Andamans trip

Ardent travelers will often tell you that the journey is always as exciting as the holiday destination. And so it is. But the truth of the axiom takes a deeper meaning if Andaman and Nicobar Islands happens to be the destination. As the plane prepares to land at Port Blair’s Veer Savarkar Airport, the last 10 odd minutes dazzles as you see random shapes in emerald green in the vastness of pure aquamarine Bay of Bengal waters. That’s the first introduction to the archipelagic islands of the Andaman and Nicobar. Spread over 700 kms, most of the tiny islands are shrouded in mystery. And among the ones that are visited, many of them are vacated by late afternoon. As the moon rises and lends a silvery touch to the waters, no one save the quaint marine life is witness to the blue-green turning dark.



We landed at Port Blair on a humid, rain drenched day and headed to Havelock Island straightaway via the jetty. Now, your plans at Andamans might be two pronged. The first one is to head straight to the beauteous and more remote Havelock and chill out, far from the compunctions of city life. The other option is to stay put at Port Blair and explore the surrounding islands and attractions each day.



Heading to remoteness:



After a short drive comprising rich tropical flora, we finally reached our resaort. The interesting part about most of the resorts at Havelock is that they are located on one straight line. On one side, they all face the glorious Vijayangar beach and on the other, a buttery smooth road joins all the resort dots. Walking along the beach side, you might lose your way into a different resort but that’s made all the more fun because you are free to enter and interact with the staff and residents of the other places.



Frankly, apart from the sea and the bewildering marine life, Havelock Island feels so relaxing because of the obvious secure air it carries around it. Feel like a free bird, the ultimate aim of every holiday.



If you want to truly partake of the pleasures of the Havelock, there are some items on the must-do list. Head towards Radhanagar beach (Beach no 7), -- voted for excellent reasons -- Asia’s best beach by Time magazine for an entire day. When you hit the beach, you will know why. The azure colour of the waters changes quietly to aquamarine, plain blue, verdant green, depending on where you are and the rays of the sun and is kissed by soft white sands on the edges. The waves are gentle, and you will have a delightful time bathing and then some for ever. A quick change later, head towards the forested area and you could opt for an elephant ride. The famed Barefoot at Scuba resort is located herein – a nice opportunity to grab a few bites and a drink after being fairly sunburnt. Rajan, the famed elephant who resides at the resort can go snorkeling with you – provided he is in a mood to, which is more often than not these days -- or you may simply choose to bathe him!



Never miss out on indulging in water sports activities like snorkeling or scuba diving at Havelock Islands, even if you might be petrified of it. The journey to the Elephant Beach – where most of these activities take place – and the sheer variety and colour of the marine life found deep beneath will be the just reward.



It is surprising to hear many tourists complain that there’s nothing much to do at the islands after sunset. Well, they must have missed out on the amazing vibe of some of the resorts and the food on offer to explore at length. As we tucked in some delightful pasta by the sea, the nights felt very Goa-esque!




Getting back to the capital:

For sure, there are plenty more beaches to explore around the Havelock Islands but we went on to the next port-o-call: Port Blair – by the delightful and luxurious Makruzz liner that completes the journey between Havelock to Port Blair in 90 minutes.



At first glance, Port Blair feels like the usual naval city, after the langourous appeal of Havelock. But you would do well to select your resort with care. The Sinclairs Bay View for instance, opens out to a magnificent vista of the blue bay. At night, leave a window open, so you may be lulled to sleep with the music of the waves crashing against the rocks.



While at the city, a visit to spectacular Cellular Jail is a must – it will tugs at your heart strings and bring to life a moving testimony to how freedom was brought at such a heavy price – the lives of young, passionate nationalists.



Some other must visit places would be the Anthropological Museum, Samudrika emporium and Chatham Saw Mill. A walk through the wonderful Marine Drive will also bring you face to face with the Rajiv Gandhi Sports Complex and the well-maintained parks of the city. Visit the Ramkrishna Mission too – it’s a place not visited by many tourists but will afford you immense peace and solitude.



Ruined:

You will need to visit the Rajiv Gandhi Water sports Complex many times during your stint at Port Blair of course, for it is the place to catch ferries to all the nearby Islands. Most visitors visit North Island, Baratang Island (for its mud volcanoes), Jolly Buoy and Neil Island for the amazing views and activities. But having done Havelock at length, we decided to give these a skip (our loss!) and head to the amazing Ross Island for a slice of history. The island used to be a bustling cantonment more than a 150 years ago, with clubs, bakery, cottages, houses, bazaars, churches, temples and was enveloped by the bluest of seas on all sides. During the second World War, with the danger of Japanese invasion, all the residents left it, to settle at Port Blair. Today, Ross Island lies wasted and you can view the ruins of the church, graveyard, the clubs, bakery and the houses. Save for some deer and a couple of peacocks, the stillness of the island is captivating. Another short trip for a glorious ride and a magnificent sunset is Chidiya Tapu or Bird Island, which you can undertake late in the afternoon and stay on till late in the evening, till you are shooed away by the guards.



It was time to be shooed away from Andaman and Nicobar Islands after spending six unforgettable days. We geared ourselves to a view the isles from the aircraft -- This time, it was a sedate adieu!