8 Places to Visit in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Turquoise waters, pristine beaches, magnificent rainforests and coral reefs – all this can be found in the Indian-owned Andaman and Nicobar archipelago.

This tropical paradise is located more than 621 mi from the east coast of the Indian Peninsula and has almost 600 islands, of which only 26 are inhabited. Despite its distant location, it is worth visiting this place if you are looking for less crowded and cleaner beaches than on the coast of Goa. In the following you will find eight wonderful places that you must definitely see.

1. Cellular Jail – a memento of the colonial era

Main entrance / P.umamaheswara rao / CC-BY-SA-3.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Cellular Jail is a former colonial prison located in Port Blair. Established in 1906, the facility was used by the British to detain Indian independence fighters, and the distant Andaman archipelago was ideal for this purpose. The prison consisted of seven wings (three have been preserved to this day) and 693 small cells with dimensions of 15 ft by 9 ft. The location of cells prevented any communication between prisoners. In 1969, the remains of the prison were transformed into a National Memorial.

2. Radhanagar Beach – jewel of Havelock Island

Radhanagar Beach / mattharvey1 / CC BY-ND 2.0 / Flickr

The Radhanagar Beach (also known as No. 7 Beach) is famous for its white sand, breathtaking sunsets and turquoise water. It is one of the most popular beaches in Havelock and one of the most beautiful places to visit in the Andaman Islands. In 2004, the weekly magazine “Time” awarded it the title of “Best Beach in Asia.”

3. Mount Harriet and Madhuban – trekking through the picturesque areas of Mount Harriet National Park

Stefan Krasowski / CC BY 2.0 / Flickr

For lovers of active recreation, a 9.9 mi march from Mount Harriet to Madhuban is an obligatory thing to do in the Andaman Islands. On the route you can admire exotic flora, fauna and spectacular landscapes.

4. Museums

Port Blair Anthropology Museum / Arun Katiyar / CC BY 2.0 / Flickr

Visiting museums provides a great way to learn about the history and culture of any given place. As the history of this archipelago is very interesting, museums are on the list of places to visit in the Andaman Islands. Particularly noteworthy are the Anthropological Museum, bringing closer the life of indigenous tribes and the Samudrik Sea Museum, which offers insight into the biodiversity of marine life.

5. Ross Island – an interesting journey into the past

Ruins of the church on Ross island / Ankur P / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Flickr

Ross Island owes its fame to old buildings left by the British. At the time of its glory, the place was called the “Paris of the East.” However, due to the earthquake in 1941 that took place in Andaman and the subsequent invasion of the Japanese, it fell into ruin. On the island it is worth seeing the remains of English architecture overgrown by the jungle and machine gun nests from the Second World War.

6. Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park – oceanic biodiversity

Nilanjan pathak / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Extending over an area of 108 mi², with 17 islands, reefs with more than 50 species of coral, the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is an ideal place to dive and admire the underwater world in a glass-bottomed boat.

7. Limestone caves and mud volcanoes

Mud volcano on the island of Baratang / Mamta tv / CC BY 2.0 / Flickr

On the island of Baratang it is worth seeing the limestone caves, inside of which erosion formed unique shapes and the only mud volcanoes in India. Volcanoes erupt sporadically, the last eruption took place in 2005.

8. Chidiya Tapu – the island of birds

Biswarup Ganguly / CC-BY 3.0 / Wikiemdia Commons

Chidiya Tapu is a haven for hundreds of bird species, including parrots, sea eagle, common emerald dove and many others. This quiet place is ideal for bird watching and spending a few hours in the middle of nature. The local sunsets are hypnotic, which is worth taking into account when planning a visit. Chidiya Tapu is easily accessible by road from Port Blair (15.5 mi), a place best visited in summer when the sky is clear.

Written by: Tim Smith Tags: Beach, India, Islands