INDIA GUIDE
TRAVEL DESK
EVENTS
AIRLINES
SEARCH

Fast Facts

How to get there

It is also possible to reach Port Blair by ship from Madras, Vishakhapatnam or Calcutta. Ships of the Shipping Corporation of India ply on this route every one of two weeks. The journey is four days long and not the most interesting or comfortable. But it is cheap. Passage and accommodation in a cabin is available for about Rs 3,000. SCI has an office on Strand road in Calcutta, phone: 033-2482354. And in Madras at Jawahar building, Rajaji road, phone: 044- 5220841.

The flight from Calcutta leaves on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0530 hours IST and reaches Port Blair at 0730 hours IST. The air fare is Rs 5,305 for Indian passport holders and US $ 175 for foreign passport holders.

The flight from Madras leaves on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 0530 hours IST and reaches Port Blair at 0730 hours IST and the air fares is Rs 5365 for Indian passport holders and US $ 175 for foreign passport holders.

It is essential to carry your passport with you, even if you are an Indian passport holder so you are allowed entry into the islands. Indian Airlines usually charges even NRIs with an Indian passport the dollar fare. To avoid paying the difference it is advisable to write a local address and not mention that you are visiting from USA.

Where to stay

• Andaman Beach Resort, Corbyn’s Cove, tel # 3192-21463, fax # 3192-293381. Booking office in Calcutta is at tel # 033-2280301. Though the hotel is plenty comfortable but it is not a spectacular hotel by any standards. Its greatest selling point is that it is right on the beach and Corbyn’s Cove is a delightful beach. The room tariff per night for an air conditioned double room is US $ 80.

• Sinclair Bay View, tel # 3192-20937, South Point. A decent place with a good view. The room tariff per night for an air conditioned double room is about US $ 50.

• Bay Island, Marine Hill, tel # 3192-20888, fax # 3192-21389 A fancy place with a great view. Equipped with an in-house restaurant, pool, tennis courts, scuba diving. The room tariff per night for an air conditioned double room is US $ 120.

For the cheaper accommodation try:

• If you have any friends in India with some connections the best place to stay is at any of the government guest houses. The prices you pay per day are laughable and some of them have a great view. Try the Circuit House, PWD guest house or any other.

• Hornbill Yatri Niwas, near Corbyn’s Cove, tel # 3192-20018. Bookings can be done through the Government Tourist Office at tel # 3192-20933 or at fax # 3192-20656: A modest but very decent hotel quite close to Corbyn’s Cove, run by the government. It is located a little out of the way and so transport can be a bit of a problem. Room thefts have been reported. The room tariff per night is US $ 10-22 depending on whether you are opting for shared accommodation or air conditioned accommodation etc.

• Megapode Nest , tel # 3192-23080: Good view across Phoenix Bay. Decent. The room tariff per night is US $ 10-22 depending on whether you are opting for shared accommodation or air conditioned accommodation.

In the month of August you are likely to get some discounts on the rates of all of these hotels.

Getting Around

Foreign passport holders can go to Havelock Island, Long Island, Neil Island, Mayabunder, Diglipur and Ranghat in the Andaman chain. Day trips are allowed to a host of other islands in the Andaman archipelago. Accommodation at any of these other islands is usually restricted to one hotel or guest house and it is usually government owned. The tourist office at Port Blair will help you.

If you have an Indian passport then you can journey south to the Nicobar Islands. Car Nicobar, Nancowrie and Campbell Bay are great places to go to. Absolutely stunning. On these islands like the remote Andaman islands accommodation is limited to one guest house. Most of these islands have army barracks, where if you have some connections you can at least get some hospitality if not a bed. It is possible to move between these islands by SCI ships

Travel regulations for foreign passport holders visiting the Andaman Islands

A maximum stay of 30 days is allowed.

Permits can be obtained by contacting Indian consulates abroad.

The other option is to go to the Foreigner’s Regional Registration office in Calcutta, Bombay or Madras on arrival in India and they should be able to arrange it within a day or two. The addresses:

• Bombay at Annex 2, Police Commissioner's Office, D N Road, near Crawford Market, tel # 22-022-2610446, 268222. Open 1000 hours to 1300 hours Monday to Friday.
• Calcutta at Foreigners' Section, deputy Commissioner of police (security control), 237, AJC Bose Road, tel # 33-2473300.
• Madras at 9, Village Road, Nungabakkam, tel # 44-478210.

Tell us what you think of this feature