Located at the junction of the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are one of the most popular destinations in India for an exotic vacation. The islands are famous for their serene, white sandy beaches characterized by sparkling blue waters. This archipelago features 572 islands out of which only 37 are inhabited. Even though tourists are only allowed at a few islands, it still offers a remarkable range of popular attractions. In this blog we get to know about the best places to travel in Andaman and Nicobar.
Port Blair is the capital of this union territory and has a major airport along with a seaport connected with the rest of the country and with various tourist islands via multiple daily ferries. Havelock and Neil Islands are popular among tourists for their white sandy beaches and excellent diving options. Andamans have the most exotic beaches and some of them allow you to try out several water sports such as scuba diving, snorkelling, seal walking, etc. You can easily cover all the places and activities with our Andaman and Nicobar Tour Packages.
Best 21 Travel Destinations of Andaman and Nicobar
Name of Place | Location | Things to Do |
---|---|---|
Cellular Jail | Port Blair | Visit the historic jail, light and sound show. |
Radhanagar Beach | Havelock Island | Relax on one of Asia’s best beaches, water sports. |
Ross Island | Port Blair | Explore ruins, enjoy scenic beauty. |
Neil Island | Neil Island | Snorkeling, scuba diving, beach hopping. |
Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park | Wandoor | Snorkeling, glass-bottom boat rides. |
Baratang Island | Middle Andaman | Visit limestone caves, mud volcanoes, and beaches. |
North Bay Island | Port Blair | Snorkeling, sea walking, and water sports. |
Chidiya Tapu | South Andaman | Birdwatching, sunset views. |
Laxmanpur Beach | Neil Island | Beachcombing, natural bridge formation. |
Mount Harriet | South Andaman | Trekking, wildlife viewing, panoramic views. |
Mud Volcano | Baratang Island | Witness mud volcanoes in action. |
Jolly Buoy Island | Port Blair | Snorkeling, underwater photography. |
Kalapathar Beach | Havelock Island | Beachcombing, scenic views. |
Samudrika Marine Museum | Port Blair | Learn about marine life and history. |
Cinque Island | Wandoor | Scuba diving, snorkeling in crystal clear waters. |
Viper Island | Port Blair | Visit the old jail ruins and explore the island. |
Red Skin Island | Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park | Snorkeling, coral reefs. |
Anthropological Museum | Port Blair | Learn about indigenous tribes of the islands. |
Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex | Port Blair | Enjoy water sports like jet skiing, paddle boating. |
Saddle Peak | North Andaman | Trekking, birdwatching, lush greenery. |
Wandoor Beach | Wandoor | Relax on the beach, swim in clear waters. |
Some of the top tourist destinations of the Andaman and Nicobar are
Havelock Island
Set amidst the blue waters of the Andamans, Havelock Island is all about colourful coral, white sand beaches, and pretty resorts. The tropical paradise is all about natural beauty and marine life. Various water sports are also offered here such as scuba diving, snorkelling, boating, fishing, and others. The beach is especially popular for couples as it is almost vacant and the serene environment adds to the romance. Its has asia’s most beautiful beach and it is one of Best Places to Travel in Andaman and Nicobar.
Officially called as ‘Swaraj Dweep’, it is one of the most visited Andaman and Nicobar tourist places. It is located roughly around 70 km from the capital city and is home to numerous immaculate beaches, surrounded by dense forests, clear blue water, and vibrant corals. The main attractions of Havelock beach are:
- Elephant Beach
- Radhanagar Beach
- Vijaynagar Beach
- Kalapathar Beach
- Merk Bay Beach
- Lalaji Bay Beach
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Port Blair
The capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Port Blair is a poignant reminder of the many sacrifices of freedom fighters. The Island is surrounded by a rugged coastline and tropical forest but even though it has a hot and moist biome, this island has a picturesque environment. Port Blair is also a gateway to other tourist attractions in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, due to its accessibility from the mainland. Ferries operate openly from Port Blair to other islands.
Port Blair blooms with various tourists flying from different places and it is evident that this place sees innumerable different faces every day. The place is well famous for the Cellular Jail National Memorial, which was once a prison where many freedom fighters and people of other nationalities were imprisoned. Today, this place serves as a famous must-visit tourist attraction! Other amazing tourist attractions of the island are:
- Cellular Jail
- Corbyn’s Cove Beach
- Viper Island
- North Bay Island
- Forest Museum
- Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park
- Sandbar Beach
- Wandoor Beach
- Chidiya Tapu
- Samudrika Naval Marine Museum
Check Other Packages – Best Tour Packages of Sikkim | Tour Packages of Goa
Neil Island
A tiny island located to the south of Andaman is Neil Island, brimming with less-explored marine diversity, coral reefs, long beaches, and bewitching greenery. It is exceptionally famous for its coral reefs and white shores. The best time to visit its beaches is during the mornings and evenings. Located approximately 36 km northeast of Port Blair, this island exudes a certain type of laid-back charm and you can feel that sometime after setting your foot in.
Neil Island is given the name ‘Coral Capital of Andaman‘ due to the beauty of the reefs located here. Tourists visit the island for its natural beauty, serene atmosphere, and low crowd density. A romantically silent island unlike the hustle of Havelock Island, Neil Island is termed as the vegetable bowl of Andaman. It is also one of the best Andaman and Nicobar tourist places for adventure enthusiasts. Neil Island’s main attractions are:
- Sitapur Beach
- Lakshmanpur Beach
- Howrah Bridge
- Bharatpur Beach
- Natural Beach
- Ramnagar Beach
- Kalapathar Beach
- Long Island
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Ross Island
This uninhabited island is located just 2 kilometres east of Port Blair and was once the administrative headquarters of the British before they shifted their settlement to the current capital of the Union Territory. At first sight, it is tough to believe that this abandoned place was once the seat of British power and housed everything from a bazaar, a church, stores, a bakery, a water treatment plant, a tennis court, a printing press, a hospital, and vital institutions.
Ross & Smith islands are joined together by a natural, sand bar to make a single group of islands. The water is crystal clear and gem green in colour. During high tide, the sand bar disappears leaving a trail of water between the two islands, and during low tide, the sand bars appear again making the islands look majestic. Sunbathing in Ross & Smith is a wonderful experience.
Also termed as ‘Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island‘, Ross Island is a picturesque location and one of the most important tourist destinations in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The beach is surrounded by tropical forests and is a preferred place for trekking and trail hiking by many tourists. This island is also home to the Olive Ridley turtles which means, being the right place at the right time, one can witness the turtle nesting!
Don’t forget to visit these on Ross Island:
- Ross Island Penal Colony
- British Colony Ruins
- Japanese Bunkers
- Barren Island
Stewart Island Beach
Located near the north of Diglipur Taluk, the beach is approximately in the middle of Andaman district. The picturesque little Stewart Island beach is an isolated place that has a long narrow strip of white sandy beach in the middle of the ocean. The stunning seashore with crystal clear water is a perfect destination to explore the water sports. Known for its brown-black colour sand and serene atmosphere, Stewart Island Beach gets the most breathtaking rainbows to add to its picturesque charm against the backdrop of the dancing waves. The island is small with an area of 7.05 km square.
The Great Nicobar Island
This largest of the Nicobar group of islands, Great Nicobar is the very last island of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago. A large portion of this island is covered by dense forests which are home to a variety of endemic biodiversity. The island is known widely for its rainforest houses diverse wildlife and is also a part of the World Biosphere Reserve. The island contains the indigenous tribe called ‘Shompen’ which is one of the oldest tribes in the world. Great Nicobar has a special place for wildlife photographers called ‘Campbell Bay‘. It is home to many unique faunas including Crab-eating macaque, giant robber crab, megapode, and Nicobar pigeon.
The top things to do in Great Nicobar are:
- Visit the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve
- Visit Galathea National Park
- Relax on beaches or swim in the ocean
- Go bird-watching
Initially inhabited by multiple groups of indigenous tribes, the island was later used as a penal colony during the British invasion of India. Despite the horrid reputation during the colonial period, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands this day are one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in India.
Encompassed by the ever-sunny skies and turquoise beaches, the tourist places in Andaman and Nicobar would surely make your holidays unforgettable.
Check out – Explore Maharashtra
Top 10 beaches of Andaman and Nicobar
Name of Beach | Location | Popular Activities |
---|---|---|
Radhanagar Beach | Havelock Island | Sunbathing, swimming, beachcombing, water sports. |
Neil Island Beaches | Neil Island | Snorkeling, swimming, beach picnics, relaxing. |
Laxmanpur Beach | Neil Island | Sunset views, natural bridge formation, beach walks. |
Vijaynagar Beach | Havelock Island | Swimming, beach volleyball, picnics. |
Kalapathar Beach | Havelock Island | Beachcombing, photography, serene atmosphere. |
Wandoor Beach | Wandoor | Swimming, sunbathing, glass-bottom boat rides. |
Red Skin Island Beach | Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park | Snorkeling, coral reef exploration. |
Guitar Island Beach | Neil Island | Beachcombing, solitude, natural beauty. |
Merk Bay Beach | North Passage Island | Snorkeling, beach picnics, wildlife spotting. |
Aamkunj Beach | Rangat | Sunbathing, birdwatching, beach photography. |
Cities to be covered – Port Blair (2 Nights) Havelock Island (2 Nights) Neil Island (1 Night) From overwhelming…
Cities to be covered – : Port Blair ( 2 Nights) Havelock Island ( 3 Nights) Neil Island (1…
Cities to be covered: – 1. Port Blair (2 Nights)2. Havelock Island (2 Nights)3. Neil Island(1 Night) The trip…
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