Travel and Leisure:Visit Andaman Islands

The Andaman Island is a very popular beach tourist destination for travelers. Three seasons namely summer, winter, and monsoon can be experienced seasons in the Andaman Islands.

 Situated in the Bengali Bay, the islands experience heavy winds and a tropical climate during monsoon. 

The Group of islands covers an area of 8,073 sqm. kilometers. The Andaman Island is a union territory of India. Originally inhabited by many groups of native tribes, the island was used as a colony during the colonization of India by Britain. Despite the unpleasant reputation during this colonial period, the Andaman island today is one of the most visited tourist destination in India. The islands are renowned for its tranquil, white sandy beaches categorized by iridescent blue waters.

History of the Andaman Islands

It's not accurately known when the first occupants arrived the Andaman Island but their presence was recorded by the Greek Astronomer called Ptolemy in the 2nd century, and again by Chinese Monk Xuan Zang in the 7th century during his 17-year trip through India.

During the late 17th century, Andaman island was annexed by the Marathas; His empire consumed large areas of India. After two centuries, the British discovered a use for it as a penal colony, originally to detain ‘regular' offenders from the mainland area and later, it was used to incarcerate political rebels – the freedom fighters of Indian independence. During WWII, this island was occupied by the Japanese people, who were looked upon with incongruity by the Islanders. A few of them initiated paramilitary activities against them. Others regarded these people as their liberators from British colonialism.

After Independence in 1947, Andaman Island was incorporated into the Indian Union and since then, mass migration from the mainland has continually inflated the population of the island from just a few thousand to over 350, 000. During this incursion, environmental protection and tribal land rights were disregarded to a large extent, but presently, local lobby groups are more vocal.

Best time to visit the Andaman Islands

The best period of the year to pay a visit to the Andaman Islands is between the months or October and May. It's also the period for the yearly tourism festival. The Island's waters are clear and placid after the monsoons, and it makes them perfect for both swimmers and snorkelers.

Climate of the Andaman Islands

The island has a tropical climate and only slight fluctuations in temperature and 80% humidity all through the year. There are medium to heavy rains during the monsoons season twice yearly from the month of May to mid-September as well as November to mid-December. The average annual rainfall is approximately 3000mm at Port Blair.

The seasons of the Andaman Islands

Winters

Winter starts in December and ends in February. However, not like most of the mainland, the temperatures continue to remain above 20 degrees all through. The average minimum temperature is around 22 degrees, and the average maximum can reach 30 degrees making the daytime warm.

Summers

Starting in March and lasting until mid-May, the minimum temperature is 24 degrees while the island's maximum temperature may reach 37 degrees.

Monsoons

The monsoon typically hits Andaman around the ending of May and can last until mid-September. It is often the least-recommended period to visit the island. Strong winds, low visibility underwater, and frequent rain are common during the season.

Early November until May sees the finest weather, and the best diving conditions as well in the entire island. The days are mainly sunny at that time of year, while the sea is flat enough to reflect the beautiful clouds above sometimes. This season is highly recommended for travel.

Why visit the Andaman Islands?

Tourist areas in Andaman Island are famous for a variety of reasons. They are the reason why a lot of tourists come to the island to enjoy their quaint beaches, as well as a rich reserve of flora and fauna. The list is endless. Here are a few reasons to visit the islands;

·         Bharatpur beach

Set at the jetty close to the Neil islands, the Bharatpur beach is renowned for its white shores and coral reefs. The perfect time to visit the beach is during evenings and mornings. The morning time is particularly good for the tourists who would love to go snorkeling while they enjoy the scenic view of all the coral reefs found here. Because of the exquisiteness of the reefs found here, the Neil islands are termed the coral capital of the Andaman Islands. Tourists who aren't fond of snorkeling do not have to be worried since they can enjoy the beach just by carrying around a book hammock and a book to enjoy the cool sea breeze as they indulge themselves. There are so many benches for strollers to relax their feet on with local vendors who auction coconut water.

·         The Limestone Caves

Set at the Baratang Island, this cave is a compulsory visit site for tourists who are want to visit Andaman island. While there isn't a lot to see at these caves except admiring this natural wonder, the boat journey you take is completely worth it. The speed boat ride allows tourists to pass under a canopy of forest which is a home to the native ‘Jarwa' tribe. However, you need to be especially careful of those sea crocodiles. Do not go near the water. In the caves, the stalagmites and stalactites will instantly catch your attention. The erosion inside the cave has formed into some unique shapes which might be interesting to see. Being in the company of a qualified guide will make your trip even more enjoyable since you might get to learn some interesting information about the history and local tribes of these lime caves.

·         Marina Park and Aquarium

Positioned at Port Blair, the Marina Park is also called the ‘Samudrika Marine Museum.' This museum is managed by the Navy of the Indian army. The primary purpose behind its construction was to create some awareness about the aquatic life conservation as well as the preservation of the resources in the Andaman Islands. A tourist can also get specific knowledge about the group of islands and the tribal and social life they house. The park comprises of five sections, and they are archaeology, geographical information, people information, marine life and history of the Andaman Islands. There are also tiny models of the islands illustrated here with large tanks, some containing natural coral reefs as well as different types of aqua flora and fauna which are unique to these islands.

·         The Viper islands

This Island derives its name from the various snakes that live on the island. The region is famous for the remnants of a jail which precedes the Kaala Paani or cellular jail. The jail was previously used to imprison political prisoners and today; we can see the ruins of the scaffolds on this island. The prison had many distinguished political prisoners from the country's struggle for independence. This spot, no matter how infamous it was in the colonial period, remains a picturesque location and is still one of the most significant tourist Andaman destinations.

·         Nicobar Islands

The largest island in the region is the Nicobar Islands. This great island covers a large area of 1,045 sq. kilometers. It is however thinly populated with a small population of around 10,000. The region was affected by the tsunami in 2004 in the Indian Ocean which resulted in a lot of deaths. It was even cut off from the world for a short period. Nevertheless, the beautiful Nicobar Island is widely known for its rainforest which houses assorted wildlife and is a part of the UN World Biosphere Reserve. This unique location of the rainforest has turned the area into a home to numerous unique species of aqua fauna and fauna. The island houses the native tribe known as ‘Shompen' which known as one of the oldest communities in the world. Some wildlife photographers can decide to visit the Campbell Bay as this is home to a lot of unique fauna which includes giant robber crab, Crab-eating macaque, megapode, as well as the Nicobar pigeon.

How to plan your trip to the Andaman Islands?

A trip to the Andaman Islands can sometimes get unnerving because of so a lot of things happening from corner to corner of the Andaman Tours. A lot of people offer various Andaman Tour Packages. As a tourist, how can you determine what is best for your trip? Well, do the cheapest tours to the Andaman Islands actually mean it's the most reasonable? Well, this page has a few information that will give you a simple overview on how to plan your Andaman Island Trip. To start the process, it is recommended that you follow these steps;

Identify the three most important things for the trip to the Andaman Islands

Before we talk about the top three points. It is also recommended that you check all the flight tickets. This is because Flight tickets usually become very expensive as the travel date draws near. It is advised that you book your flight tickets very early as to prevent such an occurrence. The suggested period is 72-90 Days before the trip. If you do not see cheap tickets during the travel date you want to use, then place an alert on travel sites so they can give you regular updates about the prices for your preferred travel dates. The second option you have is to consult the local travel companies in the Andaman island who plan group flight bookings. Such companies have much better deals on their flight tickets as they buy some tickets well in advance for the groups. Now let's begin.

Things you have to identify

-       Destination and the attractions you want to visit. Described in detail below.

-       Things you plan to do in the Andaman Islands.

-       The number of Days that you plan to visit the exotic, do not plan just 3-4 days. It is too less a time to visit this exotic destination.

Expected Budget. Everyone has a limit.

-       Preference

·         Some people prefer everything.

·         Some people prefer a relaxed trip where they will not be bothered about where they will go and what they will do. They just don't want any expenses.

·         Some are more interested in finding the cheapest things to do during their holiday or how they can reduce costs.

·         Others go for Honeymoon; group tours and Business meets.

Now, considering all the aforementioned factors, you have to make a choice about what you can afford or what you want to experience during your magical trip to the Andaman Islands. Try to look beyond your budget, think about your preferences and find out from feedback left by others who have visited. Find out what experiences you would like to have during your trip and only make a decision when you have an unbiased idea of what you should expect. You can also use tour companies as they can help you to make a quick and enjoyable choice. An unbiased review on a particular resort, hotel, activity or even a restaurant is what a lot of professionals recommend to tourists to help them to plan their once in a lifetime trip in a better and an exciting way.

Where do most tourists visit?

A large majority of the travelers who pay a visit the Andaman Islands, Port Blair (This is the Capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands), the Havelock Island(also known for its amazing beach resorts and marvelous water activities) and the Neil Island (beautiful Island with a very little crowd and a lot of open space). Now, people who come for a longer duration visit Middle Andaman, this includes Rangat and Baratang Island, and North Andaman, also known for its magnificent turtle nesting grounds and the twin island Smith and Ross. You can look at a map of the Andaman Islands to get a full idea of what you can find on the island.

Must Do Activities at the Andaman Islands

-       Sea Walk to North Bay Island.

-       Scuba Diving at Havelock Island.

-       Snorkeling at Elephant Beach and Jolly Bouy

-       Trekking to the Limestone Caves at the Baratang Island

-       Fishing Trips to the Cinque Island, if you have it in your budget.