Andaman Destination Directory

No, Indian citizens do not need a permit to visit most tourist-accessible parts of Andaman (like Port Blair, Havelock, Neil, Baratang). However, visiting tribal reserves or the Nicobar district requires a special permit.

High-speed private catamarans (like Nautika, Makruzz, Green Ocean) connect Port Blair, Havelock, and Neil daily. Government ferries also operate but require advance ticket booking.

The best time to visit is from November to April. The weather is sunny, seas are calm, and all water sports, scuba diving, and inter-island ferries operate smoothly.

Yes, foreign tourists can visit Andaman. They are granted a Restrictive Area Permit (RAP) on arrival at Port Blair airport or seaport, which allows stays up to 30 days in designated zones.

No, the Nicobar Islands are designated as a protected tribal reserve. General tourists (both Indian and foreign) are not permitted to visit Nicobar except under rare official circumstances with special permits.

Port Blair has good Airtel, BSNL, and Jio coverage. Havelock and Neil have decent network connectivity, but remote parts of Middle and North Andaman have very poor or no signal.

Top water sports include scuba diving, snorkeling, sea walking, parasailing, jet skiing, glass-bottom boat rides, and kayaking in mangroves.

Saddle Peak, located in Diglipur (North Andaman), is the highest peak of the archipelago, standing at 732 meters inside Saddle Peak National Park.

Yes, while the local cuisine features abundant seafood, almost all restaurants, resorts, and dhabas offer standard North Indian, South Indian, and Chinese vegetarian food.

You can board private catamarans or government ferries from the Phoenix Bay Jetty in Port Blair. The journey takes about 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on the vessel.

Cellular Jail is a former British colonial prison where prominent Indian freedom fighters were kept in solitary confinement (known as 'Kala Pani'). Today, it is a National Memorial.

Yes, Barren Island hosts South Asia's only active volcano. Special day-charter boat trips are operated from Havelock to view the volcano from the sea; landing on the island is prohibited.

Andaman & Nicobar is highly eco-conscious. Single-use plastic bottles, bags, and cutlery are strictly banned on several islands like Jolly Buoy and Neil. Carry reusable water bottles.

Pack light beachwear, cotton clothes, sunglasses, sunblock, comfortable sandals or reef shoes, swimwear, mosquito repellent, and cash (as ATMs can run out of cash).

Yes, saltwater crocodiles inhabit some mangrove creeks and beaches, particularly near the Lohabarrack Sanctuary. Pay attention to safety signboards and only swim in designated safe beach zones.

Yes, 'Discovery Scuba Diving' (DSD) programs are designed specifically for non-swimmers, where an instructor accompanies you underwater at all times.

Indian Rupees (INR) are used. Credit and debit cards are accepted at major hotels and diving centers, but small shops and auto-rickshaws require cash.

Yes, government and private buses run regularly between Port Blair and northern towns like Rangat, Mayabunder, and Diglipur via the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR).

Baratang is famous for its limestone caves, active mud volcanoes, and dense mangrove boat safaris that pass near the Jarawa tribal reserve.

No, interacting with, photographing, feeding, or filming the Jarawa or other indigenous tribes is a strict, punishable offense under the PAT Regulation Act. Keep vehicles closed when crossing tribal reserves.

It is a highly popular evening narration of the jail's history and India's freedom struggle, voiced in both Hindi and English. Tickets must be booked online in advance.

The swimming lagoons of Havelock and Neil are protected by coral reefs and are safe. Reef sharks are sometimes seen by divers but they are harmless and non-aggressive.

Ross Island (Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island) served as the administrative headquarters of the British penal settlement, featuring ruins of bungalows, a bakery, and a water treatment plant.

You must take a boat from Wandoor Jetty (30 km from Port Blair). Permits for Jolly Buoy must be secured in advance at the Port Blair forest office.

Hindi is the most widely spoken language. Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Nicobarese are also spoken due to the diverse settler population.