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If we simply define Goa, we would call it a state in India that is a popular beach destination. However, it's extremely difficult to define Goa in detail. The definition varies from person to person. For some, Goa is a budgeted backpacking destination, while for others, it is a luxurious vacation. For some, Goa is synonymous with partying and beach hopping, while for others, Goa is for sunset chasing and fort explorations. Some picture Goa as a Portuguese land, while some see it as a harmonious blend of all major religions. For us, Goa is a writer's inspiration and a photographer's creativity. We visit Goa for monsoon greens, for summer swims, for falling asleep on the sand listening to waves, for sunbeds and cocktails, and for smoothies and mocktails. Also, to run away from the city's busyness and cheap shopping :P And Goa is kind enough to fulfil all our and others' needs. We always wanted to experience how Goans live every day. How they buy the paos/pois (breads) from cycle-sellers, how they retire to susegad for an afternoon nap, how to whizz past the narrow palm-fringed roads on a two-wheeler, and how they know and socialise with anyone and everyone. And what better way to feel like a Goan than to slow travel in Goa. So, we did just that during our 3-week long trip to Goa. On this slow trip, we found some unique places to stay in Goa for an offbeat experience. While it's difficult to suggest someone a place to stay in Goa, we often find ourselves asking them questions to gauge what type of trip they are looking forward to. But whatever type of trip it is, we highly recommend trying to book these unique places to stay in Goa for an offbeat experience. Unique Places to Stay in Goa for an Offbeat Experience Maravilha Maravilha, meaning ''marvellous'' in Portuguese, is a boutique property located in the quiet interiors of Assagao village in Goa. It is a 200-year-old Portuguese house very tastefully refurbished and converted into a luxurious stay. However, the age-old charm can still be found in the décor and antiques adorn the house. Maravilha features 14 designer rooms, an in-house kitchen, a lounge room, a dining area, a swimming pool, and lots of open spaces in the surrounding gardens. Special mention to their selection of furniture, the extravagant décor, and the subtle lighting. The rooms are either blue or white themed, and both are fantastically done. Each room showcases a rich heritage and a spirit of intimacy and romance. Maravilha is 2-storeyed – the rooms on the ground level have direct access to the swimming pool, whereas the ones on the first floor have balconies with private sit-outs. We stayed in a lavish room on the first floor, which was equipped with high-speed internet connectivity, a smart TV, a minibar, a safe deposit, and a tea/coffee maker. The en-suite bathroom was equally exorbitant with designer tiles, a wall-mounted shower, rich toiletries, and a hair-dryer. Striking Indo-Portuguese elements stud the nooks and corners of Maravilha, like the tiled gable roof sloping down to a columned façade, the unique lounge chair just outside the reception, the vintage artefacts that complement the décor, the designer tiles in the rooms and bathrooms, and the illustrator paintings themed on Goa that is hung everywhere in the house. Like all the traditional Portuguese houses, Maravilha features an inner open courtyard that filters sunlight inside the house. What made our stay at this boutique property so memorable was the staff. They are ever-so-smiling, welcoming, up for a conversation, highly hospitable, and always on their toes to make us feel at home, yet never intrusive or interfering. There was so much to do during our stay at Maravilha. We relaxed in their backyard swimming pool, chilled on the hammocks in the garden under the palm-fringed trees, lounged on the balcony with a chilled drink, rode their bicycles to explore the nearby hinterlands, and gorged on the freshly prepared mouth-watering food. They also arrange for guided village walks, help you rent a scooter, suggest nearby places to visit and give reccos on the places to shop. Maravilha's in-house kitchen prepares personalised meals based on your tastes and requirements. For health and fitness enthusiasts, they have a few gluten-free, fat-free dishes too. Their menu is specially curated from amongst the different cuisines in the world and has something for everyone. The staff customises everything for their guests, right from décor to food. Maravilha is rented out as an entire property to a group of friends or family looking for small celebrations or a get-together in a private setting. It's ideal for office outings, conferences, as well as workcations too! The property is kept spic and span, and you are free to roam anywhere. They spoil you with their authentic hospitality. Maravilha also has a massage room beside the pool, where they offer authentic spa services. If you are looking for a secluded private vacation far from chaos yet close to the beaches, Maravilha is one of the best places to stay in Goa for an offbeat experience. If you would like to book a stay at Maravilha, you can check their official website or click on the below sites to find the current prices - Dudhsagar Plantation & Farm stay Dudhsagar Plantation and Farm stay is a simple yet elegant stay located in the forested interiors of the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary in Goa. Situated 50 kilometres from the Goa airport in Dabolim, this family-run farm stay is very close to majestic waterfalls, including Dudhsagar Falls and Tambdi Surla Falls. The property features 5 cottages that are set amidst spice gardens on a 30-acre estate. The cottages at Dudhsagar Plantation & Farm stay are traditional, spacious, and simplistic, with an attached washroom. The room is well-ventilated and provides a feeling of being close to nature. It is surrounded by tropical forests with tall palm, betel nut, and banana trees. Each cottage has an outdoor verandah seating where you can spend a relaxed time. The property has an open dining space with a thatched patio that adds to the feel of oneness with nature. The farm stay's host, Ashok, is very friendly and welcoming and will instantly make you feel at home. He and his family have worked hard on nurturing the local bio-diversity while simultaneously managing the farm stay by including initiatives like rain-water harvesting, converting food waste into biogas, and protecting the rare flora and fauna. They have even constructed an eco-friendly swimming pool with water-purifying aquatic plants growing in it. Ashok charted out a perfect itinerary for us to explore all the nearby places. Dudhsagar Plantation & Farm stay makes for a perfect base to visit Dudhsagar Falls. After a stressful 22-kilometre hike, returning to the farm stay felt like a huge relief. We wonder why anyone would want to do this long hike and then return to the crowded beaches 50 kilometres away! Ashok and his family are typical Goans by heart, and we were lucky to have sampled some delicious Goan cuisines during our stay. We spent a lot of time in the dining area where the dishes kept coming, from Goan paos to avocado chutney to a dessert made out of coconut and passion fruit. Food and like-minded conversations, what else does one need! At Dudhsagar Plantation & Farm stay, we explored the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and nearby waterfalls, swam in the property's eco-pool, spotted birds and butterflies, walked through the spice garden, ate organic food, and talked to like-minded travellers. Dudhsagar Plantation & Farm stay also offers activities like cashew picking. These cashews are then washed, taken to their in-house distillery, and brewed to produce local Feni. Ashok has perfected the art of making Urak (a milder version of Feni), and he serves it with the utmost affection. You can also explore the village around the stay and spot beautiful rare birds. All in all, Dudhsagar Plantation & Farm stay is amongst the most unique places to stay in Goa for an offbeat experience. Away from the chaos and amidst nature, we're sure you wouldn't regret booking your stay there. Here's our honest experience of staying with Dudhsagar Plantation and Farm stay. If you would like to book a stay at Dudhsagar Plantation and Farm stay, you can check their official website or click on the below sites to find the current prices - Vivenda dos Palhacos Vivenda dos Palhacos (that translates to House of Clowns) is a 100-year-old Portuguese villa that is beautifully restored by a brother-sister duo into a luxurious 8-bedroom mansion. Tucked in a corner amongst the coconut grooves in Majorda village, this boutique stay is just about a kilometre from the beach, yet set in peaceful surroundings. The house belonged to a Hindu family and was sold to Catholics somewhere around the 1920s; hence it has bits and pieces of Indo-Portuguese architecture. The house's front porch has pretty sit-outs on both sides, typical of Portuguese architecture. Whereas there's a central open courtyard in the middle of the house, which is typical of old Hindu homes. When Simon and Charlotte, the brother-sister duo, bought the house, it was in a derelict condition. You will find a photo book at the property where you will be able to view the old photographs of the dilapidated house and accompanying photos of how the mansion was refurbished gradually. Right from the living room, the balconies, to the tiled roof, you will be able to differentiate the architectural styles. All the rooms at Vivenda dos Palhacos are differently themed and innovatively designed. The rooms are named after places in India that the owners have lived in and have loved. Like there's a room named Konnagar (a posh locality in West Bengal), and it is styled luxuriously with a 4-poster bed and a huge bathroom featuring a big bathtub from the Royal Bombay Yacht Club. The other room, named Ooty (a popular hill station in Tamil Nadu), where we stayed for 3 nights, is all white, styled with sensual framed paintings, overlooks an open courtyard, and has a bathroom tiled with pieces of mirror. We learnt that this was the kitchen of the old Indo-Portuguese mansion. Isn't it interesting? The other rooms are Madras, Alipore, Chanpara, Chummery, Darjeeling, and Ballygunge, each themed uniquely and adorned with interesting antiques. The living room has big sofa sets, and the dining room has a 16-seater antique wooden dining table. Every corner is decorated with unique antiquities, like the balconies feature high chairs found in a barber's shop, and the dining table features quirky utensils. The café plus bar is constructed out of the back of a truck and is full of vibrant colours. Vivenda dos Palhacos is a mini library where you will find a variety of books on all the topics under the sky in each room. If you are a book lover, you can easily spend a couple of days inside the house without an urge to wander outside. Oh did we mention they have a swimming pool too? The hosts are charming, and we loved having detailed conversations with them about the Goan way of living. And oh, did we mention that they have 2 pet dogs and are super friendly?! If you are looking for authentic Goan experiences, and an opportunity to delve into a new culture, then Vivenda dos Palhacos is the best place to stay in Goa for a unique experience. Read our detailed review on Vivenda dos Palhacos here. If you would like to book a stay at Vivenda dos Palhacos, you can check their official website and call/ mail them directly. WelcomHeritage Panjim Inn As the name suggests, WelcomHeritage Panjim Inn is located in Panjim, the capital city of Goa. Surrounded by the narrow and colourful lanes of Fontainhas, this heritage property is situated in the posh suburbs of Panjim. It is an ancestral property that is now a part of the WelcomHeritage chain of hotels. Panjim Inn was built in the 1880s and is the first heritage hotel in Goa. Owned by the same family for over 5 generations, the family has taken utmost care to preserve the old-world charm of the building, including the external façade, the stonewalls, the teak beams, and the wrought iron railings lining the balcony. We had a chance to stay in Panjim Peoples – a restored mansion that was formerly Goa'sGoa's first English medium school. The spacious rooms on the first floor of Panjim Peoples are extremely spacious, with handpicked Portuguese style décor, carved rosewood furniture, floor-to-ceiling windows, a royal bathroom, and a huge balcony that opens to the view of the coloured streets of Fontainhas. During the night, the entire area surrounding Panjim Inn looked like a small Portugal town. The lime, turquoise, violet, team, and crimson-coloured buildings adorned with ajulejo tiles teleported us to a different world altogether. Panjim Inn'sInn's in-house restaurant named Verandah serves Goan, Continental, and Indian delicacies that are wholesome and delicious. WelcomHeritage Panjim Inn is amongst the most unique places to stay in Goa for an offbeat experience that majorly includes exploring the Latin quarters of Fontainhas. The property's central location ensures that you are never far from either beaches, churches, casinos, or nightclubs. Before making your bookings, you might want to read our experience stay at Panjim Inn. If you would like to book a stay at Panjim Inn, you can check WelcomHeritage's official website or click on the below sites to find the current prices - Do you know of more such unique places to stay in Goa for an offbeat experience? Drop us a comment, and we'll be there in no time.

Port Blair, the capital city of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is a part of the South Andaman Islands. To reach anywhere in the Andamans, you first fly to or sail to Port Blair. Hence, it makes up for a great start to your Andaman itinerary. However, there are some incredible places to visit near Port Blair that you must include in your itinerary. Each of these places can easily be covered in a day, making up for great half day trips or full day trips from Port Blair. In this article, we have detailed all these wonderful places to visit near Port Blair. While you consider all places listed in this article to your itinerary, there are many places worth visiting inside Port Blair as well. Ranging from water sports activities, gardens, museums, historical places and also a beach is what you can find in Port Blair. Read below article to know about such places. The Andaman Odyssey is a series of 16 articles that covers Andamans extensively giving you all the information you might need to plan a trip (or multiple trips) to these beautiful emerald islands of India. Click on images below to read these articles - 1. Introduction to Emerald islands of India 2. Plan your own trip to Andamans 3. A complete travel guide to Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) 3.1 Review: Summer Sands Beach Resort 4. A complete travel guide to Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) 4.1 Review: Symphony Palms Beach Resort 4.2 Review: Havelock Island Beach Resort 5. Review: Dive with Scuba Lov 6. Review: Makruzz - Cruising across Andamans 7. Plan your trip to North Andaman and Middle Andaman Islands 8. Visit Baratang Island, Middle Andaman Island 9. Visit Rangat - Middle Andaman Island 10. Visit Mayabunder - Middle Andaman Island 11. Visit Diglipur - North Andaman Island 12. Travel Guide to Port Blair 13. Places to visit near Port Blair (This article) Places to visit near Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar The places to visit in Port Blair, including the museums, the beaches, and the other sea-side attractions, can be easily explored in two full days. If you have additional time beyond that, we recommend these places to visit near Port Blair that can each be covered as a day trip from the capital town. 1. Eastern Islands - Ross Island or Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island - North Bay Island - Viper Island There are set of 3 islands on east of Port Blair - Ross island now renamed as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island, North Bay Island and Viper Island. Covering all the 3 is one full day trip starting from Rajiv Gandhi water sports complex. However, Viper Island has been closed for tourists since quite some time and we would never recommend anyone to visit North Bay Island. This leaves you with Ross island which we would recommend visiting towards evening. Read on to know why. 1.1 Ross Island or Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island Ross Island, also known as the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island, is located 3 kilometres (15 minutes boat ride) east of Port Blair in the Andamans and is amongst the best place to visit near Port Blair. The island was once an important seat of British power, who brought beautiful infrastructural changes to Ross Island. Today, the buildings are in ruin, which is still breathtaking to visit. Every evening the island lit up with a Light and Sound show. The Light and Sound show tickets are available from the Rajiv Gandhi water Sports Complex in Port Blair. The walk across Ross Island is uphill, which can be really strenuous and tiring. Since you get just 1 hour to explore the island, we suggest getting around in the recirculating electric golf carts by paying INR 80 extra. In this, the driver doubles up as a guide and explains you everything. Once you reach the topmost point of Ross Island, climb the stairs to the other side, and visit the lighthouse that gives an excellent view of the blue sea. You can return in another recirculating golf cart. Deer, rabbits, squirrels, and peacocks fearlessly roam Ross Island. The roots of big trees have grown around the ruins of the old buildings, church, and garrison. While most islands in Andamans are known for their beaches and water sports, Ross Island is the only one where you find history. Note: Ross Island is closed every Wednesday. Since the boat to Ross Island is a shared boat, make sure that you complete the exploration and reach back in the allotted time. We would recommend you do only Ross Island (not North Bay Island - Read on to why) and you do it in evening i.e. take last or 2nd last ferry to Ross Island. This way you will be able to see light and sound show as well as see sun setting behind Port Blair. Also the light and sound show at Ross Island is better than that of Cellular jail. Entry fee for Ross Island: INR 30 per person Golf Cart ride charges at Ross Island: INR 80 per person Light and Sound Show ticket charge: INR 100 per person; Show timing: 5:30 PM Last ferry timing from Rajiv Gandhi water sports complex to Ross Island: 4:00 PM 1.2 North Bay Island North Bay Island is another 15 minutes boat ride from Ross Island. It doesn’t offer much other than water sports activities like snorkelling, scuba diving, jet-skiing, glass-bottom boat ride, coral safari submarine and sea walk. The beach is non-existent, and the island is filled with stalls of vendors offering you packages of different water sports activities. The water is filthy, the visibility is very, very poor, and the toilets/ changing rooms are extremely dirty. In our opinion, the North Bay Island is, in fact, the worst place to visit near Port Blair. Take our advice – Do not visit North Bay Island. While buying boat tickets at the Rajiv Gandhi water sports complex in Port Blair, opt only to visit Ross Island and completely skip the North Bay Island. If at all, you buy the combined package for both the islands, do not, and we repeat, do not buy tickets/ packages for water sports activities. Snorkelling and Scuba diving are done right on the shore where the visibility is poor. They try to sell you the activities by showing pretty photos and videos of the underwater marine life. Trust us; you will not see even 10% of what they show you in videos and photos. Snorkelling and scuba diving activities at Havelock Island and Neil Island are far far better than what you get at the North Bay Island. We dived with Scuba Lov in Havelock Island and it was one of the most amazing underwater experiences of our life. Also in terms of under water activities, think of it this way - If you are old (>50 yrs) or have any lung/heart ailments, Glass bottom ride and Coral Safari Submarine are for you. They are safe, simple ways for you to experience underwater life. You can even try Seawalk depending on your health situation. If you are young and healthy - doing above mentioned activities are a waste of your time. You just need to do Snorkelling and/or Scuba diving. Both these activities are better done away from crowds and away from shore where underwater aquatic life and corals would be thriving. Doing it in North Bay Island near Port Blair or Elephant beach in Havelock is simply a waste. We were completely disappointed looking at the state of affairs as soon as we reached the North Bay Island. The worst part was that we were in a shared boat and had to wait and stall time at the island for 2.5 hours. What irked us more was that they prohibited us from using our personal snorkelling gear on the shore. The only grace was the North Bay Island Lighthouse, located a short hike from the commotion. It is situated on a small hill that gives a magnificent view of the endless sea. Hardly anyone climbed this hill, and we spent all our time on the bench beside the lighthouse overlooking the incredible view. So, if you are stranded like us, you know where to go! Boat to Ross Island and North Bay Island operate from the Rajiv Gandhi water Sports Complex at Aberdeen Jetty in Port Blair, South Andamans. Both these islands can be easily visited one after the other in a single day. If you buy a combined ticket, you will be first taken to Ross Island, where you will get 1 hour for exploration. You will then have to board the same boat that will take you to North Bay Island, where you get 2 to 2.5 hours to explore this island. The same boat then brings you back to Port Blair. The ticket counter at Rajiv Gandhi water sports complex is open from 8:30 AM to 3 PM. Boat ticket charge (Ross Island + North Bay Island): INR 750 per person round trip Ross Island Entry Charge: INR 30 per person North Bay Island Entry: Free 1.3 Viper Island Viper Island is another island located near Port Blair. Presently, the island is closed due to major destruction during the 2004 earthquake and tsunami. However, we heard that the jail was first constructed on Viper Island, and since it wasn’t able to accommodate many prisoners, another jail (The Cellular Jail) was built in Port Blair. Today, the island boasts of the ruins of the former jail on a hilltop. The boat for the Viper Island used to leave from Junglighat Jetty in Port Blair. The island sure makes a great place to visit near Port Blair. Hope it reopens soon! Hence we would recommend you to do few museums listed in our travel guide to Port Blair, Cellular Jail followed by Ross Island towards evening and Marina park in night as one day itinerary. 2. Western coast - Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park (Jolly Buoy Island / Red Skin Island), Wandoor beach and Amber Sunset point Another full day trip would be reaching western coast of Southern Andaman Island early in the day, heading to Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park doing Jolly Buoy / Red Skin Island. Post lunch covering Wandoor beach and ending the day with Amber Sunset point. Read on to know more. 2.1 Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park (Jolly Buoy Island / Red Skin Island) While Ross Island and North Bay Island are located towards the east of Port Blair, the Jolly Buoy Island and Red Skin Island are situated towards the west. The boats for both these islands leave from Wandoor Jetty, about 20 kilometres away from Port Blair. Both these islands fall under Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park. This is a group of 17-20 islands which are preserved and protected by the Andaman Administration. Only 2 of these islands Jolly Buoy and Red skin island can be accessed by tourists and you have to obtain permits to visit them. The permits are available at the IPT office (Information, Publicity and Tourism) in Port Blair, where you will have to submit copies of your photo IDs and fill out a form. You should obtain the permit in advance (a day or two before your trip). Only limited permits are issued per day to restrict tourist footfall. To protect the marine life and let the corals regenerate, one island is closed when the other is open for tourists, meaning you can visit only one of these islands during your trip. We were fortunate to get the permits for Jolly Buoy Island, the best place to visit near Port Blair in our opinion. The boat from Wandoor Jetty takes about 45 minutes to reach the island. The island is surrounded by this amazing shade of blue water, very transparent and very inviting. You get to sit at the beach, swim in the marked areas, and enjoy 3-4 hours on the island. Apart from the beach, Jolly Buoy Island is completely covered with tropical forest. It’s advisable not to go deep inside the forest. Scuba diving and snorkelling activities were closed during our visit, but we hear that the area surrounding the island is extremely rich in unique coral population and colourful marine life. There was an option of a glass-bottom boat ride where we got to see a few corals, but that wasn’t too much fun. We, however, enjoyed the Jolly Buoy Beach and the incredible views of the sea from there. When you are back from Jolly Buoy Island, do not forget to check out the Marine Interpretation Centre. It is sort of a museum that explains kind of flora and fauna found in Mahatma Gandhi marine national park with some lovely exhibits and photographs. Note: The boats to Jolly Buoy Island leave quite early in the morning (9 AM to 10 PM), so make sure you reach Wandoor on time. The island is a no-plastic zone. You will have to deposit all your plastic carry-ons at the counter at Wandoor Jetty. You do get steel bottles at ticket counter on rent where you can transfer your water There are no shops or food stalls on the island, neither are you allowed to carry packaged food. Have a fulfilling meal before you reach Wandoor. Changing rooms and toilet facilities are available on the islands. Permit charges and boat ticket charges for Jolly Buoy Island: INR 950 per person 2.2 Wandoor beach After your trip to one of these islands, spend some time at Wandoor Beach. It is a nice beach with plenty of photo opportunities because of the drifted wood and dense plantation. Wandoor beach has some stalls, eateries and shops as well. You can watch the sunset from Wandoor beach as well but we have a better spot identified for this. 2.3 Amber sunset point As you go further south of Wandoor on the western coast of southern Andaman Island, you would reach a point post which you would not be allowed to go further. This point is Amber sunset point. You might very well find the best sunsets in your Andaman trip at this point. Let us not say more and let the pictures do the talking. Note that sun sets pretty early in Andamans given it is at extreme east but yet follows Indian Standard Time (IST). Time your visit accordingly. As mentioned, the whole western coast would take one full day and you might return only post dark. 3. Southern tip - Chidiya Tapu, Biological Park & Munda Pahad Chidiya Tapu and Munda Pahad are among the best places to visit near Port Blair for sunset viewing (along with Amber sunset point). These are southern most places in the greater Andaman Island and Munda Pahad acts as the southern most tip. 3.1 Chidiya Tapu and Biological park Chidiya Tapu is located some 18 kilometres south of Port Blair, whereas Munda Pahad is 2 kilometres further ahead. The Biological Park at Chidiya Tapu is basically a park featuring varied flora and fauna. It also has a small zoo where you can see wildlife like deer, monkeys, wild pigs, some birds, monitor lizards, turtles, and crocodiles. It is a good park to visit if you are travelling with kids. Else, you can easily skip it. Even though Chidiya Tapu is far from Port Blair, we recommend visiting it once. Make sure you leave early and reach on time; the sun sets pretty early in the Andaman Islands. The place boasts of some of the most magical sunsets. The sky changes into incredible shades of colours during and after the sunset. We went there to see the sunset twice, once from Chidiya Tapu and another time to explore the Munda Pahad beach and viewpoint. From Chidiya Tapu, you can even drive further to the Munda Pahad beach – a very beautiful white sandy long stretch of beach to watch the sunset. The road from Chidiya Tapu to Munda Pahad beach runs parallel to the ocean and is an absolutely joyful ride. From Munda Pahad Beach, you will find a trail up a hill to a viewpoint called Munda Pahad viewpoint. It’s a 1.5-kilometre hike and takes approximately 30 minutes to reach the top. You will find a path heading into the woods with a small sign board. While the hike is easy, if you are old, we would suggest avoiding it given you will be walking on unpaved path full of rocks, stones and roots. It is also slightly uphill. But the views from up there are absolutely mesmerizing. A small lighthouse atop the hill makes for a great photo background. It is advised not to see sunset from here since it gets dark pretty quickly and you should head back while it is still bright. You will find great sunset view from down the hill as well. Note: If you plan to hike to the Munda Pahad viewpoint, leave Port Blair as early as 2:00 PM and reach the base by 3:00 PM (The drive is rough in some parts and can easily take an hour based on where you start from). Munda Pahad beach and view point has its own entry point which closes at 4:00 PM. 4. North of Port Blair - Mount Harriet National Park, Collinpur beach, Baratang island There are few interesting places to visit towards north of Port Blair. But you might not be club all of them as one day trip. We would recommend doing Mount Harriet National Park and Collinpur beach as one day trip. And cover Baratang Island when you plan to visit Middle and North Andaman Islands (Rangat, Mayabunder, Diglipur). 4.1 Mount Harriet National Park Mount Harriet National Park (recently renamed Mount Manipur) is located about 45 kilometres from Port Blair by road. But, if you opt to take a ferry from Phoenix Bay Jetty to Bamboo Flat Jetty, which lies to the north of Port Blair, the distance decreases to 20 kilometres. This ferry also transfers vehicles, making this route the best way to reach Mount Harriet National Park. From Bamboo Flat, the road goes uphill all the way to the national park. From the top of the hill at Mount Harriet National Park, you can see the North Bay Island and Ross Island. On a clear day, you can see as far as Havelock Island. The photo printed on the former INR 20 Indian currency note is from Mount Harriet National Park. In the park, you will find several watchtowers, a children’s playground, a deer park, a butterfly park, a few tourist sheds, and a guest house. Mount Harriet Peak, located in the national park, is the third highest peak of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Head to the Emerald viewpoint to get some amazing views of the coastal areas. You can also trek on a nature trail leading to KalaPathar viewpoint, where you will find incredible landscapes for photography. Mount Harriet National Park is also a birder’s paradise, making it qualify among the best places to visit near Port Blair. The park can be easily visited as a day trip from Port Blair. Note: Carry water and eatables with you when visiting Mt. Harriet National Park Ferry ticket charge from Phoenix Bay Jetty to Bamboo Flat Jetty: INR 15 per person (extra cost for vehicle loading applies – INR 50 for two-wheelers and INR 130 for four-wheelers) Entry fee to Mount Harriet National Park: INR 50 per person 4.2 Collinpur Beach Collinpur Beach, also known as Sunset Bay, is another incredible sunset viewpoint near Port Blair. The beach is located about 26 kilometres northwest of Port Blair. It boasts turquoise blue water and a big stretch of soft sand. There’s a thick layer of palm tree plantations in the backdrop, so much that you wouldn’t imagine that a secluded beach exists behind it. Clean and quiet, Collinpur beach is best visited in the evening to witness magical sunsets. 4.3 Baratang Island Baratang Island is located 95 kilometres away from Port Blair by road or 52 nautical miles by sea. It is a part of Middle Andaman Island and makes for a beautiful day trip from Port Blair. The island is known for its limestone caves, mud volcanoes, mangrove forests, and nearby secluded beaches. You can reach Baratang Island via ferry (operated by Makruzz) or road. Reaching this island isn’t a piece of cake, and you must plan everything in advance. We have written a travel guide to Baratang Island wherein we have described in detail on how to reach and places to visit on the island. If you choose to visit Baratang Island by road, you have to leave as early as 4:30 AM from Port Blair, reach Jirkatang Check Post, queue up for the convoy, drive through the Jarawa Tribal area on the Andaman Trunk Road, and then take a ferry to cross the Middle Strait. Please read all about it in our blog. If you choose to visit the island via Makruzz ferry, book your tickets in advance, sit back, and enjoy your sail to the island. Once at Baratang, you have to hire a boat to reach the limestone caves, one of the best place to visit near Port Blair. This ride is through dense mangrove plantations. The limestone caves are formed naturally over hundreds of years and are a must-visit in Baratang. Mud volcanoes are natural wonders that spew out gases (excreted by the earth’s interior) along with mud. From Baratang, you can also visit the nearby islands like Parrot Island and Guitar Island. PS: To explore the above-mentioned places to visit near Port Blair, you can rent a two-wheeler from the many rental agencies in the Port Blair market. This will help you cover these places in an economical way. Pin this image Hope this detailed guide on the places to visit near Port Blair entices you to add some additional days in Port Blair to your Andaman itinerary. If you know of any other such great places to visit near Port Blair that we have missed out on, do let us know in the comments section below. Note that timings & costs mentioned in this article could have changed since publishing this article. #India #EastIndia #AndamanandNicobar #PortBlair #UnionTerritory

Port Blair is the capital city of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory of India. One cannot visit Andamans without stepping into this only urban-like part of the Andaman Islands. It acts as the entry point both through air and water into Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Due to this, you would very likely spend a couple of nights in Port Blair, so it is important to know the best way to use this time. Also, if you are interested in the history and culture of the Andaman Islands, Port Blair is the only place where you can learn about the heritage of these islands. Here is a compilation of places to visit and things to do in Port Blair. Most travellers take a flight to Andamans and hence land at Veer Savarkar Airport. The airport is located close to major commercial areas of the capital city. Aberdeen Bazaar (a major commercial market), Phoenix Bay Jetty (where you take ferries for popular Havelock and Neil Islands), tourist attractions like Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex (where you take ferries for Ross & North Bay Islands), Cellular Jail, number of interesting museums, Corbyn's Cove (the only beach in the town) all lie in the vicinity of the airport. There are then a few interesting attractions on the outskirts of Port Blair like Chidiya Tapu, Wandoor Beach, Jolly Buoy Island, Mount Harriet National Park, Collinpur beach, etc., which on its own can be a half-day/full-day trip. Together with all these destinations, it might take you around 4 full days to explore Port Blair. The Andaman Odyssey is a series of 16 articles that covers Andamans extensively giving you all the information you might need to plan a trip (or multiple trips) to these beautiful emerald islands of India. Click on images below to read these articles - 1. Introduction to Emerald islands of India 2. Plan your own trip to Andamans 3. A complete travel guide to Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) 3.1 Review: Summer Sands Beach Resort 4. A complete travel guide to Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) 4.1 Review: Symphony Palms Beach Resort 4.2 Review: Havelock Island Beach Resort 5. Review: Dive with Scuba Lov 6. Review: Makruzz - Cruising across Andamans 7. Plan your trip to North Andaman and Middle Andaman Islands 8. Visit Baratang Island, Middle Andaman Island 9. Visit Rangat - Middle Andaman Island 10. Visit Mayabunder - Middle Andaman Island 11. Visit Diglipur - North Andaman Island 12. Travel Guide to Port Blair (This article) 13. Places to visit near Port Blair (This article) Understanding the Geography of Port Blair The main Andaman Island is divided into 3 parts - North, Middle, and South Andaman. Port Blair is the major hub in South Andaman and lies in the southeast part of main Andaman Island. It hence has a good coastline facing the east. The popular islands of Andamans, namely Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) and Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep), are further towards the east of Port Blair city and can easily be accessed from Port Blair through ferries. Places to Visit in Port Blair Port Blair is the only urban area in the Andaman Islands. It has many attractions of interest, ranging from historical sites & museums to Marina Bay-type seaside attractions. Let's cover the major attractions within Port Blair city - 1. Seaside attractions in Port Blair city As you move past Aberdeen Bazaar (a happening market in Port Blair), you will reach several attractions on the seaside. All of these attractions are next to each other and a leisurely walk in this area in the evening would be very pleasant. 1.1 Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex is the go-to spot for many fun and water sports activities. From Jet skis, banana boats, paddle boats, parasailing, etc., it is the place to take your kids for them to have fun. Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex is also where you can get tickets and ferries for day trips to Ross Island and North Bay Island (Viper Island tickets have been discontinued). The area has long 'V shape' jetties with the iconic statue of Rajiv Gandhi, and the entire place is a good stroll with a number of benches for you to sit and enjoy the sea breeze. As you enter the Rajiv Gandhi Sports Complex, you will also notice 2 historically important memorials on each side. On the left, you would find the Aberdeen Memorial in memory of aborigines of Andamans who fought and lost a battle with the British in 1859. On the right, you would find the Tsunami memorial paying homage to those who lost their lives in the Tsunami of 2004. Note - Timing - 5:30 AM to 9:00 PM though the water sports are available only between 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM There are no entry fees, but you need to pay for any activity you may want to do. 1.2 Marina Park, Aquarium Right next to Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex lies Marina Park. It is a well-maintained park with certain attractions like the 'I love Port Blair' signpost, great lighting at night, hawkers serving chaats, a kid's play area, open lawns, an open-air gym, and several benches in front of the ocean make it a must-visit in the evenings. The park also has an aquarium and children's cycle park at one end. As the name suggests, the aquarium houses a number of interesting fishes that kids would love to see. You would also be fascinated to see the huge Indian flag waving further up the seaside road, and a huge Indian map created inland on a slope visible from Marina Park. 1.3 Corbyn's Cove The coastal road from Marina Park would take you to the only beach in Port Blair - Corbyn's Cove. The U-shaped landscape around the beach naturally stops rough waves, making it a pleasant beach to swim. Some water sports activities have also started here, which are priced on the higher side and hence not recommended. Corbyn's cove beach may not be as serene and clean as most other island beaches of Andamans. However this is the best you have in Port Blair in case you want to get into waters. You cannot see the sunset from this beach, but sunrises here are worth watching. There are a few Japanese bunkers as well on the rocky side of this beach, in case you are interested. 2. Historical Sites Since the Andaman Islands were primarily homes of a few aborigine tribes, the history does not go back too far. The history of Andamans is limited to the last 150-200 years since the onset of British rule in India. 2.1 Cellular Jail If you had planned a trip to Andamans 20 years ago before some of the turquoise beaches and serene islands became popular, the major attraction you would have wanted to see is the Cellular Jail. This iconic place is what Andamans have been historically known for. They have become a reminder of the brutality and torture experienced by some freedom fighters as they were brought to these islands away from the Indian mainland with no way to return. Cellular Jail, a 3 storied, 7 winged radial structure, housed 600-700 prisoners who were made to do physical labour while the British established the nearby island - Ross island, as their home. While there are many heart-breaking tales of cruelty in the jail between 1906 to 1937, there were also stories of inspiration, revolt, and courage. With the Indian freedom struggle momentum, the onset of World War II, and the intervention of Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru & Rabindranath Tagore, the British were forced to empty the jail by 1939. The Japanese then took over the islands in 1942 as part of the World War II invasion against England. As the tides turned, the jail was then used to keep captured British soldiers and Indians who seemed to be loyal to the British. Notably, the Islands were notionally in control of Subhas Chandra Bose (an Indian revolutionary who had established good relationships with Axis powers like Germany and Japan in a bid to fight the British). Interestingly, during this time, a provisional government of Free India was formed here in Andamans as it became the first piece of land to be declared Independent, and an Indian flag was hoisted by Subhas Chandra Bose. However, as Japan surrendered towards the end of World War II in 1945, the British took over the islands and the Cellular Jail again. One can understand the history of the jail and Islands in the Cellular Jail museum. One can also go around the jail to understand how it was designed. A single tower housing British soldiers would keep an eye on numerous wings to ensure everything was in order. Also, the wings' design is such that none of the wings face each other, thus preventing any prisoners from seeing each other. One can also see inside the prisons and specifically go to the prison of famed Veer Savarkar (the airport of Port Blair is named after him). Another added attraction at the Cellular Jail is the light and sound show which describes the history and story of Cellular Jail in a heartfelt manner. Note - We frankly were disappointed with the one-hour light and sound show of Cellular Jail. There were a number of things that did not work for us. The long queues are always a turn-off for us. The audience seats were flat at the same level instead of staggered in height (like an amphitheater) which is what one would expect for any show. Since it is in the open, we also experienced many mosquito bites. And finally, when the show started, we realized the 'light' part of it was simply bulbs/tube lights getting switched on and off in a pre-arranged manner. For example, as the story narrates something about Veer Savarkar, the lights in Veer Savarkar's prison cell would switch on. It seemed like a 25-year-old technology that was never upgraded, whereas the world moved to lasers, projections, and pyrotechnics. The narrated story itself is heart-wrenching, but the lights part of the show put us to sleep. And it definitely did not seem worth the cost. So in case you are not able to cover it or decide to skip it, you would not miss much. Entry ticket to Cellular Jail - Rs.30 for Indians & Rs.100 for Foreigners Video Cameras - Rs.200 for non-professional & Rs.1000 for professional Sound & Light show at Cellular Jail - Rs.300 for adults & Rs.150 for child Timings of Cellular Jail - 8 AM to 4 PM Timings of Light & Sound Show in English - 7:35 PM on Mon, Wed, Fri Timings of Light & Sound Show in Hindi - 5:20 PM & 6:30 PM on all days, 7:35 on Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun Cellular Jail is closed on Mondays & national holidays. 2.2 Chatham Saw Mill Port Blair's other place of historical importance is the Chatham Saw Mill. As the name suggests, this is a saw mill; Asia's largest and older saw mill that was established in 1883 on an island near Port Blair called Chatham Island. Run by the Forest Department, Chatham Island itself is connected to Port Blair through a bridge, and you can simply drive to this mill. The Japanese bombed the mill during their invasion in World War II. The bomb created a huge pit that still exists but is now filled with water. This history is well depicted in photographs, along with intricately crafted wooden products in the Forest Museum within the premises of Chatham Saw Mill. While you can walk around and see different operational workshops within the mill, there is nothing much to see here except the Forest Museum, a Japanese bunker, and a memorial. There is a souvenir shop where you can get wooden crafts and Andaman-themed products. Note - If you are not really into knowing history, you can easily skip Chatham Saw Mill from your itinerary. If you still prefer to visit Chatham Saw Mill, you might spend anything between 20 minutes to 1 hour based on your interest. Timings: 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM Entry Fee: INR 20 Chatham Saw Mill is closed on Sundays & industrial holidays. 3. Museums Apart from the Forest Museum inside Chatham Saw Mill and Cellular Jail Museum inside Cellular Jail, Port Blair does have some other interesting museums. 3.1 Samudrika Marine Museum As the name suggests, this museum is primarily about marine life and its treasures such as fishes, corals, shells, etc. Owned and maintained by Indian National Navy, the Samudrika Marine Museum has 5 sections covering marine life - flora & fauna, marine archaeology, history, and tribes of Andamans. One of the major attractions at Samudrika Marine Museum is an actual skeleton of a baby blue whale that was found on the shores of Andamans. There is also a souvenir shop near the exit of Samudrika marine museum, which has a fairly good variety of Andaman-themed merchandise. Note - If you are not really into museums, you can skip Samudrika Marine Museum from your itinerary. If you still would prefer to visit Samudrika Marine Museum, you might spend anything between 30 minutes to 1.25 hours based on your interest. Timings: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM Entry Fee: INR 50 (adults), INR 25 (Children) 3.2 Zonal Anthropological Museum It is natural to have curiosity about the tribes of Andamans. As you probably already know, many tribal communities of Andamans still live isolated from the world. They are unaware of technological advancements and modern developments. Their ways of life are reminiscent of how man used to live a few thousands of years ago. At the same time, the government prevents normal people from visiting these communities to preserve their indigenous life as well as prevent them from attacking any curious visitors. However, Anthropological Museum in Port Blair can give you a detailed insight into these tribes, their culture, and ways of living (Anthropology itself means the study of the human condition - history, culture, biology, and more) The Andaman and Nicobar Islands were historically inhabited by 6 aboriginal tribes - 4 tribes of Andamans are negroids, i.e., origins in Africa with darker skin and very little black colored body hair Great Andamanese - Once the largest tribe of Andamans is now endangered and settled on Strait Island (near Baratang Island). They were the ones who fought the battle of Aberdeen in 1859, referred to earlier in this article, using bows & arrows to prevent a British invasion. Onges - They inhabit parts of the Little Andaman Islands located further south of the main Andaman Islands. They are relatively friendly with the Andaman administration and welfare teams. Sentinelese - Sentinelese inhabit North Sentinelese Island and the most hostile tribes currently. Even the efforts of the Andaman administration to establish a friendly connection with them have had very little success. You might have heard news reports of them attacking any incoming visitor. Jarawas - Jarawas inhabit parts of the South and Middle Andaman Islands. They, too, are hostile to any visitors, but the administration have successfully made good connections with them and hence are friendly with them. If you are lucky, you might spot them on your road trip to Baratang or Middle Andaman Islands. Their hostility is the reason a convoy runs every morning as tourists head towards North Andamans to ensure the safety of visitors. 2 tribes inhabit the Nicobar Islands and are Mongloids i.e., originated in Central Asia (around Mongolia) and characterized by different physical features such as yellow-brownish skin & hair color, straight hair, and prominent cheekbones Shompens - Smaller in population, they live in isolated areas of the Nicobar Islands. Shompens are hunters and gatherers. Pig rearing and farming are practiced in a very limited manner. Nicobarese - Nicobarese are the largest population of all tribes in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. They are also relatively more modern than all other tribes and are primarily farmers. Most have adopted Christianity as their religion. However, they suffered a huge setback during the Tsunami of 2004 as it destroyed many of their villages. The Anthropological Museum effectively depicts the lives and cultures of all these tribes through clay models of houses, basic utensils, attire, tools, weapons, boats, etc., along with many photographs to give you a clear idea. Note - If you are really interested in understanding the life of indigenous tribes, you might spend around 1 hour in the Zonal Anthropological Museum Timings: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM Entry Fee: INR 20 3.3 Kalapani Museum If you would prefer to visit just one museum in Andamans, Kalapani Museum is our recommendation. It is a private museum that provides the most comprehensive view of the entire history of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Spread across a 3-floor residential building converted into a museum, each floor of Kalapani throws at you interesting insights into different times. From understanding native tribes to the British invasion, building the Cellular Jail, to the Japanese invasion of islands. Kalapani is a treasure house full of rare photographs, actual documents, artefacts, clay models depicting stories, and so much more. The top floor ends with a short movie that is equally informative. Though quite costlier than other government museums, Kalapani Museum is worth the cost given their staff is well knowledgeable and explains many key aspects that you need to know. In fact, we would recommend you start your Andaman trip with the Kalapani Museum. You would be able to relate so well as you visit other historical places. However, note that this museum is situated a little away from the heart of Port Blair. It is recommended to cover Kalapani Museum on your way to Wandoor or Chidiya Tapu. Note - If you are a history buff, you could spend as long as 2.5-3 hours at Kalapani Museum, so plan accordingly. Else you could cover everything in an hour. If you are someone who cannot climb stairs, skip this place. Entry Fee: INR 250, which includes an explanation by a guide, welcome tea, and a DVD explaining the museum Timings - 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM 4. Other attractions If you have even more time on your hands while at Port Blair, here are a few other things you could visit. 4.1 Murugan Temple If you are a religious person, Sri Vetrimalai Murugun Temple is the best pilgrimage site in the Andaman Islands. Typical Dravidian architecture with intricate artwork would capture your attention as you enter this historical temple. Dedicated to Lord Murugan, i.e., Karthikeyan - Son of Lord Shiva & Parvati, Murugan temple attracts many devotees throughout the year, especially during Hindu festivals. Interestingly this temple was first built by the British on Ross Island to win the support of Tamilians. After Indian Independence, it was moved to its current location in Port Blair. 4.2 Nature Park and Interpretation Centre Historically just a Mini Zoo, the Nature Park and Interpretation Centre of Port Blair is a new attraction that tourists can visit if they have time. It is Port Blair's biggest park and has a well-manicured garden and many attractions like a small zoo, butterfly observatory, treehouse aquarium, orchid and fern greenhouse, collection of medicinal & aquatic plants, spice trees, rock garden, children's play area, and more. The best part is the amazing sea view you get along with several benches placed for you to relax. If you are a nature lover, we recommend visiting this place to get a tranquil and peaceful experience. Note - Mornings or late evenings are preferable to avoid the sun. Timings: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Entry fee: INR 30 Pure vegetarian Restaurants in Port Blair: It isn't easy to find good vegetarian food whenever we visit seaside towns that are known for delicious seafood. Having stayed in Port Blair for about a week in two visits, we have found some really good restaurants serving vegetarian food that might help our readers. Annapurna restaurant and Hotel Kattabomman located near main Aberdeen Bazaar are 2 reliable pure vegetarian restaurants. They mainly serve South Indian cuisines. If you are fed with eating roti, sabzi, and vegetarian thalis in Port Blair and want to try something different, Icy Spicy is your place. Icy Spicy is again a pure vegetarian restaurant, also serving bakery items and sweets. We tried a lot of dishes from their menu here, and all were yum, including the sweets. Highly highly recommended. 2 other places we would recommend eating which serve both veg and non-veg are Coco Anju resto (they are very famous in Havelock Island and opened their 2nd restaurant with same name in Port Blair) and The Hub (a small cozy fast food cafe sort of place) both located in Aberdeen Bazaar. There is so much to discover and fall in love with in and around Port Blair. Our romance with this part of Andaman Islands has only just begun, and we're already counting down to our next trip to explore more in Port Blair! Have you been to Port Blair? How many of these places have you covered? We are also in process of curating an article for places to visit near Port Blair that often go unexplored. So, stay tuned. Pin this image Hope this extensive guide on Port Blair helps you plan your trip. If you have any doubts or questions, drop them in the comment section below. You can also directly contact us via our Email or DM us on Instagram. Note that timings & costs mentioned in this article could have changed since publishing this article. #India #EastIndia #AndamanandNicobar #UnionTerritory

Diglipur is the largest town situated in North Andaman Island. It is the northernmost point in the chain of Andaman Islands that has facilities for travellers. Diglipur houses some of the most unique sights that you will not get to see anywhere in India; like Ross & Smith Islands (twin islands that unite through a sand bar during low tide), Saddle peak (highest peak in Andaman), mud volcanoes (the small bubbling puddles that spurt out mud), Lamiya Bay beach (popular for ‘arribadas’), and Kalpong River (only flowing river on Andaman Island). Already sold? Well, read on to know more about Diglipur, how to reach there, and detailed information on places to stay and visit in Diglipur. Where is Diglipur? Diglipur (North Andaman) is located about 300 kilometres away by road from the capital city of Port Blair (South Andaman). By sea, it is 180 kilometres or 160 nautical miles away from Port Blair. The Andaman Trunk Road that runs from Port Blair ends in Diglipur, connecting major towns like Baratang, Rangat, and Mayabunder in between. How to reach Diglipur? There are three ways to reach Diglipur: via road, sea, and air. However, only the road and sea routes are reliable. By road: It takes around 12 hours to reach Diglipur from Port Blair via road. Either book a bus (government or private) or hire a private car. As discussed in our previous blogs on North and Middle Andaman, you will have to take to the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR) to reach Diglipur via roadways. The route is as follows: Port Blair – Jirkatang – Jarawa Tribal Reserve – Baratang – Kadamtala – Rangat – Nimbudera – Mayabunder – Diglipur You may or may not halt for a night in one of the towns in between based on your preference. Night journeys are not allowed on this route. It is possible to reach Diglipur in a single day from Port Blair; however, be ready for a tiring journey. This is because of bad road conditions and lots of waiting time in between when you will have to cross creeks on the way by getting on a government ferry along with your vehicle. To complete the journey in a single day, start as early as 4 or 5 AM from Port Blair. The government buses run from the Central bus station at Aberdeen Bazaar in Port Blair. The private buses have several pick-up points from the Port Blair town, so enquire beforehand from the bus service operator you book with and select the one nearest to your hotel. Advance bookings are highly recommended in both cases. By sea: It takes around 10 hours to reach Diglipur from Port Blair via a ferry. Only government ferries operate from Port Blair to Aerial Bay jetty in Diglipur (and back). The ferry runs 3-4 times a week and takes a pitstop at Rangat before reaching Diglipur. The bookings open only 1 or 2 days before the departure, and tickets are issued from the STAR ticket counters in Port Blair. The return tickets need to be booked from Diglipur itself. The good thing about travelling to Diglipur via government ferry is that they are convenient, and overnight sails are available that don’t eat up your entire day. However the drawback is that you cannot cover every attraction along the way. By air: Seaplanes do not fly from Port Blair to Diglipur yet. Wherever you find this information, it is wrong! Helicopters only fly to Diglipur in case of some medical emergencies. There is no scheduled helicopter departure. If vacant seats are available in one such helicopter, tourists can book them on the spot. Hence, you cannot rely on air journeys to reach Diglipur. The good news is a new airport is being constructed in Diglipur and is in its completion stages. Once operational, Diglipur will be connected to Port Blair via Andaman Airways, and the travel time will reduce to 45 minutes or 1 hour. Given the above options, we would recommend the following - If you are a budgeted traveller, take ferry for onward journey to Diglipur and bus while returning or vice-versa. This way you can experience best of both journeys. You can also stop midway while on bus and take another bus the next day hence covering various attractions in Middle Andaman If budget is not an issue, hire a private cab from Port Blair for your entire journey. They may charge INR 3000-4500 per day based on size of car and how well you can negotiate What is the best time to visit Diglipur? The best time to visit Diglipur is from October to March. The weather is charming during these months and is ideal for sightseeing. It starts becoming hot in Diglipur from March and April. May to June is the peak summer season, whereas the monsoon begins by the end of June. Visiting Diglipur is not recommended in the peak monsoon months from July to September because of incessant rainfall and strong weather winds. The Andaman Trunk Road to Diglipur, which passes through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve, closes down intermittently in monsoon due to tree falls. Even the government ferries connecting Port Blair to Diglipur and the two creeks in between stop operating due to flooding, high tidal waves, and rough sea conditions. How many nights should one stay in Diglipur? All the sightseeing places or the places to visit in Diglipur can be covered at ease if you stay for 3 nights in the town. You require 3 full days to visit everything, out of which one entire day goes in trekking to the Saddle Peak, one day in exploring Ross & Smith Islands, and one additional day for the rest of the places. What are the places to visit in Diglipur? 1. Saddle Peak At 2420 feet, Saddle Peak is the highest peak in the Andamans. Its base is located in the Saddle Peak National Park, about 11 kilometres away from the Aerial Bay Jetty in Diglipur. Here, you will have to procure permission to enter the National Park (fill a form) and pay a certain permit fee. No prior permission is required in advance, and you can do this while starting your trek to Saddle Peak. The permit counter is open from 6 AM to 2 PM. The trek to Saddle Peak is easy to moderate in difficulty level. However, the trek is long (about 13 kilometres one way), so if you wish to trek the entire way to the peak, you should be physically fit and, most importantly, start as early as possible. The National Park starts losing natural light as early as 4 PM due to the dense forest cover. We started our trek to Saddle Peak a bit late (around 8 AM). The initial 7 kilometres of the trail is an easy walk through the dense tropical forest alongside the sea. The trail is well marked with signposts (no guides required) and if you are confused, follow the beach. The forest houses tall and huge trees that opened up at some places to give access to the sea. We also came across a few water streams that were completely dried up, but big logs were placed to cross them easily. Whenever we needed a break, we looked for a clearing and took a rest on the shore. After an easy walk for 7 kilometres, we took a right to enter the dense jungle and started ascending towards Saddle Peak. We climbed the natural steps formed by the roots of big old trees and followed the trail. The tree canopy kept the trail quite cool and saved us from the scorching afternoon heat. Anyhow, we were lucky it was a bit cloudy that day. We reached the peak after 6 hours, and to our dismay, the distant view was completely foggy. It was unclear where the sea ended, and the sky began. As we were already running out of time, we took a few pictures and started descending. The descent was relatively easy, but as the distance was long, it still took us 4 hours to get back to the base. We walked the last stretch of the descent in complete darkness with the help of our mobile torch lights. We knew that the forest did not house wild animals, but it still was scary. We reached back by around 6 PM and hence highly advise everyone to start early to get back in daylight. Was the trek to Saddle Peak worth it? We do not think so. The trek is too time-consuming and strenuous with what you get in return. For us, it was disappointing. But we really loved walking alongside the beach in the forest. If you are not interested in summitting the peak, you definitely should at least enter the National Park (the entrance fee isn’t expensive), walk for a few kilometres following the trail, admire the sandy shores and dense tree cover, and return back without actually ascending the peak. The beaches would be completely deserted and feel private. This way, you will also get access to the Lamiya Bay beach and the turtle hatchery that borders the Saddle Peak National Park. Entrance fee and permit to the Saddle Peak National Park – INR 50 per person Camera fee – INR 500 Tip – Carry sufficient food and water, and wear comfortable shoes and clothes Interesting fact - Saddle peak and as such entire Andaman Islands are part of Himalayan ranges! Himalayas extend to North-East of India, Myanmar, submerge under the ocean and rise up as Andamans. 2. Lamiya Bay beach The Lamiya Bay Beach is located at the foot of the Saddle Peak trekking trail. It lies about 12 kilometres away from the Aerial Bay jetty in Diglipur. As stated above, entry charges have to be paid to enter the beach premises as it is located in the Saddle Peak National Park. The forest officials have installed eco-friendly infrastructure for the tourists on the beach, including bamboo huts, wooden tables, sit-outs, and log-sofas. Lamiya Bay beach is a lesser-known turtle nesting site in Andamans where even mass turtle nesting events (arribadas) have been observed. There is a covered hatchery taken care of by the forest officials who even perform night vigils during the nesting season. The beach is seldom visited by any tourist, and it’s highly likely that you find the entire stretch to yourself. Visit the beach for a peaceful time amidst nature. 3. Ross and Smith Islands The moment we saw the first pictures of Ross & Smith Islands while researching the trip, we were sold. Ross & Smith Islands are twin islands that get connected via a strip of 50 metre sand bar during low tide and again separated as individual islands during high tide. You can actually walk on the sand bar and go from one island to the other during your visit. The boat for Ross & Smith Islands alights from the Aerial Bay jetty in Diglipur. From the jetty, you need to obtain a permit (as the islands fall under a protected marine sanctuary), pay the necessary permit fee, and buy the return boat tickets. The boat accommodates 5-10 people and if you are not in a group, wait for some time for other tourists to share the cost. After a 25-minute boat ride, you get down at the Smith Island and get 3 hours to explore the islands. We were able to see the beautiful twin islands from the boat itself. The islands are surrounded by turquoise blue crystal-clear water. Once on Smith Island, we decided to walk the sand bar and explore Ross Island first. The natural sand bar is formed by fine, white, grainy sand and is surrounded by a picturesque sea on both sides. As your boat approaches the islands, Ross Island is the small one on the right. It is mostly covered with dense foliage, and there are just a few eco-huts where you can rest and spend some time admiring the beauty of nature. We were not allowed to swim anywhere near Ross Island or surrounding the sand bar. Smith Island is the one on left, is bigger, has a lot of facilities like seating benches, changing rooms, bamboo huts, and toilets. There’s a dedicated marked area surrounding Smith Island where we were allowed to enter the water and swim. There weren’t any water sports facilities to our relief (water sports facilities usually result in more crowds and unclear water which we tend to avoid). We carried our own snorkelling gear, but the officials did not allow us to use the mask and the tube (bummer). However, we swam in the not-so-deep marked area that has transparent water and even managed to see some pretty fish underwater (with the help of swimming goggles). We then spent some time on the beach. The beauty of the place can’t be described in words. It was a pure visual treat. 3 hours went by in a jiffy, and it was time to return. Trust us, you just can’t get enough of Ross & Smith Islands. This one place makes it worth visiting Diglipur. Permit fee for Ross & Smith Islands – INR 80 per person Return ferry tickets to Ross & Smith Islands – INR 8000/big boat (accommodates 10 people) or INR 5000/small boat (accommodates 5 people) Tip – Carry extra clothes (you won’t be able to stop yourself from entering the water). Also, carry some light snacks, water, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Smith Island does have couple of vendors who sell basic eatieries Note – Ross & Smith Islands are closed on Tuesdays 4. Kalipur beach Kalipur beach is the most popular beach in Diglipur and is located about 8 kilometres away from the Aerial Bay jetty. It is amongst the very few beaches in the world which is a nesting ground for four species of sea turtles (Olive ridley, Leatherback, Hawksbill, and green turtle). There’s a government hatchery maintained and taken care of by the forest officials. If you visit the beach between November to April, you might be able to witness turtle nesting or hatching. If you stay near Kalipur beach, visit the beach late in the night to see mother turtles lay their eggs or early in the morning to see baby turtles being released into the sea. We would wake up at 4 AM each day to visit the beach in the hope of seeing a mother turtle laying eggs. While we could not see the mother turtle, we were lucky enough to find trail of mother turtle that had dug a hole, laid eggs, filled the hole and returned to the sea. The forest officials then dug up the hole, retrieved all the eggs and took it to a safe hatchery area on the beach and buried the eggs at the same depth. We were also lucky to see the baby hatchlings released into the sea by forest officials one morning. If you love turtles and would like to witness what we just described, read our blog on Velas, a small village in Maharashtra where we witnessed similar practice. The sand at Kalipur beach is dark grey in colour (possibly due to volcanic eruption centuries ago), and maybe that’s why it is called so (Kali means black in the English language). The beach is wide, and during low tide, you’ll be able to see dead rocky corals on the shore. A part of the beach is safe for swimming and snorkelling; however, we did not venture out in the sea. The mountain you see from Kalipur beach is the Saddle Peak. 5. Craggy Island Craggy Island is a tiny island (about half a kilometre in length) off Kalipur beach. We stayed near Kalipur beach, and as per our host, one can swim/ snorkel to Craggy Island in 20 minutes. He told us that in the past, experienced swimmers have trodden the water to visit Craggy Island and that one can spot colourful corals and fishes while snorkelling on the way. Nevertheless, we did not dare perform this stunt, and we advise our readers to seek information before venturing out this way into the sea. If you do, keep someone informed, carry proper underwater gears, and wait for low tides. 6. Mud volcanoes at Shyamnagar About 35 kilometres away from the Aerial Bay jetty in Diglipur, you can spot mud volcanoes similar to those of Baratang. These lie a few kilometres away from the Shyamnagar village, north of Diglipur town. The locals describe the mud volcanoes of Diglipur as being better than those of Baratang, but if you have already witnessed the ones in Baratang, you better give it a skip. The return journey to these mud volcanoes may take you half a day which may not seem worth it. Mud volcanoes are basically a rare natural wonder where gases and liquid mixed with mud are excreted by the earth’s interior. You can see the mud bubbling and the liquid clay being spewed out. 7. Ramnagar Beach and Alfred Caves Ramnagar Beach is located about 40 kilometres from the Aerial Bay jetty in Diglipur. It is an eco-tourism site developed quite well by the government with changing room facilities, toilets, sit-out areas, and tree-top viewpoints. The beach is calm, ideal for swimming, sunbathing, or just relaxing on the shore. It is also a turtle nesting ground, and there is a big hatchery built on the coast. The beach is seldom visited by tourists as it is pretty far and the roads are pretty bad in condition. Alfred caves are limestone caves located very close to the Ramnagar beach. These are a cluster of 40 natural caves with a narrow opening that keeps on getting wider as you go deeper inside. Where to stay in Diglipur? You will find several basic tourist lodges spread across Diglipur town. Most of the sightseeing places in Diglipur are located around Kalipur village. Hence, booking accommodation near that area would make more sense. We stayed in a private property named Pristine Beach Resort. It is located near Kalipur beach, has different categories of rooms, and all the required amenities. However, do not expect luxury anywhere in the North or Middle Andaman Islands. Checkout current prices of Pristine Beach resort by clicking below links - Another good option in Kalipur is the Turtle Resort, run by Andaman and Nicobar Tourism Department. There’s also one APWD Guesthouse run by the tourism board in the town that you might want to check. These can be booked online through the Andaman Tourism board’s website. If you are visiting Diglipur in the peak season (i.e., From October to February), ensure that you pre-book your stay. As far as the food is concerned, all the hotels have their in-house restaurants serving delicious food. You will also find some basic eating joints and small dhabas in Diglipur town. These have a limited menu but nevertheless serve freshly cooked and home-like food. Other important information Internal transportation: All the places to visit in Diglipur are scattered around the town at long distances. If you arrive by a private car that stays at your disposal, sightseeing won’t be difficult. But, if you arrive by ferry or by bus, transportation within Diglipur will turn out to be pricier. We highly suggest renting a two-wheeler (scooter) from the Diglipur market area and go about exploring everything at your ease. Mobile and internet connectivity: BSNL is the most reliable network in the North and Middle Andaman Islands. When we visited in early 2020, there weren’t any Airtel or Vodafone connections. We aren’t too sure about current connectivity conditions. You can always call your accommodation beforehand and ask them about specific network connectivity. As with mobile networks, internet connectivity is highly unreliable. Your accommodation may or may not have any Wi-Fi connectivity as well. So, go prepared. ATM and Supermarket: Diglipur is the biggest town in the North Andamans; hence, ATMs are readily available. We would still suggest carrying sufficient cash in case the ATMs don’t work. You will also find plenty of shops selling fruits, vegetables, groceries, processed food packets, as well as pharmacies selling basic medicines in the Diglipur town. Since connectivity is an issue, you wouldn't find many shops accepting e-wallet, UPI or credit card payments. Hence having cash is important. Pin this image Hope this extensive guide on Diglipur helps you plan your trip. If you have any doubts or questions, drop them in the comment section below. You can also directly contact us via our Email or DM us on Instagram.

Mayabunder is located at the northernmost corner of the Middle Andaman Island. It is the administrative quarters of the North and Middle Andaman District. During the British occupation of the Andaman Islands, Myanmar residents were brought to Mayabunder for labour work. They chose to stay in India after Independence, and hence this town has a small concentration of Karen community. Blessed with semi-evergreen and deciduous forests, the coastal areas of Mayabunder are enriched with mangrove creeks, stony coral reefs and seaweeds. Though the town has very few sightseeing places that attracts tourists, we specifically fell in love with its rawness, its down-to-earth people, and its greenery. Where is Mayabunder? From Port Blair, Mayabunder lies at a distance of around 230 kilometres by road or around 75 nautical miles by sea. From an unnamed junction on the bumpy Andaman Trunk Road, you’ll see a narrow road curving towards right. This will take you to Mayabunder nestled in the upper Middle Andaman Islands. How to reach Mayabunder? There are two ways to reach Mayabunder: via road, and sea. By road: It takes around 10 hours to reach Mayabunder from Port Blair via road. Either book a bus (government or private) or hire a private car. As discussed in our previous blogs on North and Middle Andaman, you will have to take to the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR) to reach Mayabunder via roadways. The route is as follows: Port Blair – Jirkatang – Jarawa Tribal Reserve – Baratang – Kadamtala – Rangat – Nimbudera – Mayabunder You may or may not halt for a night in one of the towns in between. It is possible to reach Mayabunder in a single day from Port Blair; however, be ready for a tiring journey. This is because of bad road conditions and lots of waiting time in between when you will have to cross two creeks on the way on a government ferry. To complete the journey in a single day, start as early as 4 or 5 AM from Port Blair. The government buses to Mayabunder run from the Central bus station at Aberdeen Bazaar in Port Blair. The private buses have several pick-up points from the Port Blair town, so enquire beforehand from the bus service operator you book with and select the one nearest to your hotel. Advance bookings are highly recommended in both cases. By sea: It takes around 8 hours to reach Mayabunder from Port Blair via a ferry. Only government ferries operate from Port Blair to Mayabunder (and back). The ferry runs only once a week. The bookings open only 1 or 2 days before the departure, and tickets are issued from the STAR ticket counters in Port Blair. The return tickets need to be booked from Mayabunder itself. If the ‘once a week’ ferry timing doesn’t suit you, take a ferry either to Rangat or Diglipur that sail at higher frequencies than the ones to Mayabunder, and then catch a government bus from there to reach Mayabunder. What is the best time to visit Mayabunder? The best time to visit Mayabunder is from October to March. The weather is pleasant during these months and is ideal for sightseeing. It starts becoming hot in Mayabunder from March and April. May to June is the peak summer season, whereas the monsoon begins by the end of June. Visiting Mayabunder is not recommended in the peak monsoon months from July to September because of incessant rainfall and strong weather winds. The Andaman Trunk Road to Mayabunder, which passes through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve, closes down intermittently in monsoon due to tree falls. Even the government ferries connecting Port Blair to Mayabunder and the two creeks in between stop operating due to flooding, high tidal waves, and rough sea conditions. What are the places to visit in Mayabunder? 1. Karmatang Beach Karmatang Beach lies 12 kilometres away from the centre of Mayabunder. It is connected by good roads, hence can be easily reached by car or autos. It is one of the most picturesque beaches of the Middle Andaman Islands. The Forest Department has developed and maintained the entire shoreline into an eco-friendly spot by installing changing rooms, toilets, bamboo tree houses, wooden seating area, short nature trails, and playgrounds. There is plenty of shade underneath big trees at Karmatang beach where you can rest after a strenuous swim in the sea. Several hammocks are also hung in between coconut trees. The beach is super clean and well-maintained; hence you can even plan a small picnic here. To be frank, we were pleasantly surprised to see the upkeep of facilities at Karmatang beach. Karmatang beach is perfect for swimming as the beach is flat and the sand is soft and less grainy. The beach is also a turtle nesting ground, and if you visit between December to March, you might be able to see Olive Ridley or the Andaman green turtles laying eggs or hatching in large numbers. 2. Webi Village In 1924, when the Andaman administration was under British rule, the Britishers invited people to come and settle in the Middle Andaman Islands in return providing work opportunities (clearing forests, working in timber factories, and cultivating agricultural lands). The Karen community in Burma (Myanmar) saw this as a great opportunity and about 63 families landed in Mayabunder in a span of two years. In Mayabunder, the Karen founded Webi village (meaning: the hidden village). After India gained Independence in 1947, the migrated people of the Karen community chose to stay back in the country and were granted Citizenship. Today, about 2500 Karens live in Mayabunder. They have adapted to some new initiatives to tap into the region’s tourism potential, but have still tried to keep their ancient traditions and culture alive. They speak the Karen language, use traditional methods to catch fish, grow their own food, live in bamboo and mud houses with thatched roofs, and earn a living through agriculture and by selling eco-friendly handicrafts. A walk through Webi village and some chit chat with the friendly locals will give you an insight into their rich culture and history of their settlement in the Andamans. You can also stay with a Karen family in their traditional house converted into a homestay named Koh Hee Homestay. John and Doris are excellent hosts and will take you on guided walks, tell you interesting stories about Karen community and the Webi village, and treat you to mouth-watering traditional Karen food. 3. Andaman Karen Crafts Andaman Karen Crafts or AKC is a small crafts centre where the local Karen women from Webi village make hand-crafted traditional Karen arts. This centre has been set up to support livelihood of local Karen community, preserve their culture and to provide women empowerment. They weave baskets, clothes, and are also involved in carpentry. They sell the final products at the centre as well as to other retailers. The products include purses, sling bags, hand bags, traditional Karen clothes, fishing nets, and bamboo baskets. 4. German Jetty German jetty is the former harbour (ferry point) of Mayabunder which was built during the Second World War by a German engineer. Hence the name! You can find it in a rather dilapidated condition today very close to the APWD Guest House. However, you can still enjoy a quiet time here as there’s seldom anyone who visits this place. Covered with huge rocks towards the shore, the jetty area gives a spectacular view of the open sea. On the ground floor of the Andaman Karen Craft Centre is a small restaurant that serves authentic Karen dishes to the visiting guests. Surrounding the bamboo building is a nursery where they grow organic produce for their kitchen, as well as nurture and sell flowering plants. 5. Anmol Driftwood Museum Anmol museum houses a collection of woodwork sculpted using driftwood by a private entrepreneur. Driftwood is basically log of wood that gets washed on to the shore by waves, and winds. The sculptor/ owner, Mr. Shanmugam, himself takes you around the museum and explains his vision while sculpting the particular piece of art. The design of some of the art pieces is incredible and a 15-minute quick visit to the museum is recommended. 6. Nearby islands Mayabunder is surrounded by lesser-known islands mainly Avis Island, Interview Island, and Austin X Island. These are located about 20–30-minute boat ride away from Mayabunder jetty and are seldom visited by tourists. None of these tiny islands have accommodation options, and hence you can only visit them as a day trip. Special permission has to be procured to visit the islands that you can procure from the Forest Department Office in Mayabunder. We didn’t have time to visit any of these, hence can’t provide you with much detailed information. How many nights should one stay in Mayabunder? All the sightseeing places or the places to visit in Mayabunder can be covered at ease if you stay for 1 night in the town. You require 1 full day to visit everything, so plan out accordingly. Where to stay in Mayabunder? The Andaman PWD Guest House, run and managed by the Andaman Tourism Board is the most reliable option to stay in Mayabunder. There are a few other lodges and guest houses scattered across the town, but we can’t vouch for their reliability. Regardless, to have an authentic and immersive experience, the best place to stay in Mayabunder is the Koh Hee Homestay in Webi village, which is 8 kilometres away from the centre of Mayabunder. Koh Hee Homestay is a traditional Karen home surrounded by paddy fields and a seasonal freshwater stream flowing just behind. The host (John, Doris and family) live on the ground floor, while the first floor has 3 rooms and an open-shelf library for the guests. The washroom is common and is located on the ground floor, however it is always very clean. It has also been recognised as the best homestay by Outlook Responsible Tourism. They also have a nursery where they grow Karen traditional medicinal plants and native fruits. John took us to his nursery and showed us so many plants, vegetables, fruits and patiently informed us about their medicinal uses. He is very passionate about preserving his roots and is always happy to educate guests about these. PIN THIS IMAGE We hope that this guide to Mayabunder helps you in planning your trip. Get in touch with us in the comments section below should you have any questions.

Rangat is a town on the Middle Andaman Island known for its stunning beaches. As you travel north from Port Blair to Rangat, you can see the changing colors of sea from brown to the beautiful shade of turquoise. We believe that’s why the town is named Rangat. In the Hindi language, ‘Rangat’ means ‘color’. Such a perfect name! We wrote a detailed travel guide to Baratang Island in our last blog. Due to the lack of decent accommodation facilities in Baratang, tourists generally travel up to Rangat for a night's stay. Where is Rangat? Rangat is a coastal town located about 60 kilometers away from the Baratang Island in the Middle Andamans. The approximate distance from Port Blair by road is 180 kilometers and 50 nautical miles (approx. 90 kilometers) by sea. How to reach Rangat? As we have mentioned in our previous blogs on Andamans, you have to start your journey from Port Blair to reach anywhere in the Andamans. Here’s how to get to Rangat from Port Blair: Via road: It takes around 7-8 hours to reach Rangat from Port Blair via road. Port Blair (part of South Andaman Island) is connected with Rangat (part of Middle Andaman Island) by the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR). This road passes through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve, where all the vehicles queue at the starting point, i.e., Jirkatang Check Post, and the entire convoy is preceded and succeeded by Forest Department vans. Hence the route is: Port Blair – Jirkatang Check Post – Jarawa Tribal Reserve – Baratang Island – Rangat Jirkatang Check Post is located about 42 kilometers away (1 to 1.5 hours) from Port Blair. The check post opens only at specified times of the day – (6 AM to 6:30 AM; 9 AM to 9:30 AM; 12 PM to 12:30PM; and 3 PM to 3:30 PM). Hence, you will have to reach Jirkatang before these time slots. Read more about our experience reaching the North and Middle Andaman Islands in our previous blog on Baratang Island. An hour of journey on the ATR (Andaman Truck Road) through Jarawa Tribal Reserve will take you to the Middle Strait Jetty point (where the tribal reserve ends). Here, you will have to board a 15-minute-long government ferry (along with your vehicle). After another 72 kilometers of road journey and crossing a state-of-art 1.18-kilometre creek bridge over Humphrey Strait, you will reach Rangat. Note that the road condition is not good especially as you go further away from Port Blair towards Diglipur. Government buses to Rangat run early from Aberdeen Bazaar bus station in Port Blair. You can opt to travel in them if you are on a budget. You can also book yourself a private AC or Non-AC bus through several reservation offices spread across Port Blair town. There’s hardly any bus service operator through whom you can book online; hence, reaching Port Blair a day earlier and making physical bookings is recommended. Via Ferry: It takes around 6 hours to reach Rangat from Port Blair via a ferry. Only government ferries operate from Port Blair to Rangat (and back). The ferry runs only on alternate days and may take pitstops at Neil Island, Havelock Island, Long Island, and Kadamtala before reaching Rangat. The bookings open only 1 or 2 days before the departure, and tickets are issued from the STAR ticket counters in Port Blair. The return tickets need to be booked from Rangat itself. What is the best time to visit Rangat? The best time to visit Rangat is from October to March. The weather is pleasant during these months and is ideal for sightseeing. It starts becoming quite hot from March and April. May to June is the peak summertime, whereas the monsoon may start from the end of June. Visiting Rangat is not recommended in the peak monsoon months from July to September because of incessant rainfall and strong weather winds. The Andaman Trunk Road to Rangat, which passes through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve, closes down intermittently in monsoon due to tree falls. Even the government ferries stop operating due to high tidal waves and rough sea conditions. What are the places to visit in Rangat? 1. Yerrata walkway and Mangrove Interpretation Centre Yerrata is the jetty point in Rangat from where you can catch ferries to Port Blair and the other Andaman Islands and the point where the ferries arrive from these islands. The harbor lies about 9 kilometers away from the Rangat town towards the southern end of the district. Quite close to the Yerrata jetty is the Yerrata Mangrove Interpretation Centre, which offers valuable information about the mangrove plantations around the region. The mangrove view watchtower in Yerrata provides a magnificent view of the adjacent mangrove plantation and tropical forests. You can reach this one of its kind 13-metre-tall watchtower via a walkway that is beautiful in itself. 2. Amkunj Beach Amkunj Beach is located barely 100 meters from the Andaman Truck Road and is easily accessible. The beach is very nicely developed and maintained by the government who has installed innovative infrastructure for the tourist that includes eco-friendly log sofas, sit-outs, tables, and huts made out of fallen trees. You will also find toilet facilities at the beach. Amkunj beach’s shoreline is sandy and receives low tides. However, we did not find it ideal for swimming, owing to the sharp coral rocks and small pebbles. We had the entire beach to ourselves on our visit barring a few locals with their coconut selling outlet. The beach is the perfect pitstop to relax on the way to Diglipur from Port Blair. 3. Moricedera Beach Moricedera Beach is another gorgeous beach located right on Andaman Trunk Road. It is located 5 kilometers south of Amkunj beach. However, unlike Amkunj Beach, Moricedera beach has a black rocky shoreline that seems to be formed from volcanic eruptions. Small eco-friendly sit-outs installed alongside the beach make this place an ideal spot to spend time with nature. We specifically loved the splendid swing overlooking the sea and hung precariously on iron hooks under a tree. A wooden walkway is built between two substantial natural rock formations, which leads to an eye-catching horizon viewpoint. Towards the end of the walkway, small benches are placed to sit and admire the vast blue open sea. We found it to be an excellent place for photography. 4. Cuthbert Bay Beach Cuthbert Bay Beach lies near the Hawksbill Nest Resort, a tourist department run accommodation in Rangat. This lesser-known sandy beach with a vast shoreline is a part of a wildlife sanctuary and is famous for turtle nesting. Every year, between December to March, the mother turtles visit Cuthbert Bay Beach to lay eggs. The marine conservationists transfer these eggs to a hatchery, and once the turtle hatchlings are born, they release them into the sea. If you are lucky, you will be able to witness one of these events (if you visit during the season). 5. Dhaninallah Mangrove Walk and Beach Dhaninallah Mangrove Walk is a 700-800 meter of one of its kind wooden walkway in Rangat (in fact, India) that leads to Dhaninallah beach. We have only seen such a beautiful walkway in Singapore before! The Dhaninallah Mangrove walkway is the longest constructed raised platform walkway in India. It lies adjoining the Andaman Trunk Road and has a big parking area. The walkway snakes through a mangrove forest system where you will find several different types of mangrove plantations surrounding you. Many are labelled along with a bit of scientific explanation. You will also find cozy sit-out areas and eco-gazebos built at intervals after several hundred meters on the walkway, where you can relax and admire the ecosystem. It takes around 15-20 minutes to reach the beach. The Dhaninallah mangrove walkway opens up to a stunning sandy beach with kilometers and kilometers of shoreline. The Dhaninallah beach is known for Olive Ridley Turtle nesting. We visited this beach twice, once while driving towards Diglipur and again while returning to Port Blair. And, we were super lucky to witness the hatchling of a few newly born turtles that were released into the sea by the forest officials. The sight of these baby turtles scrambling towards the sea is pure magic. This happens only during the turtle breeding season (November to March). We also visited the turtle hatchery where the forest officials preserve the turtle eggs till they hatch. The Dhaninallah beach is a beauty in itself. It receives shallow waves and hence is ideal for swimming. Some eco-friendly beach facilities like treetop huts, toilets, changing rooms, log-sofas add to the convenience of the visitors. 6. Long Island Long Island is a remote island located close to Rangat than any other island in the Andamans. It is reachable by a government ferry from Yerrata jetty in Rangat. The island is known for its pristine white sandy beaches (Merck Bay beach and Lalaji Bay beach) and the lush green tropical forests. The island is devoid of concrete roads and motor vehicles. Cemented footpaths connect the different parts of the island, and walking or renting a bicycle (if available) is the only way to explore the island. It is advisable to spend a night at Long Island. It has 3 government and 1 private accommodation option. You can swim, snorkel, and relax at the emerald beaches of the island. Trekking through the jungle paths is also an activity you can enjoy while staying at Long Island. How many nights should one stay in Rangat? All the sightseeing places or the places to visit in Rangat can be covered at ease if you stay for a night in Rangat. On Day 1, you can start from Port Blair, visit Baratang Island on the way, reach Rangat, explore its stunning beaches, and spend a night in the town. On Day 2, you can cover all the remaining places of interest in Rangat and move further towards Diglipur. People, however, visit Rangat as a pitstop on the way to Diglipur from Port Blair or while returning from Diglipur. Where to stay in Rangat? You'll find several basic lodge options in the main town area of Rangat that you could book for a night's stay. The best option is, however, the government guesthouse named 'Hawksbill Nest' located very close to the Cuthbert Bay beach. You can book your stay in this online from the UT Tourism's website. PIN THIS IMAGE Hope this travel guide of Rangat in Andamans helps you plan your own trip. If you think we have missed out on any other place to visit in Rangat, hit us up in the comments section. Also, if you face any difficulties in trip planning or have any doubts, reach out to us via e-mail or use the comments section below. We’ll be happy to help.

Baratang Island is one of the Middle Andaman Islands. It is often part of travel agent's itinerary if a traveller spends adequate time in Andamans. It is usually offered as a day trip from Port Blair while most other tourists who spend less than a week in Andamans completely miss visiting Baratang Island. In case you are one of those who are planning to explore Andamans beyond the usual trio of Havelock, Neil and Port Blair, this might be the easy one to include. But note that reaching and exploring Baratang Island isn't a piece of cake. There are points to keep in mind and things you must know before travelling to Baratang Island. This article will highlight everything about Baratang Island, so stay tuned! What is the best time to visit Baratang Island? The best time to visit Baratang Island is from October to March. The weather is pleasant during these months and is ideal for sightseeing. Also, since visiting key places of interest in Baratang Island requires you to be out in the sun, even October and March could seem hot to many travellers. It starts becoming hotter from March and April. May to June is the peak summertime, whereas the monsoon may start from the end of June. Visiting Baratang Island is not recommended in the peak monsoon months from July to September because of incessant rainfall and strong weather winds. The Andaman Trunk Road to Baratang, which passes through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve, closes down intermittently in monsoon due to tree falls. Even the ferries stop operating due to high tidal waves and rough sea conditions. How to reach Baratang Island? To reach anywhere in Andamans, you have to start your journey from Port Blair. Baratang Island is located approximately 100 kilometres north of Port Blair. Note that Baratang is the southernmost part of middle Andaman Island, and hence you will also have to cross the creek (actually a thin portion of the sea). Here is how you can reach Baratang island - Reaching Baratang via road: Port Blair (part of South Andaman Island) is connected with the North and Middle Andaman Islands by the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR). This road passes through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve, where all the vehicles queue at the starting point, i.e. Jirkatang Check Post, and the entire convoy is preceded and succeeded by Forest Department vans. Hence the route is: Port Blair – Jirkatang Check Post – Jarawa Tribal Reserve – Middle Strait Jetty - Oralkatcha Jetty - Baratang Island Jirkatang Check Post is located about 42 kilometres away from Port Blair, and it takes about 1 to 1.5 hours to reach there from the capital town. The check post opens only at specified times of the day – (6 AM to 6:30 AM; 9 AM to 9:30 AM; 12 PM to 12:30PM; and 3 PM to 3:30 PM). Hence, you will have to reach Jirkatang before these slots. If you are on a day trip to Baratang, you should reach Jirkatang in the very first time window (i.e. 6 AM to 6:30 AM), so that you have a good time to explore the island and return back in the last time window (i.e. 3 PM to 3:30 PM convoy). We started at 4:30 AM in the morning in a private cab to the Jirkatang Check Post. As we approached the check post, we saw a long (read: more than a few kilometres) queue of vehicles that had already lined up before us. We were asked to fill out a couple of forms at the check post and submit a copy of our photo ID proofs that our driver helped us with. There are a few shops lined up at Jirkatang, which are open as early as 5 AM, serving breakfast and snacks to the waiting queue of passengers. You can plan on having a basic breakfast here. The forest administrative staff at Jirkatang advised us against stopping our vehicle or clicking any photos or videos while driving through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve. As the clock struck 6 AM, we resumed our journey with a forest van leading the route. We did happen to spot a few people from Jarawa tribes on the way, but as instructed, we didn't stop or click. Another hour of journey on the ATR (Andaman Truck Road) took us to Middle Strait Jetty, where the tribal reserve ends. At Middle Strait Jetty, you would find several vehicles parked, waiting for their turn to get on a ferry. There are also public toilets here. We boarded a government ferry along with our vehicle (yes, the ferry transfers all types of vehicles) to cross the Middle Strait. After another 15 minutes of sailing, we finally reached Oralkatcha Jetty, part of Baratang Island. Wasn't that easy, was it? It took us almost 4 hours, with lots of wait in between, to get to Baratang Island. Government and private buses run early morning from Port Blair to Baratang Island. You can opt to travel in them if you are on a budget. However, given all the vehicles reach Middle Strait Jetty around similar times, we observed they allowed private cars to take the ferry first while buses and trucks waited. You can also catch any bus plying to Rangat, Mayabunder or Diglipur; they will all pass through Baratang Island. Note that Jarawas is one of the indigenous tribes of Andamans that have been cut off from human evolution and still live like men used to live fa ew thousand years ago. There have been cases in the past where they attack the vehicles. Hence the forest department takes utmost care to ensure we do not intervene in their lives (hence no photography) and do not harm us (hence a convoy). An opportunity to spot Jarawas is one good reason to take the road to the Middle and North Andamans. We did see Jarawas a couple of times on our way. While some of them wanted a lift, there was a father-child duo where the child seemed like trying to use a bow and arrow and attack. Not sure if he was having fun. We, of course, didn't click any photographs as per prohibited rules. Reaching Baratang via sea: Makruzz, the private cruise player in the Andaman Islands, operates daily ships from Haddo Jetty near Chatham in Port Blair to Nilambur Jetty in Baratang and vice versa. The sea journey from Port Blair to Baratang Island takes about 2-2.5 hours, and the tickets can be booked online or purchased offline from Makruzz's office in Port Blair. You can check the timings of the cruise to Baratang Island on their official website. Government ferries do not yet operate to Baratang Island, so the only way to reach the island via sea is by sailing with Makruzz. What are the places to visit in Baratang Island? 1. Limestone caves and a ride through mangroves As soon as you get down at Baratang Island, you will have to form a group of about 10 people (which is relatively easy owing to all the crowd from the convoy that reaches together). One of you will have to fill out a form and purchase a boat ticket to the limestone caves. Once the payment is made, you are assigned a boatsman who hands you a life jacket and helps you onboard the boat. An hour boat ride in the Middle Strait will take you to the mangrove plantations. From there, your boat goes in a narrow strip of the sea under low branches right into the mangrove clearing. You alight your boat here and walk on a wooden platform and uneven trail for a kilometre to reach the Baratang limestone caves. The boatman doubles up as your guide here and leads the way. You walk through thick mangrove plantations that clear up into a flat trail surrounded by green fields. Baratang limestone cave is a geological wonder with layers of shiny stalagmites and stalactites. The caves are completely dark inside. However, the guide carries a torch, and even your mobile phone torches will help light up the structures. The guide throws light on various limestone formations that have attained different shapes, like a swan, a tiger, and several idols. These are all formed naturally over a period of time. You will be given about an hour to explore the caves and return to your boat for the return journey. On our way back to the boat, we relished delicious lemon water made by the local inhabitants of Baratang Island. 2. Mud volcano Baratang Island is amongst the very few places in the world where you can find active mud volcanos. These are a rare natural wonder. From the main jetty in Baratang, you will find jeeps that take you to the Baratang mud volcano site. These are shared jeeps, and the entire payment gets divided amongst all the passengers interested in exploring the mud volcano. You reach the location after a 15-20-minute-long bumpy ride. From here, climbing about 100 steps takes you to the mud volcano site. Note that if you start from Port Blair and plan to reach Diglipur on the same evening, you can easily do the limestone caves. But adding mud volcanoes might be too ambitious. Also, most of the mud volcanos are dead, and there are a few calm ones. Basically, a mud volcano is formed by gases and liquids excreted by the earth's interior. It isn't like an actual lava volcano, but it spews out liquid clay, and you can see occasional mud bubbles. It will take you an hour in entirety to visit the Baratang mud volcano and return back. So, if you have time in hand, visit this natural wonder; otherwise, it can be skipped. 3. Baludera Beach Baludera beach is very close to the Baratang mud volcano site. So, if you get a chance to visit the mud volcano, do stop by to check out the beach. Very few tourists end up seeing the Baludera beach; hence you will almost always find it deserted. The beach is clean, shallow, and ideal for swimming. You will find a beautiful mangrove plantation on one end and dead tree trunks on the other end of the Baludera beach, which gives it a stunning look. 4. Parrot Island Parrot Island is another attraction very close to Baratang Island that we skipped visiting due to lack of time. Parrot Island is a must-visit in the evening when it is said that a flock of thousands of parrots descend back to their home. We can only wonder how incredible that sight would be – a must-visit for bird lovers and photography enthusiasts. Parrot Island is also known for watching the magical sunset. The boats generally leave for the island at 4 PM. So, if you plan to visit Parrot Island, make your night stay arrangements in Baratang, as the last convoy for Port Blair closes at 3:30 PM. Note: There are no accommodation options on Parrot Island. It is an uninhabited island. 5. Guitar Island Well, honestly, we don't know much about Guitar Island except that it's shaped like a guitar when looked at from a bird's eye view. It is amongst the very rarely visited islands of India. Guitar Island can be visited as a day trip from Baratang Island. The Guitar Island beach is tagged as a nature reserve due to its rich coral life, mangroves, and rainforest. We have heard that you can easily snorkel at the beach and spot colourful marine life inside the sea. How many nights should one stay in Baratang Island? As we mentioned earlier, Baratang Island is generally visited as a day trip from Port Blair, or explored on the way to the other Middle and North Andaman Islands (Rangat, Mayabunder and Diglipur). There are very few basic accommodation options to stay in Baratang Island. Since the number of places to visit in Baratang Island can be covered in a day, we recommend returning back to Port Blair or staying further in Rangat if need be. Things to keep in mind when visiting Baratang Island, Middle Andaman: - Our mobile phones did not catch any signal in Baratang Island when we visited in early 2020. In fact, you will lose all network connectivity (Airtel, Vodafone) from the Jirkatang checkpoint. BSNL may work in some areas but do not be very hopeful - No mobile signals mean no internet/ data connectivity. The hotel you book in Baratang Island or Rangat will most likely not have a wi-fi connection. The area is totally cut off from the rest of the world - Few inhabitants reside in Baratang Island, and the homestay concept has not yet penetrated this region. You would find very basic and limited options even in terms of hotels. That is one of the reasons why people prefer to explore it as a day trip - You will find a few restaurants (more of small eateries or dhabas) at the Baratang Jetty that serve local cuisine. There are no restaurants or eateries at the sightseeing spots. The maximum you can get at the places to visit are road side hawkers selling lemon water, coconut water, and cucumbers. It's always advisable to carry some light snacks with you - We recommend that you visit Baratang Island as a day trip from Port Blair or explore it on your way to other parts of North / Middle Andaman (Rangat, Mayabunder, Diglipur). However, if you wish to stay, a few decent accommodation options have come up over the years, like Dew Dale Resort and Coral Creek Resort. It's advisable to call the hotel directly for booking purposes rather than booking online - The sightseeing places in Baratang Island involve quite a lot of walking. Make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes instead of heels and sandals. And do not forget to carry drinking water - As with any coastal area, the weather in Baratang Island remains tropical, meaning hot and humid. The boats that take you to the limestone caves or the nearby islands are open from the top. Hence, you must wear breathable clothes, preferably light and loose cotton. You may also wish to carry your umbrella or ponchos just in case - When you visit tropical areas, it's needless to say that you carry and keep applying sunscreen to save yourself from getting tanned - Since you will be spending a lot of time near water bodies, in rainforests, and amongst mangroves, it's essential that you stay protected from mosquitoes and other insects. Carry and apply a mosquito repellent especially if you plan to stay overnight - There are no ATMs in Baratang Island, so carry sufficient cash with you - Baratang Island lacks well equipped medical facilities or pharmacies; hence carry all the basic as well as prescribed medications with you - Since Baratang Island is not a typical tourist destination, people are not well versed in the English language. Most people know Hindi, and there shouldn't be a problem to converse with them We hope this article helps you understand Baratang Island better and assists you in planning your trip. If you have any questions, please drop them in the comment section below.

Most tourists know Andamans for Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) and Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep); and of course Port Blair (because that's where their flight lands). But, there's a lot more to Andaman Islands that meets the eye. Port Blair is just a tiny part of South Andaman Island. The North Andaman and Middle Andaman Islands still remain unexplored. In this article, we give you a detailed guide on North Andaman and Middle Andaman Islands. By the end of this, you will understand the geography of the Andaman Islands, a brief on places to visit in North and Middle Andaman, the best time to visit and the ethnic tribes you will get to meet there. Happy reading! Read our other articles of the series 'The Andaman Odyssey', by clicking on the below image or text: 1. Introduction to Emerald islands of India 2. Plan your own trip to Andamans 3. A complete travel guide to Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) 4. Review: Summer Sands Beach Resort at Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) 5. A complete travel guide to Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) 6. Review: Symphony Palms Beach Resort at Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) 7. Review: Havelock Island Beach Resort at Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) 8. Review: Dive with Scuba Lov 9. Review: Makruzz - Cruising across Andamans 10. Plan your trip to North and Middle Andaman Islands 11. Travel guide to Baratang Island, Middle Andaman Island 12. Travel guide to Rangat, Middle Andaman Island 13. Travel guide to Mayabunder, Middle Andaman Island 14.Travel guide to Diglipur, North Andaman Island 15. Travel guide to Port Blair 16. Places to visit near Port Blair, Andaman Geography of Andaman Islands: The Great Andaman Island is divided into 3 main parts: North Andaman (Diglipur) Middle Andaman (Mayabunder, Rangat, Baratang) South Andaman (Port Blair, Neil Island, Havelock Island) You will be able to get a good idea by looking at the map in the image below. The North Andaman and Middle Andaman Islands are separated from the South Andaman Island by narrow creeks. The Andaman Trunk Road (ATR) connects all these 3 islands. However, one is required to board ferries to get to one island from the other while driving on the Andaman Trunk Road. These ferries that cross the creeks are operated by the government and can accommodate passengers along with large and small vehicles. The Andaman Islands were formed around 150 million years ago when there was a collision between the two continents named Laurasia and Gondwana. This led to the formation of the Himalayas. It is believed that the Andaman Islands are a part of the Himalayas. The Himalayan ranges in India extend from the north of the country to the east and further stretches out to Myanmar. These Himalayan ranges then get submerged in the Bay of Bengal and again emerge back from the Sea as Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Best time to visit the North and Middle Andaman Islands: The best time to visit the North and Middle Andaman Islands is from October to March. The weather is pleasant during these months and is ideal for sightseeing, water sport activities and beach excursions. It starts becoming hotter from March and April. May to June is the peak summertime, and though the weather is hot and humid, it is probably the peak season due to children’s summer vacations in India. Monsoon may start from end of June and visiting the Andaman Islands is definitely not recommended in the peak monsoon months from July to September because of high tidal waves, incessant rainfall and strong winds. How to reach North Andaman and Middle Andaman Islands: North and Middle Andaman can be reached by sea using ferries and by road using buses and hiring a private car. The cheapest way would be government ferry or government buses. However the most comfortable way would be hiring a private car. Also a private car would enable you to move around much more flexibly and cover various interesting places on the way. Here are further details on these - Reaching North and Middle Andaman by road: As mentioned earlier, Andaman Trunk Road (ATR) connects South Andaman to Middle Andaman and North Andaman Islands. The base to reach any place in Andamans is via Port Blair, a part of South Andaman Island. You can reach Port Blair through flights. You connect to the ATR from Port Blair. However, the drive on the ATR isn’t smooth as silk. Firstly, the roads are extremely muddy. So, you cannot even think of rolling down the vehicle windows to enjoy a cool breeze. And secondly, the route is rough, irregular, bumpy and rugged, except for some good stretches. Apart from that, you cannot just leave Port Blair at your own time or drive at your own pace when travelling to the North and Middle Andaman Islands. The ATR passes through Jarawa Tribal Reserve, a safe habitat for the endangered and indigenous tribe. From Port Blair, you will have to drive roughly 40 kilometers to Jirkatang Check Post. This is the place from where the Jarawa Tribal Reserve starts. All vehicles assemble in a queue at Jirkatang Check Post which has specified opening timings (6:00 AM – 6:30 AM, 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM to 3:00 PM). You can pass this reserve only during these timings. The entire long convoy of vehicles is preceded and succeeded by police and forest department vans for 50 kilometers till the Middle Strait near Baratang. If you want to catch the first convoy at 6:00 AM, you will have to start from Port Blair at least by 4:00 AM. Once at the Middle Strait, you will have to load your vehicle on a government ferry to reach the other side, i.e. Baratang (Middle Andaman). This same process of loading and off-loading the vehicle into a ferry has to be repeated at Kadamtala (Middle Andaman). All the vehicles on ATR take the following route: Port Blair – Baratang Island – Rangat – Mayabunder – Diglipur. To reach North and Middle Andaman Islands, you can either hop in a government bus or buy a private Volvo bus ticket. It would take you 12 hours to reach Diglipur (North Andaman) from Port Blair. The government buses are Non-AC; they run non-stop without any pitstops except the ferry boarding points and can be boarded from Aberdeen bus stand in Port Blair. The private buses are both AC and Non-AC, the tickets to which can be bought from Port Blair town. These have multiple pick-up points within the town of Port Blair, and you can choose one as per your convenience. The buses start as early as 4:00 AM from Aberdeen bus depot in Port Blair. According to us, if you want to travel by road, hiring a private cab from Port Blair is the most sensible option. The cab will be accompanied by an experienced driver who will suggest good places to eat and places to visit on the way. The cab services are available from Port Blair, and the driver will remain at your disposal till you return Port Blair. Although hiring a cab is expensive, it is the best option if you have a fixed date schedule. During our visit, we found several parts of the road under construction. Our driver informed us that once the roads are smooth, per day driver and cab cost will come down, which is good news! Reaching North and Middle Andaman by Sea: A potential alternative to the journey on the Andaman Trunk Road is the old sea route. Direct ship services (government as well as private) are available on fixed days in a week to reach the North and Middle Andaman Islands. Sailing by sea is a cheaper way to reach the North and Middle Andaman Islands. Makruzz, the best private cruise player in the Andaman Islands, operates daily ships from Haddo Jetty near Chatham in Port Blair to Nilambur Jetty in Baratang and vice versa. The sea journey from Port Blair to Baratang Island takes about 2-2.5 hours, and the tickets can be booked online or purchased offline from Makruzz’s office in Port Blair. From Baratang, you can either opt to hire a private vehicle or take a government bus to explore the further northern areas of the Middle and North Andamans. Makruzz doesn’t yet offer its cruise services to Rangat, Mayabunder or Diglipur. You can check the timings of the cruise to Baratang Island on their official website. All government ferries to the Middle and North Andaman Islands start from Phoenix jetty in Port Blair. They run 4 times a week to Rangat, 2 times a week to Diglipur and 2 times a week to Mayabunder. The tickets cannot be booked online and are sold at the Directorate of Shipping Services at the Phoenix Bay jetty in Port Blair. The tickets are made available just 3 days before departure; hence you have to be in Port Blair a day or two before sailing to the North and Middle Andaman Islands. Please note that the return tickets are not issued from Port Blair. You will have to make the booking from either Rangat, Mayabunder or Diglipur jetties for your return journey. Suggested Read: Places to visit near Port Blair Places to visit or places of interest in North Andaman and Middle Andaman Islands: Planning a trip to North and Middle Andaman wasn’t easy as very little is known about these islands and very few tourists visit it. Even very little is documented about these Islands, from a tourism perspective, on the internet. The places to visit in North Andaman and Middle Andaman are hence unexplored, offbeat, raw and pristine. Here’s a list of places that you must not miss out on visiting when you are on a trip to the North and Middle Andaman Islands: 1. Diglipur (North Andaman) Diglipur is known for the twin islands - Ross and Smith, which are separated by a pristine white sandbar. Tourists also flock Diglipur to visit the Kalipur beach and Lamiya Bay beach, famous for the turtle nesting. From Kalipur beach, you can snorkel to Craggy Island during low tide. You will get to see lots of colorful fish and corals while snorkeling. Diglipur is also famous for the highest peak of Andaman Island, the Saddle Peak. A slight detour from the Andaman Trunk Road while driving towards Diglipur, will take you to the secluded Ramnagar beach. Alfred Caves, located on the same route, is a limestone cave that is another decent place you can visit in Diglipur. Shyamnagar, about 25 kilometres far from the town, is famous for the active mud volcanoes. 2. Mayabunder (Middle Andaman) Karmatang beach and Rampur beach are the most sought-after sightseeing places in Mayabunder. Karmatang is also a nesting ground for turtles. Apart from the beach, Avis Island and Interview Island, the tiny uninhabited islands located near the town of Mayabunder, can be visited after procuring special permission from the Forest Department. Other places of interest in Mayabunder are the Forest Museum, Driftwood Museum and German Jetty. While in Mayabunder, you should also check out Webi village known for a large population of Karen tribe, a lesser-known community who were brought into Andamans from Myanmar by the British. They have their own Karen Craft center in the town, which is a must-visit for buying locally made handicrafts. 3. Rangat (Middle Andaman) Rangat is known for its beaches. The Amkunj beach and the Morice Dera beach lie right on the Andaman Trunk Road and are amongst must-visits in Rangat. Dhaninallah mangrove walk, a kilometer walk on a wooden bridge surrounded by varieties of mangroves, leads you to the pristine Dhaninallah beach, famous for turtle nesting - another must-visit. A mangrove view watchtower is also erected near Yerrata Jetty in the main Rangat town. Cuthbert Bay beach in Rangat is popular for mass turtle nesting. Panchvati Hills and waterfalls is another attraction that is located towards the outskirts of Rangat. From Rangat, you can also plan a trip to Guitar Island, North Passage Island and Long Island, which is famous for its sandy beaches like Lalaji Bay beach and Merk Bay beach. 4. Baratang (South Andaman) Baratang is famous for its limestone caves and dense mangrove creeks. You can also get to see active mud volcanoes in Baratang. From Baratang, you can visit Parrot Island, an uninhabited island, which is a site for spotting thousands of parakeets and birds of other species. On your way to Baratang from Port Blair, you can also get a chance to sight the rare Jarawa tribes while driving through the Jarawa Reserve forest on the Andaman Trunk Road. PIN THIS IMAGE We hope you found this article useful and are now confident in planning your North and Middle Andaman Islands trip. In upcoming articles, we will write in detail about all the places to visit in the North and Middle Andaman Islands, along with specifics on how to reach each location. So, stay tuned! Drop your thoughts in the comment section below.

Kerala state in Southern India is rightly known as ‘God’s Own Country’. The state is blessed with abundant natural beauty in lush greenery, a vast coastal belt, picturesque hills (the Western Ghats), and beautiful backwaters. Kerala has always been a popular place for travelers of all kinds. The state can be divided into three parts. For ease of your understanding, we will list down a few tourist places in each of these parts. North Kerala houses popular tourist places like Kannur, Wayanad, and Kozhikode (Calicut), whereas Central Kerala includes Kochi and Thrissur. South Kerala is the most popular belt amongst tourists visiting the state and has famous places like Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey, Kollam, Varkala, Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kovalam, and Poovar. The best thing about Kerala is that each of these parts harbors an airport – Kannur and Kozhikode airport in the north, Kochi airport in central, and Trivandrum airport in the south of the state. This allows travelers to easily reach the place of their choice. Since the Kochi-Munnar-Thekkady-Alleppey circuit is the most visited and most talked about, you will find abundant information about these places on the web. We noticed that the localities south of Alleppey (Kollam, Varkala, Trivandrum, Kovalam, and Poovar) are often neglected; hence, we will list down places to visit these areas of South Kerala. We will also include an ideal itinerary that you can follow for your visit to these places, along with recommendations on stay options. South Kerala Itinerary: The Trivandrum airport is the nearest airport to places to visit in South Kerala (Kollam, Varkala, Kovalam, Poovar). Trivandrum is also a major rail junction that lies on the Western Railway Line. You can follow the below-mentioned Kerala itinerary after arriving in Trivandrum. You can also reverse this itinerary based on the accommodation availability. Trivandrum (1N) – Kollam (1N) – Munroe Island (1N) – Varkala (2N) – Kovalam (2N) – Poovar (1N) – Trivandrum (1N) In case you have more time, you can include Kanyakumari in your itinerary which is as such in neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu Places to visit in South Kerala: This article lists sightseeing places in each town (Kollam, Munroe, Varkala, Trivandrum, Kovalam, and Poovar) and recommendations on the best properties to stay. Kollam Kollam is a town referred to as the ‘Gateway to backwaters in Kerala’. With travelers realizing its potential off lately, the town is slowly gaining popularity. The best place to visit in Kollam is the Mahatma Gandhi beach, also called as the Kollam beach. The beach stretches for miles and is a perfect sunset spot. The other tourist places in Kollam includes Thangassery Lighthouse, St. Thomas Fort, Paravur Lake and Ashtamudi Lake. Do not miss out on a houseboat ride or a country boat ride along the several canals of Paravur Lake. We highly recommend staying at the Fragrant Nature Resort in Paravur, Kollam district. The resort is surrounded by beautiful backwaters, and all the rooms overlook the waterbody. About 40 kilometers from Kollam town is the Jatayu’s Earth Centre that houses the world’s largest sculpture of a mythological bird named Jatayu on a hilltop. It is a must-visit place to include in your South Kerala itinerary. You could also visit the Thenmala ecotourism site as a day trip from Kollam. Munroe Island Munroe Island is located at a distance of 25 kilometers from Kollam town at the confluence of Ashtamudi Lake and the Kallada River. The island is the starting point of the very popular Kallada boat race. Munroe Island’s main attraction is cruising in the backwaters through narrow canals and passing under the naturally formed mangrove arch. You will spot wonderful birds at Munroe Island. You can also go fishing and get your catch cooked. If you haven't included Munroe Island in your South Kerala itinerary, you are already missing out on a lot. Take our word, you will find Munroe Island to be the most fulfilling place to visit in South Kerala. Other places that you must visit on the Munroe Island are the Munroe viewpoint, the 1878 AD Dutch Church, John Munroe Museum and the Perumon railway bridge. You will be able to watch incredible sunsets and sunrises from the island. Also, try out the very delicious beverages at Munroe mocktails and buy hand-painted landscape artwork from the Raghu Munroe art gallery. You can go around exploring the island on a rented bicycle. Often referred to as the ‘Venice of India’, Munroe Island is a network of 8 islets, out of which you can book an entire islet. Vini’s Farm is a homestay located on a tiny islet in Munroe, and it lets you own the whole islet to yourself. We highly recommend this property to couples, especially honeymooners, who wish to seek some privacy, solitude, and peace. Vini’s Farm is also ideal for artists and writers. For budgeted travelers, we recommend staying at Green Chromide Homestay. It is located right on the banks of the Kallada River, and they have a wooden chalet overlooking the river. The hosts are lovely people and great to talk to. They prepare delicious food that is served in the garden dining area right next to the river. Varkala Varkala is a famous beach town in South Kerala amongst surfers, beach-bummers, digital nomads, and backpackers. While on your trip to this beautiful town, you should visit the 4 beaches (Kappil beach, Edava beach, Black Sand beach, and Papanasham beach), each unique in its own way, the Janardhana Swamy temple (from where Varkala got its name), and of course the North cliff and South cliff (the most happening places in Varkala filled with souvenir shops and restaurants). Varkala will offer you an opportunity to view unparallel sunsets each day. Varkala is amongst the best places to visit in South Kerala for all kinds of travelers. Varkala’s charm, however, lies across its seashore, and it is highly known as one of the best-surfing destinations in India. You can opt to learn surfing from one of the many surf schools in the town. We did a 3-day beginner surfing course from Soul and Surf – a surf school cum accommodation located on the picturesque edge of the South cliff. We highly recommend staying with them even if you don’t take part in surfing. Varkala’s cliffs are also ideal for paragliding, and you can participate in this sport at the Helipad, North cliff. Varkala is an ideal base to travel to a few nearby places, including Anjengo Fort and lighthouse located 15 kilometers south of the town, and Jatayu Earth’s Centre (world’s largest bird sculpture) situated on a hill in Chadayamangalam area, located about 30 kilometers from Varkala. The town is also a paradise for food connoisseurs who love to taste different cuisines. Your South Kerala itinerary is incomplete without hopping the global restaurants of Varkala. Trivandrum Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala state, is a major IT hub now. On your trip to South Kerala, it is advisable to book your flights to and from Trivandrum. And do not forget to spend some time in this ‘evergreen city of India’ as tagged by Mahatma Gandhi. Must-visit places in Trivandrum include the Chitra Art Gallery that showcases the incredible paintings of Raja Ravi Verma, the Napier Museum exhibiting the unique Mughal artefacts, and the Padmanabhaswamy temple, claimed to be one of the wealthiest temples in the world. We rented a two-wheeler from one of the motorcycle rental agencies near Trivandrum airport and rode across the city, visiting places of interest and hopping lovely cafes. We highly recommend watching the sunset from the Shangumugham beach located near the airport. For stay, you will find a variety of accommodations in this capital city, ranging from low-budget to luxurious ones. Kovalam Kovalam has a special place in South Kerala’s tourist circuit. The town is dotted with pretty beaches that are worth visiting. The lesser-known ones include Samudra beach, Ashok beach, and Grove beach. These beaches are safe for swimming and water sports. Although the number of tourists on these beaches are less, you will find plenty of local boatmen offering you parasailing and snorkeling packages. The other set of beaches includes Kovalam beach, Hawa beach, and Lighthouse beach. These are very popular amongst tourists. Another must-visit destination in Kovalam is the Vizhinjam lighthouse that you can easily spot from the Lighthouse beach. You are allowed to climb to the top of the lighthouse and enjoy the incredible bird’s eye view of Kovalam from there. For a perfect sunset, head to the Vizhinjam harbor. If you have some more time in Kovalam, visit the Chowara beach and the Aazhimala Shiva temple close by. The 58-feet tall statue of Lord Shiva at this temple with the Arabian Sea behind has the power to immediately calm your senses. Give this place a chance in your South Kerala itinerary. Rockholm at the Lighthouse beach is the best property to stay in Kovalam. It is located close to the Vizhinjam Lighthouse and the Lighthouse beach and has private access to a small stretch of secret beach nearby. All their rooms have a sea-facing balcony with an excellent view of the sea. Poovar Poovar is a small beach town located close to the borders between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The town is known for its golden beach, the unique sand bar, and the backwaters created by the Neyyar River. Though the Poovar beach is unsafe for swimming due to intense wave currents, a walk along the sand bar separating the sea and backwaters will make up for all the lost water adventures. In Poovar, we stayed at the Poovar Island Resort located on a tiny isle bordered by swaying palms and backwaters. We spent our time eating wholesome food, getting authentic Ayurvedic massages, relaxing in the squeaky-clean swimming pool, admiring the backwater views, sailing the backwaters, and taking long strolls at the Poovar beach. Without a doubt, Poovar Island Resort is the best resort in Poovar. If you have ample time in Poovar, do not miss out on visiting the Chenkal Maheshwaram temple that boasts of the tallest Shivalingam (111 feet) in India, which you can climb up to the top. This is one of the most unique places to visit in South Kerala. Follow our itinerary to make the most of your South Kerala trip. Read up our dedicated blogs on each of the places mentioned above to find more information about the places to visit. Do let us know if you need help in planning your South Kerala trip itinerary. Happy travelling!

We all have watched movies where the main lead/s got stuck on a deserted island that is way too stunning and picturesque. And we all have dreamt of living on one such secluded island in the lap of nature. Well, what if we tell you we have found one such small island that could tick all your boxes in the scenic backwaters of Kerala in India? Exciting, huh? If you have read our blog on Munroe Island, you might be well aware that it is a cluster of small islets located at the confluence of Ashtamudi Lake and the Kallada River in Kollam District, South Kerala. One of these islets is a tiny little island that houses a beautiful homestay named Vini’s Farm. With a luxurious wooden cottage on stilts, Vini’s Farm is like an escape of your dreams. Apart from seclusion, the homestay is a perfect romantic escapade for couples who can have the entire island to themselves. The cherry on the cake is that it comes with a cook/ butler (who is not at all nosy)! How to reach Vini’s Farm, South Kerala: Once you book your stay with Vini’s Farm, the manager will give you a call and help you with directions. You will have to park your vehicle at a private and safe designated spot as instructed by the manager, from where you will be escorted to the island in a speed boat. The parking is in a village named Sinkarapally, which is on the mainland, but anyhow the manager at Vini’s Farm will send you the GPS location as to where to park your vehicle. The speed boat ride to the homestay lasts for some 10-12 minutes. Dotted with swaying palm trees, the island housing Vini’s Farm is surrounded by serene backwaters that open up to the pretty Ashtamudi Lake right in the front. We were served a flavoursome welcome drink on arrival and were shown around the island by the manager. It isn’t too big, and you can walk around its periphery in less than 10 minutes. The island housing Vini’s Farm homestay has a wooden plush cottage built on a high stilt having 2 rooms. A charming canopied walkway led us to the cottage. Note - While they have 2 rooms, if one is booked, they do not take bookings for the other one to ensure the guests have complete privacy. If you are a bigger family, you can ofcourse book both rooms. Our room came with an attached bathroom and a balcony. The spacious room was adorned with a king-sized bed, side tables, a sofa, a centre table, a bean bag, a wardrobe, and a luggage rack. The room was equipped with modern amenities like an air-conditioner, refrigerator, tea/ coffee maker, and running hot/ cold water. No television is a huge plus! A floor-to-ceiling glass door on one side of the cottage at Vini’s Farm opened up to a big balcony facing Ashtamudi Lake. The balcony had a comfortable sit-out where we spent most of our time reading, relaxing, watching the fishermen sailing the local boat, and the eagles looking for a catch. We got an uninterrupted view of the lake right from the comfort of the bed. Even the shower area in the bathroom overlooked the serene lake and surroundings. Every nook and corner of the wooden cottage at Vini’s Farm is minimalistically done in tandem with nature yet spells luxury. Apart from the wooden cottage and the dining space, the island housing Vini’s Farm is dotted with beautiful gardens and flowering plants, with comfortable hammocks and cosy sit-outs inviting you every now and then. Organic farming is carried in and around the island, and fresh produce is used in preparing meals. Having a personal chef to ourselves was a big plus. He curated personalised meals for us depending on our choice and tastes. The manager at Vini’s Farm went beyond the lengths to set up a candlelight dinner for us on the small terrace above the kitchen. He thoughtfully placed a music system to play music of our choice. The food was incredibly delicious ans Dining under the sparkling fairy lights and the brightly shining stars with slow romantic music playing in the backdrop was undoubtedly the highlight of our stay at Vini’s Farm, Kerala. There are many things to do and activities to participate in while staying at Vini’s Farm in Munroe Island. In the evening, we chose to explore the backwaters in a country boat sailed with a log by a boatsman. We navigated through the stunning countryside into the thick mangroves and witnessed the daily activities of the people of Munroe Island. After passing through several inter-connected narrow canals, we sailed out in the vast Ashtamudi Lake, where we saw the sun setting in the backwaters through a natural mangrove arch bridge. Even if you don't opt for a sunset cruise while staying at Vini's Farm, you can view the sunset from the property itself. The constant change of colours in the sky during the blue hour is phenomenal. Our mornings at Vini’s Farm were spent kayaking through the canals and the Ashtamudi Lake, followed by swimming in the backwaters. Mind you, the lake’s quite deep, and you have to be an experienced swimmer to wade through the water. Wearing the life jacket was compulsory while performing any activity, be it canal cruising or kayaking. We even wore it during swimming. There are also a few indoor and outdoor games that you can enjoy playing. Vini’s Farm is a heaven for bird watchers / photographers as it offers ample opportunities for spotting kingfishers, egrets, cormorants, herons, crows, eagles, and many more bird species. You can even learn to catch a fish with the experienced manager’s help using the hook provided by the property. And if you are lucky to get your hands on a good catch, they will even cook it for you. Vini’s Farm operates with the professionalism of a hotel and with the warmth and personalised hospitality of a homestay. All in all, it has all the right elements of a perfect romantic getaway. We had all the freedom to move around the island by ourselves. However, the staff was always just a call away. The property is ideal for writers, artists, honeymooners, couples, or anyone looking for privacy, peace, seclusion, and a quiet time. Vini's Farm also has a few tents that can be laid out in their huge grounds for an economic stay for budgeted travellers and groups. The part of the ground for tents comes with a common washroom and is adequately separated through a narrow canal from the wooden cottage area to offer privacy to everyone. So whether you are a solo traveller or honeymooner, family or group of friends looking to chill, Vini’s Farm has all the options to suit your needs. Own an entire island for a day and live your fantasy. You can visit their website to know their latest tariffs and booking details. You can also book them by clicking on one of the travel portals mentioned below. As you would expect, the upkeep of the island is little difficult. The water levels sometimes rise encroaching the island boundaries and maintenance can be challenging. Yet Vini's farm does a good enough job to bring the place to life and provide you as much comfort as possible. It is hence a unique experience to cherish if it fits your budget. If you have any questions or doubts regarding your stay/ booking at Vini's Farm, Kerala, then do let us know in the comments section below. PIN THESE IMAGES

Poovar is a small town in Trivandrum district in South of Kerala, India. Poovar and adjoining town of Pozhiyoor lies almost towards the bottom end of Kerala and is place you would pass by when you visit Kanyakumari through Kerala. This fishing and trading centre has slowly caught up tourists attention due to the scenic geographic location - an island formed due to river and backwater that houses some luxury resorts as well as golden sand beach that lies across the backwater lake. Poovar is hence a place we would high recommend you visit as part of your South Kerala itinerary and Poovar Island resort is where we would suggest you stay. Every year, the reality dating show Splitsvilla’s team picks an exotic resort to shoot their gig. Amidst COVID in 2021, they chose the Poovar Island Resort in South Kerala. If you have watched the episodes of Splitsvilla 13, you already know how remarkable the island resort is! If you haven’t, you are at the right place. For this article, we will present a detailed review of our stay with Poovar Island Resort, South Kerala’s most sought-after property. Location of Poovar Island Resort Poovar is located at a distance of about 30 kilometers south of Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala state. Both the nearest railway station and the nearest airport to Poovar is in Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram). Poovar Island Resort is located hidden amidst the swaying coconut palms and endless golden sands on Poovar Island. Basically, Poovar Island is a tiny isle in Neyyattinkara, bordered by backwaters and the Neyyar River. How to reach Poovar Island Resort There are no roads that connect Poovar to the Poovar Island Resort. Located on an island surrounded by sea and river, the resort can only be accessed by waterways. Once you park your vehicle at the parking lot of Poovar Island Resort, the resort staff will receive you and escort you to the resort premises in a speed boat. After about a 15-minute boat ride, you reach the boating dock at Poovar Island Resort. Our stay experience at Poovar Island Resort Once at the boating dock of the Poovar Island Resort, we received a warm welcome from a hostess from the Front Office Management. She accompanied us to the reception through a canopied pathway for the check-in formalities. While walking through the paved path, we observed that the property is spread across acres and acres of land (25 acres in total). Vast gardens with big trees and flowering plants adorn the entire area. We realized that there was no need to get out of the resort at all, as there was so much to do and see there itself. The reception is in the center of Poovar Island Resort, while the rooms, restaurants and all other amenities surround it. The pool and the multi-cuisine restaurant is behind the reception. Different categories of rooms are towards the left and right sides of the reception. In the front is the garden that overlooks the Poovar backwaters and a sand bar. We were soon escorted to our room – A Premium land cottage. The Premium land cottages at the Poovar Island Resort are secluded from the crowded areas to ensure maximum privacy. The rooms are tastefully done with soft-hued colors and wooden furniture. Our spacious room was furnished with a king-sized bed, side tables, a comfortable sofa set, and a dressing table. The closet was accommodated in the en-suite bathroom, which was as big as the room. We loved the design of the bathroom with floor to ceiling mirrors, a jacuzzi, a spacious changing area, and a shower area. Each Premium land cottage at Poovar Island Resort open to a lovely balcony through a glass sliding door. They overlook the lush greenery of the resort. Equipped with all modern amenities like air conditioning, tea/ coffee maker, mini-fridge, LCD television, and running hot and cold water, the cottage pronounced comfort and luxury at the same time. Poovar Island Resort has 86 cottages in total – 2 Maharaja Suites – Featuring a big bedroom with a poster bed, a vast living room, two bathrooms (one with a Jacuzzi), and the suite overlooks the backwater and the sea further away. 8 Premium Land Cottages - The ones that we stayed in. 16 Floating Cottages – 12 Standard ones with just a bedroom and 4 Deluxe ones with an attached living room. These cottages float entirely in the deep backwaters. These cottages are the most sought-after accommodation option at Poovar Island. They are built using Ferrocement technology that makes them lightweight and helps them float. They all overlook the backwaters. 18 Ayurveda Village Cottages – We didn’t even know that an entire Ayurveda village existed in the Poovar Island Resort premises. These cottages were surrounded by the Ayurvedic treatment center, a separate swimming pool, and a restaurant. 44 Superior Land Cottages – Rustic yet comfortable rooms equipped with four-star comfort and amenities. Dining at Poovar Island Resort You will be spoilt with dining choices during your stay at Poovar Island Resort. They have a multi-cuisine restaurant named ‘Tiffin’ that is located behind the swimming pool. It serves delicious Indian, Chinese, and Continental meals. The ‘Floating Restaurant’ is located near the Sunset point overlooking the backwaters, the beach, and the sea. It has a specialty menu and arranges special theme dinners. Ayurveda Restaurant is separately located in the Ayurvedic village and serves diet meals only to its Ayurveda clients. The ‘Kappa Bar’, located in the lush green gardens of the Poovar Island Resort, serves alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages along with a mini menu of light snacks. The ‘Sunken Bar’ situated inside the swimming pool serves soft drinks. We had all our meals at the Tiffin restaurant. The food served was excellent and of good quantity. The restaurant staff at Poovar Island Resort are customer-focused and flexible. On request, they arranged a Candlelight Dinner for us in a small, secluded garden across the restaurant. They decorated the table with flowers, candles, and decorative lights. The service was flawless. In that romantic ambience, we had the best of time. Other amenities at Poovar Island Resort Swimming Pool - The swimming pool at Poovar Island Resort is sandwiched between the reception and the Tiffin restaurant; however, being hidden by tall plants, it provides utmost privacy to the swimmers. The pool is well-maintained and always kept squeaky clean. The blue tiling gives it a fantastic look. A separate shallow pool for kids is located next to the main swimming pool. We had a great time swimming and then relaxing on the lounge chairs beside the pool. Ayurveda treatment - Ayurveda treatment is not just available for the long-term guests staying at the Ayurveda village but also for the other in-house guests. Certified Ayurveda doctors and practitioners have been appointed by the Poovar Island Resort, which use authentic oils and medicines to provide treatments. They have a long list of massage and treatment varieties. The Ayurveda Restaurant chefs prepare food after consultation with the certified dieticians to meet the nutritional requirements of the patients. The Ayurveda Village at Poovar Island Resort has 15 treatment rooms, a few with attached shower facilities. The resort receives several repeated guests who visit each year for treatments. They honor the guests who visit more than 5 times with their placard on a ‘Wall of Fame’. How incredible is that!! Play Zone - The most happening area at Poovar Island Resort is the Kids Play Zone. A colorfully designed indoor game building is in one corner of the resort. The outdoor game area and the adventure zone look extremely fun and exciting. There were several affordable packages for the adventure activities. Poovar beach visit - Speed boats are available from morning till evening for visiting Poovar Beach. These are free of cost, but you will have to notify the reception sometime in advance if you wish to go to the beach. Poovar beach is a long stretch of sand bar that separates the ocean and the backwaters. However, the waves are large and ferocious, and one cannot venture inside the seawater, forget swimming. We had a great time strolling along the sand bar and taking in the fantastic 360-degree views. Sunset viewpoint - After returning from the Poovar beach, do not miss out on the fantastic sunset viewpoint at the Poovar Island Resort. You will get a beautiful reflection of the setting sun in the backwaters as it slowly dips down in the sea. Don’t even get us started describing the sky colors! Conference rooms - Poovar Island Resort provides banquet halls and conference facilities for business and personal events. They also have an in-house shop that sells essential utilities, traditional trinkets, gifts, and souvenirs. Backwater cruise - Poovar Island Resort also arrange for a 1 or 2-hour backwater cruise on prior request. The boat glides through the palm-fringed backwaters and takes you to the mangrove plantations in the Neyyar River, where you can spot a variety of beautiful birds. Places to visit near Poovar Island Resort There aren’t a lot of places to visit on or near Poovar Island. Take our advice and spend your time in the resort eating wholesome food, relaxing in the pool or one of the gardens, unwinding in your balcony, admiring the backwater views, visiting the Poovar beach, sailing the backwaters, participating in adventure activities, or taking leisurely walks in the resort. If your South Kerala itinerary is packed and has no time for a stay at Poovar Island, we still would recommend a day visit to Poovar Island Resort. They have exciting day packages where you can use the amenities at the resort, take part in adventure activities, visit the Poovar beach, and have a wholesome meal. If you have ample time in hand and wish to explore more in Poovar, we mention a few places worth visiting from Poovar Island as a day trip. The staff at Poovar Island Resort will arrange a vehicle for you at additional cost to see the following places. 1. Chenkal Maheshwaram Temple (9 kilometres) - We generally do not promote visiting temples, but this one is beyond excellent. Located just 10 kilometers away from Poovar, in a town named Chenkal, the Chenkal Maheshwaram Temple is home to the tallest Shivalingam in India. The Shivalingam is hollow from inside and has eight floors where 6 meditation halls, 108 different small shiva lingams, and 64 forms of Shiva have been incorporated. The spirally placed halls gradually lead to the main idol of the temple – a complete sculpture of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi sitting on a Kailasa hill and blessing the world. The temple beside the 111 feet Shivalingam is built in traditional Keralan architecture, and you can find sculptures of different deities in Hindu mythology adorning various parts of the temple. 2. Kovalam (17 kilometers) – This beautiful beach town has a lot in store for each type of traveler. The Vizhinjam lighthouse, long stretch of Kovalam beach, and Chowara beach are places worth visiting in Kovalam. You can also opt to learn surfing from the famous surfing schools in Kovalam. 3. Thirparappu Waterfalls (30 kilometers) – At Thirparappu falls, the water falls from a height of about 50 feet. The district administration has constructed a pool sort of area for safe bathing under the falls. Changing rooms and boating facilities are also available at this beautiful waterfall. 4. Trivandrum City (33 kilometers) – Must visit places in Trivandrum includes Napier Museum, Art gallery, Kanakakkunnu palace, Puthen Malika palace, Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple, and Natural history museum. 5. Neyyar Dam (34 kilometers) – This dam is built on the Neyyar River, the source of backwaters on which the Poovar Island floats. The dam is surrounded by sparkling green pristine beauty, where you can also spot wildlife. Without a doubt, Poovar Island Resort is the best resort on Poovar Island. They are listed on most hotel booking portals, and you can book your stay with them by clicking on one of the icons below. Go give Poovar Island Resort a visit and let us know how you find it in the comment section below. PIN THESE IMAGES

Tourism in South Kerala has been limited to coastal areas like Varkala, Kovalam and Poovar. However, this trend is changing slowly. The Government of Kerala, in collaboration with a popular sculptor named Rajiv Anchal, has built the world's largest bird sculpture in Chadayamangalam (Kollam district) in Kerala. This giant sculpture of the mythological bird named Jatayu, has been built on a hill named Jadayupara and has been opened to visitors from the year 2018. The tourist centre where the Jatayu statue has been built is called the Jatayu Earth's Centre or the Jatayu Nature Park. This article will act as a detailed guide for you to plan a trip and visit Jatayu Earth’s Centre. Location of Jatayu Earth’s Centre, Kollam Jatayu Earth’s Centre is located in the Chadayamangalam area in the Kollam district in South Kerala. It is located quite close from Kollam, Varkala and Munroe Island; hence you can make any of these places as the base to travel to the bird sculpture. The nearest airport to Jatayu Nature Park is Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) airport, and the nearest railway station is the Kollam station. Distance of Jatayu Earth’s Centre: From Varkala town - 28 kilometres From Kollam railway station - 37 kilometres From Munroe Island - 46 kilometres From Trivandrum airport - 52 kilometres How to reach Jatayu Earth’s Centre, Kollam You can hire a taxi from any of the places mentioned above and travel to Jatayu Earth’s Centre. The bird statue makes for a fantastic day-visit from these areas. You can also club visiting the Jatayu Nature Park along with Kilimanoor Palace (birth place of the renowned painter Raja Ravi Verma). The Palace is located very close to the Jatayu statue and houses some magnificent original paintings. We rented a two-wheeler scooter from a rental agent near the Trivandrum airport and rode to Jatayu Nature Park on our own. The roads are end-to-end highway and are pretty smooth, making an excellent ride. There’s a vast paid parking area below the hill housing the sculpture. Mythological story behind the Jatayu statue at Jatayu Earth's Centre, Kollam The Indian mythological scripture Ramayana, narrates the story of abduction of Sita (wife of Lord Rama of Ayodhya) by Ravana (Demon King of Lanka). As Ravana hastened to Lanka on his flying chariot with Sita, she cried out to Rama to save her. Hearing Sita’s helpless screams, the mighty old bird Jatayu (King of vultures) winged up towards the sky to Ravana’s chariot. It resolved to save Sita from the clutches of the demon God. Attacking Ravana with its sharp claws, it tore flesh from his body by using its beak. Vexed, Ravana took out his arrow and fired at Jatayu’s wings. One of its wings tore off and fell. Jatayu knew that it could not win over Ravana, but the brave old bird continued fighting, only to be hit again by Ravana’s arrow. Soon, Jatayu was bruised, battered and bleeding from the wounds all over its body. It fell on the ground and slowly started dying. Sita granted it a boon to be alive till it meets Lord Rama to convey the entire story. While searching for his wife, eventually Lord Rama chanced upon dying Jatayu, who informed him of its battle with Ravana and how he had abducted Sita and journeyed down south. From Jatayu, Lord Rama learnt all the details of Sita's abduction and granted it salvation. Best time to go to Jatayu Earth’s Centre, Kollam The winter months (November to February) are the best time to visit Jatayu Earth’s Centre. Summers (March to May) are scorching and humid. Light monsoon (August and September) can also be an excellent time to visit the sculpture. Just make sure the forecast doesn’t show heavy rains and thunderstorms. As for the time of the day, early mornings and evenings are the best time to visit Jatayu Earth’s Centre. However, evenings are preferred as the tourism centre opens only at 9:30 AM in the morning, which is quite bright and hot owing to South Kerala’s weather. If you plan to spend the entire day at Jatayu Nature Park, plan a visit in the morning and stay till the evening. There are several activities that you can indulge in to spend the day. Read on to know more about it. Is online booking required to visit Jatayu Earth’s Centre in Kollam? We visited Jatayu Earth’s Centre during COVID times. We did visit their website, which is very well-designed, but weren’t able to clearly understand the time-slot system. We were sure that our mobile networks will be working fine at the tourist centre. Hence, we reached the Jatayu Nature Park a bit early, keeping some buffer time if we have to immediately book the slot online. On inquiry at the ticket counter, we found out that the online booking is not working at all and all payments had to be made there and then (in cash; cards weren’t accepted). We are not sure if this was because of COVID restrictions or if there is a permanent closure of online booking. You can try out our idea of reaching the Jatayu Earth’s Centre a bit early if you have time in hand or just call them and inquire on the contact number stated on Google (which did not work in our case, to be honest). Reading recent reviews from the people who have visited might also help. Another way to source out the latest information would be through your hotel/ resort’s helpdesk or enquiring with the car driver who is supposed to drive you there. How to reach the top of the hill at Jatayu Earth’s Centre, Kollam As mentioned earlier, all the vehicles have to be parked at the vast parking lot at Jatayu Earth’s Centre, below the hill where Jatayu’s sculpture is built. There are two ways to reach the top of the hill. You could climb the odd 800 stairs to reach the top of the hill. The steps are cemented, but there are very few to no shades (for those planning to climb in the afternoon, please don’t). Carry plenty of water and some snacks for this climb. The other way is through the world-class glass-covered cable car. Though costing more, a ride in this cable car to the top of the hill is an experience in itself. The stairway to the top of the hill at Jatayu Earth’s Centre was closed due to COVID restrictions on our visit. Of course, because the authorities cannot ensure social distancing on the stairs. So, we had to ride the cable car (not that we were planning to take the stairs!). Social distancing and COVID protocols were followed at all times at the tourist centre. One family or one group were allowed in a single cabin of the cable car, ensuring safety. Jadayupara entry fee/ ticket rate: Whether you decide to take the stairs or the cable car, you will have to pay an entrance fee of INR 240 per person at the entrance point to the Jatayu Earth’s Centre. The cable car ride costs INR 300 per person for both ways. We are not sure if you can ride the cable car one way and come down via stairs or vice-versa, but you could definitely ask! You can even opt for a helicopter ride to the hill of the Jatayu Earth’s Centre for INR 2400 per person. This ride will offer you an aerial view of the bird sculpture. There are no separate camera or DSLR charges. However, we were asked if we were carrying a drone, which weren't allowed). It is also advisable to know the opening and closing timings of the Jatayu statue at Jatayu Nature Park. The official website mentions 10 AM as the opening time and 6 PM as closing time. However, the last cable car leaves back from the top of the hill at 5:30 PM and you would not want to miss it. As we were clicking photographs and since there were very few visitors when we travelled, they gave us a few more minutes at the top of the hill. What to see at the Jatayu Earth’s Centre, Kollam Jatayu Earth’s Centre is basically a collaboration between the Tourism department of Kerala and Mr. Rajiv Anchal, a film director. It focuses on environmental sustainability in its design and includes rainwater irrigation systems, solar-powered electricity, and planned organic farms. 1. Jatayu Statue Jatayu Earth’s Centre or Jatayu Nature Park houses the largest bird sculpture in the world. The sculpture is 200 feet long, 150 feet wide and 70 feet high. It is built on a 1000 feet tall rock named Jadayupara and occupies a floor area of 15000 square feet. As Jatayu, the noble bird, died protecting a woman’s honour (Sita), the centre is dedicated to ‘Women’s honour and safety’. Riding the cable car was a unique experience. As the cable car slowly climbed towards the top, we were able to get a glimpse of the magnificent statue of Jatayu. In a matter of a few minutes, we were at the top of the hill, and it took us a while to take in the beauty of the place. There’s a paved walkway surrounding the bird sculpture, and you can take an entire 360-degree tour admiring the sculpture from different angles. Mr. Anchal, the brainchild of this project, has used concrete to construct Jatayu’s sculpture. The bird is lying flat on its back with its wings spread across and its curled claws facing the sky. If you focus properly, you will be able to appreciate the intricate carvings on the stylized feathers of the sculpture. Its nails, beak, claws, and eyes will make you reminisce the old folklore. 2. Lord Rama Temple or Jatayu Temple When Lord Rama reached the Jadayupara rock searching for his wife, Sita, he found wounded Jatayu. He liberated the soul of dying Jatayu. Lord Rama left his footprint mark on the rock where a temple was built in those times. Today, the temple dedicated to Lord Rama has been renovated and reconsecrated. Lord Rama temple stands right beside Jatayu’s sculpture. The temple belongs to a private trust, and it is built to preserve India’s glorious past. 3. Museum The sculpture of Jatayu at the Jatayu Earth’s Centre is hollow from within. There's about 15000 square feet of utilizable area inside the Jatayu statue. An entrance opens beneath one of its wings that will take you to an audio-visual museum as well as a 6D theatre. The museum exhibits animated visuals, and with light and sound, it showcases the story of the mythological bird. 4. 6D Theatre A multi-dimensional theatre is being built under the wings of Jatayu at the Jatayu Earth’s Centre. The theatre screens an animated movie featuring the epic battle between Jatayu and Ravana. Note: Both the museum and the 6D theatre were closed due to COVID on our visit. 5. Holy Pond There is a pond near the Jadayupara rock, which is believed to be formed by the stroke of Jatayu’s beak when it fell flat on the ground after fighting Ravana. It is said that the pond never dries and has water throughout the year. Another folklore states that the bird Jatayu drank water from a pond to keep itself alive, and it is this pond that never goes dry. You can see the pond from afar while going around the Jatayu statue. 6. Adventure Zone The rock surrounding the Jadayupara rock has been developed into an adventure zone. Adventure activities like rock climbing, rappelling, jummering, bouldering, valley crossing, chimney climbing, archery, zip-lining, rifle shooting and paintball can be enjoyed by the tourists visiting the Jatayu Earth’s Centre. The charges for the adventure activities are levied separately, and if you are interested in more than one activity, you could even buy a package. Trekking and camping can also be arranged on prior booking. The state-of-art adventure zone can be accessed from the base of Jadayupara hill. An indoor entertainment zone is also present which could be enjoyed by both kids and adults. Note: The adventure zone was closed due to COVID on our visit. 7. Cave It is said that after falling on the ground, wounded Jatayu took shelter in a cave near the Jadayupara rock. This natural cave is where the current helipad is. This cave is being developed in a vast Ayurvedic retreat with accommodation facilities. Once open, it will offer long term extended Ayurvedic treatments to its guests. 8. Others At the top of the hill at Jatayu Earth’s Centre, a small canteen serves beverages and light snacks. There were other eateries too, which were closed (probably due to pandemic). An amphitheatre has also been built surrounding the bird sculpture, from where you can get perfect sunset views. Various traditional shows are scheduled from time to time at this amphitheatre. Jatayu Earth’s Centre represents a bygone era where humans, birds, and animals lived in harmony and cared for each other. This new tourist attraction (opened in 2018) should definitely be on everyone’s bucket list. It is a unique destination with an amalgamation of myth and modernity. If you do not have time to visit Jatayu Nature Park dedicatedly from the nearby towns, stop by for a couple of hours at the nature park while travelling from Alleppey to Trivandrum/ Varkala/ Kovalam. We hope this guide on Jatayu Earth’s Centre helps you plan your trip to the giant bird sculpture. Let us know if you have any questions in the comment section below. Follow us on Instagram to look at some fantastic shots of the Jatayu bird sculpture and the other places that we visited in South Kerala. PIN THESE IMAGES