Andaman and Nicobar islands- probably the most beautiful island on the earth, nestled in the heart of the Bay of Bengal, and a fascinating spot for the travel enthusiasts. This archipelago truly offers a tranquil and out of the world holiday experience for any kind of travelers. The virgin beaches here are simply paradise for the honeymoon couples who head out here. The numerous small islands here offer endless sightseeing spots and countless adventure sports to indulge in.
Port Blair- the capital city of Andaman offers a wide range of tourist attractions and awe striking historical monuments. The land offers something for any kind of travelers, be it nature, history, and culture. Being the starting point of many of the Andaman trips, this boasts of plenty gorgeous places to discover. When you travel to Andaman with some Exciting Andaman tour packages offered by Andaman Great Escapes, this would be your Key pit stop, which will never go to disappoint the traveler in you. You can simply revel in the turquoise water, have some adventure activities, or get to know the real culture and history of this place. Here are some of the best picks for your day at Port Blair.
Best time to visit- Between October and March, The land is blessed with a tropical climate all around the year, but the sightseeing and other tourist activities are not highly recommended during the monsoon season which happens between June and September. There would be many deals and offered during this offseason also.
How to reach– You can reach the capital city of Port Blair from all the major cities of India including Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai etc.
Best stay option in Port Blair– There are many top class resorts and hotels available in this capital city of Andaman. Some of the best picks are Seashell, Sinclairs Bayview, J hotel, fortune resort bay island, hotel Sentinel etc.
Places For History Lovers
Port Blair is home to some of the best historical places in the archipelago. Here are some of the must visit.
Cellular Jail
This prison turned museum is one of the most important historical places in the entire archipelago, popularly renowned as Kaalapani. This place now remains as the testimonial of the freedom struggle of our freedom fighters during the colonial era. This has become a national memorial that gives insight into the depth of the Indian freedom struggle and is one of the most important places to visit in the city of Port Blair. As the name indicates, the architecture of this place is different to the normal solitary cells, where once our political leaders were used to get exiled and executed.
- Entry Timings- Between 9 am and 12 pm, between 1 pm and 4 30 pm (not opened on Mondays and public holidays)
- Entry fee- INR 10 per adults and INR 100 for taking video.
- Main attractions- The light and sound show in the evening. During this show, you would get to known the tales of the place in perspective of a peepal tree that stood to witness all the atrocities done by the British rulers. The voice used for the Peepal tree is the legendary actor Om Puri.
- Light and sound show time- Show in Hindi( Two Shows each day at 18:00 and 19:15), on Monday, Wednesday and Friday the second show is in English
Japanese Bunkers
This is yet another historical sight in Andaman that stood as a reminiscent of the World War second. These were attested to a time When the islands were attempted by a siege. These can be also seen other places like Corbyn’s Cove beach and Ross Island.
Chatham Sawmill
Here you can witness the rustic beauty of the glorious pre-independence day and is a prominent place to visit apart from the usual picturesque sightseeing spots and beach destinations. This place was built during the colonial time in 1883 and still a popular wood processor in Asia. For anyone who wishes to visit a unique place rather than the typical tourist places, this would be a good option. You can easily club this place with your Incredible Andaman tour packages from Ahmadabad for a delightful day at the capital city.
- Attractions- Here you can see the Japanese bomb crater which dates back to world war second, you can also shop for unique woodworks as souvenirs to take back home.
- Entry Timings- Between 9 am and 16:00 on weekdays and Between 9:00 and 14:30 on Saturdays
- Entry fee- INR 10 per head
Best spots for a Beach Holiday
Corbyn’s Cove Beach
For a delightful sun basking and swimming experience, head out to Corbyn’s Cove beach, which is located at a distance of 7 kilometers on the South part of the town and can be reached easily in 30 minutes. This would be a perfect spot to include in tour Port Bliar sightseeing spots, where you can spend some relaxing time among the tranquil backdrop.
Chidiya Tapu
For all bird lovers out there, this would be the perfect spot to add in your itinerary Exotic Andaman tour packages from Delhi. The place is noted for its magnificent sunset view and also offers incredible views of the coastline. You can witness more than 40 varied species of birds in here. You can also have a picnic out at the Munda Pahar Beach near this place. Spend some leisure time on the beach enjoying the view or collect some unique shells and attractive blue corals on the beach. You can also go for a trek up to reach Munda Pahar, which would be a pleasant retreat.
- How to reach – The place is located at a distance of 25 kilometers from Port Blair and can be easily reached by the road in private vehicles.
Best Museums
Samudrika Marine Museum
This is one among the famous museums in Port Blair and is the best spot for the archaeological and marine life enthusiasts. This is a must see spot in Andaman that can be easily clubbed with your Andaman tour packages. The place is well maintained and also offer many informative pieces of information about the marine life, people here, the history of islands, archeology and so on. The place is well maintained by the Navy and exhibits a lot of crabs, fish species, sculptures and corals, the skeleton of a blue whale on entrance etc.
- Entry Timings- Between 9:00 and 13:00 and between 14:00 and 17:00 (Tuesday to Sunday)
- Entry fee- INR 50 per head
Anthropological Museum
This would be the perfect spot for having a look back to the world of native tribes of this archipelago. The fascinating world of the Jarawas, Nicobarese, onges, shops, Sentinelese are displayed here. This would be an informative walk through the historical and cultural artifacts of Andaman islands. The exhibits of the murals and sculptures here offer an insight into the lifestyle of the indigenous tribes of the islands. For every art enthusiast, this is a must seen spot in Port Bliar. Photography is not allowed inside the place.
- Entry timing- Between 9:00 and 1:30 and between 13:30 and 16:30 (Tuesday to Sunday)
- Entry fee- INR 20 per head
Fisheries Museum
Here you can witness a fascinating exhibit oof the endemic marine life of the archipelago and in the Pacific region. You can view more than 350 species of marine life in here, that are found only in this union territory. You can also indulge in many watersports at the Rajiv Gandhi water sports complex nearby this place. You can’t click pictures inside the place.
- Entry Timings- Between 9:00 and 16:45(Tuesday to Sunday). Not opened on second Saturdays
Zoological Survey of India Museum
This would be the absolute delight for nature lovers and stand out from the rest of the museums here. It offers a lot of zoological stuff and information for the nature enthusiasts and showcases many marine specimens, bird species, and mammals.
- Entry Timings- Between 9:00 and 17:00 (Tuesday to Sunday )
Where to shop in Port Blair
Sagarika Emporium
This can be the best spot for a souvenir shopping experience in Andaman that is located at the heart of the city of Port Blair and should be definitely on your Best honeymoon packages for Andaman. You can collect some of the best gifts for your friends and families from here. There are varied collections of beautiful art pieces, Bangles from coconut shells, Lampshades, murals, decorative stuff, available here reasonable rates.
Best Spots for sightseeing near Port Blair
Sippighat Agricultural farm
This fine farm that can be entitled as a mistress of spice varieties if located on the way to wandoor near Port Blair. The place is spread over an area of more than 80 acres and is a cultivation spot for the spices. You can have delightful nature walks and witness beautiful demonstrations of farming that will fascinate you.
Mount Harriet
This is marked as the highest peak in the South Andaman and is located at a distance of 15 km from the city of Port Blair. You can have amazing views of Ross and Havelock Islands from this peak and also there are an option to go for trekking till Madhuban through dense forests, that covers around 16 kilometers. The backside of the Indian 20 rupee note contains a view from Mount Harriet.
Jolly Buoy and Red Skin Islands
This would be the perfect options to include in the Andaman tour packages for all the adventure lovers out there. The place can be easily reached from the Mahatma Gandhi National Park and boast of exquisite marine life. The Jolly Buoy Island is one among the best spot to indulge in Scuba diving in Andaman. You can also witness fascinating views of abundant corals in here by taking part in Snorkeling, glass bottom boat ride, scuba diving etc. The best time to visit here is between December and May. The place is a no plastic area.
Wandoor and Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park
Here you can have the fascinating experience of the glass bottom boat ride, that will let you view the exquisite marine life. The place is best known for its idyllic charm and serene ambiance. Wandoor is the gateway to the Mahatma Gandhi National park which is aimed at protecting the marine life of the archipelago. You can enjoy some of the best water sports in Andaman in here including snorkeling, scuba diving etc. The glass bottom rides are available from Jolly buoy up to red skin islands.There are Amazing Andaman tour packages from Hyderabad, Bangalore, and all other major parts of the country are available, which will let you have a complete hassle free travel by taking care of all your travel amenities. There are also shipping services available to reach here from Chennai, Kolkata etc.
For Island Hopping Near Port Blair
For island hopping near the capital city, the best picks would be a North Bay Island, Ross Island, and Viper Island, which are all located few miles within the capital city and can be easily clubbed together and cover in one day. The orcs Island can be described as the absolute ghost town in the archipelago. This place boasts of the ancient glory and you can still the reminiscent artifacts like a graveyard, ruined church and many other buildings in European style. The place was then served as the headquarters for the British and now offer as a prominent tourist attraction in Andaman.
For all the water babies out there, the North Bay island would you perfect hideout place, You can explore many unique corals and relive in the panoramic natural settings here. The most practiced activities here include scuba diving and snorkeling.
Viper Island holds some historical importance, as during British era the women prisoners were kept here. This is yet another must see a spot near Port Blair.
Andaman holds a lot of other sightseeing spots, secluded getaways, thrilling activities for all kind of visitors. People from all over the world come here to experience different things. Some search for adventure when some to get insight about the unique marine life and tribal communities. Whatever your interest are this paradise of an island would never cease to entice you with its treasures.