Places to Visit in Andaman — Complete Travel Guide

Radhanagar Beach — officially Beach No. 7 on Havelock Island — is consistently ranked among the finest beaches in Asia. The beach stretches approximately 2km along the southwestern coast of Havelock Island with powdery white sand, shallow crystal-clear turquoise water, and a backdrop of dense tropical forest. The water stays warm (26–29°C) year-round and the sea is calm enough for swimming from October to May. Sunsets at Radhanagar are exceptional — the beach faces west and the sun drops directly into the horizon over the water, turning the sky deep orange and the sea red-gold for approximately 20 minutes before dark. No food stalls or commercial activity are permitted on the beach itself — this keeps it clean and relatively undeveloped compared to beaches at Goa or Kerala. A small café operates at the beach entrance. Accommodation on Havelock ranges from basic beach huts (₹800–1,500/night) to mid-range resorts (₹3,000–8,000) — none directly on Radhanagar, as the beach is protected. The beach is inside the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park boundary and swimming after sunset is not permitted. Arrive by 5:30pm on clear days for the full sunset experience.

The Cellular Jail — known as Kala Pani (Black Water) — is the most significant colonial-era historical site in the Andaman Islands and one of the most important freedom struggle monuments in India. Built between 1896 and 1906 by the British, the jail was designed on a radial panopticon plan with seven wings radiating from a central watchtower — each cell isolated from all others to prevent any communication between prisoners. The jail held India's most prominent freedom fighters including Veer Savarkar (who spent 10 years here), Batukeshwar Dutt (co-conspirator of Bhagat Singh), and thousands of others sentenced for participation in the independence movement. Three of the original seven wings survive today as a national memorial. The museum within the jail complex documents the history of the prison, the lives of its inmates, and the brutal conditions of solitary confinement. The evening Sound and Light Show (6pm and 7:15pm, approximately 45 minutes) narrates the jail's history dramatically in Hindi and English — it is the most emotionally impactful way to experience the site and is strongly recommended over a daytime-only visit. Book Sound and Light Show tickets in advance during peak season (December–January) as shows sell out.

Elephant Beach is the best snorkelling spot accessible without scuba certification in the entire Andaman archipelago — a shallow coral reef (1–5 metres depth) teeming with parrotfish, clownfish, sea turtles, moray eels, and dozens of coral species begins just 50 metres from the waterline. The beach itself is small and quiet, accessible only by a 30-minute boat ride from Havelock Jetty (₹500 per person return) or a 45-minute jungle trek through forest. Snorkelling equipment is available for rent at the beach (₹200–300 for mask, fins, snorkel). The coral at Elephant Beach has suffered some bleaching damage from warming ocean temperatures in recent years but remains the most accessible and species-rich snorkelling site in the Andamans. Water clarity is best from November to February. Semi-submersible boats also operate here for non-swimmers (₹500 per person, 30-minute glass-bottom boat ride over the reef). The beach has a basic food shack serving coconut water and snacks — no overnight accommodation. Most Havelock visitors combine Elephant Beach with Radhanagar in a single full-day circuit.

Havelock Island — now officially renamed Swaraj Dweep — is the most visited island in the Andamans after Port Blair and the base for the majority of Andaman beach and diving experiences. The island is 92 sq km with a permanent population of approximately 7,500. Its beaches are numbered (Beach No. 1 near the jetty, Beach No. 5 (Vijaynagar), Beach No. 7 (Radhanagar)) and Havelock has the widest range of accommodation in the Andamans — from backpacker beach huts (₹800/night) to mid-range resorts (₹3,000–6,000) to premium eco-resorts (₹10,000–25,000). The island has reliable ferry connections from Port Blair — government ferries (Makruzz, Nautika, Green Ocean) operate 2–4 times daily (₹900–1,800 per person depending on ferry type and class). Havelock is the base for scuba diving in the Andamans — multiple PADI-certified dive centres operate here (Barefoot Scuba, Dive India, Proton Divers) offering discover scuba (₹3,500–4,500) and open water certification courses (₹18,000–25,000). The best dive sites around Havelock include Dixon's Pinnacle, Aquarium, MacLeod's Ledge, and the Lighthouse — all within 20–30 minutes by dive boat from the island.

Neil Island — officially Shaheed Dweep — is the quieter, less-commercialised alternative to Havelock, and increasingly popular with travellers specifically seeking to avoid the more developed tourist infrastructure of Havelock. The island is 18 sq km with a population of approximately 3,000, primarily farmers growing tropical vegetables that supply Port Blair. Neil has three main beaches: Laxmanpur Beach (west-facing, best sunset in Neil, rock pools at low tide), Bharatpur Beach (good snorkelling, calm water, nearest to jetty), and Sitapur Beach (east-facing, sunrise, secluded). The island's signature attraction is the Natural Bridge — a rock formation naturally carved by wave action into an arch shape, accessible on foot at low tide from Laxmanpur Beach. Accommodation on Neil is simpler than Havelock — basic guesthouses (₹800–1,500/night) and a small number of mid-range resorts (₹2,500–5,000/night). The island has limited restaurants but the local vegetable supply means fresh food is available. Neil is ideal for travellers who want empty beaches, cycle rentals (₹150–200/day), and island quiet — not for those seeking nightlife, premium resorts, or active dive operations at Havelock's scale.

North Bay Island is the closest coral reef destination to Port Blair — a 20-minute boat ride from the Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex. The island is primarily a day-trip destination managed through approved tour operators and offers glass-bottom boat rides over the coral garden (for non-swimmers), snorkelling, sea walking (walking on the ocean floor in a helmet with air supply — no swimming ability required, ₹3,500–4,000), and jet ski rides. The coral at North Bay has some bleaching impact but the shallow reef (3–8 metres) still hosts good fish diversity — parrotfish, angelfish, and reef sharks are regularly sighted. Most Port Blair visitors do North Bay as a half-day trip on their first or last day — most tour operators in Port Blair sell combined North Bay + Ross Island packages (₹1,500–2,500 per person including boat, entry, and activities). North Bay is suitable for non-swimmers and families — the sea walking activity specifically requires no swimming ability. Photography is excellent here — the clarity and proximity to the reef makes even basic snorkelling photographs impressive.

Ross Island was the administrative headquarters of the British in the Andamans from 1858 to 1941 — a small island 3km from Port Blair that the British developed into a self-contained administrative town complete with a church, ballroom, swimming pool, bakery, tennis courts, and bungalows. The Japanese occupied the island from 1942 to 1945 during World War II; after Independence it was transferred to the Indian Navy. Today Ross Island is an open-air ruin — the grand buildings are overgrown with banyan and fig tree roots that have cracked and toppled the colonial-era brick structures in a process that continues visibly year over year. The island is managed by the Indian Navy and has a small museum documenting the British and Japanese occupation periods. The island's resident deer (spotted deer) and peacocks are completely unafraid of visitors and approach closely for photographs. The juxtaposition of colonial ruin and tropical forest overgrowth makes Ross Island one of the most photographically distinctive spots in the Andamans. The 15-minute boat ride from Port Blair Jetty costs ₹150 per person return.

Baratang Island is 100km north of Port Blair on the Andaman Trunk Road — the only road that connects Port Blair to North and Middle Andaman through the Jarawa tribal reserve. Access requires joining a mandatory police convoy (departs Jirkatang checkpoint at 6am and 9am) that passes through the reserve — photography from the vehicle is strictly prohibited during the convoy section to protect the Jarawa community's privacy. Once past the reserve, Baratang's main attractions are the Limestone Caves (15-minute motor boat from Nilambur Jetty through a mangrove creek, then 20-minute walk) — sea-carved limestone formations with stalactites and stalagmites — and the Mud Volcanoes, which are not volcanic in origin but rather methane vents that push up grey mud in a bubbling, low-temperature dome approximately 50cm high. Both are unusual geological features found in very few places in India. Baratang is a full-day trip from Port Blair (leave by 4:30am to catch the 6am convoy, return by evening). An overnight stay at Baratang island's basic guesthouse allows a more relaxed exploration including the parrot island mangrove, where hundreds of parrots roost at sunset.

The Andaman Islands are the best scuba diving destination in India — significantly ahead of the Lakshadweep (which has better coral health but more restricted access) and incomparably ahead of Goa or Kerala. The diversity of dive sites ranges from shallow reef dives accessible to beginners (Aquarium at 5–12m, Jackson's Bar) to wall dives (Dixon's Pinnacle drops to 30m+) to wreck dives (SS Inchkpe, a World War II Japanese freighter at 24–28m near Port Blair). The Andamans have historically been less dived than comparable Southeast Asian destinations (Koh Tao, Raja Ampat) meaning many sites remain in excellent condition. Water temperature stays at 26–29°C year-round — no wetsuit required, though a 3mm suit is recommended for multiple dives in a day. Best dive sites around Havelock: Dixon's Pinnacle (reef wall, strong current, pelagics), Aquarium (beginner-friendly, excellent fish diversity), MacLeod's Ledge (reef slope, turtles), Lighthouse (night diving). PADI-certified centres on Havelock offering internationally recognised certification: Barefoot Scuba, Dive India, Proton Divers. Discover Scuba (no certification required) costs ₹3,500–4,500 for one dive; Open Water certification (4 days) costs ₹18,000–25,000.

Barren Island — 135km northeast of Port Blair — is India's only confirmed active volcano and the only active volcano in South Asia. The island is uninhabited and inaccessible on foot (no landing permitted due to active volcanic activity and protected status) — the only way to experience it is on a liveaboard dive trip that anchors offshore and dives the underwater terrain around the island. The dive sites around Barren Island are among the most extraordinary in the Indian Ocean — the volcanic substrate supports unusual coral formations, the waters have geothermal influence in places, and the resident marine life includes nurse sharks, white-tip reef sharks, and manta rays. The volcano last had a significant eruption in 2017 and is considered intermittently active. Liveaboard trips to Barren Island operate from Port Blair — 2-night, 3-day packages typically including 8–10 dives cost ₹25,000–40,000 per person. These trips require Open Water certification minimum. The sight of the smoking volcanic crater from the dive boat at dawn — surrounded by clear Indian Ocean water with no land for 100km in any direction — is described by divers who have done it as the most dramatic dive experience in India.