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The Andaman Islands are a small archipelago between Myanmar (Burma) and India, located in Indian Ocean. The archipelago is part of the Indian Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In its own way total area The islands cover more than 6,400 square kilometers, and the population of the islands is about 350 thousand people.

The main city, as well as the center of the Andaman Islands, is the city of Port Blair, which is home to more than 100 thousand people. Back in 1789, the Andaman Islands were conquered by Great Britain under the command of Lieutenant Blair, after whom the city was named. The conquerors later faced numerous uprisings local residents islands, as a result, the British began exiling Indian prisoners here from 1858 to 1952.

Until now, the main population of the Andaman Islands are people from India, while the indigenous - Andaman - population makes up a tiny part. By the very beginning of the 20th century, there were about five thousand aborigines on the islands, but today there are about a hundred of them.

Among the attractions of the islands, the capital Port Blair is definitely worth noting. Here, right in the city center, there is a large diving center with fairly reasonable prices. Also, there is a Water Entertainment Center, as well as a huge number of establishments for active recreation.

Trekking and snorkeling, as well as many other types of diving, are popular in the Andaman Islands. In Port Blair there is an excellent Anthropological Museum, the exhibits of which are dedicated to the life of local tribes. Here you can also visit the Forest Museum, as well as the Maritime Museum. Of particular interest is the building of the ancient Prison, which today houses the Museum.

Photos of the Andaman Islands

Sights of the Andaman Islands

Not far from the capital, Port Blair, you can find the magnificent Corbin Beach, which is rightfully considered one of the best beaches in the country. There is another Water Sports Center right on the beach, and in addition, here you can sit in a cozy Restaurant. On Corbin beach there is also a Hotel where you can relax for a couple of days, and very close to the beach you can swim to a small coral island Serpentine – best place for diving.

It is worth noting the so-called “Bird Island", which is located thirty kilometers from Port Blair. In fact, this is a small fishing village, shrouded in the jungle and located not far from a huge and beautiful bay, where you can see rare shell beaches.

A small quiet island not far from Port Blair, Viper Island, is also definitely worth a visit. The island got its name thanks to the ship of the same name "Viper", which crashed here. It was on this ship that English Lieutenant Archibald Blair first arrived at the Andaman Islands. The island has amazing sandy beaches, while the land is quite lush with vegetation.

It is also worth visiting Havelock Island, located fifty kilometers from Port Blair. Here you can enjoy snow-white beaches, as well as majestic coral reefs. Havelock Island is surprisingly clear sea ​​water, standing in which you can see a lot of marine life without any equipment! Dolphins and turtles swim here, all kinds of fish - this is an unforgettable experience.

It is Havelock that is rightfully considered the most excellent place for observing marine inhabitants, and some land animals, such as elephants, also live in the forests of the island. The island has a good diving center.

Karmatang Beach is located quite far from Port Blair, but this is a place that is also definitely worth a visit. This is where large turtles lay their young. It is worth noting the Diglipur Island, which is famous all over the world for its fantastic marine flora and fauna. Numerous orange groves also grow here. The island is also famous for the only river in all the Andaman Islands, the Kaplong River.

John, G4IRN will be active from Andaman Islands, IOTA AS - 001, 23 February - 5 March 2018 as VU4G.
QTH - Sea Princess Resort, Port Blair, Andaman Island, Andaman Islands.
Latest DX spots VU4G
QTH locator - NK61ho.
It will operate on the bands 40 - 17m.
QSL via G4IRN, ClubLog OQRS, LOTW.
Address for QSL direct:
JOHN WARBURTON, 31 GREENWOOD ROAD, THAMES DITTON, KT7 0DU, England.

VU4G. Sea Princess Resort, Andaman Islands. QSL.

Holidays in the Andaman Islands - return to nature

If there are still places on our planet where no human has set foot, then they can be found on the Andaman Islands. The archipelago is located in the Bay of Bengal between India and Myanmar, is part of India and is part of the union formation of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Of more than two hundred small islands, only 36 have been developed.

Pristine nature represented by endless tropical forests covering more than 90% of the territory. Rich ecosystem, secluded lagoons with emerald water, cleanest beaches with golden sand - isn't this heaven on earth! Jacques-Yves Cousteau himself admired the local nature and eloquently described it in his memoirs.

The archipelago has a warm tropical climate, with an average temperature of 26°C. The season of heavy tropical rains can be found here in the summer months, so it is better not to take risks and not plan your vacation for this time. The tourist season with the most favorable climate lasts from October to April.

Andaman Islands. Photo by Jordan Sadler.

Primitive tribes and colonization

According to research, even in ancient times, descendants of primitive people moved from Africa to the islands. By the way, on many isolated islands, direct descendants of those same settlers still live, whose way of life has not changed at all since the times of the primitive system.

The famous navigator Marco Polo was the first to speak about the islands inhabited by strange tribes. Moreover, in his stories, the traveler called the islanders nothing less than cannibals, which for a long time repulsed the desire of his contemporaries and subsequent generations to visit the remote group of islands.

This continued until the Englishman Archibald Blair arrived on the island in 1789, who immediately registered the lands as English possessions. The enterprising lieutenant founded the first stronghold - Port Blair, which later became the largest city and capital of the archipelago. Today, the city is home to approximately 100 thousand people, most of whom are Indians.

Due to unusual climatic conditions The British immediately took a dislike to the islands, and used the new colony solely for the exile of prisoners. In memory of those times, prison buildings remained - one of the few man-made monuments in the Andamans.

During the Second World War, part of the islands was occupied by Japan, which, however, very quickly abandoned the territory. And since 1950, the archipelago completely came under the control of India, soon after which it acquired the status of a nature reserve.

Kollinpur Beach, Andaman Islands. Photo by Abkhranil Neogi.

Development of tourism in the Andamans

The tourism business on the islands is poorly developed: the Indian government is in no hurry to sacrifice such a rare treasure for monetary gain. And this is only for the better, because there are not many places left on earth where you can hide from the boring urbanization and truly relax. Andamans is not for those who are used to service at every turn and first-class living conditions. This is a place for true connoisseurs of the exotic who want to completely immerse themselves in the authentic world of island life.

Another explanation for the fact that the islands are not at all popular among tourists is the need to obtain special permission to visit the territory, which has the status of a nature reserve. In addition, Russian citizens need to obtain a visa to travel to India. As for the permit, this is a far-fetched obstacle, because the document does not need to be specially prepared somewhere on your own; it is issued to all tourists right at the airport upon arrival.

It is also believed that the supposed road to the islands is expensive and confusing. But in fact, getting here is not much more difficult than other places. island resorts. To do this, you need to fly to India, from where you can get to Port Blair, the largest city in the archipelago. This can be done by air or water.

Fisherman, Andaman Islands. Photo by Tim Scarisbrick.

Who would be interested in a holiday in the Andaman Islands?

As already mentioned, lovers of measured beach holiday They are unlikely to appreciate the local service. But fans of active pastime will definitely be satisfied with the trip.

The Andaman Islands are a favorite destination for divers who come here from all over the world. There are no industrial ports in the protected area, and fishing completely prohibited. Such closedness of the islands to fishing allowed the ecosystem to maintain its original appearance. Thanks to the crystal clear water, you can observe life unhindered underwater world in all its colorful diversity. The favorable season for diving coincides with the tourist season, when there are no storms or downpours.

The protected Andaman Islands are dearly loved by adherents of the now fashionable ecotourism. If you want to relax exclusively in those corners of our planet where there is the least trace of civilization, then the Andamans are simply created for this. There are never crowds of tourists with cameras, noisy music parties and other attributes. resort towns. The environment on the islands is ideal for yoga, meditation, and other practices that involve unity with nature.

What tourists need to know

Since the entire archipelago is a protected area, this dictates certain rules of conduct for visitors. For example, on the islands it is prohibited to collect shells, pick corals, fish near the shore and engage in spearfishing. Even if you manage to take the coral without anyone noticing, it will be discovered by customs officers during luggage inspection.

Be careful with local cuisine. Indians are big fans of seasonings, to which the body of Europeans is often unusual. Therefore, if you are not a big fan of fiery food, then when ordering dishes it is better to immediately ask for less spices.

When buying souvenirs, you can and should bargain - fortunately, residents of Port Blair and nearby settlements speak good English. To make payments, it is better to get local money immediately upon arrival, since ATMs can only be found in Port Blair.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a unique island state of India, located in the Bay of Bengal, 1400 km from the mainland. There are not many resorts here, but those that exist are above all praise. The islands are famous for their excellent climate, amazingly rich vegetation, privacy and “ecological friendliness”. In addition, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a closed zone, territory national reserves, to visit which you need to obtain a separate permit.

The total number of islands is about 570, of which 550 are in the Andaman Islands. There are only about 40 inhabitants in the territory, including 26 in the Andaman part; About 10 islands are open to tourists.

The capital and largest city is Port Blair. Major cities- Diglipur, Rangat and Mayabunder.

Visa, permit

To visit the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, you need a special permit, which is issued upon arrival in Port Blair, at the immigration office at Haddo Jetty. However, when traveling to the islands by sea, it is necessary to obtain this permit in advance, on the mainland (Foreigners’ Registration Office in Chennai - tel.: 044-28278210, in Kolkata - tel.: 033-22473300), or when applying for a standard Indian visa. The permit is usually issued for a period of up to 30 days; travelers who do not have return tickets or an invitation from the hotel can receive a “permit” for only 15 days.

In addition, the permit can be extended in Port Blair, but only for a maximum of 15 days.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a closed zone, a territory of national reserves, to visit which you need to obtain a separate permit.

The permit is usually checked by hotels, island administrations, ferries and upon departure, so you should not lose it.

If you have permission, you can visit the following islands: South Andaman, Middle Andaman, Little Andaman (not including areas inhabited by indigenous people), Nail, Havelock, Long Andaman, Diglipur, Baratang, islands included in the territory of the National Park. Mahatma Gandhi (except Boat Hobday, Twin, Tarmugli, Malay and Pluto; overnight in marine park possible only after notification of the administration) and North Passage Island.

Day visits are also permitted to Jolly Buoy, South Sinquet, Red Skin, Ross and Smith, Narcondam, Interview, Brothers, Sisters, Mount Harriet, Madubana and the volcanic Barren Island (by boat only, no landings allowed).

How to get there

By air

The capital of the islands, Port Blair, receives flights from Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai. It’s worth booking tickets in advance, as their prices increase significantly during the season, and there’s also a chance you’ll end up without them at all. International flights are planned to open soon (in particular, from Bangkok).

Indian Airlines flies every day from Chennai (travel time 2 hours 5 minutes) and Kolkata (travel time 2 hours). In addition, JetLite airlines fly from Chennai and Delhi (via Kolkata, the journey takes about 4 hours) and Kingfisher Red from Chennai (one of the most budget companies).

By water

There are regular boats from Kolkata, Chennai and Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) to Andaman, which takes several days and is an adventure in itself. As a rule, Port Blair receives 4 to 6 flights per month from Kolkata (56 hours journey, MV Akbar), and in season - another flight per week from Chennai (60 hours, MV Nancowry and MV Swarajdweep) . MV Harshavardhana operates from both ports. There is a flight from Visakhapatnam (Vizag) once a month.

Search for air tickets to Delhi (the nearest airport to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands)

Weather in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The climate is tropical, minimum temperature +23 °C, maximum +31 °C. humidity - 70-90%. Best time for a visit - October-May. From May to mid-September, and from November to mid-December is the rainy season. At the end of summer, severe storms are common, causing serious damage.

Tourist safety

Local residents became acquainted with civilization not so long ago, so a complete lack of clothing, or loincloths and bright beads, is absolutely commonplace on the islands.

Aboriginal settlement sites are most often closed to tourists; in addition, video and photography are prohibited there.

Transport

There is a ferry service between the islands, and helicopters also fly. Flights are highly dependent on the weather, and during severe storms they may be canceled altogether. Tickets are inexpensive, from Port Blair to Havelock ~150-250 INR.

Tourist ferries are quite comfortable, designed for 100 people, and have air conditioning, which, however, is not always adequate. Regular ferries are much larger and less comfortable, designed for 400 people, located on two levels.

In Highlock and Port Blair there is incredible excitement at the ticket counters. You can buy tickets in relative peace in (!) the women's queue, where tickets are sold to everyone, regardless of gender.

The fare depends on the class of service: 600, 700 or 1000 INR (leather seats and own TV). During the high season, it is worth booking tickets at least a day in advance.

You can travel directly on the islands by auto-rickshaws (in Port Blair and Havelock Island), taxis (only in the capital) or scooters, which can also be rented only in the capital and on Havelock Island. Rental cost 350-400 INR per day, deposit ~800-900 INR.

Prices on the page are for April 2019.

Travel to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Beaches of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

• Corbin's Bay - best beach near Port Blair. This is a small area of ​​soft white sand, hidden from prying eyes by a green palm canopy. There is a good restaurant, guesthouse and resort hotel Peerless Resort. 30 km to the south is the “Bird Island” of Chirya Tapu, which can be reached along the only road through the jungle and swamps from a small fishing village to a wide bay with shell beaches.
• Viper Island is a tiny, quiet island located inside Port Blair harbour. The beaches of the island are sandy, the rest of the territory is covered with greenery.
• Havelock Island is famous for its beautiful white beaches, the most popular of which are Vijayanagar and Radhanagar. Crystal clear waters and stunning coral reefs, as well as abundant marine life including dolphins, turtles and big fish, invariably attracts many tourists to the island. There is a diving center on Vijayanagar Beach - an ideal place to explore the life of marine life. In addition, you can even see elephants in the forests of the island.
• Karmatang is located in the northern part of Middle Andaman, 136 km from Port Blair. This is a nice quiet beach and a place where large turtles lay their eggs.
• Diglipur Island (136 km from Port Blair) is famous sandy beach Ramnagar: Fragrant oranges grow here, and hundreds of them can be seen underwater amazing fish and others like them. The island is crossed by the only river in the archipelago - Kaplong.
• Rutland Island is an ideal eco-tourism destination. You can stay in small cottages at Totani Resort, from where you can begin exploring the beautiful mangroves and coral reefs of the island.
• Neil Island, quieter than Havelock, is famous for good beaches and snorkeling opportunities.

Wandour Beach - the gateway to national park named after Mahatma Gandhi.

• Vandoor is the gateway to the Mahatma Gandhi National Park.
• Baratang Island is attractive for its atmosphere, which has been preserved in its original form since ancient times.
• Barren Island is volcanic, the only one in all of India.
• Long Andaman is ideal for a Robinson Crusoe-style holiday. There is nothing on the island; you must bring all your equipment and food with you.
• Little Andaman will appeal to fans of surfing.

Entertainment and attractions

Port Blair is the capital of the state, famous for its snow-white beaches located near the city center, as well as a large diving center, an anthropological, forestry and maritime museum, and the historical Cellular Prison building, now turned into a National Memorial.

More than 3,000 species of plants can be seen on the islands, including 150 species of ferns, 100 species of orchids, a variety of palms and fruit trees.

Countless colorful fish swarm in the underwater coral forests. In addition, there are 96 reserves and 9 National Parks on the islands.

Diving and snorkeling in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The best diving is on Havelock Island, in national park them. Gandhi and South Sinque Island.

Snorkeling - in North Bay, on MuaTerra Beach and on Havelock Island. The equipment is inexpensive and can be purchased or rented.

You can take a glass-bottom boat ride on Jolly Buoy Island.

Perhaps the Andaman Islands are not so widely known among tourists, due to the need to obtain a special permit for holidays in these places, tourists who arrive by plane can obtain it at the Port Blair airport, and those travelers who choose water transport, as the main method of travel to the islands, can obtain permission from the office where non-residents are registered before leaving India. Permits obtained on the main continent or when you arrive by plane at the local airport allow you to stay in the Andaman Islands for 30 days, although many travelers here cannot stand even a week. Also, the low demand for holidays in this area is justified by frequent diseases among tourists, especially for small children, who, due to the special climate and natural conditions, can suffer from both viral infections and bites of mosquitoes and other types of insects; malaria is also common here. The nature of the islands deserves special attention; most of the territory is tropical forests, which have become a habitat for exotic animals and rare plants, when you go on vacation to these places, you must under no circumstances tear anything down or cause harm to the wildlife; this rule is provided for by the law that protects the natural environment of the Andaman Islands. Basically, these places are in demand for one-day excursion trips; Port Blair, the capital of the state, is especially interesting to visit; here tourists can find an excellent diving center, where they have the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of water activities. The main attraction of this port can also be called the Anthropological Museum, which is dedicated to the life of local tribes, Maritime Museum- a collection of exotic marine life living in the waters near the islands. Among the variety of islands, one can highlight Diglipur Island, which has gained fame for the diversity of marine flora and fauna, the uniqueness and beauty of which deserves tourists to visit these beautiful places. Compared to other islands, where the infrastructure is not developed at the highest level, we can highlight Havelock Island, where there are quite good hotels offering comfortable conditions accommodation. Tourists who want to relax on clean, spacious beaches, with a minimum number of vacationers, can stay here; there are also excellent conditions for diving and snorkeling - practically the only entertainment that can be found on the Andaman Islands.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a protected area carefully protected by the Indian government. This state of affairs has its pros and cons. Undoubtedly, there are more advantages and they are much more significant: the status of a reserve made it possible to preserve this paradise wildlife virtually untouched by civilization. Absence major ports and shipping shipyards allow the coastal waters to remain as clear as they were thousands of years ago, and the ban on industrial fishing has firmly established the islands as the only place on earth where underwater inhabitants die a natural death, and not in the holds of fishing ships.

Difficulties protected area are that in addition to an Indian visa, additional permission will be required to visit. As a rule, such a permit is issued for 30 days of stay, but it is possible to extend it for a few more weeks. Please note that for tourists who do not have return tickets or an invitation from the hotel, permission is issued only for 15 days. Violating the strict visa regime of the islands is fraught with unpleasant consequences - a fine of $600.

Tourists and travelers arriving in the Andaman Islands by air receive this permission right at the airport. To those who preferred boat trip from the mainland, you must obtain such a permit in advance in Chennai (Foreigners’ Registration Office - tel.: 044-28278210) or Kolkata (tel.: 033-22473300).

Getting permission to travel to the Andaman Islands is as easy as getting an Indian visa. This is not affected by having a large bank account, family or permanent job. This document has a rather formal appearance and is not any serious bureaucratic obstacle. However, it should be noted that permission will be needed not only to enter the Andamans, but also when moving from island to island, as well as when checking into a hotel.

This document also contains a list of islands allowed for visiting. On at the moment it looks like this:

How to apply for an Indian visa

There is nothing difficult in applying for an Indian visa yourself. Step by step instructions receiving tourist visa to India:

• First of all, prepare one color photograph 3*4 cm.
• On the official website visa center fill out the form online. This can be done - . The form is filled out at English. While filling out, refrain from using punctuation marks and the Enter button. Only letters, numbers and spaces are allowed. This application must be printed in two copies.
• We make a copy of the passport page with the photo.
• We copy round-trip air tickets and hotel reservation evidence.
• We make a copy of the Russian passport. The embassy is interested in pages with a photo and registration.
• If you are taking a child with you, you will need to make a copy of his birth certificate.
• If a child travels with only one of the parents, then a notarized permission from the second parent for his departure will be required.
• All these documents, copies and photographs should now be submitted to the Consulate General or visa center.
• When submitting, pay a visa fee of about 1,600 rubles.

That's all, no additional documents are required. Moreover, if you cannot submit the documents yourself, someone else can do it for you. All he will need is the package of documents listed above and your signed power of attorney. It does not need to be notarized.