HIMANSHU GURU, OP
The Andaman Islands are akin to pearls in the vast expanse of the Bay of Bengal. Breathtakingly beautiful, the islands are a perfect place to chill out. Apart from the historically important Cellular Jail in Port Blair, tourists can enjoy the picturesque attractions of the Havelock Island, Radhanagar beach, Elephanta beach, Neil Island and Chidiya Tapu.
Sunday POST interacted with a few visitors who had recently been to the archipelago to know more about this holiday destination.
“Earlier, there were direct Air India flights from Bhubaneswar to Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands,” says Pradeep Sutar, a passionate photographer from Bhubaneswar. “Then, Bhubaneswar was regarded as the closest place to the islands in terms of connectivity as compared to Kolkata or Chennai. We used to take the morning flight to reach Port Blair in an hour. On arrival, we used to spend time at Port Blair and watch the famous light and sound show in the Cellular Jail in the evening. The ticket price was reasonable. The flight was later discontinued. Hence, these days we fly to Kolkata in the morning and then take another flight to reach Port Blair at 4 pm. I visited Andaman most recently in March.”
He adds, “The waters off Port Blair are deep and not really suitable for water sports. But it can make a good port. The Cellular Jail is the top tourist attraction in Port Blair and the light and sound show is unique. The jail has three wings. The whole of Andaman can be viewed from atop the jail. I did not want to take photos of the Cellular Jail as our people were tortured here but still I did click a few.”
Talking about the other islands, Pradeep says, “Just ten minutes by boat from Port Blair is the Ross Island. Government ferries, with a capacity of eight to ten persons, are available. Ross Island was the administrative headquarters of the British during World War II. Formerly known as Paris of the East, this place is in a dilapidated condition now. Its manicured lawns adorned with umbrellas and sunshades and the majestic ballrooms were destroyed in an earthquake in 1941. Daily services were held at the churches which are in ruins now. Shrubs and grass have overrun the place. The small museum near the jetty presents a picture of the bygone era. Ross Island was like a club for the British. Now there are just remnants of the old buildings everywhere. The island is under naval control but open for visitors.”
Pradeep goes on: “Havelock Island, a three-hour journey from Port Blair, is very picturesque and one of the best places for photography. You don’t need to visit Thailand as you find the same mind-blowing landscapes here. You can see corals and white sands. I tried some street photography on the island and got beautiful results. One must not forget to enjoy the night life in Havelock. Food, especially sea food, is very good here. Hotels to suit all classes of people are available and prices are flexible. Importantly, there are high-end properties if you are looking for a luxurious stay. And Radhanagar beach is an excellent place.”
“Elephanta beach is another tourist draw. From Havelock, you can take a speedboat to the place and reach in 30 to 45 minutes. There is no night stay facility there, so you need to return by 5 pm to Havelock. Of course, there are several good eateries where you can have lunch. Elephanta is a good place to enjoy water sports ranging from parasailing, banana ride, jet skiing to snorkelling. Snorkelling cost us Rs 1,500 for an hour and we enjoyed seeing the many colourful fish in the deep sea bed,” says Pradeep.
“During the return trip, it is good to stop at the Chidiya Tapu beach. It is a compact beach popular for bird watching and sunset viewing, with a mini-zoo located nearby. Chidiya Tapu, located at the southern part of South Andaman, is a fishing village with mangroves, shell-strewn beaches, sharp rocks and vast coral reefs. One can go for a trek for around three to four kilometres in the nearby reserve forest. Neil Island is another beautiful place in the Andamans. It is a paradise for newly wedded couples and for landscape photographers. There is enough here to enjoy a whole day. A natural bridge is a magnificent structure on this island,” he says.
Pradeep visited Andaman Islands accompanied by members of the Alpha community on a trip organised by Indian Photo Tour (IPT). “Those who use Alpha cams of Sony can be a part of this community,” he explains.
Amit Sahu, an engineer with BPCL at Paradeep, visited Andaman Islands in January. He says, “If you want to enjoy beautiful beaches, there is no better place in India than the Andaman Islands. One can view corals through the crystal clear, steady, blue water. In the evening, you can see water flowing away but at night you can be closer. I don’t know the explanation for this, but it was amazing.”
Amit continues: “This was my first trip to the islands. We visited the Cellular Jail at Port Blair and the next day went to Elephanta beach and returned to Havelock. We went to Neil Island where I enjoyed walking on the beach and the water sports. My passion is photography and, since I travelled with other photographers, I had a fantastic time. The light and sound show at the Cellular Jail in Port Blair is magnificent and one should not miss it. The duration of the show is 30 minutes and there are three to four shows in the evening.”
Harpreet Chandhoke from Ludhiana, who went to the Andaman Islands recently, is also a passionate photographer. He recollects: “The Cellular Jail has been renovated recently. It was nice to look around a historical monument but also painful for it was here that our freedom fighters were tortured. Being fond of architectural photography, I captured some memorable photographs at the Jail. I was captivated by the island’s natural beauty and enjoyed the water sports.”
