Amazing Andamans

by docdivatraveller - December 14, 2015

The surreal Indian Ocean

Do you know which magical place is this? You don't need a passport for a surreal vacation; it is present right below our nose! Yeah, you got it correct! The mesmering getaway is none other than the Andaman Islands. I went there way back with my parents but surprisingly I remember every part of my trip. After being to so many countries, Andaman islands remain to be on top of my favourites' list.

What do you look for in a beach vacation? Turquoise waters, swaying coconut trees, sea gulls chirping and sumptuous sea food. What if you get all of this along with a dose of history?

Port Blair, the capital of the islands has the beautiful Corbyns Cove beach as well as remnants of the historical Cellular jail (reminds us of the gory struggle against the British).

You can opt for several day tours from Port Blair. Jollybuoy, Ross Island, Chidiya Tapu are few of the most popular ones. Ross Island has the ruins of a British colony along with a rocky coastline. Chidiyatapu as the name suggests, has thousands of birds. JollyBuoy is the place for aquamarine water and snorkeling.

Warning: There may be a possibility that you may not want to come back from these amazing islands! Don't say that I did not warn you before!

And now time for some good news.

For all the Bangaloreans, Make my Trip.com has introduced a new charter service to Port Blair. The charter offers direct flights, accommodation, packages and much more! You can choose from a range of packages (starting from 30,999 for five nights to premium gold and honeymoon) or customize your own! The four major packages are Explore Andamans, Andaman treasure, magical Andamans and exotic Andamans. You can opt for all inclusive packages (meals, stay, sightseeing, ferry and charter flights) or book only the flight and accommodation. These packages are tailor made to suit your needs. You can find out more here.

USP’s of the packages:

- Direct flight from Bangalore, travel time reduced to just 2.5 hours one way (earlier if you had to travel ex Bangalore, a flight change was needed in Chennai)

You can choose from a range of hotels depending on your budget. Some of my favorites are:

Shompen By Singhotel: It is named after a local tribe of the Andaman Islands. Located at 2 kms from the airport and just 3 kms from the harbour, it has an ideal location. Beautiful interiors, restaurant and conference room make your stay comfortable.

TSG Emarald View: This room says it all. It has lovely interiors and a restaurant, gym and proximity to the airport make it an irresistible stay.

HAVELOCK Islands: If you are looking for beauty all around, this is it. The Radhanagar Beach is one of the best in Asia and cannot be missed. You can reach Havelock from Port Blair by ferry and stay there for a night or two. You can snorkel, swim, SCUBA dive or simply laze around!

The Silver Sand Beach resort has its own SCUBA diving centre and is situated on The Vijaynagar Beach. If you want luxury then stay here. Also