Aberdeen Clock Tower.
This landmark was created after the end of the First World War and was in conservation for as long as a century. Once you visit this place you can have a brief insight into a few British and Indian soldiers, who existed during that time. If you go down through the markets at Aberdeen you can get a quick view of this place. This is one of the few historical monuments that demonstrate the rich culture and heritage of India during ancient times. There is much more to do here than just to view or have a look at this tall structure. Appreciate something, which was conserved for such a long time.

One of the significant parts of Andaman and Nicobar is Baratang Island. One can say that Baratang Island is the entryway to the Northern and Central Andaman Region of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Most tourists do not have a fair idea about it as this place is mostly unexplored from the perspective of the travel industry. However, there are a few exotic locations that you can witness visiting Baratang Island. The Mud Volcano is about 4 km away from this island. It is an incredible vacation spot in Andaman. Apart from this, the other significant places to visit here include the Limestone Caverns, Parrot Island, a wonderful beach at Baludera, etc. Besides, you can also plan a walking tour and enjoy the natural beauty of the mangrove and tropical woods. There are beaches nearby Baratang, which are accessible to you. These include the beach of Merk Bay in North Entry Island, Lalaji Bay Beach, and so forth.
If you are planning to visit the Baratang Island, you should contact a guide, if you need to return around the same time. If you can’t return on time, then chances are that you will miss seeing the Parrot Islands.

When you are exploring Baratang Island, the following should be on your itinerary list – Limestone Cave Volcano, Guitar Island, Parrot Island, Dongi rides, etc. Since you are on the beach, boat-riding is an activity that you must not miss out on. In fact, it is a major point of attraction in this spot. Tourists can enjoy boating while viewing plants and birds that they have never seen in the past.

Cellular Jail, popular by its other name Kaala Paani is a colonial prison. The construction of the jail started in 1896 and was completed in the year 1906, and the term “cellular” was used in the name because individual cells were made for keeping the prisoners in solitary confinement. The construction of the jail took place in a site, which was completely isolated from the mainland. There are 693 cells in total, with no dormitories. There is a central watchtower in the jail that was built to keep a constant watch on the prisoners
The puce-colored building, with honeycomb shaped corridors, was declared as a National Memorial in the year 1969. It was dedicated to the Nation on 11th February 1973 by the then Prime Minister of India. On entering the Cellular Jail, tourists can pay a visit to the Netaji Gallery, Art Gallery, Photo and Exhibition Gallery, and a library, where they can find photographs and other relevant information about the martyrs and the freedom struggle.
This place is a witness of the atrocities committed towards the political prisoners and freedom fighters, who were kept captivated in this jail. Eminent freedom fighters, such as Veer Savarkar, Yogendra Shukla, Bhai Parmanand, Babarao Savarkar, Batukeshwar Dutt, and many others were held captives in this seven-wing jail and then incarcerated. There are numerous heart-wrenching stories about the prisoners and their quest for India’s independence that this prison depicts and pays a tribute to their indomitable spirit, bravery, and fight for freedom.

The sound and light show, known as Son-et-Lumiere is very popular among the tourists, where the saga of the freedom struggle is displayed. In memory of the martyrs, an eternal flame has been built near the jail, popular by the name of Swatantra Jyot.

One of the major tourist spots in Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is the Chatham Government Saw Mill. You have to cross a bridge of 100 m to reach this saw mill from Port Blair. It is the largest, oldest, and most seasoned saw mills in Asia and is a part of many historical facts and figures. This ancient structure, which was built way back in 1883 was the major source of timber supply. The raw materials were primarily obtained from the deep backwoods of the encompassing Chatham Island. During the Second World War, the Japanese attacked this place and ruined this island entirely. However, after the World War was over, this island started to recover and soon, it was resurrected and once again habitation was re-established and human advancements began to evolve. The way this mill operates is worth to watch and will surely mesmerize you. Different kinds of woods like Marblewood, Gurjan, Satinwood, Padauk, etc. are the specialties of this place. The different kinds of woods that are available here are used in making furniture and crafted works. The authorities of this area strictly prohibit any sort of export of wood. This Mill offers employment opportunities to almost 700 - 800 local people living in this area.

There is a museum within the vicinity of this mill. You will be able to witness here some of the incredible collections of crafts and carvings that are made from varieties of woods and each of the items reveals the depth of artistry. Tourists can also purchase some exquisite wooden handicrafts sold by the local hawkers

Andaman and Nicobar are a group of islands of different dimensions and one of the largest islands is Havelock Island, also known as Swaraj Island, situated in the eastern part of the Great Andaman Islands. The distance from Port Blair is around 41 km. In Havelock Island, the three most popular beaches are Elephant Beach, Radhanagar Beach, and Kalapathar Beach. In between, the Elephant Beach, located in the northwest coast of Havelock Island, is most popular and famous because many types of water sports and underwater activities are available for the tourists here. The visitors can also explore the crystal clear blue water, white sands, and sandy shores. Furthermore, different types of marine flora and fauna, deep green forests including Mangroves, bright coral reefs, and many more can be spotted in the Elephant Beach. To reach this beautiful natural beach, there are two ways - travelers can take a 20-minute boat ride from Havelock Island dock or can start trekking through the hilly forest trails for around 40 minutes. The visitors should keep in mind that after 4 pm, nobody is allowed to stay on the beach, all boats start returning back to Havelock by this time.

In this peaceful beach, many activities are available to get indulged in; tourists can participate and enjoy underwater diving, snorkeling, swimming, trekking, sea walking, kayaking, mirror boat riding, and many other fun-filled adventure activities. Other nearby tourist attractions to explore are Radhanagar Beach, Corbyn’s Beach, Kalapathar Beach, Cellular Jail, etc. many restaurants are also there close-by, where you can relish mouth-watering seafood and other local delicacies.

Situated in the north-eastern region of Port Blair, Havelock Island, which is also known as the Swaraj Dweep is a very popular tourist attraction due to its pleasant white sandy beaches. Not only that, but this place also, consists of rich coral reefs and lavish green timberland. It is one of those islands in Andaman, which are significantly populated.
Because of such natural beauty in terms of greenery, exotic beaches, and pollution free environment, it draws in several tourists from all over the world, who are seeking relief from the hustle and bustle of the city. This island is right up there with the best in terms of top beach destinations not only in India but also in Asia. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, because of not having a huge amount of population and with a limited number of industries, is one of India’s major tourist attractions today.
One of another major attraction of Havelock Island is the curved-shaped beach of Radhanagar, which is a well-known spot for viewing the dusk. On the eastern part of the island, you can visit the long-stretched rocky areas of the Vijaynagar Beach. Inside the forest part of the island, you can witness several kinds of birds, namely, Woodpeckers or the White-Headed Mynas.
Luckily, the Havelock Island escaped the earthquake of the Indian Ocean in 2004 and its subsequent result, the Tsunami without any documented victims as such and continues to offer scenic pleasure to several travelers gathering here.

Radhanagar Beach, Kala Pathar Beach, Vijay Nagar Beach, Elephant Beach, Mount Harriet, Inglis Island, scuba diving, sea walking, snorkeling, and other water sports and activities.

One of the major tourist locations of Andaman and Nicobar Island is the Howrah Bridge, which is situated the Neil Island. This structure derived its name from the Bengalis, who lived nearby this island and is known to have a serene atmosphere for travelers. This is a wonderful structure built of corals and hence, it is recommended to use light footwear like chappals as you might slip while walking down the bridge wearing hard and heavy footwear. This beautiful naturally built structure in Neil Island, Howrah Bridge, extends from the terrain to the shore and makes for a visual treat with green vegetation that has developed on this land.
As the named might suggest, this structure is not exactly a bridge. It is a rock like structure that stands near the beach. It is ideal to visit this spot during the low tide as you will be able to discover many fascinating secrets left over from its treasure by the ocean.

Other visit-worthy places located nearby in Neil Island are – Radhanagar Beach, Sitapur Beach, Bharatpur Beach, Elephant Beach, etc.

Indira Point, the most southern point of India, is located in the Nicobar tehsil, Campbell Bay village, Nicobar Island district, near the eastern part of the Indian Ocean. To reach this spot, visitors have to reach Pawanhans to avail civil helicopter services or have to reach Campbell Bay to avail local bus services for Indira Point, distance is around 40 km.
The Campbell Bay is also known as “Mini Punjab”, as a famous Gurudwara is situated here. It is also the nearest point from Rondo Island of Indonesia and Aceh area of Sumatra, both are around 163 km south from Indira Point. The height of Indira Point is around 47 meters from mean sea level, but due to Tsunami (December 2004), the height reduced by 4 meters. Initially, Indira Point’s name was “Pygmalion Point” and “Parsons Point”. Later on 19th February 1984, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited the light house and the local Member of Parliament proposed to rename this place after her name and then accordingly, on 10th October 1985, the place was renamed as Indira Point.
The main tourist attraction of Indira Point is a magnificent sandy beach with a great Light House, and the deep blue crystal clear water on one side and the green forest with high density on the other side heighten the beauty of this site. This Light House is 35 meters high and has 16 navigational miles range, which was made on 30th April 1972. It is an important landmark in the Colombo - Singapore route and also provides a naval guide to the ships and local fishermen to identify the right direction. Here travelers can enjoy and explore the beautiful sea, salted water, dense tropical and mangrove forest with a rich bio-diversified natural environment.

Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, also known as Wandoor National Park is located in the south-western coast of the Andaman Island, in the Bay of Bengal. This marine life conservation area covers around 220 sq. km and consists of a group of 12 rocky islands, which belong to the Labyrinth Group of Islands. The marine park was established on 24th May 1983 following the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and the aim was to protect and conserve the wide marine life of this area. The famous and beautiful islands to visit are Jolly Buoy Island, Red Skin Island (parts of the Rutland Archipelago), Grub Island, Ranghat Island Long Island, Neil Island, and many more. Most of the islands are situated at a close distance from one another, covered with tropical and mangroves forests. The Park is administratively managed by the Forest Department of Andaman. All the island has some unique and important features like Sea fan Jungle, Reef Wall, Large Coral Rock, Giant Claim, underwater caves, Feather Stars, saltwater crocodile habitat, different types of flora and fauna, etc. A large variety of avifauna species (around 271) is found here – herons, parakeets, terns, white-billed sea eagle, Andaman Teal, swifts, waders, etc. The visitors can see and enjoy the diversity of rich marine life like Coral reefs, colorful fishes, shells, different types of starfish, saltwater crocodiles, mammals, varieties of birds, butterflies, insects, and many more. To explore this National Park, the visitors have to take permits from the authority and they provide only 150 permits per day on first come first serve basis.

Trekking, island camping, water sports like scuba diving, snorkeling, etc.

Mount Harriet National Park is a famous wildlife park situated in the Hope Town area in Port Blair. The Mount Harriet is a part of this national park, the 3rd highest hill (383 meters) in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The park is named as Mount Harriet following the name of Harriet Tytler, a British Administrator. He was also a photographer and nature lover and was appointed as the Superintendent of Port Blair.
The park covers around 45 sq. km and the management authority of this park is trying to increase the area to another 25 sq. km and the development process is going on. This beautiful park was established in 1969. The park is famous and popular to the visitors because of the availability of biodiversity; different types of flora and fauna can be noticed here with the immense natural greenery and beauty of this island. There are around 134 types of flora and 365 types of fauna available, of which about 30% are newly introduced here.
Beside the natural side, the park also has some man-made recreational features like a watchtower, waterfalls, trekking routes, underwater park, organic garden, and many more. The park has three popular trekking trails, a short trek to Kala Pathar, a medium trek to a lighthouse, which is located nearby, and a long trek to some hilly viewpoints, are the main attractions to the adventurous lover. The viewpoints are located at the top of Mount Harriet, from where you can see and enjoy the natural beauty of Andaman, which comprise the hill covered with lush vegetation and wide blue sea. Other nearby tourist attractions are Teal Bhavan, Fisheries Museum, Zoological Museum, Rajiv Gandhi Water Park, Havelock Island, and many more.

North Bay Island is a complete tour package in itself for all tourists. This island has something for everybody irrespective of whether you are a genuine water sports lover or a nature lover. There are different sorts of water sporting activities that one can enjoy here which include swimming, skiing, scuba jumping, etc. You may just sit back and enjoy the spellbinding appeal of the beaches here. All things combined, if you are touring Andaman, this place is a must-visit.
In this place, you will get the opportunity to get dazzling photos of the submerged world. Aside from its prominent submerged corals, this island serves you with some truly energizing vessel ride trips as well. Even if you are not an underwater sports lover, still this island will entice you towards itself.
Boating at the North Bay Island is surely not to miss. The boat ride offers you plentiful chances to investigate the reefs, marine world, and vegetation. The best part of the fun here is the sea walking that acquaints you with the dynamic universe of the ocean. If you want to take a very close view of the ocean reefs, you can avail the glass bottom boats too. This sea walking offers a very unique experience to the travelers on the grounds that this island displays a unique assortment of reefs and fishes, which cannot be found in the majority of the islands. If you are a beach lover, this is an ideal place for you.

Water sports, snorkeling, scuba diving and underwater tours, sea walking, lighthouse, tour to Ross Island, etc.

As per the famous Time Magazine, Radhanagar Beach is the seventh best beach in the world. No wonder it is the most beautiful and famous beach in the Andaman islands. This beach was crowned as the best shoreline in Asia. It is simply a surrealistic marvel that leaves you in wonder. In spite of its popularity, you will not find many people crowding this beach, and thus, the peacefulness of this spot is such that one must visit here at least once in a lifetime. It is one of the tranquil ocean sides of Andaman and is all magnificent and interesting to draw you into adoration with the environment.
Many travelers from all over the world come here to experience the serene atmosphere and harmony and this spot is for the individuals, who are looking to avoid crowded places and need to relax at an immaculate site. The reputable Havelock Island is not far from this place. There are white sand and thick backwoods in this shoreline for you to explore.

The vacationers can encounter water sports, for example, different snorkeling activities.
Another major attraction here is the elephant ride, which one can enjoy along with witnessing the sunset.
Do not forget shopping from the nearby handicraft shops.
The icing on the cake here is different famous restaurants that are located nearby this beach like the Red Snapper, Fat Martin’s, Anju Coco Resto, etc., where you can enjoy some tasty seafood after a sea bath or a long boat ride.

The word “Samudrika” is derived from the word “Samudra”, which means Sea. Samudrika Naval Marine Museum is a popular and famous tourist attraction of Andaman, located in Port Blair, opposite of Andaman Teal House, Delanipur. The museum was established and is managed by the Indian Navy and the purpose of establishing this museum was to build and spread awareness regarding the marine life, the marine ecosystem, local oceanic environment, and culture among the visitors.
The museum, also known locally as “Fisheries Museum”, has an extensive range of information and a large collection of items associated with the local tribal culture, environment, animals, vegetation, and marine life. The museum also has an inbuilt aquarium, where you can explore the rich gathering of different colorful fishes and shells. You can be sure that these vibrant and colorful underwater creatures will win your heart and you would love to spend time with them. It has five rich galleries, which exhibit the history, geography, archaeology, ecosystem, and other marine life information of this island. Also, there is a small zoo, where you can see the local saltwater crocodiles. Near the entrance of the museum, there is a huge skeleton of a blue whale displayed, which is quite a sight.
This naval museum will aware you about the secret and hidden underwater marine life and ecosystem and allow you to fall in love with the deep oceanic underworld surroundings. The other nearby tourist attractions are Chidiya Tapu Island, Ross Island, Marine Park, Forest Museum, Viper Island, Cellular Jail, Gandhi Park, Forest Museum, and many more.

This temple is considered the holiest and the most important temple of the city. Built during the British Colonial Era in 1926, this temple is placed on a hillock, which overlooks the city. The Britishers built this temple mainly to earn the trust and loyalty of the local Tamil community. The ancient temple is beautifully constructed and highly revered by the devotees. The main deity of the temple is Lord Muruga, the Hindu God of war. Shrines of Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, and Lord Ganesha are also present here.
The temple was formerly established in Ross Island and was completed by the year 1932. However, after India’s independence, it got shifted to Port Blair. The construction of the temple is loosely based on the Dravidian style of architecture. The main gopuram of the temple stores many intricate paintings. The design of this temple is very similar to that of Kanda Kottam Temple in Chennai. At the time of its inception, the temple was maintained by a prominent Tamil businessman, Mr. Ponnuranga Mudaliar.
Considered a prominent heritage site, the shine of the temple remains the same even after so many decades, which speaks about the maintenance of the temple. Tourists, who think Andaman is all about pristine beaches, will get to witness a different side of this destination by visiting this shrine. The tranquil ambiance of the temple looks inviting and serves not only as a place of worship but also, a place where the devotees can unwind. The temple is surrounded by lush gardens, where the tourists can take rest in the shades of the trees and relax in the serene environment.
The management committee of this temple helps the poor and needy inhabitants of the island. The nearby tourist attractions are the Cellular Jail, Anthropological Museum, North Bay Island, etc.

The Zonal Anthropological Museum, established in 1975, is a standout amongst the best museums in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This museum is managed by the Anthropological Survey of India. Once you visit here, you can get a clear insight into the significant and instructive representation of the island’s local primitive tribal communities. These clans or the local tribes are considered as one of the oldest on the planet. This touring spot is quite a delightful one and allows visitors to experience life on the island. The significant displays that are available here inside this museum consist of the shamanic models, handicrafts, equipment, clothing, ornaments, pictures, utensils, chest guards worn by the Jarawas, and so on. This region was used to be the native place of four local tribes, they were the Andamanese, Sentinelese, Onges, and Jarawas (the Negroid). There were two additional communities namely Nicobarese and Shompens (Mongoloid).
Hence, if you are passionate about learning about these ancient Palaeolithic tribes, then a visit to this museum is a must thing to do. Indeed, even today, these tribal people live in a place, which is far away from human habitation and hence, they have no contact with the civilized society. Guests, who visit Andaman are not permitted to enter these regions without the approval from appropriate authorities. Therefore, this museum is one of the only mediums to comprehend how tribal life is like on this island. Even if you are not an anthropology lover, you can still think about a short visit here and explore something that can be quite memorable for the rest of your life.