How to get there? Which country do they belong to? Is it really important to know the answers to these questions when it comes to the absolute paradise from the famous coconut chocolate bar advertisement? well, yes, heaven. . . In which there is absolutely nothing to do. . . :)

Far away... Don't think that we are now trying to dissuade you from visiting the Andaman Islands. Quite the opposite.
Travel for several days by land, water and air, apply for an Indian visa, and then a special permit, manage not to burn on the first day under the cosmically scorching sun... Having smeared yourself with sunscreen, crawl out of the bamboo hut for a couple of hours in the morning and evening... .
And, most blasphemous, forget about. At all. Even the slowest one.

Only in this case does insight come - all the difficulties you have done for the sake of this wonderful moment, the moment of doing nothing. Surrounded by perfectly white sand flour, soothingly crunchy under your feet, the azure surface of the ocean, which due to its transparency is almost invisible while swimming, a delicious coconut that continues your hand every day, and complete peace, so necessary in the frantic rhythm of our daily lives.

Welcome to distant lands - to the Andaman Islands. By the way, you heard right, the Andaman archipelago belongs to India.
Only you can “see” it better from Myanmar. There are about 150 kilometers between them. While the islands are almost one and a half thousand away from their “native” country. For those who are partial to seascapes, endless expanses and the rocking of the ship, this distance is mere nonsense.
Once a week, a ship departs from the port of Kolkata, taking several days to reach its destination. And for those who like to travel by air, of course, the plane is only a couple of hours away.

Whichever option you choose, you cannot avoid queuing to get permission. However, there is no need to worry - it is given to almost everyone. And after the stamp is phlegmatically slapped into the passport, all roads open. On any of the islands of the archipelago. Although no, not just any one. I'm exaggerating. The fact is that out of more than 500, less than 50 are inhabited...
And the rest are untouched corners, where there is simply no fresh water and where, most likely, no human has set foot. Most of the so-called “wild” islands are still inhabited by people who are not familiar with civilization. They say that among them there are direct descendants of primitive people. Although there is no way to verify this - Aboriginal settlements have been declared reservations, which are strictly guarded by the authorities, and visiting them is prohibited.

Interestingly, in Port Blair, the capital of the archipelago, many travel agencies offer excursions to the “wild” islands. This means a dozen pieces of land with several nationalities (Onge, Jarawa, Sentinelese, etc.), the number of which does not exceed a couple of hundred people. These are aborigine pygmies who became acquainted with the civilized world quite recently, and use only loincloths and bright beads as clothing.

Tourists coming to the islands are allowed to move only a hundred meters away from the boat. Of course, there are no fences. Just outside the designated area, as trip organizers assure, there is a risk of running into trouble. In the access zone Of course, the “wildness” described above is a rare exception. And you shouldn’t be afraid of them if you are purposefully traveling to islands from the permitted category.

So, 20 ferry minutes from Port Blair, perhaps the most excursion of them is Ross Island. Or “Paris of the East,” as it was pathetically called during the residence of first the French and then the English colonial authorities. It was here that the first correctional settlement for convicts on the archipelago was built. To this day, all that remains of the brick prisons are a few walls artistically overgrown with vines, a church on the top of a hill and an old cemetery adjacent to it. Guests of the island are greeted by the owners of the territory - sika deer Axis, who allow themselves to be stroked.

Unlike Ross, the neighboring Viper Island much smaller and completely covered in greenery. It received its name in honor of the ship of the same name, which was wrecked here in 1789. It was on it that English Lieutenant Archibald Blair first arrived in the Andamans with the aim of building prisons (one on Ross Island, the other in the capital of the archipelago). On Viper, whipping posts are preserved as relics - evidence of a sad colonial past. Because of them, this place is also called the “island of gallows.” And the path to them from the pier leads along a winding brick path.

The most peaceful of the islands - Nile. The ferry from Port Blair arrives on its shores only three times a week. Its territory is considered an exclusive recreation center for wealthy ecotourists and snorkeling fans. The coral reef here has been preserved in its original form, and the island itself resembles a triangle with several bays and enchanting beaches. You can explore them in a couple of hours by bike.
And to get a feel for the place, it’s better to stay for a week. During this time you can relax and dive. And also gorge yourself on exotic fruits. The Nile, by the way, is called the “food bowl” by the residents of the archipelago. After all, it is from here that the largest quantity of all “Andaman” fruits and vegetables is exported.

And if this little tropical paradise gets boring, welcome to Havelock- the most popular and touristy of all the islands. You can get to it by the same ferry as to the Nile, just get off at the terminus. And from the pier, anyone can drive to the desired location in a matter of minutes. The main attraction of the island is Beach 7, which perhaps deserves the highest rating on the Bounty scale.
A wide lagoon of snow-white sand framed by greenery, the road to which lies through a real tropical forest, a majestic and calm ocean, and, finally, a crystal blue sky...

The first days of your stay on Havelock, the surrounding landscapes do not let go of the idea that everything is completely “Photoshopped” of what is happening. Just forty minutes later, and we are on the elephant beach, where, of course, for a fee, you can even swim with a huge animal. A few more kilometers to the south, and we will always encounter dolphins and turtles. Overnight stay is in a bamboo hut with cozy hammocks on the porch. On their roofs, made of palm branches, before dawn, ripe mangoes fall from the trees, which are pleasant to quench your thirst during the day.
Every new day you can visit a new beach, scuba dive or snorkel, travel in the jungle. Or just sit on the sand and watch the boats that do not float, but seem to float above clear water.

In pursuit of "shanti"
Many readers may think that the Andamans are an absolute paradise, where you can wander endlessly. Desert, mangroves, ocean, ocean, ocean...
But all this beauty can hardly be called a tourist place in the style of the UAE, Maldives and other popular tourist destinations. There are no fashionable hotels, pretentious restaurants, nightclubs or any significant architectural landmarks in the Andamans.
People go to the Andaman archipelago, cruising lazily between a “wild” beach and a hut vibrating in the wind. However, in this case, the word “laziness” does not carry a negative connotation. Here, rather, a certain state of “shanti”, harmony of the internal and external world is implied. And if this makes you feel good, then you have found yourself in a place where it is simply good, without any conditionality.

Have you ever wondered what a bounty is, other than a chocolate bar? But originally this was the name of a warship that crashed off the coast of small islands southeast of New Zealand. The same ones that later became the “Bounty”, a symbol of “heavenly pleasure”...
And if you are ready to travel for a long and difficult time to the Andaman Islands in order to slowly and lazily catch the poetry of everyday life on the beach, breathe in the atmosphere of freedom and do “doing nothing,” then you should not put it off until later. Because, most likely, such a trip will turn out to be one of the most interesting adventures on the travel list. And proof of how wonderful it is to laze around in almost heavenly conditions.

John, G4IRN will be active from Andaman Islands, IOTA AS - 001, 23 February - 5 March 2018 as VU4G.
QTH - Sea Princess Resort, Port Blair, Andaman Island, Andaman Islands.
Latest DX spots VU4G
QTH locator - NK61ho.
It will operate on the bands 40 - 17m.
QSL via G4IRN, ClubLog OQRS, LOTW.
Address for QSL direct:
JOHN WARBURTON, 31 GREENWOOD ROAD, THAMES DITTON, KT7 0DU, England.

VU4G. Sea Princess Resort, Andaman Islands. QSL.

Holidays in the Andaman Islands - return to nature

If there are still places on our planet where no human has set foot, then they can be found on the Andaman Islands. The archipelago is located in the Bay of Bengal between India and Myanmar, is part of India and is part of the union formation of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Of more than two hundred small islands, only 36 have been developed.

Pristine nature is represented by endless tropical forests covering more than 90% of the territory. A rich ecosystem, secluded lagoons with emerald water, pristine beaches with golden sand - this is not heaven on earth! Jacques-Yves Cousteau himself admired the local nature and eloquently described it in his memoirs.

The archipelago has a warm tropical climate, with an average temperature of 26°C. The season of heavy tropical rains can be found here in the summer months, so it is better not to take risks and not plan your vacation for this time. The tourist season with the most favorable climate lasts from October to April.

Andaman Islands. Photo by Jordan Sadler.

Primitive tribes and colonization

According to research, even in ancient times, descendants of primitive people moved from Africa to the islands. By the way, on many isolated islands, direct descendants of those same settlers still live, whose way of life has not changed at all since the times of the primitive system.

The famous navigator Marco Polo was the first to speak about the islands inhabited by strange tribes. Moreover, in his stories, the traveler called the islanders nothing less than cannibals, which for a long time repulsed the desire of his contemporaries and subsequent generations to visit the remote group of islands.

This continued until the Englishman Archibald Blair arrived on the island in 1789, who immediately registered the lands as English possessions. The enterprising lieutenant founded the first stronghold - Port Blair, which later became the largest city and capital of the archipelago. Today, the city is home to approximately 100 thousand people, most of whom are Indians.

Due to the unusual climatic conditions, the British immediately disliked the islands and used the new colony exclusively for the exile of prisoners. In memory of those times, prison buildings remained - one of the few man-made monuments in the Andamans.

During the Second World War, part of the islands was occupied by Japan, which, however, very quickly abandoned the territory. And since 1950, the archipelago completely came under the control of India, soon after which it acquired the status of a nature reserve.

Kollinpur Beach, Andaman Islands. Photo by Abkhranil Neogi.

Development of tourism in the Andamans

The tourism business on the islands is poorly developed: the Indian government is in no hurry to sacrifice such a rare treasure for monetary gain. And this is only for the better, because there are not many places left on earth where you can hide from the boring urbanization and truly relax. Andamans is not for those who are used to service at every turn and first-class living conditions. This is a place for true connoisseurs of the exotic who want to completely immerse themselves in the authentic world of island life.

Another explanation for the fact that the islands are not at all popular among tourists is the need to obtain special permission to visit the territory, which has the status of a nature reserve. In addition, Russian citizens need to obtain a visa to travel to India. As for the permit, this is a far-fetched obstacle, because the document does not need to be specially prepared somewhere on your own; it is issued to all tourists right at the airport upon arrival.

It is also believed that the supposed road to the islands is expensive and confusing. But in fact, getting here is not much more difficult than getting to other island resorts. To do this, you need to fly to India, from where you can get to Port Blair, the largest city in the archipelago. This can be done by air or water.

Fisherman, Andaman Islands. Photo by Tim Scarisbrick.

Who would be interested in a holiday in the Andaman Islands?

As already mentioned, lovers of a relaxed beach holiday are unlikely to appreciate the local service. But fans of active pastime will definitely be satisfied with the trip.

The Andaman Islands are a favorite destination for divers who come here from all over the world. There are no industrial ports in the protected area, and fishing is completely prohibited. Such closedness of the islands to fishing allowed the ecosystem to maintain its original appearance. Thanks to the crystal clear water, you can freely observe the life of the underwater world in all its colorful diversity. The favorable season for diving coincides with the tourist season, when there are no storms or downpours.

The protected Andaman Islands are dearly loved by adherents of the now fashionable ecotourism. If you want to relax exclusively in those corners of our planet where there is the least trace of civilization, then the Andamans are simply created for this. There are never crowds of tourists with cameras, noisy music parties and other attributes of resort towns. The environment on the islands is ideal for yoga, meditation, and other practices that involve unity with nature.

What tourists need to know

Since the entire archipelago is a protected area, this dictates certain rules of conduct for visitors. For example, on the islands it is prohibited to collect shells, pick corals, fish near the shore and engage in spearfishing. Even if you manage to take the coral without anyone noticing, it will be discovered by customs officers during luggage inspection.

Be careful with local cuisine. Indians are big fans of seasonings, to which the body of Europeans is often unusual. Therefore, if you are not a big fan of fiery food, then when ordering dishes it is better to immediately ask for less spices.

When buying souvenirs, you can and should bargain - fortunately, residents of Port Blair and nearby settlements speak good English. To make payments, it is better to get local money immediately upon arrival, since ATMs can only be found in Port Blair.

Official language: Hindi, English (status of “auxiliary official language”).

Currency: Indian rupee (Rs, Rp) = 100 paise. Banknotes of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 rupees have been in circulation since 2000.

Time: from Moscow +2.5 hours

There is no time change between summer and winter time in India.

Visa to Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Russian citizens arriving in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands require an Indian visa and additional permission. As a rule, such a permit is issued for 30 days of stay, but it is possible to extend it for a few more weeks. Please note that for tourists who do not have return tickets or an invitation from the hotel, a permit is issued only for 15 days. Violating the strict visa regime of the islands is fraught with unpleasant consequences - a fine of $600.

Tourists and travelers arriving in the Andaman Islands by air obtain this permit directly at the airport. Those who prefer a boat trip from the mainland must obtain such permission in advance.

To obtain an Indian visa, the following documents are required:

• international passport;
• copy of internal passport (page with photo and registration);
• 2 passport size (or smaller) photographs (3x4);
• 2 forms filled out in English;
• round-trip air ticket (or booking confirmation).

Customs regulations

• The import and export of previously imported foreign currency is not limited, while national currency is prohibited.
• Cash in the amount of more than 10 thousand USD, as well as personal computers and laptops are subject to mandatory declaration.
• Allowed duty-free import of cigarettes - up to 200 pcs., or cigars - up to 50 pcs., or tobacco - up to 250 grams, alcoholic beverages - up to 0.95 liters, jewelry, food, household items and items - within the limits of personal needs.
• Cameras, musical instruments, household audio and video equipment, typewriters and sports equipment are imported in quantities of no more than one item of each item, souvenirs - worth no more than 500 rupees.
• The import of drugs and drug-containing drugs, weapons and ammunition without the appropriate permits is prohibited.
• The export of tiger skins, wild animals, bird plumage, skins and products made from the skin of rare reptiles, live plants, jewelry worth more than 2,000 rupees, gold and silver bullion, antiques and antiquities (over a hundred years old) is prohibited.

Transport

There is a ferry service between the islands, and helicopters also fly. Flights are highly dependent on the weather, and during severe storms they may be canceled altogether. Tickets are inexpensive. Tourist ferries are quite comfortable, designed for 100 people, and have air conditioning, which, however, is not always adequate. Regular ferries are much larger and less comfortable, designed for 400 people, located on two levels.

You can travel directly on the islands by auto-rickshaws (in Port Blair and Havelock Island), taxis (only in the capital) or scooters, which can also be rented only in the capital and on Havelock Island. Rental cost 350 INR per day, deposit ~800 INR.

Climate

The tourist season in this area is very similar to the tourist season in Goa: it flares up in October and dies down in April. With more than three hundred sunny days a year, you can be sure that nothing will ruin your first-class beach holiday in the Andamans. The climate in the Andaman Islands is tropical. Throughout the year, the temperature fluctuates slightly around 26 C°, but in the summer months there is a high probability of heavy rains, especially in August.

Cities and resorts

The best beaches of the Andaman Islands:

Radhanagar beach - Or as it is also called beach No. 7. It is worth noting that it is no coincidence that he ended up in first place on our list. Today it is the most popular beach in the Andaman Islands. It is located on Havelock Island away from the main settlements with hotels and guesthouses. The easiest way to get here is by rented scooter; the ride is about 10 km. Beach No. 7 is a 2 km long strip of white sand, framed by lush jungle vegetation on one side and the azure waters of the Andaman Sea on the other. It gained international fame after Time magazine named it the best beach in Asia. Here you can have a snack in a cozy cafe and rent water sports equipment.

Karmatang beach - The beach is located on the northern part of Middle Andaman island, 12 km from the town of Mayabunder. From the capital of the Andaman Islands, Port Blair, it is 240 km by road or 136 km if you plan to travel by sea. From experience, if you don't have a racing boat, it's still much faster by road. There are a lot of beaches in Mayabuder district, but this one is considered the best. Karmatang Beach is best known for the large turtles that lay their eggs here. Karmatang is a very picturesque beach surrounded by dense vegetation. It is worth noting that turtles have good taste. Not far from the beach there is a guesthouse where tourists can spend the night. Nearby is Mount Harriet, around which trekking routes are laid.

Chidiya Tapu Beach - On Russian-language websites, this beach is often called Chirya Tapu, which is somewhat surprising, since in its English spelling and pronunciation there is no hint of the Russian letter “r”. However, the place is really worth mentioning. Let's start with the fact that this is the second most popular beach located near the city of Port Blair. Just 25 km to the south and you find yourself in a kingdom of peace and tranquility. Waves are extremely rare here. The main attraction and feature of this area is the abundance of feathered representatives of the local fauna. The second name of Chidiya Tapu is “Bird Island”. Also famous are the beautiful sunsets, which can be observed while sitting on the sand that has warmed up during the day. A plus is the fact that this beach is located further from the capital and there are significantly fewer people here.

Corbyn's Cove beach - This is one of the most popular beaches located near the capital of the Andaman Islands. It is separated from the city of Port Blair by just 7 km of scenic highway. Proximity to the capital has its pros and cons. The advantages include accessibility and developed tourist infrastructure. On the beach there are sun loungers, changing rooms, restaurants, bars and a hotel. Here you can rent equipment for water sports. The disadvantages include the fact that there are usually noticeably more people here than on other beaches of the Andaman archipelago. On weekends and holidays, a large number of locals seek to relax on this strip of white sand and admire the picturesque sunset.

Harminder Bay Beach - This is the perfect place for anyone who is hopelessly in love with the sea. It is located 100 km from the capital of the Andaman Islands and is a paradise of wildlife framed by a strip of snow-white sand. This beach cannot boast of a developed tourist infrastructure and yet remains one of the most popular in the Andamans.

Ramnagar Beach - located near a large city on the northernmost point of the Andaman Islands - Diglipur. There are several beaches here (Kalipur, Lamiya Bay), but the most popular of them is undoubtedly Ramnagar. In addition to tourists enjoying their vacation, large turtles can often be seen here. The beach is surrounded by palm trees and dense bushes.

Butler Bay Beach - This is one of the best beaches on Little Andaman Island. Before the devastating tsunami of 2004, it was one of the most popular beaches in all the Andaman Islands. But now there is no trace left of the tourism infrastructure. The vegetation along the beach has recovered quite quickly, but the coral reefs in the coastal waters still look quite poor. You can come here with a surfboard; the waves are small, but you can surf for pleasure. Today it is quite difficult to meet tourists here; it is just another picturesque white sand beach washed by the azure waters of the Andaman Sea. It is located about 10 km from Bay Hut, the main village on the island.

Main attractions of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Jolie Boy Island— Tourists come to the island to admire this untouched corner of wildlife, to walk along the snow-white beach washed by the azure waters of the Andaman Sea, to admire the richness of the underwater kingdom hiding under the surface of the coastal waters. Jolie Boy Island is primarily a tourist attraction, simply because overnight stops are prohibited on it. Tourists are brought here in the morning and picked up in the afternoon or evening. The island is part of the Mahatma Gandhi National Marine Park. Fishing, damage to coral and any activity that could lead to pollution or destruction of this protected area is prohibited in this area. The most popular activities here are diving, snorkeling and viewing coral reefs through the transparent bottom of a pleasure boat. An interesting procedure has been implemented here aimed at preventing environmental pollution. Before departure, passengers provide a list of all plastic items they are taking with them and pay a deposit of 100 rupees. Upon return, they are required to present all these products and only then will they be able to collect their deposit. It is worth noting that you will most likely have to take at least some plastic items with you. There are no stalls or shops with food or water on the islands included in the National Marine Park. Otherwise, they could hardly be called pristine corners of wildlife. You can take a glass-bottom boat ride on Jolly Buoy Island.

Barren Island - If the name of the island is literally translated, Barren means “barren”. The island is home to the only active volcano not only in all of India, but also in all of Southeast Asia. The barren island lives up to its name and has fairly poor flora and fauna. The result of multiple eruptions was that only the most resilient species survived here. In addition to birds, there is a small population of goats, flying foxes and several species of rodents, such as rats, which are not afraid of any disasters. A completely different picture can be observed in the coastal waters of Barren Island. Diving in this area is deservedly popular. The island is surrounded by walls that go deep into the sea. The black volcanic sand also makes the underwater landscape unique. These walls are favored by all kinds of soft corals and colorful gorgonians, which in turn serve as a haven for numerous tropical fish. There are also barracudas and reef sharks swimming along the black walls in search of prey.

Mount Harriet National Park— The park boasts many exciting trekking routes, walking along which you can admire the richness of the flora and fauna of the area. The most popular route among tourists is the route to Madhuban Beach. The road through the picturesque jungle is approximately 16 km. The park is home to hundreds of species of exotic birds and butterflies, as well as turtles, wild pigs and giant crabs with the romantic name “Palm Thief”. You can get to Mount Harriet Park by bus or ferry from Port Blair. The journey will take no more than half an hour. Entrance to the park is paid. For Indian citizens the cost is 25 rupees. For Indian students 5 rupees, for international students 10 rupees. All other foreign citizens must pay 250 rupees.

Baratang Island - The main attraction of Baratang Island is the only active mud volcano in all of India. It is quite young, as it was formed only in 2005. Researchers associate this phenomenon with the strong earthquake that took place in 2004. A mud volcano that emits gas and mud is a rather rare natural phenomenon. There are about 700 such volcanoes in the world. A very exciting pastime is traveling on boats along the rivers through the mango thickets. You will have a great opportunity to appreciate the richness of the flora and fauna of a tropical island practically untouched by modern civilization. Excursions to the limestone caves of Baratang Island are also popular. The caves are famous for the abundance of all kinds of stalactites and stalagmites.

Ross Island is one big attraction, but it is under the jurisdiction of the Indian Navy and the island is closed to tourists at night. They organized the Smritika Museum here, telling its visitors about the life of the colonialists in the Andaman Islands. There are ruins of once beautiful residential buildings, a church, a swimming pool, a hospital, government offices, correctional facilities, bunkers, etc., but the jungle is gradually reclaiming these areas. The picture is somewhat reminiscent of the unforgettable Angkor Wat, only in miniature and with more modern buildings.

The best diving is on Havelock Island, in the national park. Gandhi and South Sinque Island. Snorkeling - in North Bay, on MuaTerra Beach and on Havelock Island. The equipment is inexpensive and can be purchased or rented.

National cuisine

Indian cuisine - Rice, corn, dal, peas, lentils and other legumes, as well as flatbreads made from lower grades of flour (chapati) and vegetables are an integral part of Indian cuisine.

Particular emphasis in Indian cuisine is on vegetarian dishes. Most people in this country do not eat meat. Eating cow meat and cattle meat in general is strictly prohibited by various religious laws and ancient customs. Preference is given to fish dishes. Indian national cuisine is characterized by the use of large quantities of garlic and pepper. One of the first places is a mixture of curry spices. A colorful Indian dessert is vattilappam.

Just like in India, tea is very popular here in India, which is drunk with hot milk, and the milk is served separately.

Andaman Islands - part of the archipelago, which also includes the Nicobar Islands, located in the Bay of Bengal. They are separated from the mainland by 1,400 km. The capital of the islands is Port Blair with a population of about 100 thousand people, and tourists usually go through it.

There are about 570 islands in total, of which 40 are inhabited, and 10 are accessible to tourists, and these ten belong to the Andaman Islands, while the Nicobar Islands are generally closed to visitors. The total population is about 350 thousand people, of which only 500 are aborigines (by the way, no anthropologists have yet been able to find out which groups the native population belongs to). You won’t be able to see the natives, since the Indian government is concerned about preserving these primitive tribes in their original form, and communication with tourists, as you understand, does little to contribute to this.

Few Russian tourists can boast of their holidays on the Andaman Islands, because, firstly, the islands are a closed area, to visit which you need to take permission, and secondly, getting to them is far away and expensive.

This is what the shortcomings are about. But there are more than enough advantages.

• Excellent tropical climate, temperatures range from +23 °C to +31 °C. The best time to visit is from October to May. Late summer often brings severe storms.
• Amazing and rich flora and fauna. In brochures for tourists, the islands are often (and quite deservedly) called “emerald tropical paradise.” Mysterious jungle, the singing of exotic birds, no less exotic flowers, white beaches surrounded by palm trees, fish of various colors, sometimes you can hear the beating of native drums - no fantasy can create a more romantic holiday.
• Cleanest ecology, and this is natural. Hundreds of kilometers separate the islands from the mainland; there is practically no industry, and there probably won’t be, because here are national reserves. It's probably only cleaner in Antarctica, but sunbathing there is problematic.
• Great hotels

Permission to visitAndaman Islands

Tourists arriving by air need to apply for a permit, called a permit, at the immigration office in the capital of the islands, Port Blair. The office is located at the Haddo Jetty. Tourists traveling to the islands by sea must obtain permission in advance: from the Foreigners’ Registration Office either in Chennai (tel. 044-28278210), or in Kolkata (tel. 033-22473300), or when applying for a standard visa. Usually no one is denied permission.

Permission is usually given for 30 days if return tickets are available. If not, then only for 15 days. If desired, the permit can be extended in Port Blair itself for only 15 days.

You need to keep in mind that this permit may be required at the hotel, on the ferry, or by the island authorities, so losing it is fraught.

How to get to the Andaman Islands

Since this area of ​​tourism is not widespread, tourists should not go to travel agencies for a trip to the Andamans; prices will be unreasonably inflated. In fact, getting to these islands is no more difficult than, say, Samui, and in terms of money it will also be cheaper.

Airplane

For now, Port Blair, the only gateway to the islands, can only be reached from Indian territory; over time, flights are planned from.

JetLite planes to the Andamans fly from Delhi in (about 4 hours), from Chennai - Indian Airlines and Kingfisher Red (fly 2 hours 5 minutes), and Kolkata - Indian Airlines - fly 2 hours.

The easiest way for tourists holidaying in Goa to get to the Andaman Islands is through Mumbai. A train ticket to Mumbai in a reserved seat (Sleeper Class) will cost 400 rupees, and regular flights connect Mumbai and Port Blair.

It is usually difficult to buy tickets before a flight, so it is recommended to book them in advance. Airplane tickets to the Andaman Islands can be found using this SEARCH ENGINE. Drive in Delhi then Port Blair, departure city, and see the required flights on the desired dates.

Ship .

There are regular ferries to the Andaman Islands from Kolkata, Chennai and Visakhapatnam. In addition, the ship MV Akbar sails from Kolkata 4-6 times a month (flight lasts 56 hours), from Chennai once a week during the season the ships MV Nancowry and MV Swarajdweep (journey lasts 60 hours).

You can travel between the islands themselves either by helicopter or by ferry. There are tourist ferries - for a hundred people, more or less comfortable, and regular ferries - for 400 people. The cost of a ferry ticket between Port Blair and Havelock is up to two hundred rupees, but it is very difficult to buy tickets; there are simply a ton of people at the ticket office. Oddly enough, there is a women's queue here, which is much calmer, however, there are also men in the queue.

Beaches and hotels of the Andaman Islands

You can see beautiful beaches without even moving away from the capital of the islands. Not far from Port Blair there is a bounty style beach at Corbina Bay. Here you can stay at the Peerless Resort hotel or in a guesthouse, and dine in a quite decent restaurant.

Right in the Port Blair harbor there is a small island called Viper Island, the shores of which are a continuous beautiful beach.

Havelock Island is famous for its best beaches (although much better), as well as its richest underwater world. Tourists mainly chose 2 beaches: Vijayanagar, where the diving center is located, and Radhanagar. Water transparency is from 10 to 30 meters, very rich coral reefs, snow-white sand and palm trees, palm trees, palm trees...

Many tourists come to try themselves in the role of Robinson Crusoe. Usually they are brought to a desert island with a supply of food and everything necessary for several days, and arrive by agreement. You can choose a good hotel in the Andaman Islands. Choose the number of stars, price, dates and choose what you like.

Diving and snorkeling.

The underwater world of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands deserves a separate discussion, as it is one of the best on Earth. Local corals and underwater formations are practically untouched by humans. Coral walls, hills and towers create ideal conditions for tropical wildlife.

On one reef alone there are sometimes up to 750 species of various fish, scarfish, triggerfish, manta rays, numerous species of sharks, turtles, including unique ones unique to this region.

Due to the inaccessibility of the islands, previously no more than fifty divers visited here per year. Now the popularity of the islands is growing, but, thank God, they have not yet become a mass destination.

There are currently three diving centers in the Andaman Islands. The first is quite expensive and well organized - Samundra, the second is a little cheaper - Port Blair Underwater, and the third is more accessible to mass tourists - Andaman Adventure Sports. The most interesting diving is famous for the island of South Sink, not far from Havelock, in the national park named after. Gandhi.

The most interesting snorkeling is on the same Havelock, in North Bay.

Restrictions for tourists.

Since the islands, although heavenly, are still not paradise, some restrictions have been introduced here, however, quite reasonable.

Prohibited:

• Littering, both on land and in the sea
• Collect corals and shells on land, and even more so in the sea
• Take any drugs
• Get involved in nudism, i.e., relax on the beach, in what your mother gave birth to
• Sailing anywhere from the island on your own is completely unsafe
• Collect coconuts (private property here)
• Hunt, make fires, spend the night on beaches or in the forest

YouTube, India, Andaman Islands

Perhaps the Andaman Islands are not so widely known among tourists, due to the need to obtain a special permit for holidays in these places, tourists who arrive by plane can obtain it at the Port Blair airport, and those travelers who have chosen water transport, in the form of the main method of travel to the islands, they can obtain permission from the office where nonresidents are registered before leaving India. Permits obtained on the main continent or when you arrive by plane at the local airport allow you to stay in the Andaman Islands for 30 days, although many travelers here cannot stand even a week. Also, the low demand for recreation in this area is justified by frequent diseases among tourists, especially for small children, who, due to the special climate and natural conditions, may suffer from viral infections and mosquito bites and other types of insects, which is also common here. the phenomenon of malaria. The nature of the islands deserves special attention, most of the territory is tropical forests, which have become a habitat for exotic animals and rare plants. When you go on vacation to these places, you must under no circumstances tear anything down or cause harm to the animal world, this rule is provided law protecting the natural environment of the Andaman Islands. Basically, these places are in demand for one-day excursion trips; Port Blair, the capital of the state, will be especially interesting to visit; here tourists can find an excellent diving center, where they have the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of types of water activities. The main attraction of this port can also be called the Anthropological Museum, which is dedicated to the life of local tribes, and the Maritime Museum - a collection of exotic marine life that lives in the waters near the islands. Among the variety of islands, one can highlight Diglipur Island, which has gained fame for the diversity of marine flora and fauna, the uniqueness and beauty of which deserves tourists to visit these beautiful places. Compared to other islands, where the infrastructure is not developed at the highest level, we can highlight Havelock Island, where there are quite good hotels offering comfortable living conditions. Tourists who want to relax on clean, spacious beaches, with a minimum number of vacationers, can stay here; there are also excellent conditions for diving and snorkeling - practically the only entertainment that can be found on the Andaman Islands.