Photographs by Jogeshwar Mishra
Blue,green and serene. This would sum up the Andamans. The Andaman and Nicobar islands are a group of 600 islands off the coast of the Bay of Bengal and are a proud part of India. Known for its blue waters, green palms and luxury resorts, these islands serve as peaceful getaway far from the hustle of the cities. The islands throng with people from around the globe.
The islands are well known for their hotels and hospitality and is a great hit with honeymooners. Travel and stay here is known to be pocket friendly and caters to all budgets.Tourist attractions include snorkeling, scuba diving, boating and island hopping to name a few. Another major historical attraction for Indians especially, is The Cellular Jail in Port Blair. This was used as a convict estabilishment during the British raj, to imprison India's freedom fighters and were referred to as 'kalapaani' or 'blackwaters' by its inmates. For many years this served as a centre of correction and harsh labour. After India's independence, this became a symbol for India's freedom struggle.
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| The islands are full of coconut palms |
The islands are all connected by ferries and there are flights operating
to Port Blair from Chennai, Kolkata and Bhubaneshwar. It is also possible and relatively less expensive to take ships from Kolkata, Chennai or Vishakapatnam. The best time to
visit the islands is between January and May. Though tourism is a
relatively new industry here, it is growing steadily with great response from travellers all over the world.
Here are some more photographs of the picturesque Andamans.
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| The blue waters of the Bay of Bengal |
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| A hazy shot of one of the islands |
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| Attracts tourists from around the world |
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| A tourist boat |
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| Catamarans & fishing boats |
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| Fishing: a major occupation & industry |
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| A local fish market in Port Blair |
Tips to travel to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands:
- Carry sunblock, umbrella and shades.
- Have emergency medicines at hand.
- Carry cotton summery clothes.
- Make travel plans and hotel reservations well in advance.
- Enquire with the port and airport authorities of India regarding permits, ship and flight schedules.
- Enquire about weather conditions before travel. The recommended travel season is between January and May.
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| Local houses |
Happy exploring!!
