Important Andaman Islands

Baratang Island

Baratang Island is about 10km by road from Port Blair.  It Lies between South and Middle Andamans.  Andaman Trunk Road to Rangat and Mayabundar goes through this island.  Mud volcanoes and limestone caves are attractions, which could be seen with the permission of Forest Department.

 

Barren Island

Barren Island is about 139 km by sea from Port Blair. The only active volcano in India lies here.  It is erupted twice in recent past, once in 1991 and again in 1994-95, after remaining dormant for about 177 years.  The Island, about 3km., in diameter has a big crater of the volcano, rising abruptly from the sea, about ½ km. from the shore and is about 150 fathoms deep.  It can be visited on special board vessels.  The only way to reach Barren Island is by Ship.  Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of the week, a passenger ship with a capacity of 75 pax goes to Barren Island from Phoenix Bay Jetty, Port Blair.  The ship starts from Port Blair at 09.00 pm and comes back next day 11.00am.

 

Chatham Island

Chatham Island is near by the Haddo wharf.  This is the second largest wharf (After Haddo), where island mainland ships can berth.  It has Saw Mill lying on the tiny island connected by a bridge over a stretch of sea water.  This mill is one of the biggest and oldest in Asia.  It is a store house of timber like Padauk, Gurjan, Marble, Satin wood etc.

Cinque Island

Cinque Island is about 39km by sea from Port Blair.  It is declared as a Sanctuary.  It is lovely underwater coral gardens and unspoiled beaches.  A sand bar joining two islands is irresistible.  It is super place for scuba diving, swimming, fishing and camping.

Little Andaman Island

Little Andaman is about 120 km by sea from Port Blair (9 hours journey).  Hut bay is the entry and exit point for the tourists.  Two waterfalls 9white surf waterfall 6.5km from the Hutbay jetty whisper wave waterfall 20km from here)4km trekking through the forest to Whisper island.  Boating through the creek near to the Butler Bay beach (which is 14km from the Hutbay jetty); Elephant safari and chance to view the elephant lumbering, training of elephant calves red oil palm plantation are some among the attractions here.  This is the vegetable bowl for the Nicobar group of islands.  Two to three boat services a week, available from Port Blair.  ANIFPDCL offers package tours to this island.

Long Island

Long Island is about 82km from Port Blair.  It is connected by boat four times a week from Phoenix Bay Jetty.  It offers an excellent sandy beach at Lalaji Bay, unpolluted environment and evergreen forests.  Frequented by dolphin Convoys, Lalaji bay, 6km. away from the boat jetty, is accessible by 15 minutes journey in dinghies or trekking through the forest. Directorate of Tourism offers island camping during season.

Neil Island

Neil Island is about 36km by sea from Port Blair.  It is lush green forest and sandy beaches.  This is the vegetable bowl of Andamans.  Neil Island is connected by boat from Port Blair four days a week.  Provides a ideal holiday for eco-friendly tourists.  Hawabill Nest guesthouse of the Directorate of Tourism is situated here.  It is a natural exhibition of the sincerity and serenity of village life here.  Beautiful beaches at Laxmanpur, Bharatpur, Sitapur and the bridge formation on the sea shore (Howra Bridge) are the attractions.  The boat services are available from Port Blair for days a week.

North Bay

North Bay is at the foothills of Mount Harriet.  Private boat services also available from Port Blair, journey time just 15 minutes.  Best place to visit the corals and marine life by snorkelling or with the help of glass bottom boats.  It is advisable to have packed good and drinking water while visiting this bay.

North Passage Island

North Passage Island is about 70km by sea from Port Blair.  Famous for Merk Bay coral white sandy, shallow beach for snorkelling, swimming and sun basking.  There are no regular boat services. From long island or eratta jetty rangat, one can hire boats to visit here.  Glorious solitude fit well for day visit.  Accommodation facilities are not available.

Red Skin Island

Red Skin is in Mahatma Gandhi marine National Park.  It is a nice beach.  It offers spectacular view of corals and marine life.

Ross Island

Ross Island is 10 minutes boat journey from Port Blair.  It is one of the seat of British power and capital of these Islands.  Now stands as a ruin of the bygone days with the old structure almost in debris (Ballroom, Chief Commissioners House, Govt House, Church, Hospital, Bakery, Press, Swimming Pool and Troop Barracks).  A small museum holds photographs and the other antiques of the Britishers relevant to these islands.  Open for the tourists to visit during day time as the boat services are available from the Phoenix Bay jetty.

Viper Island

Viper Island is situated inside the Port Blair Harbour.  The Britishers used to harbour convicts here.  The first jail was constructed here (during 1864 to 67), later abandoned after the construction of Cellular Jail.  It has a gallows a top a hillock, where condemned prisoners were hanged.  Sher Ali, who killed Lord Mayo, the Viceroy of India in 1872, was also hanged here.  The tortures of these jails earned the notorious name Viper Chain Gang Jail.  Harbour Cruise organised by private boats form Port Blair, provides a panoramic view of the harbour area, and includes a trip to Viper Island.