Andaman Islands Travel Guide 2025 — Beaches, Diving & Colonial History

Andaman — India's Tropical Paradise Nobody Talks About Enough

Ask most Indians where to go for a tropical beach holiday and they say Goa. Ask those who have been to Andaman and they'll tell you — there's no comparison. Radhanagar Beach on Havelock Island is in a different league: powder-white sand, crystal-clear turquoise water, no beach shacks, no touts, no noise. Just one of Asia's finest beaches, relatively uncrowded, in India.

Getting to Andaman

By air: The most practical option. Fly to Port Blair (Veer Savarkar Airport) from Chennai (2h), Kolkata (2h), Delhi (3h), or Mumbai (3h). IndiGo, Air India, and Vistara operate flights. Book well in advance — seats fill up months ahead during peak season (December-February).

By ship: Passenger ships from Chennai, Kolkata, and Vishakhapatnam take 50-60 hours. An experience in itself, but not practical for most short holidays.

Port Blair — Your Entry Point

Most visitors spend 1-2 days in Port Blair before taking the ferry to Havelock. Key sights:

Cellular Jail — The British colonial prison where India's freedom fighters including Veer Savarkar were imprisoned. The jail's dark history is movingly told through a nightly Light and Sound show (book tickets in advance — it sells out). Walking through the solitary cells and the hanging gallows is a sobering, patriotic experience.

Corbyn's Cove Beach — A calm, relatively clean beach 7km from Port Blair town. Good for a quick swim on arrival day.

North Bay Island — A 30-minute speedboat from Port Blair — good for snorkelling, glass-bottom boat rides, and a first taste of Andaman marine life.

Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) — The Star of Andaman

Havelock is where you come for the beaches. The island has a handful of villages connected by one road, and the pace of life is gentle enough to feel like time has slowed down.

Radhanagar Beach (Beach 7) — 2km of pristine beach with gradual shallow entry, minimal wave action, and water so clear you can see the seabed 4 metres down. Avoid weekends when domestic tour groups arrive in large numbers.

Elephant Beach — The best snorkelling in Andaman. Reach by boat (20 minutes from Havelock Jetty) or by an adventurous 1.5-hour forest trek. Coral gardens start just 10 metres from shore — you'll snorkel with parrotfish, triggerfish, reef sharks, and if lucky, sea turtles.

Kalapathar Beach — A quieter, more dramatic beach with black rocks framing a turquoise cove. Best for sunrise photography.

Scuba Diving in Andaman

Andaman has over 100 dive sites and is one of India's best diving destinations. Even beginners can get certified here.

Best dive sites: Mac Point (Havelock), Aquarium (Havelock), Lighthouse (Neil Island), Barracuda City (South Button Island).

Learning to dive: A PADI Open Water course takes 3-4 days and costs ₹18,000-25,000. After certification, you can dive anywhere in the world. Many people plan their entire Andaman trip around getting certified.

Discovery dive: No certification needed — a 30-minute supervised dive in shallow water costs ₹3,500-4,500 and is a great introduction.

Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep)

Neil is smaller, quieter, and less developed than Havelock — essentially what Havelock was 10 years ago. The island has three main beaches:

• Bharatpur Beach — Calm, shallow, great for children and non-swimmers
• Laxmanpur Beach — Famous for the natural coral bridge and stunning sunsets
• Sitapur Beach — Remote sunrise beach with tide pools

Getting there: Take a government ferry or private speedboat from Port Blair or Havelock.

Bioluminescent Beach — Andaman's Hidden Magic

On dark moon nights, certain beaches near Havelock glow an ethereal blue from bioluminescent plankton. Wade into the water and every movement creates blue light. Ask your hotel to arrange a night trip — it costs ₹500-800 per person and is one of travel's genuinely magical experiences.