The Andaman Islands – unique and best travel destination

A year ago, it was the site of a devastating tsunami. Lately, it was voted one of the top ten destinations in Asia. Surprising enough but the Andaman Islands are back on the tourist map.

As my plane circles overhead, I get the first glimpse of these enchanting islands. They look like carelessly-strewn emeralds in the azure sea.

A wall of humidity hits me as I step off the plane. I can smell the sea, even from the distance. As I settle into the quaint beach-front cottage of my resort, I can already feel the magic of the islands, a travel destination. I spend my first afternoon lazing on Corbyn’s cove, a wide curve of silver beach. The wet sand feels like liquid silk under my toes, as I walk across the shallows with the waves tickling my feet. This is the stuff that dream holidays are made of – palm leaves dancing in the breeze, pristine white sands and the sound of the waves crashing on the cliffs nearby.

e launch speeds over the clear waters and I shiver in anticipation. I am on my way to see a ghost island, a deserted relic of the British Raj. The Andaman was established as a British penal colony by Lieutenant Archibald Blair in 1789, who also lent Port Blair his name. The name Andaman, how-ever, comes from the Malay Handuman, better known as the monkey god of Hindu mythology, Hanuman. Best travel destination

The boat soon docks onto RossIsland. I can hear the waters lapping the tranquil shores. The undulating land is dotted with ruins, which are overgrown with the roots of banyan trees. In some places, the bricks have fallen off, but the roots retain the shape. There are deer grazing peacefully nearby. The only human inhabitant seems to be a shriveled old man in a one-room museum, run by the Indian Navy. As I wandered through history, I came to know various facts about the area.

RossIsland was once called the Paris of the East. International travel destination. The British developed this place as a private unique travel destinationisland exclusively for themselves. The remnants of this rich past can be seen in the neatly labeled ruins – the club, swimming pool, officer’s mess, bakery and the chief commissioner’s residence with its huge gardens and grand ballrooms. Especially poignant are the ruins of the church high up on the hillock. The altar, the pews, and the cross are all intact but roofless. I close my eyes and see the priest give his Sunday sermon. It seems for a moment I could touch them all. It’s a strangely poignant morning.

Storm clouds loom over the horizon. I zoom on a hired bike over the hilly road that leads from my resort at Corbyn’s cove to Port Blair, seven kilometers away. Family travel destination. The scenery is awesome – softly rolling slopes dotted with palms on one side of the road, and steep cliffs with the endless ocean on the other. I enter the iron gates of Cellular jail, better known as Kala Paani. Is there a heavy brooding in the air, or is my imagination playing games with me?

This Indian Bastille stands as a mute witness to the inhuman tortures meted out to the freedom fighters. It acquired the name, Cellular, from its 698 cells. The jail was designed with a watch tower in the centre with seven wings radiating from the tower. Vacation destination. The only route to and from the wings was through that watch tower. Consequently, no prisoner ever escaped from Kaala Pani. Daily work routines for the prisoner ever escaped from Kaala Pani. Daily work routines for the prisoners included the crushing of thirty pounds of coconut and mustard for oil. Punishment for failing to do these impossible tasks was harsh. This monument is now a national memorial.

The morning sun rises from the sea, setting the dark waters aflame. Summer travel destination. I am going for snorkeling to JollyBuoyIsland, I get my picnic hamper packed, take hurried instructions from the hotel reception, and an on my way. I have to find my way to Wandoor, a small village 29 km from Port Blair, where the Mahatma Gandhi Marine Park is situated. Nothing quite beats the heady feel of biking through unknown country roads, the wind whistling through my hair and the winter sun warm on my back. Travel destination. A wrong turn somewhere, confused directions from locals, and I finally make it to the MarinePark in time for the 10 am launch. I am soon speeding on the open sea, crossing islands with twisted mangroves.

As we approach Jolly Buoy, I step down into a glass bottomed boat. The fishes and corals are simply amazing – such exotic colors and shapes. I spend the next two hours in perfect bliss, exploring the warm blue waters. New travel destination. Some scarlet tipped corals have an interesting burglar alarm-touch them and they pop shut. I swim with shoals of fishes, tiger striped yellow-blacks, intense reds and blues. This is the world as God made it-pure, peaceful and happy. I wander on the virgin sands and collected some shells and pieces of driftwood. I make new friends – two fighter pilots based in Port Blair. Budget travel destination. They guide me to the best spots for snorkeling and regale me with air force stories on the way back. By evening, I am back to my cottage – sun burnt, tired but happy, it is a day I’ll remember all my life.

The next day I decide to shop at Aberdeen Bazaar, the main market. There is nothing much for a serious shopper, but I pick up some beautiful oval mirrors edged with hundreds of tiny shells. Cheapest travel destination other local produce includes cinnamon sticks with a distinctive flavor grown at the government farm at Sippighat.

There undulating islands are covered with dense forests, which abound in tropical flowers and birds. At 365 mt, MountHarriet is the highest peak in South Andamans. It was the summers headquarter of the Chief Commissioner during the British rule. If you are a nature lover, you can go for great treks here. International travel destination

I take a boat to Aberdeen Bazaar, inside the Port Blair harbour. It was named after the ship Viper in which Lieutenant Archibald Blair came to establish a penal colony. The vessel met with an accident and had to be abandoned near the island.

Havelock Island, 58 km away from Port Blair, has the best beach in the country, perhaps in Asia. The beach no 7, or Radhanagar beach, is a long curved sweep of sugar white sand, lapped by turquoise waters. I take an air-conditioned speedboat from PhoenixBay jetty, which takes just two hours. The coral reefs abound with exotic life. There are some lovely cottages on the beach, with all modern amenities. Exotic travel destination. The sea-food is fresh and very-very cheap. In contrast, vegetables are more expensive, as they have to the flown in from the main land.

Cinque Island, 26 km from Port Blair, is perfect vacation destination for scuba diving, snorkeling and camping. It comprises of two islands joined by an isthmus- a narrow strip of silvery sands- which is inundated at high tide.

Barren Island has the unique distinction of being India’s only active volcano. It has a big crater, which rises abruptly from the sea, about half a kilometer inland. The smoking crater is an awesome sight, but you cannot leave the ship to step onto the island. Chidiya Tapu, 30 km. from Port Blair, is a tiny fishing village with lovely beaches and mangroves. It is a bird watchers delight and one can spot many rare species there. The locals tell me I must go there for the sunset.