Just 4 years since the Tsunami we went to visit the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Having heard a lot about Cellular Jail, Kalapani and Coral Reefs we were quite excited about the trip. Though, Andaman – an Island rather a group of about 300 islands is not attached to the mainland of India but is administered by the Indian Government.
Andaman is not very well connected by any means of transportation throughout India being an island surrounded by water; however, it has a good connectivity with Kolkata and Chennai in terms of flights. A couple of flights fly throughout the day from the places to Port Blair and vice-versa and help reaching the destination in only about 2hours and 30minutes. However, if one has got the time, the person may try availing the waterways which is about a week’s journey to reach Port Blair, and the experiences would surely be incomparable.
10 years from now we visited the place and still the memories are so very clear. Port Blair being the capital city is very well connected to the mainland and also to the other islands as well. All commercial practices take place from this very place. Talking about Port Blair we first think of Cellular Jail. Memories and pain of the freedom fighters can still be felt from inside the prison. The jail itself depicts the mourning and sacrifices of our ancestors for the fight of independence. Innumerable lives have been lost as they tried to run out of Cellular jail and fell into the Sea; thousands of freedom fighters were hanged and their bodies were dumped into Bay of Bengal. Thus, the name Kalapani (Black waters) was given to the water body. A light and sound show is conducted during the evening hours which narrate the struggles of our freedom against the British Rule and the consequences our ancestors had to face as a result of that.
Andaman is not only about Cellular Jail, but also has some beautiful beaches. Sagarika, the biggest shopping centre in Port Blair would help you take back home memories or souvenirs from the place. Corals are a big attraction of Andaman Islands. They come in various colours, shapes and sizes. One must try snorkelling to live the underwater beauty. The crystal clear water attracts like a magnet and lets you take pleasure in the moments. Scuba Diving is even allowed. And, if you have problem going into the waters, they have some very interesting Glass Fitted Boats and Semi-Submarine rides through which you can clearly see what’s beneath.
Not only Port Blair, there are amazing other islands too. Ross Island is just at a short distance from the capital city and was home to the Russians during Russian invasion in India. The remains are still maintained. Jolly Buoy Island, Neil Island, Elephant island, Red Island are some of the other attractions. The offices still remain as a memoir to us. The places yet have a picturesque which could hardly be found elsewhere. The whole island is a Plastic free region which believes in saving the planet and the ecosystem as a whole.
Jarwa tribes are still one of the under civilised human community who live in the Baratang Region. People are allowed to see them from a distance through a convoy lead by local Policemen. However, it is permanently closed for visitors due to some unexpected reasons. The Government of India has taken initiatives to educate and civilize them. Rangat is a place in few miles from there where one would find Mud Volcano, a volcano which is still active and oozes out hot mud instead of fire. The limestone caves are just at a distance from the place.
A person can never miss visiting Havelock Island during the tour. It is one of the most beautiful places on Earth – full of greenery as they believe in preserving wildlife. A 2 hours journey from Port Blair in Cruise liners to the island is a journey unforgettable. It is home to the Best and Cleanest beaches in Asia – Radhanagar Beach. The beauty of the beach is incomparable. One would definitely regret not visiting it once in a lifetime. Other beaches include Vijayanagar beach and Kala Pathar Beach. It is home to an active volcano in Barren island as well where no visitors or islanders are allowed to go.
Talking about food habits of Andaman, it is a mixture of South Indian and Bengali cuisine. The islanders are mainly from Southern Parts of India, Myanmar and from Bangladesh. Sea food is a must have. Lobsters and crabs and other fishes, also their special Surmayi fish cannot be missed. The breakfast items mainly include dosa, idly along with sambhar and chutney; but main course includes rice with sambhar, a curry, yoghurt, pickle etc. Coconut Trees are found in abundance, which makes the availability of coconut water, milk, oil and other products easily obtainable and. Thus, the use of tender coconuts and other coconut products are more prevalent. Banana or plantain chips are also a delicacy there.
As the major part is surrounded by water body, the only means of transportation is barge which would take you along with your vehicle from one island to another in a short course of time.
Being distant from the mainland, the island faces some major network issues but that does not stand in the way of the tourists. If one enjoys Beauty of Nature, The Pumpkins would earnestly like to recommend Andaman as a must visit. The place is definitely no match to any city – it is full of life that we need. If one wants to live a peaceful as well as blissful life for even few days, please do visit the place.
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Cravings of The Travelling Pumpkins 