Andaman Islands

joliecoeur · Oct 11th, 2004, 19:17

Ive been trying to find out more about the Andaman Islands or more specifically how to get there. Ive found conflicting information.

Does anyone know how frequently the boats leave from Chennai and Kolkata?
Also, are the islands on a par with India cost-wise or are they more expensive?

Thanks for any info

natasha chanda acharya · Oct 11th, 2004, 20:06

Hey,
Boats/ships leave from Kolkata and Chennai for Port Blair every 15 days. It is better to fly, at least one way. You save time and energy that way. Andamans is not anymore expensive than the rest of India. You have the entire range of hotels from five star to budget. It is just getting to the island from the mainland that is a little expensive as opposed to travelling within the rest of India.

joliecoeur · Oct 11th, 2004, 20:16

Thanks Natasha. I read that you need to book flights well in advance and since I dont yet know when I will be in Kolkata or Chennai I cant do this.
I was considering going by sea. Ive never spent 3/4 days at sea before and thought the journey would be quite an experience in itself.

Do you know how much it costs for a return both by sea and by air?

Have you visited the islands yourself? Did they live up to your expectations?

lunghi · Oct 11th, 2004, 22:42

I was there for a month in January/February this year - flew from Chennai with Jet Airways - booked flights one week before departure at a travel agent in Cochin.

Stayed at Jungle Resort on beach Number 7 Havelock Island - 150Rs per night for a simple but adequate hut.Food at Jungle resort excellent.

You can book your onward return train journey from Chennai while in Port Blair thereby avoiding any hanging around after returning to the mainland.

cyberhippie · Oct 11th, 2004, 22:46

So whats the boat like???? I've heard it may be a real throw back to the tough traveling days of the 60s 70s a real coming together of travellers, stuck in the same boat so to speak!!
The food is thali, thali and thali and for deck class you make your own comforts!!
Tell me guys how was your voyage acrooss the Bay of Bengal.
Pictures please

joliecoeur · Oct 11th, 2004, 22:51

Thanks Lunghi.

I ran a search on the Jungle Resort and these are the tariffs they advertise :

Nicobari Cottages (NAC)
Rs. 3500 (CP)
US$ 80 (CP)
Rs. 4000 (CP)
US$ 90 (CP)

* Andaman Villas (AC)
Rs. 4800 (CP)
US$ 110 (CP)
Rs. 5300 (CP)
US$ 120 (CP)

Duplex Cottage (NAC)
(2 separate DBL rooms)
Rs. 5000 (CP)
US$ 115 (CP)
Rs. 5500 (CP)
US$ 125 (CP)

Did you have the hut to yourself or were you sharing with others?
Also, how long ago were you there? It looks like the prices have begun to sky-rocket...

lunghi · Oct 11th, 2004, 22:56

I was there earlier this year i.e Jan/Feb 2004 -we had a hut to ourselves - (there were about ten huts in all ) the rates you refer to relate to the more expensive accommodation at Jungle Resort...maybe they don't feature the huts on the site you looked at.

Should the huts not be available at Jungle there is a govt run campsite also adjacent to Beach number 7.

joliecoeur · Oct 11th, 2004, 23:20

Great, Id be more than happy staying in a little hut, it sounds perfect as long as it comes with basic facilities/has them nearby

It's good to know that the accommodation there is still within my price range...from what I have read about the place it wont be long before it becomes really popular and hence more expensive. Thanks for the info.

Do you have any other top tips for things to do there apart from chilling out on the gorgeous beaches and snorkelling? I also read about a cellular jail which is supposed to be worth a visit.

I will be in India for 6 months and am trying to put together a loose itinerary, how long would you recommend staying there?

natasha chanda acharya · Oct 12th, 2004, 12:22

Hey,

Check out this site.
http://tourism.andaman.nic.in/traveltips.htm
It has info on both air and ship travel. Very detailed. Should serve your purpose.
You can also check out the favourite tourist spots and other info.

Yes, I've been to Andamans. It was beyond beautiful for me. I stayed with a friend so the itenary was very flexible for me. In 15 days we covered North, Middle and South Andamans. Didn't have time to travel to Nicobar Islands. But we went to some places that normal touists wouldn't be able to reach unless one hired a boat full-time. The sea is blue green and so clear that you can see the ocean floor where it's not so deep.

Apart from natural beauty of the place, one of the most interesting aspects is that it is one of the few places in the world where there are aboriginals living. So don't be surprised if you come across a stark naked negroid man, woman, or child with bows and arrows crossing the road. Of course, they keep mostly to themselves in the deep jungles and can only be seen if you're travelling to the interiors. The Sentinel island is even rumored to be inhabited by cannibals.

Then there is "Barren Island" thats an active volcano. In case that kind of thing interests you. You can sail upto the island and see it from a distance. There are so many places to go to. Even though they look like a speck on the map, the islands cover a great distance. So let me not confuse you. Go through the site and decide for yourself what interests you.

Hope you have a great time.

joliecoeur · Oct 19th, 2004, 19:23

Natasha it sounds great, thanks for all the info.

I hope I have time to squeeze in a week or two on the islands

)
Ive never scuba dived before but I think I may have to start when I get to India. From what I have read, a trip to the Andaman islands wouldnt be complete without a spot of underwater sightseeing.

Oct 11th, 2004, 19:17	#1
joliecoeur Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: London Posts: 47	Andaman Islands Ive been trying to find out more about the Andaman Islands or more specifically how to get there. Ive found conflicting information. Does anyone know how frequently the boats leave from Chennai and Kolkata? Also, are the islands on a par with India cost-wise or are they more expensive? Thanks for any info

Oct 11th, 2004, 22:42	#4
lunghi Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: london Posts: 5	Andaman Islands I was there for a month in January/February this year - flew from Chennai with Jet Airways - booked flights one week before departure at a travel agent in Cochin. Stayed at Jungle Resort on beach Number 7 Havelock Island - 150Rs per night for a simple but adequate hut.Food at Jungle resort excellent. You can book your onward return train journey from Chennai while in Port Blair thereby avoiding any hanging around after returning to the mainland.

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Oct 11th, 2004, 20:06	#2
natasha chanda acharya barefeet indian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: India Posts: 565	Hey, Boats/ships leave from Kolkata and Chennai for Port Blair every 15 days. It is better to fly, at least one way. You save time and energy that way. Andamans is not anymore expensive than the rest of India. You have the entire range of hotels from five star to budget. It is just getting to the island from the mainland that is a little expensive as opposed to travelling within the rest of India.

Oct 11th, 2004, 20:16	#3
joliecoeur Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: London Posts: 47	Thanks Natasha. I read that you need to book flights well in advance and since I dont yet know when I will be in Kolkata or Chennai I cant do this. I was considering going by sea. Ive never spent 3/4 days at sea before and thought the journey would be quite an experience in itself. Do you know how much it costs for a return both by sea and by air? Have you visited the islands yourself? Did they live up to your expectations?

Oct 11th, 2004, 22:46	#5
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	So whats the boat like???? I've heard it may be a real throw back to the tough traveling days of the 60s 70s a real coming together of travellers, stuck in the same boat so to speak!! The food is thali, thali and thali and for deck class you make your own comforts!! Tell me guys how was your voyage acrooss the Bay of Bengal. Pictures please

Oct 11th, 2004, 22:51	#6
joliecoeur Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: London Posts: 47	Thanks Lunghi. I ran a search on the Jungle Resort and these are the tariffs they advertise : Nicobari Cottages (NAC) Rs. 3500 (CP) US$ 80 (CP) Rs. 4000 (CP) US$ 90 (CP) * Andaman Villas (AC) Rs. 4800 (CP) US$ 110 (CP) Rs. 5300 (CP) US$ 120 (CP) Duplex Cottage (NAC) (2 separate DBL rooms) Rs. 5000 (CP) US$ 115 (CP) Rs. 5500 (CP) US$ 125 (CP) Did you have the hut to yourself or were you sharing with others? Also, how long ago were you there? It looks like the prices have begun to sky-rocket...

Oct 11th, 2004, 22:56	#7
lunghi Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: london Posts: 5	I was there earlier this year i.e Jan/Feb 2004 -we had a hut to ourselves - (there were about ten huts in all ) the rates you refer to relate to the more expensive accommodation at Jungle Resort...maybe they don't feature the huts on the site you looked at. Should the huts not be available at Jungle there is a govt run campsite also adjacent to Beach number 7.

Oct 11th, 2004, 23:20	#8
joliecoeur Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: London Posts: 47	Great, Id be more than happy staying in a little hut, it sounds perfect as long as it comes with basic facilities/has them nearby It's good to know that the accommodation there is still within my price range...from what I have read about the place it wont be long before it becomes really popular and hence more expensive. Thanks for the info. Do you have any other top tips for things to do there apart from chilling out on the gorgeous beaches and snorkelling? I also read about a cellular jail which is supposed to be worth a visit. I will be in India for 6 months and am trying to put together a loose itinerary, how long would you recommend staying there?

Oct 12th, 2004, 12:22	#9
natasha chanda acharya barefeet indian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: India Posts: 565	Hey, Check out this site. http://tourism.andaman.nic.in/traveltips.htm It has info on both air and ship travel. Very detailed. Should serve your purpose. You can also check out the favourite tourist spots and other info. Yes, I've been to Andamans. It was beyond beautiful for me. I stayed with a friend so the itenary was very flexible for me. In 15 days we covered North, Middle and South Andamans. Didn't have time to travel to Nicobar Islands. But we went to some places that normal touists wouldn't be able to reach unless one hired a boat full-time. The sea is blue green and so clear that you can see the ocean floor where it's not so deep. Apart from natural beauty of the place, one of the most interesting aspects is that it is one of the few places in the world where there are aboriginals living. So don't be surprised if you come across a stark naked negroid man, woman, or child with bows and arrows crossing the road. Of course, they keep mostly to themselves in the deep jungles and can only be seen if you're travelling to the interiors. The Sentinel island is even rumored to be inhabited by cannibals. Then there is "Barren Island" thats an active volcano. In case that kind of thing interests you. You can sail upto the island and see it from a distance. There are so many places to go to. Even though they look like a speck on the map, the islands cover a great distance. So let me not confuse you. Go through the site and decide for yourself what interests you. Hope you have a great time.

Oct 19th, 2004, 19:23	#10
joliecoeur Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: London Posts: 47	Natasha it sounds great, thanks for all the info. I hope I have time to squeeze in a week or two on the islands ) Ive never scuba dived before but I think I may have to start when I get to India. From what I have read, a trip to the Andaman islands wouldnt be complete without a spot of underwater sightseeing.