How to spend 160 hours in Andaman with $420.
From honeymoon couples to vacation seeking families, Andaman beckons travelers from all age groups. Embedded on the Bay of Bengal, these cluster of about 357 islands, have a lot of attractions to captivate the wandering souls seeking Andaman. Here are a set of things that you might want to keep in mind before planning.
Places to visit :
1. Port Blair:
If you have been to Kerala, then chances are that you will relate the first sight of Andaman to it. The most prominent things that you would notice are the abundance of coconut trees and curvy roads.
One cannot forget the cellular jail in Port Blair. What was once a symbol of gruesome oppression, stands today as a symbol of patriotism and courage. The light and sound show can give a brilliant overview of its history. You can enjoy the show to the fullest, provided you know Hindi.
2. Havelock Island :
With turquoise-blue beaches and pristine white sand, Havelock probably seems like a slice of paradise!
Radhanagar beach:
Once you get into the water it doesn’t feel like a beach anymore, it feels like a swimming pool in front of lush trees. Don’t forget to take your goggles, you can spot bizarre corals and colorful fishes under the water, right below your legs!
Somewhere between floating on water and collecting the shells, we lose track of the time until the sky becomes red. Nothing more than a beautiful sunset can render true bliss. The sunset at Radhanagar beach can assure you of this. Once you get enough of the beach, you can happily dry yourself enjoying the sunset.
Kala Pathar beach:
So for all the photo freaks out there, you might not want to miss out on this beach! The beach is so picturesque. Coral filled powdery white sands and aqua blue sea will leave you dumbstruck. I would advise you to hire a two-wheeler and ride it to the beach. Amidst the bedlam of rustling trees and chirruping birds, enjoying the wind rush through your hair while you are driving your vehicle on the smooth slim road, can be a good start to the visit.
3. Ross Island:
Apart from coconut trees, this island is filled with ruins of Britisher’s buildings covered with enormous roots. At the end of the day, you would have enjoyed admiring the beauty hidden in these ruins.
4. Neil Island:
Laxmanpur beach:
This beach has a host of attractions to keep you engaged. It would be better to take a guide with you. On the way to the natural bridge, you will see the effects of high and low tides. Time and again the tides cover and uncover the corals. The best part of this beach is that you get to see and touch some sea living creatures like starfish, sea cucumber, sea oysters and a variety of colorful fishes.
5. North bay island:
Have you ever observed the island behind the twenty rupee note? This is the one!
They say that this island is rich in corals. Water sports like scuba and snorkeling can be cheap here when compared to Havelock.
Food in Andaman:
Seafood: Andaman has a variety of seafood. I would advise you to try out a new food for the memory of that location. I tasted lobster for the first time. It’s a common practice to show the lobster and fix the price according to its weight. We were so intimidated by the first sight of a grey lobster that we canceled the order. The next day we somehow decided to give it a try again. This time we ordered a red shelled lobster because red seems appetizing. Isn’t it?
Bulky tender coconuts: You can keep yourself dehydrated by the bulky tender coconuts that are available almost everywhere.
Tips to plan your expenditure:
So coming to how I spent $420 for 160 hours — including water sports, food, flight tickets, travel inside Andaman, cruise and stay.
- Buy your flight tickets well in advance: This is one obvious way to reduce the expense. In order to do this, you might want to plan your trip well in advance.
- Hire a local agent: I went with a group of six and each person had to pay about $107, for 6 days. Including breakfast, travel, cruise, and stay. But in order to get a trusted local agent, it’s better if you have contacts in Andaman.
- Shop wisely: For all the shopaholics out there! From what I observed, Havelock is costly compared to other islands. Chances are that you will find the same items at a different island for a better deal!
- Carry water and snacks: Beaches are beautiful but, spending time under the sun can make you feel enervated. So it’s better to carry some snickers and water.
- Look for the best deal when it comes to water sports: Again some islands like Havelock are expensive when compared to others. So you might want to choose what’s best within your budget.
Best time to visit :
The months between June to September, are quite prone to heavy rainfall. Therefore, the best time to visit would be between October to May.
Click the link below to watch a 2.5 mins video of the 160 hours trip.
Have you been to Andaman? I would love to hear your stories! Mail me at sruthi921.ani@gmail.com.
