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A short flight from
Calcutta by air (it is also connected by flights from Delhi and
Madras) is Port Blair, capital of the
Andaman Islands. Though travel is restricted here, those islands
open to tourism, with their lovely beaches and coral beds, are a
traveller’s delight. On Port Blair, the Cellular Jail and
Anthropological Museum merit a visit. Excursions can be taken by motor
launch to the islands of Wandoor and Jolly Buoy and to the bird
sanctuary at Chiriyatapoo.
The Union Territory of
Andaman and Nicobar Islands consisting of about 293 islands (39 of
which are inhabited) is situated in the Bay of Bengal. Andaman roup of
islands consists of North Andaman, Middle Andaman. South Andaman and
Little Andaman besides many smaller islands.Nicobar group of islands
comprises Great Nicobar, Car Nicobar, Nancowry, Katchal and Chowra.
The headquarters of this Union Territory is at Port Blair, situated in
South Andaman Island.The topography of the islands is hilly & they
abound in evergreen forests.Timber is plentiful and of a vast variety.
The white sandy beaches have a back drop of luxuriant greenery & in
the clear blue waters of the lagoons enclosed by coral reefs is an
underwater world full of fish of every possible variety.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Area : 8248
sq.kms. (Andaman- 6408, Nicober- 1841 sq.kms.).
Altitude : Varies from sea-level to 732
metres.(Highest Point- Saddle Peak).
Temperature : Mean minimum 23 deg C, Mean
maximum 30 deg C.
Rainfall : 3000 mms (May to Mid-September &
November to January).
Relative Humidity : 70% to 90%.
Forest cover : 86%.
Best Season : October to April.
Clothings : Cottons throughout the year.
Languages Spoken : Nicobari, Bengali, Tamil,
Telegu, Malayalam, Hindi, English.
ISD Code : +91-3192 (STD 03192).
ENTRY FORMALITIES
Foreigners : Foreign tourists need
a special permit to visit the Andaman Islands. This can be obtained
from Indian Missions abroad or the immigration authorities in Bombay,
Calcutta, Delhi, Madras or on arrival at Port Blair Airport. It can
also be obtained from The Director, Ministry of Home Affairs (ANL
Division), Government of India, 2nd Floor, North Block, New Delhi- 110
001, through Indian Missions at least 3 months in advance. Foreign
Nationals are not allowed to visit Nicobar Islands.
This permit is valid for Port Blair
Municipal Area; Havelock Islands; Long; Neil Islands; Mayabunder;
Diglipur; Rangat for a period of one month where night halt is
permitted. However only a day's visit is allowed to places like Jolly
Buoy; South Cinque; Red Skin; Moun Hariet and Madhuban.
Indians: Indian nationals need no
special permits to visit Andamans. However, permits are required to
visit Nicobar islands, issued by The Deputy Commissioner, Andamans at
Port Blair.
TRANSPORT AND
COMMUNICATION :
-
Air :
Port Blair is connected by Indian Airlines with Madras, Calcutta and
Car Nicobar. East-West Airlines operate flights on Madras-Port Blair
route on tuesday, thursday and saturday.
-
Sea
: Regular passenger ship services viz. M.V.Harshavardhana,
M.V.Akbar and M.V.Nicobar are plying between Port Blair and Madras
(1190 km), Calcutta (1255 kms), Vizag (1200 kms). One more
passenger vessel M.V.Nancowry is likely to be inducted soon on this
run. There are 2 sailings in a month each from Calcutta and Madras
to Port Blair & vice versa. There is one sailing from Vishakhapatnam
every 3 months. The voyage takes about 3 / 4 days and the ships
normally berth at Port Blair for three days.
Information regarding shipping
schedules can be obtained from :
-
The Manager Shipping
Corporation of India Ltd. Shipping House 13, Strand Road Calcutta -
700 001 Tel : 248-2354, 248-4286
-
The Manager Shipping
Corporation of India Ltd. Aberdeen Bazar Port Blair - 744 101
Andaman and Nicobar Islands Tel : 21347, 21916.
-
The Manager Shipping
Corporation of India Ltd Madras Port Trust Jawahar Building, Rajai
Salai
Madras - 600 001 Tel : 514537, 514401
-
The Deputy Director
Office of The Shipping Services A & N Administration Near SCI Office
Madras - 600 001 Tel : 582669, 427715.
-
M/s A.V.Bhanojiraw and
Guru Pattabiramayya & Company Post Box No.17, Vishakapatnam Tel :
(Agent, Shipping Corp. of India Ltd.)
-
The Directorate of
Shipping Services A & N Administration ( For M.V.Nancowry only )
Port Blair - 744 101 Tel : 20725.
-
The Manager, Shipping
Corporation of India Ltd. Coastal Passenger Services Division, 5th
Floor, Discovery of India Building Nehru Centre, Dr. Annie Beasant
Road, Worli, Bombay- 400018, Tel : 4931461.
Ship Fare Per Berth (w.e.f.
15.05.95)
Booking
: Passengers wishing to get reservation of passage should contact
the Shipping Corporation of India office at 13 Strand Road,
Calcutta-1and the booking is done seven days in advance of the sailing
date on first come first served basis. All passengers ( except
Government servants and Defence Personnel holding valid identity
cards) are requird to produce 3 passport size photographs.
Internal Transport
: There are four inter-island passenger cum cargo vessel operating
between Port Blair and other islands. Details regarding schedules can
be obtained from the Director, Shipping Services, Port Blair, Tel :
20725.
Conducted Tours
:
-
Harbour Criuse every day
at 1500 hrs from Cholunga Wharf.
Duration : 2 & 1/2 hours.
Reservation : Marine Department, Port Blair, Tel : 00000.
Places covered : Panighat, Bambooflat, Haddo, Dundaspoint, Viper
Islands, Junglighat and Chouldhari.
-
City tour at 1330 hours on
Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays from Tourist Home.
Duration : 3 & 1/2 hours.
Reservation : Tourist Information Centre, Tourist Home, Haddo, Port
Blair, Tel : 20380.
Places covered : Mini Zoo, Chatham Saw Mill, Anthropological Museum,
Cottage Industries Emporium, Cellular Jail, Fisheries Museum and
Cove.
PLACES OF INTERST
Cellular Jail
The Bastille of India Where India's freedom fighters were
incarcerated;
Anthropological Museum;
Marine Museum; Cottage Industries Museum;
Mini Zoo;
Chatham Saw Mill; Corbyn's Cove Beach;
Marine Park, Viper Island, Sippighat water Sports Complex.
EXCURSIONS
Sippighat Farm- 14 kms; Chiriya Tapu- 30
kms; Wandoor Beach- 30 kms; Havelock Island-
54 kms; Jolly Buoy; Cinque & Red Skin Islands.
TOUR OPERATOR
(Govt. Approved): Sagar Tours & Travels
(P) Limited, 7 Krishna Bldg, P.O. Haddo,
Port Blair- 744 102. Tel: 21704 (office), 21703 (residence).
TOURIST
INFORMATION CENTRES
Director (Tourism), A & N
Administration, Port Blair-744 101. Tel:(03192) 20694/30933/20747.
Fax:30933.
Govt. of India Tourist Office, VIP Road, Middle Point, Port Blair,
Tel: 21006.Tourist Information Centre, Government of Andaman & Nicobar
Island, 3-A, Aucland Place, CMDA Bldg. (2nd floor), Calcutta- 17. Tel
: 247-2604/6935. Fax: 247 5084. |
Andaman and Nicobar 
Information
provided by
Department of Tourism. Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
Government of India.
