The Archipelago of Andaman and Nicobar impresses several tourists year-round, and people are always fascinated with its azure waters, sparkling sand, golden sun rays, and swaying palms. With its intense history from the colonial era to the vibrant culture of the present times, there are several enchanting places to visit in Andaman and Nicobar. With the local tribes, breathtaking villages, panoramic views, and deep sea spectacles amidst the turquoise blue waters, who wouldn’t want to be a part of this paradise?
Though most of Andaman is open for tourism, a large part of Nicobar stays out of the public eye. This is a joint decision taken by the government and the locals to keep the islands untouched and away from the tourist action. Also, under any circumstances, if you want to visit the Nicobar restricted zones, you will need permits from the authorities.
Nevertheless, we bring you a list of 12 awe-inspiring places to visit in Andaman and Nicobar Islands that are open to everyone. Continue Scrolling to find out!
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Best Places to Visit in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
1 – Havelock Island
Havelock Island is one of the prominent tourist places to visit in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. As soon as their ship hits the port or the private jet comes to the aerodrome, tourists rush toward this spectacular island that has so much to offer. You will find solitude, peace, and a sense of tranquility here. Despite being the most sought-after tourist attraction, it also provides privacy to couples and families who want to spend quality time with each other. You can explore the famous Radhanagar Beach which has pristine blue waters and soft white sand, the Elephant Beach to take a ride on the magnificent elephants, or click the best photographs of the island and surrounding waterscapes.
- Time To Spend Here: 1-2 days
- Famous Attractions: Radhanagar Beach, Elephant Beach, Vijaynagar Beach, Kalapathar Beach, and Kalapathar Killing Point.
2 – Baratang Island
Baratang Island is very close to Port Blair and is one of the best places to visit in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. If you are looking for something that is a tad bit different from the frequent beaches that you will come across here, Baratang is the place for you. Initially, tourists have to take a boat ride to reach the attractions on the island. You will be passing through the dense mangrove forests and getting a glimpse of the ‘Jarwa’ tribe’s civilization. Going further, you can explore the bubbling mud volcanoes, the spectacular display of limestone caves, and Baludera Beach.
- Time To Spend Here: 1 day (no overnight stay)
- Famous Attractions: Mangrove Forests, Limestone Caves, Mud Volcanoes, Parrot Island, and Baludera Beach.
3 – Neil island
Neil Island is ideal for people who want to enjoy some ‘me time’ or stay away from the hustle and bustle of the prominent tourist spots. Though the Island is famous and much-liked, you have a far-stretched shore of pristine white sand and turquoise waters. There is always a special spot for you, away from the others. You can read a book, go for a stroll, relax in your hammock, or just dip your legs in the lagoon. Neil island is home to several beautiful corals and people often go Snorkeling here to explore these colorful wonders. Neil Island is also famous for its adventure sports and soothing sweet coconut water.
- Time to Spend Here: 1 day
- Famous Attractions: Bharatpur Beach, Sitapur Beach, Natural Bridge, Snorkeling, Jet Skiing, Glass Boat ride, and Scuba Diving.
4 – Cellular jail
Cellular Jail is a contemporary reminder of the gruesome days that our freedom fighters have seen during the colonial era. They were brought here by the British, locked away from their regular life, and often emotionally tortured to leave their goal behind. The only life that has seen it all and still survives to whisper the gore tales is a huge banyan tree in the center of the jail. There is a light and sound show in the evenings that narrates the stories of the past and impresses the tourists. Today, it stands as a National memorial to remember all those souls who lost their lives for our independence.
- Time to Spend Here: 3-4 hours
- Famous Attractions: Light and Sound show, Panopticon model of Architecture
5 – Chatham Saw Mill
The Chantham Saw Mill was constructed by the Britishers on a separate island, entirely dedicated to milling activities. It is currently run by the state authorities and serves as the biggest wood and timber processing unit in Asia. It is one of the best places to visit in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Within the mill, there is a separate section that serves as a museum displaying the ancient machinery, the history of wood cutting, the foundation of the mill, and the pictorial representation of activities that serve as the solo source of bread-earning for some residents.
- Time To Spend Here: 2-3 hour
- Famous Attractions: Wooden paintings, Wood polishing, handicrafts, Museum, Machinery.
6 – Samudrika Marine Museum
The Samudrika Marine Museum is one of the most marvelous places to visit in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It was founded and is currently being taken care of by the Indian Navy. Thus, it is also popular as the Navy Marine Museum. On the outside, you will see a huge skeleton of a whale that was washed onto the shore of the Nicobar Islands. Inside, you have the museum divided into four sections that display information about marine life, geography, history and anthropology. There is a mini zoo that houses saltwater crocodiles as well.
- Time To Spend here: 2-3 hours
- Famous Attractions: Display of Marine Life, Corals, Shells, Whale Skeleton, Crocodile Pool.
7 – Mount Harriet
To get to Mount Harriet Peak, you will have to go through the reserve forests of Mount Harriet National Park. Mount Harriet Peak is the third largest one in the Andaman Islands and the second largest peak point in the Southern Andaman region. If you remember the old reddish orange 20 rupee notes? You will find the picture of Mount Harriet Lighthouse on the back of that currency paper. It is a spectacular point that gives you a soothing view of the surrounding waters and the lush greenery of the Andaman region. It is extremely breezy and satisfying here.
- Time To Spend Here: 4 Hours (including your time at Mount Harrier National Park)
- Famous Attractions: Dense Forests, View Point with a great Panoramic display.
8 – Ross Island
Ross Island is one of the most famous places to visit in Andaman and Nicobar. It stands as a testimony of the harsh British rule in colonial India. This place was the administrative headquarters of the English men while they established their rule in the Andaman territory. Here you will find the ruins of several colonial constructions, including the Penal Colony. Before the Cellular Jail, the Political prisoners of the Indian Independence Movement were brought to the penal colony. In ancient times, this place was considered to be cursed and highly melancholic. If you love to see the remnants of the past, then Ross Island will be a great trip for you.
Interestingly, you can also get a view of Barren Island from Ross Island. Barren Island houses the only active volcano in India, and inhabiting or visiting Barren is restricted due to safety and security concerns. However, you can take a boat trip to get closer to Barren Island.
- Time To Spend Here: 5-6 hours
- Famous Attractions: Penal Colony, Japanese Bunkers, Barren Island (From Far), Wildlife ecosystem with eagles, peacocks and deer, Remnants of British Bungalows and Headquarters.
9 – Rangat
Rangat is a beautiful place that brings you the splendor of a beach vacation along with the serenity of silent walks. Rangat houses some of the most exotic flora and fauna of the Andaman region, and it is a treat to see the different forms of life here. The place is especially famous for the Cuthbert Bay beach, where you can interact with several sea turtles! The Cuthbert Wildlife Sanctuary will take you much closer to the Olive Ridleys, Green Sea Turtles, Hawksbill Turtles, and Leatherback turtles. Then there is the Dhanninalah Mangrove Walkway, where you will be embraced by the beauty of the fresh mangrove forests, and it’s a surreal feeling to be cut off from the outside world.
- Time To Spend Here: 1-2 days
- Famous Attractions: Cuthbert Bay Beach, Cuthbert Wildlife Sanctuary, Dhanninalah Wildlife Sanctuary, Long Island, Panchvati Hills, and Amkunj Beach.
10 – Jolly Buoy Island
Taking a boat from Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Reserve will bring you to Jolly Buoy Island. This is one of the most underexplored places to visit in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is pure, pristine, soothing, and very isolated. Here, you will find several starfishes on the shore, exotic sea anemones, and sea corals. We suggest that you take the glass boat rides to see the colorful corals without stepping into the waters. Snorkeling and deep sea diving are the two most famous activities on Jolly Buoy Island.
The dried wooden trunks, mangrove swamps, white sand beaches, and crystal clear waters make Jolly Buoy a most sought-after places to visit in Andaman. However, to preserve the living corals, Jolly Buoy Island will be closed for certain periods of time. You will have to gather prior information before making plans to visit the place.
- Time To Spend Here: 5-6 hours
- Famous Attractions: Mangroove Walks, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Glass Bottom Boat Rides.
11 – Indira Point
Now we explore the famous places to visit in the Greater Nicobar Region. As we have mentioned earlier, a large portion of the Nicobar Islands remains unavailable for tourists. This is to respect the wishes of the local tribes and also to keep the Islands safe after the major damage they received during 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. However, there are a few places that are still accessible and Indira Point is one of them. Indira Point is the southernmost region of India’s territory. It has a lighthouse that offers a breathtaking view of the blue waters and surrounding pieces of land. This point falls within the Campbell Bay region of Nicobar which is one of the accessible regions for tourism.
- Time To Spend Here: 1-2 hours
- Famous Attractions: Indira Point Lighthouse, Galathea National Park.
12 – Greater Nicobar Biosphere Reserve
The Greater Nicobar Biosphere Reserve constitutes about 85% of the Nicobar Islands and is home to some of the most interesting flora and fauna. Indian Nationals do not need a permit to visit this national park, but foreigners have to secure permissions from the Forest Department. With dense forests, lush greenery, and absolute silence, this biosphere reserve impresses most visitors. Usually, you will see a lot of researchers, wildlife enthusiasts, and photographers visiting this place. You can come across the Nicobar megapode, the Nicobar tree shrew, and the Nicobar long-tailed macaque here. I suggest that you get a guide for the nature trail. You can easily get one by speaking with the Forest Ranger at the Forest Department.
- Time to Spend Here: A Few hours
- Famous Attractions: Mangrove forests, Nature Trials, Wildlife spottings.
If you want to visit Andaman and Nicobar Islands, I suggest that you keep at least 10-14 days free to get the complete experience. However, if you are short on time, you can also pick the spots you like the most and curate an itinerary with the best places to visit in Andaman and Nicobar in 5 days. That is the minimum amount of time you need to explore all the 12 places mentioned here.
Veer Savarkar Airport in Port Blair receives flights from Chennai in the south and New Delhi in the North. You can book your one-night accommodation at Treebo Hotels and set out for a short two-hour flight to the islands.
Already been to Andaman and Nicobar? Share your experience in the comment section below.
