I was sitting at home waiting for my joining date, my husband suggested to not waste this golden opportunity and travel. I had never traveled alone for leisure purposes. The thought of leaving my five year old made me guilty, but I took the chance anyway. Traveling alone in India can be scary because we hear bad news every day so thought of bringing along a friend. Luckily i found a friend who, just like me, wanted to travel and see whatever is there to see. We started searching for all the places where we can go on a budget, just for three days, also, the place which is safe for girls. We ended up booking tickets to Andman and Nicobar. All happened in just four days before the actual travel date :)
Day 1:
We landed at Portblair airport around 3:00, because we had only few days in hand, we had to move fast. In Portblair, we had decided to visit only Celluar jail, also known as 'Kala Pani' . We reached Jail by 3:45 pm. Jail closes at 5:00 pm. It starts getting dark at 5:00 pm in Andman. Jail can be covered in an hour. We had enough time to roam around jail. View from terrace of the Jail is breathtaking. Sky gets all this beautiful hues of pink and orange. One need to be there to experience it.
Post jail, we were off to our bed and breakfast "Horizon view". It was just 6:30 pm, but it felt like 10. We dropped our bags, came out and started looking for nice restaurants for dinner. We stumbled upon this restaurant "Ackshaya". Amazing food and tea. Owner and his wife are such a wonderful couple who went out their way to make our travel easier with all the must do things. I have never seen such an amazing host. We were so happy that we decided that on our last evening at Portblair, we are going to have dinner here.
Day 2:
Day 2 was for Havelock Island, we had decided that we will travel by government ferry, we were scared by taxi people that its hard to get ticket of government ferry because preference is given to islanders. Tip : government ferry can be booked in advance either by going to the counter or through an agent. We decided to try our luck for the earliest ferry which leaves to Havlock at 6:30 am. We reached the counter at 5:30 am. There were not many people, hardly 10, but we did not get ticket to Havlock, instead we got ticket for Neil Island. We booked one way ticket to Neil. We also booked our tickets to Havlock from Neil for the same day, from the same counter. Tip: you can book tickets for different island from the same counter. Government ferry was ok, no blings. Its three times cheaper than the private ferry. We paid somewhere around 500 rs per person for one way ticket. Private ferry costs around 1500-1700 for the same trip. Journey takes 2hours to reach Neil Island.
We reached Neil around 8:30 am. As soon as you reach the island, you will see fruit vendors, auto walas and taxi people. Because we were short on time and had to catch our 1 pm ferry to Havlock, we decided to tour the island by Auto. Tip: negotiation with auto and taxi for the price. We were asked to pay 600 for the auto, we ended up paying 400. Its must, do negotiate for fruits and transportation and whatever you can negotiate on. Neil island is small. We visited Laxmanpur bridge, Laxmanpur beach and Bharatpur beach. If you have time, rent a cycle and cover the island. All the places were beautiful. At Laxmanpur bridge, a guide offered us his services to show us the arch. You cannot see the arch when you reach the beach. We decided to not take the guide and explore on our own. Our auto had already told us the direction to the arch. Very easy hike on rocks gave us the view of beautiful arch. We sat there, took few pictures, upon realizing that the place is full of crabs, we left the place. Those crabs look exactly like rocks, so we did not realize that they were there the whole time.
We ended our Neil island afternoon by having maggi and tea at Bharatpur beach. Saw so many walking conches, it was fun. It was time for our ferry to Havlock. We got at the counter, met this wonderful person who gave his number to gave him call incase we need help. We boarded out ferry to Havlock. Tip:make sure you spend some time looking at the ocean, we saw lots of flying fish. That sight was wonderful.
We reached Havlock by 2:00. Neil to Havlock is just one hour. We rented scooty for 24 hours. Paid 500 rs for the rent of scooty. Reached our Hotel "Placid garden view". With breakfast we paid around 5000 for one night. Its a bit expensive, you get free breakfast, there is hardly wifi, even though hotel mentioned wifi on their site.
Tip:There is network problem on the whole island, be it Portblair, Neil or Havlock, please keep enough cash, you will end up paying cash for everything. Book all your hotels in advance and try to pay for the stay in advance as well.
After unloading our luggage to hotel, we went straight to Radhanagar beach, considered one of the most beautiful beach in Asia. This beach is so serene, best place to watch sunset.
We stayed there for 1 hour, by the time we left Radhanagar beach, it was pitch dark. We almost rode our scooter on a already hit snake and cat. Tip:be careful on the roads, there are not enough street lights, riding on an unknown and new road, can be dangerous. It was 6 pm and due to dark, we could not go to Kala pathhar beach. We went for a spa, paid 800 for full body massage and ended our day with dinner.
Day 3:
My friend had scuba diving booked for 6 am. We did scuba for 2000 Rs including photos and videos. We are picked from our hotel at 5:45. As per my friend, it was beautiful experience. Our scuba instructor and the person who picked us from hotel, were both amazing. We were done by 7:30 am. Had breakfast at hotel, left luggage at hotel and left for elephant beach. You can reach this beach either by trekking or by ferry. Ferry charges 900 rs one way while trekking need to be done with a guide who charges 500 rs. We were ready to hike, its 1.8 km one way. We did not realize that it's going to be one of hardest trek we had done in past. Because of rain, it was all mud, knee deep mud and we had to trek in that.
It was very difficult, slippery. Fortunately we were able to do it without falling down a single time, with help of our wonderful guide. We started our trek around 10 am, reached beach at 11 pm. Its very small yet very beautiful beach. You can do all sorts of water sports here. I did snorkeling and i still have the image of the beautiful marine life i saw, in front of my eyes. If you had skipped scuba, please do snorkeling here. You will not imagine what you will miss seeing. It was such a wonderful experience. I paid 1000 rs for snorkel. I would have negotiated for the price but we were so tired after the trekking, we gave up and accepted whatever they offered. We swam for some time in the crystel clear green water, took pictures and trekked back to the base.
We picked our luggage, returned our scooty, boarded the government ferry and sat in front part of the upper deck. It was beautiful, soon we were joined by a lot of people.
It was nice to see people chatting, small kids dancing. Ferry was playing old hindi songs. Soon it was dark, you can only see stars, thousands of stars. That site has seized into my mind. We docked after two hours, went straight to hotel de pebbles, had dinner at Ackshaya as we had decided on our first day. Their cook has amazing talent, we had gobhi manchurian, butter roti and their speciality, corm methi malai. It was delicious. I had my flight early in the morning. As I was leaving for airport at 6 am from the hotel, the receptionist gave me a parcel with sandwich in it. I felt so grateful as they did not have to do that. I have become their lifetime guest.
Our beautiful trip ended with wonderful memories.
Day 1:
We landed at Portblair airport around 3:00, because we had only few days in hand, we had to move fast. In Portblair, we had decided to visit only Celluar jail, also known as 'Kala Pani' . We reached Jail by 3:45 pm. Jail closes at 5:00 pm. It starts getting dark at 5:00 pm in Andman. Jail can be covered in an hour. We had enough time to roam around jail. View from terrace of the Jail is breathtaking. Sky gets all this beautiful hues of pink and orange. One need to be there to experience it.
Day 2:
Day 2 was for Havelock Island, we had decided that we will travel by government ferry, we were scared by taxi people that its hard to get ticket of government ferry because preference is given to islanders. Tip : government ferry can be booked in advance either by going to the counter or through an agent. We decided to try our luck for the earliest ferry which leaves to Havlock at 6:30 am. We reached the counter at 5:30 am. There were not many people, hardly 10, but we did not get ticket to Havlock, instead we got ticket for Neil Island. We booked one way ticket to Neil. We also booked our tickets to Havlock from Neil for the same day, from the same counter. Tip: you can book tickets for different island from the same counter. Government ferry was ok, no blings. Its three times cheaper than the private ferry. We paid somewhere around 500 rs per person for one way ticket. Private ferry costs around 1500-1700 for the same trip. Journey takes 2hours to reach Neil Island.
We reached Neil around 8:30 am. As soon as you reach the island, you will see fruit vendors, auto walas and taxi people. Because we were short on time and had to catch our 1 pm ferry to Havlock, we decided to tour the island by Auto. Tip: negotiation with auto and taxi for the price. We were asked to pay 600 for the auto, we ended up paying 400. Its must, do negotiate for fruits and transportation and whatever you can negotiate on. Neil island is small. We visited Laxmanpur bridge, Laxmanpur beach and Bharatpur beach. If you have time, rent a cycle and cover the island. All the places were beautiful. At Laxmanpur bridge, a guide offered us his services to show us the arch. You cannot see the arch when you reach the beach. We decided to not take the guide and explore on our own. Our auto had already told us the direction to the arch. Very easy hike on rocks gave us the view of beautiful arch. We sat there, took few pictures, upon realizing that the place is full of crabs, we left the place. Those crabs look exactly like rocks, so we did not realize that they were there the whole time.We ended our Neil island afternoon by having maggi and tea at Bharatpur beach. Saw so many walking conches, it was fun. It was time for our ferry to Havlock. We got at the counter, met this wonderful person who gave his number to gave him call incase we need help. We boarded out ferry to Havlock. Tip:make sure you spend some time looking at the ocean, we saw lots of flying fish. That sight was wonderful.
Tip:There is network problem on the whole island, be it Portblair, Neil or Havlock, please keep enough cash, you will end up paying cash for everything. Book all your hotels in advance and try to pay for the stay in advance as well.
After unloading our luggage to hotel, we went straight to Radhanagar beach, considered one of the most beautiful beach in Asia. This beach is so serene, best place to watch sunset.
We stayed there for 1 hour, by the time we left Radhanagar beach, it was pitch dark. We almost rode our scooter on a already hit snake and cat. Tip:be careful on the roads, there are not enough street lights, riding on an unknown and new road, can be dangerous. It was 6 pm and due to dark, we could not go to Kala pathhar beach. We went for a spa, paid 800 for full body massage and ended our day with dinner.
Day 3:
My friend had scuba diving booked for 6 am. We did scuba for 2000 Rs including photos and videos. We are picked from our hotel at 5:45. As per my friend, it was beautiful experience. Our scuba instructor and the person who picked us from hotel, were both amazing. We were done by 7:30 am. Had breakfast at hotel, left luggage at hotel and left for elephant beach. You can reach this beach either by trekking or by ferry. Ferry charges 900 rs one way while trekking need to be done with a guide who charges 500 rs. We were ready to hike, its 1.8 km one way. We did not realize that it's going to be one of hardest trek we had done in past. Because of rain, it was all mud, knee deep mud and we had to trek in that.
It was very difficult, slippery. Fortunately we were able to do it without falling down a single time, with help of our wonderful guide. We started our trek around 10 am, reached beach at 11 pm. Its very small yet very beautiful beach. You can do all sorts of water sports here. I did snorkeling and i still have the image of the beautiful marine life i saw, in front of my eyes. If you had skipped scuba, please do snorkeling here. You will not imagine what you will miss seeing. It was such a wonderful experience. I paid 1000 rs for snorkel. I would have negotiated for the price but we were so tired after the trekking, we gave up and accepted whatever they offered. We swam for some time in the crystel clear green water, took pictures and trekked back to the base.
We picked our luggage, returned our scooty, boarded the government ferry and sat in front part of the upper deck. It was beautiful, soon we were joined by a lot of people.
It was nice to see people chatting, small kids dancing. Ferry was playing old hindi songs. Soon it was dark, you can only see stars, thousands of stars. That site has seized into my mind. We docked after two hours, went straight to hotel de pebbles, had dinner at Ackshaya as we had decided on our first day. Their cook has amazing talent, we had gobhi manchurian, butter roti and their speciality, corm methi malai. It was delicious. I had my flight early in the morning. As I was leaving for airport at 6 am from the hotel, the receptionist gave me a parcel with sandwich in it. I felt so grateful as they did not have to do that. I have become their lifetime guest.
Our beautiful trip ended with wonderful memories.
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