Ever since we came back from USA ( to be precise 25th July 2012), we have not taken any meaningful break. We did take some small breaks, but they were rather very short and stressful to be called as a holiday. Our recent trip to Andaman during 30th June to 7th July has been particularly very enjoyable. We too straight 7 days break and stayed in a very comfortable hotel in the downtown where I could even do leisure shopping. That was the best part of it.
We traveled Air India from Kolkata and the flight was scehduled at 8.40 AM. It took less than 2 hours to reach Veer Savarkar airport in portBlair at approximately 8.30 AM. One thing to watch out is the airport rest rooms are aweful, so better stay away from them. We took a taxi to the hotel that was approximately 3-5 kms from the airport, at a comfortable fare of 125 rupees. The taxi guys generally try to do sight seeing marketing, but dont jump into yet untill you verify the locations yourself.
Out of the 7 days locations listed by the taxi guys menu, we found 2 are very close to the downtown. So probably there is no need of a package tour for that if you are staying downtown, you can take them on your own. One of them is Rajiv Gandhi water park and the other is Mahatma Gandhi park. We stayed in Courtyard J hotel and both the places were walking distances apart from the hotel (from downtown aberdeen bazar). Cellular Jail is also very close to the downtown, but it is closed on mondays. So, better to plan for this place on weekends.
First day in the evening, we headed for Corbyn's cove beach in PortBlair by an auto. It was about 10 kms ride from the hotel, quiet, water is not that clean but still better than mainland.
Day 2: We walked into the municipality food court and Rajiv Gandhi park. It was quite nicely maintained and stays open long. I saw some big screen monitors broadcasting social messages. This is a beautiful garden with small play park, walking trails. Has everything for all age groups. There is also a cycle space for kids to learn traffic rules. I found that to be interesting.
Day 3: We took a cruise to Havelock Radhanagar beach bu Macruise. It is a pivate cruise charges about 1000 rupees per head for one way for an adult. For children they dont have a fare structure yet, but for infants they charge 150 per head per way. The cruise lasts for about 90 minutes and is beautiful. You need to reach the dockyard at 7.30 AM. Once you reach havelock, you need to take taxi or rented cars for the beach. We headed for Radhanagar beach, one of the most beautiful beaches with pristine clean water. The taxi two and fro costed us about 500 rupees. Once you get down there, you will see ladies selling bananas, pine apples at resonable prices. You can munch on them if you like. We headed for the beach at 10.30 Am and were back by 2.30 PM just about time to catch the cruise back to portblair. Radhanagar beach is one of the nicest beaches I have ever seen. Water is extremely clean. There are changing areas, wooden benches swings and tall trees all over the beach. So you can lie down and relax. It is the perfect beach I have ever seen! On our return the water was choppy and bouncy. People having sea sickness should take enough care and precautions.
Day 4: We went for local sight seeing including cellular Jail. It is a 7 armed structure and the central pillar is beautifully located with sea all around it. There are museaums and displays about the life of the prisoners. There is a small shop called as sagarika, that sells local products. Very reasonable in case you want to buy momentos.
Day 5: We took small cruise to North island and ross island. There are several boat/cruise operators and they generally charge 500 rupees per head per way. So for 2 adults to go and comeback these two places will cost about 2000 rupees. The water in both the places are pristine and clear. In north island people generally do water activities. We happened to do some shopping there and found pearls and other stuff to be much cheaper than sagarika. Apart from that there is nothing much to see. From there we headed for Ross island. This is an island where no body stays now. It has a great historical significance. During british times, british high commissioners were staying here and this place was called as paris of the east. Indeed it is a beautiful place with remains of the all the old world charms. There are peacocks, deers, rabbits openly moving around and a lot of coconut trees. You are suppose to walk around the place and enjoy the sight. We wasted time because we though it is a big place for walking. Bu actually speacking if you take a walk on one side in 2 hours time you can complete seeing the entire place. Be aware, there is no food items available, so carry your stuff.
Day 6: We visited local spots for buying plants and checking out there manufacturing place at Dollygunj for buying stuff. They were not that great. We found north island to be by far the best place for purchasing. We also visited an agriculture and dairy university place where they were giving away free plants and we got some.
Day 7: Chidiyatappu. We rented a taxi for Chidiyatapu from Aberdeen bazar. It costed about 1200 rupees for both ways. The price is worth. This point is a place where you should see sunset. In a cloudy day you may not see much. It is a must go place again with beautiful beach and mountainous roads. I must say difficult to drive roads. If you plan to go there start as early as 2 PM from the city. Overall I would give 5 star to the beach.
My take home message is:
1. Andaman nicober island is a beautiful place.
2. Regular household items are cheaper there if you want to buy.
3. Mostly this place is inhabited by Tamilians and hence crie rate is much less.
4. The city is very clean and they dont use polythene bags.
5. People in Andaman islands dont every imagine coming to mainland. They are much happier there.
6. Food items are more or less like mainland so no surprises there.
7. Green coconuts are two types, green and orange.
Overall a 5 star tourist spot.
We traveled Air India from Kolkata and the flight was scehduled at 8.40 AM. It took less than 2 hours to reach Veer Savarkar airport in portBlair at approximately 8.30 AM. One thing to watch out is the airport rest rooms are aweful, so better stay away from them. We took a taxi to the hotel that was approximately 3-5 kms from the airport, at a comfortable fare of 125 rupees. The taxi guys generally try to do sight seeing marketing, but dont jump into yet untill you verify the locations yourself.
Out of the 7 days locations listed by the taxi guys menu, we found 2 are very close to the downtown. So probably there is no need of a package tour for that if you are staying downtown, you can take them on your own. One of them is Rajiv Gandhi water park and the other is Mahatma Gandhi park. We stayed in Courtyard J hotel and both the places were walking distances apart from the hotel (from downtown aberdeen bazar). Cellular Jail is also very close to the downtown, but it is closed on mondays. So, better to plan for this place on weekends.
First day in the evening, we headed for Corbyn's cove beach in PortBlair by an auto. It was about 10 kms ride from the hotel, quiet, water is not that clean but still better than mainland.
Day 2: We walked into the municipality food court and Rajiv Gandhi park. It was quite nicely maintained and stays open long. I saw some big screen monitors broadcasting social messages. This is a beautiful garden with small play park, walking trails. Has everything for all age groups. There is also a cycle space for kids to learn traffic rules. I found that to be interesting.
Day 3: We took a cruise to Havelock Radhanagar beach bu Macruise. It is a pivate cruise charges about 1000 rupees per head for one way for an adult. For children they dont have a fare structure yet, but for infants they charge 150 per head per way. The cruise lasts for about 90 minutes and is beautiful. You need to reach the dockyard at 7.30 AM. Once you reach havelock, you need to take taxi or rented cars for the beach. We headed for Radhanagar beach, one of the most beautiful beaches with pristine clean water. The taxi two and fro costed us about 500 rupees. Once you get down there, you will see ladies selling bananas, pine apples at resonable prices. You can munch on them if you like. We headed for the beach at 10.30 Am and were back by 2.30 PM just about time to catch the cruise back to portblair. Radhanagar beach is one of the nicest beaches I have ever seen. Water is extremely clean. There are changing areas, wooden benches swings and tall trees all over the beach. So you can lie down and relax. It is the perfect beach I have ever seen! On our return the water was choppy and bouncy. People having sea sickness should take enough care and precautions.
Day 4: We went for local sight seeing including cellular Jail. It is a 7 armed structure and the central pillar is beautifully located with sea all around it. There are museaums and displays about the life of the prisoners. There is a small shop called as sagarika, that sells local products. Very reasonable in case you want to buy momentos.
Day 5: We took small cruise to North island and ross island. There are several boat/cruise operators and they generally charge 500 rupees per head per way. So for 2 adults to go and comeback these two places will cost about 2000 rupees. The water in both the places are pristine and clear. In north island people generally do water activities. We happened to do some shopping there and found pearls and other stuff to be much cheaper than sagarika. Apart from that there is nothing much to see. From there we headed for Ross island. This is an island where no body stays now. It has a great historical significance. During british times, british high commissioners were staying here and this place was called as paris of the east. Indeed it is a beautiful place with remains of the all the old world charms. There are peacocks, deers, rabbits openly moving around and a lot of coconut trees. You are suppose to walk around the place and enjoy the sight. We wasted time because we though it is a big place for walking. Bu actually speacking if you take a walk on one side in 2 hours time you can complete seeing the entire place. Be aware, there is no food items available, so carry your stuff.
Day 6: We visited local spots for buying plants and checking out there manufacturing place at Dollygunj for buying stuff. They were not that great. We found north island to be by far the best place for purchasing. We also visited an agriculture and dairy university place where they were giving away free plants and we got some.
Day 7: Chidiyatappu. We rented a taxi for Chidiyatapu from Aberdeen bazar. It costed about 1200 rupees for both ways. The price is worth. This point is a place where you should see sunset. In a cloudy day you may not see much. It is a must go place again with beautiful beach and mountainous roads. I must say difficult to drive roads. If you plan to go there start as early as 2 PM from the city. Overall I would give 5 star to the beach.
My take home message is:
1. Andaman nicober island is a beautiful place.
2. Regular household items are cheaper there if you want to buy.
3. Mostly this place is inhabited by Tamilians and hence crie rate is much less.
4. The city is very clean and they dont use polythene bags.
5. People in Andaman islands dont every imagine coming to mainland. They are much happier there.
6. Food items are more or less like mainland so no surprises there.
7. Green coconuts are two types, green and orange.
Overall a 5 star tourist spot.
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