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 :
1. The
Manager
Shipping Corporation of
India Ltd.
Shipping House
13, Strand Road
Calcutta - 700 001
Tel : 248-2354, 248-4286 |
2. The
Manager
Shipping Corporation of
India Ltd.
Aberdeen Bazar
Port Blair - 744 101
Andaman and Nicobar
Islands
Tel : 21347, 21916. |
3. The
Manager
Shipping Corporation of
India Ltd
Madras Port Trust
Jawahar Building, Rajai
Salai
Madras - 600 001
Tel : 514537, 514401 |
4. The Deputy
Director
Office of The Shipping
Services
A & N Administration
Near SCI Office
Madras - 600 001
Tel : 582669, 427715. |
5. M/s
A.V.Bhanojiraw and Guru
Pattabiramayya & Company
Post Box No.17,
Vishakapatnam
Tel :
(Agent, Shipping Corp.
of India Ltd.) |
6. The
Directorate of Shipping
Services
A & N Administration
( For M.V.Nancowry only
)
Port Blair - 744 101
Tel : 20725. |
7. 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)
- Deluxe Cabin -
Rs.3000/-
- 1st Class Cabin -
Rs.2480/-
- 2nd Class Cabin -
Rs.1950/-
- Bunk - Rs.830/-
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 :
1) 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.
2) 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.
|
