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| Andaman
and Nicobar |
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 Blessed
with innumerable treasures of the flora and fauna, the Andaman
and Nicobar islands in the Bay of Bengal are a treat for the
nature loving tourists, where precious moments could be captured
in the memory as well as in frame, to be cherished in nostalgic
moments. Of the 572 islands only 38 are inhabited and they are
located about 1200 kms from the eastern coast of the Indian
Peninsula. Besides the wonders of nature in the form of beautiful
beaches, the verdure of the forests and the rich fauna, these
islands provide the tourists with a wonderful opportunity to
experience ethnic tribal life. For the adventure lovers, the
chain of islands provides remarkable facilities like scuba diving,
snorkeling, island camping and big game fishing. And for avid
bird watchers, the forests are a virtual paradise. |
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| GETTING
HERE |
The Andaman and
Nicobar are 1255 kms from Kolkata, 1190 kms from Chennai and
1200 kms from Visakhapatnam.
Flights are available from Chennai and Kolkata to Port Blair
and the air journey is of about two hours. Passenger ships are
available from Chennai, Kolkata and Visakhapatnam. Journey by
water takes about 60 hours or two and a half days, but the advantage
is the chance to sail across the Bay of Bengal.
All the inhabited islands, which are of tourist interest, are
linked together by regular ferry service. Places like Port Blair
and Havelock Island offer a wide range of options, ranging from
autorikshaws to hired scooters and mobikes for moving around.
Special tour packages are also available that cover all the
places worth visiting.
SPECIAL PERMIT
Except for the Indian nationals, all tourists (foreign nationals)
require a 30 day permit, extendable by 15 days that is issued
on arrival at Port Blair. |
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| WHAT
TO SEE |
A
number of islands are worth visiting, prominent among these
being Havelock for its beaches and marine life, Long island
for the beautiful Lalaji Bay, Ross island for exploring the
former British administration headquarters, Neil for its lush
forests, beaches and camping, Mayabunder for its scenic beauty
and Diglipur for trekking up the Saddle Peak, the highest peak
of the Andaman and Nicobar.
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Important
places of sightseeing include the Cellular Jail, the Water Sports
Complex, the Fisheries Museum, the Chatham Saw Mill, the Samudrika
Museum, the Anthropological Museum, the Mahatma Gandhi National
Marine Park, the Forest Museum, the Marina Park, the Gandhi
Park, the Sippighat Agricultural Farm, the Mount Harriet, the
Chidiya Tapu, the Mini Zoo, the Jarwa Reserve and the Haddo
Bay. |
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