Serene Neil Island

Day 2: Neil Island

The plan was to explore Neil Island and Havelock Island..Port Blair has many interesting places to visit but we were keen on Neil Island and Havelock Island..We left from the hotel at 6:00 AM in the morning on 1st March..Coastal Cruise is a private ferry to Neil and Havelock Islands..It was first time for me and my husband on a ship..And we were too excited to start the journey..!!

Coastal Cruise

It took us four and a half hours to reach Neil Island..!! We need to reach the jetty atleast by 6:45 AM since there will be luggage check-in and other stuff..There are 3 different classes in the ship..It was a good experience overall..:)

Inside the ship

We had booked Tango Beach Resort at Neil Island..After reaching the jetty, we took an auto to the resort..There are very few resorts in this island and very few people know of this island..Many people come to this island for a day's visit..But I would recommend to stay here atleast for 2 days as this island is a little less commercialized and more serene..Again the bookings were done in November to avoid the last hour rush..!!

View from our cottage

The cottages in the resort are sea-facing giving you a brilliant view from the room..The food was included in the tariff and it was too good..Lovely food and beautiful white beaches with crystal clear water...!! What else could you ask for..!!

Corals seen during low tide

The resort is on the Lakshmanpur beach..The beach is full of corals and you can actually see them when there is a low tide..During the low tide in the noons, the water level goes down completely and you can see the corals in different shapes..!!

Beach in front of the resort with corals

Brain coral seen during low tide

We took a stroll on the beach and then had lunch..There are cycles and 2-wheelers available for rent at this island..We hired 2 cycles.. :) The roads are more or less straight with no up-hill or down-hill which makes it easy to ride a cycle..We again took a long stroll on the beach..It was a refreshing feeling to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city life..The sound of the waves and the sea-birds were music to the ears..!! The sunset point lies on this beach..You can take a walk on the beach till the point from the resort which is hardly a km..

Sunset at Sunset Point

And here we were at the end of the 2nd day at Andaman..!!
Auto from jetty to Tango Beach Resort - INR 60/-
Cost per cycle per day - INR 100/-
Cost of 2-wheeler per day - INR 400/- without fuel
Breakfast, Lunch and dinner was included in the tariff..

Andamans - Trip to the paradise

Day 1: Bangalore, Chennai and Port Blair

Andaman....The name itself is mesmerizing..!! You may call it A Paradise..!! Andaman had always been on the bucket list..And it was 28th Feb, 2014 when we landed on Veer Savarkar International Airport, Port Blair.. :)

Bangalore does not have direct flights to Port Blair.. We started from Bangalore on 27th Feb, 2014.. We took Chennai Mail to Chennai which was scheduled for departure at 10:40 PM.. I was anxiously waiting for the train to arrive when it slightly past 10:40 PM..!! And finally it was there at 11:40 PM..

It's easy to travel in Chennai through the local trains.. Autos are way too expensive there..!! Pretty much to my surprise we reached Chennai at 5:10 AM..When you reach the station, just walk outside the station arch..From there you need to get to the local train station which is known as Park Station..Just follow vehicle exit from the station and cross the road to get to the Park Station..The station near airport is Tirusulam Station and it costs you INR 5/- from Park Station..The train came on 2nd Platform and the Tirusulam Station was 12th station from Park Station..When you get down at Tirusulam Station, take the subway and you reach Airport..!!

Our Jet Airways flight to Port Blair was scheduled at 10:20 AM..So we freshened up, had breakfast and were all set for Andaman to mesmerize us.. :) I was excited and when we saw the first glimpse of the islands, we were awestruck..!!

First glimpse of the islands..!!

On seeing the clear turquoise waters, white sands and green cover, we knew that the next 10 days would be one of the best vacations of our lives..

Isn't it amazing..!!

We reached Port Blair at 12:20 PM..We had planned Port Blair as just a transit city visiting just the important locations..Diviyum Manor was where we stayed.. It is located just outside the airport and you can actually see the hotel from the airport..!! We had booked the hotels in November itself since March is a peak season..The tariff was INR 1799 + tax for A/C room and INR 1299 + tax for Non-A/C room with breakfast..

Inter-Island commute is through ferries..There are government ships and private ships as well..Coastal Cruise and Makruzz  are the private ships..We had called the hotel 2 days in advance to book Coastal Cruise for Neil Island on 1st March..

After reaching the hotel we freshened up, had lunch and were ready to see the monumental Cellular Jail.. Cellular Jail is a huge jail with solitary imprisonment for Indian Freedom Fighters.. Great freedom fighters like Veer Savarkar were imprisoned here..

Cellular Jail

The gallows, the cells, the oil mills and the huge tree at the entrance tell you what our freedom fighters had to go through to get us freedom..!!

Punishment given to Indian Freedom Fighters

A light and sound show happens in the evening.. It's a must visit place... And the light and sound show is something you should never miss..!! It's a jail with amazing history which tells you why Andaman was known as Kaala Paani..

Veer Savarkar's cell

And here we were at the end of our first day at Andaman..
Cost of Auto from Hotel to Cellular Jail - INR 50/-
Lunch/Dinner for 2 at Annapurna hotel(pure veg) - INR 500/- approx.