About Andaman & Nicobar Islands


The history of the Andaman and Nicobar Starts from the Ramayana period.In the Ramayana period it was called as Handuman, As time passes away this place was renamed. In the 1st Century this place was called as Agadaemon Angademan according to Ptolemy. Travellers from different parts of the world visited this place. Arab Travellers visited on 19th Century, Marco Polo visited in 13 th century who describes this place as Angamanian, Friar Odoric in 14th Century, Caesar Fredericke in 16th Century. In the 17th century Lieutenant Archibald Blair of the Royal Indian Navy founded a naval base on a small island adjoining south Andaman merely by clearing forests, setting up cottages, and planting kitchen gardens and orchards. Even so, the base marked the arrival of civilization, of human control over the vegetative wild.

The first colony was set up in chatham island with 12 acres of land.In 1857 “The Andaman Committee” under Dr. Frederic John Mouat was set up to examine best site for penal settlement. Captain H Man raised Union Jack at Port Blair on 22 January 1858 (2nd time) to establish and manage Penal System. In the spring of 1858 the British Government in India started a penal settlement at South Andaman, at the same harbour (Chatham) where the first colony had stood almost a century earlier. It was named Port Blair. The Britishers forced the prisoners to clear the jungle, which disturbed the natives, The natives began to hit back. This brings up the spark among the natives to fight against the Britishers for their freedom, which led the first war called “The Battle of Aberdeen” in 17th May 1859).

Construction of the Cellular Jail was took place between 1896 and 1910 with a total of 668 cells having 7 wings in Star circular model. This jail was built to Imprison the freedom fighters from the mainland. Japanese occupation of Port Blair took place during the Second World War(1942 to 1945). Provisional Indian Government Under Subhas Chandra Bose was established in 1943. After Independence the Indian Government setup the administration in these islands making Port Blair as the Head Quarter. The First Chief Commissioner of Independent Andaman was Shri Imam-ul-Majid in 1947. First Batch of Settlers during Post Independence Era: Rehabilitation of about 198 refugee families from Pakistan(March 1949). After that the Settlement continued in 1950,1951,1952………1961. These Settlers are Basically Agriculturists and Petty tradesmen from Bengal, Ranchi, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, etc. The Government has offered Land for those Settlers.

Presently, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, union territory, India, consists of two groups of islands at the southeastern edge of the Bay of Bengal. The peaks of a submerged mountain range, the Andaman Islands and their neighbours to the south, the Nicobar Islands, form an arc stretching southward for some 620 miles (1,000 km) between Myanmar (Burma) and the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. The arc constitutes the boundary between the Bay of Bengal to the west and the Andaman Sea to the east. Port Blair (on South Andaman Island) is the territorial capital.

The Andamans comprise more than 300 islands. North, Middle, and South Andaman, known collectively as Great Andaman, are the main islands; others include Landfall Island, Interview Island, the Sentinel Islands, Ritchie’s Archipelago, and Rutland Island. Little Andaman in the south is separated from the Nicobar Islands by the Ten Degree Channel, which is about 90 miles (145 km) wide. The Nicobars consist of 19 islands. Among the most prominent are Car Nicobar in the north; Camorta, Katchall, and Nancowry in the centre of the chain; and Great Nicobar in the south. About 90 miles to the southwest of Great Nicobar lies the northwestern tip of Sumatra, Indonesia.


Day 1

Arrival at Port Blair
Arrival at Port Blair Airport. The vehicle to the hotel departs from Airport at 1000 and 1100 hrs. Guests are requested to time their flights as per this schedule to avail the complimentary transfers or else they may opt for the add-on transfers on extra payment basis. Reach your hotel. Check in and freshen up. After lunch proceed for local sightseeing of Port Blair. Visit Corbyns Cove Beach. Later you will be taken to Cellular Jail (closed on Mondays) to enjoy beautiful Light and Sound show. Evening is free for leisure activities. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2

Port Blair to Havelock
Today, we start our journey towards Havelock Island via ferry from Port Blair Harbor. On arrival at Havelock Island, our representative will receive and escort you to check-in to the resort. After relax, day free for own leisure at Havelock Island. Overnight stay at Havelock Island.

Day 3

Havelock - Radhanagar Beach and Kalapathar Beach
After breakfast day free for own leisure, afternoon we proceed to Radhanagar Beach (Beach No. 7), the Times Magazine rated the finest beach among the best beaches in Asia. It is an ideal place for swimming, sea bathing and basking on the sun kissed beaches. Later Visit Kalapathar Beach that offers stunning beach has golden sand beds and blue-green blue water. Overnight in the Hotel.

Day 4

Havelock – Port Blair
After breakfast you will check-out from your hotel. The rest of the morning is free for activities on your own. In the afternoon you will proceed to Port Blair by Makruzz Ferry. Upon arrival, visit the Anthropological Museum, Samudrika Museum (Closed on Mondays). Later time for Shopping. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5

Port Blair – North Bay Island and Ross Island Tour
Today, after breakfast we will proceed for either one of the Following Tour: Full day cruising towards Ross Island, & North Bay (Coral Island) OR Chidiya Tapu Tour [in case the ross-north is non-operational].
Ross Island: First we starts the exhilarating journey (by boat) to Ross Island the erstwhile capital of Port Blair during the British regime, it now stands an imposing relic, with the structure almost in debris. A small museum displays photographs and other antiques of the Britishers, relevant to these islands.
North Bay (Coral Island): From Ross Island, we proceed for a joyful trip to North Bay island (Coral Island) offering exotic coral, colourful fishes and underwater marine life.

Day 6

Depart
Take your happy memories and return to Airport / Railway Station for departure, from where you depart for home via train or plane. The vehicle to the Airport departs to Port Blair Airport at 1000 hrs. Depart with fond memories of these mesmerizing Islands.

Port Blair - S R Castle :

Hotel for your stay at Port Blair. Amazing location just beside the waterside. Breakfast Included as per the Inclusion. There is a special Light and Sound show in the evening for tourists. AC Vehicles as per group size on sharing basis (SUV/Tempo), organised by the hotel management team itself. Lunch and dinner available but not included, so price is calculated separately.

Hotel - Havelock Island Beach Resort :

Hotel for your stay at Havelock Island. Warmly decorated cottages with thatched roofs feature flat-screen TVs, minifridges and living rooms, as well as tea and coffeemaking facilities; some offer beach views. Room service is available 24/7. Amenities include an international/seafood restaurant, and a coffee shop that overlooks the beach and is shadowed by coconut trees.

  • By Air: Port Blair airport is the one and only option available for travel through air. Direct flights operate from Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi and Vizag.

  • By Sea: Cruise ships from Vishakapatnam to Port Blair harbour used to operate in a large scale, but the number has fallen a lot since lockdown.