Solo trip to the Andamans!

The first time I heard stories of the Andaman islands was when I was in junior school. Dad (in the Air Force) was there for a few days….it was a regular sortie. The stories of the islands fascinated me…..tribals, coconuts, corals, fishing and just nothing else!

I flew into Kolkata to spend few days in my apartment and to get some work done. Then just like that, I decided to fly to the Andamans! So on the 10^th of Oct I booked myself a ticket for the 19^th of Oct to Port Blair. Then Cyclone “Phailin” happened. 

"Phailin" just passed over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands the previous day and now had intensified. My Parents were concerned as to whether it was safe to travel. 19^th was a long way off and the cyclone had already passed Andamans and it was approaching Orissa, nevertheless I was watching/hearing/reading the latest development on “Phailin”. It hit Orissa and by the 14^th of Oct had weakened over land and subsequently died. Crisis over! Whew!!

So, off I flew….

19^th Oct at about 1300 hrs my flight landed at the Port Blair Airport. I switch on my mobile phone and seconds after a message came in….it was from my funny artist friend. She wrote, “Have fun in Andamans darling! What infinite possibilities awaits you there?” I thought…this I’m going to be discovering in the next few days!

Travel to Andamans?

I know it’s probably not the destination that most people would think of when they decide to take some time off from work. Tourism is in infancy stage and the Indian Government is not even trying to promote the islands!

Passport/visa/permission

For Indians: No passport/visa/permission is required. They can stay in permitted areas for as long as they want.

For Foreigners: Passport is required with an Indian Visa to enter India. This is applicable to foreigners entering Andamans directly from a charter/private yachts. Additionally, a Restricted Area Permit (RAP) is also required which can be availed on arrival to Port Blair from the Immigration counter at the airport or embarkation of ships at the sea-port. RAP is issued for 30 day visit in islands, and is extendable upto 15 more days and tickets can be rescheduled in Port Blair itself from the respective airline offices.

To get to the Islands, the port of entry is Port Blair. There are direct flights only from Kolkata and Chennai and it takes about 2 hrs. Not advisable to go by sea as these take 3-4 days roughly and these are not cruise liners!

Now why Andamans? Why spend a week here? There’s not much development here? Phone and internet connections quite poor especially if one were to get out of Port Blair it becomes non existent! There’s even no night-life!

The answer is simple. Travelling to these islands that few people know anything about and fewer people seem to visit gives me a high. There’s so much natural beauty to see and to do just nothing….awesome! To watch a sunrise or a sunset on a beach with not a soul in sight for miles & miles…..how awesome can it get! The mobile doesn’t even ring to take you away from such an experience!

Out of all the islands, Havelock is the most developed in terms of tourist infrastructure. There are quite a number of tourist resorts/hotels/accommodation available here. Even then, the island did not have that touristy atmosphere if you get what I’m saying.

The first night in Havelock along with an Israeli newly married couple that I had met on the boat went down to the beach to do some "moon watching". The moon rising from the dark inly blue sea....the waves lashing the rocks.....the dark shadowy trees behind us looming large....and just the 3 of us on the beach. What a feeling!

I also met a couple of Spanish girls enjoying the sun, sand and the sea! They alternated between lying flat on the beach soaking in the sun and wading in the sea and doing a bit of swimming. They absolutely loved the place. They loved the quite life of the locals and none would bother you if you were to walk around on the island on your own unlike the other touristy spots in the world, they told me. Andamans is raw natural beauty. The beaches are absolutely gorgeous and the sea with its different hues, just fantastic. I also met an Austrian guy, a lone traveller and he was glad to have come here and discover a bit of these unexplored islands! He truly loved being here!

I walked around the island with not a care in the world. The beaches crawling with life.....for the first time I saw sea shells lying all around were alive! One had to stand still to see these creatures crawling.....you moved and they were still! I laughed! It was such a pure joy to see this. I saw some foreigners cycling at a slow and easy pace and I thought...I must do that next time. Life is so unhurried here.

I must admit that I skipped so many other places that I wanted to see….I only went to Port Blair, Ross Island, Baratang, Wandoor, Havelock and Neil Island. I should have stayed longer….but that’s why I am going again! The island is also a bird’s paradise. I believe there are loads of endemic birds. Some of the coral formations found here would take one’s breath away and the number of colored fishes awesome!

I do have so much to share about this trip but it will have to be another post. I also am looking forward to sharing a trip with other wanderers and discovering Andamans all over again and I just can’t wait for that to happen!