 A
short flight from Calcutta by air (it is also connected by
flights from Delhi and Madras) is Port Blair,
capital of the Andaman Islands.  Though
travel is restricted here, those islands open to tourism,
with their lovely beaches and coral beds, are a
traveller’s delight. On Port Blair, the Cellular Jail
and Anthropological Museum merit a visit. Excursions can
be taken by motor launch to the islands of Wandoor and
Jolly Buoy and to the bird sanctuary at Chiriyatapoo.
The Union
Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands consisting of
about 293 islands (39 of which are inhabited) is situated
in the Bay of Bengal. Andaman roup of islands consists of
North Andaman, Middle Andaman. South Andaman and Little
Andaman besides many smaller islands.Nicobar group of
islands comprises Great Nicobar, Car Nicobar, Nancowry,
Katchal and Chowra. The headquarters of this Union
Territory is at Port Blair, situated in South Andaman
Island.The topography of the islands is hilly & they
abound in evergreen forests.Timber is plentiful and of a
vast variety. The white sandy beaches have a back drop of
luxuriant greenery & in the clear blue waters of the
lagoons enclosed by coral reefs is an underwater world
full of fish of every possible variety.
GENERAL
INFORMATION
Area
: 8248 sq.kms. (Andaman- 6408, Nicober- 1841 sq.kms.).
Altitude : Varies from sea-level to 732
metres.(Highest Point- Saddle Peak).
Temperature : Mean minimum 23 deg C, Mean
maximum 30 deg C.
Rainfall : 3000 mms (May to Mid-September
& November to January).
Relative Humidity: 70% to 90%.
Forest cover : 86%.
Best Season : October to April.
Clothings : Cottons throughout the year.
Languages Spoken : Nicobari, Bengali,
Tamil, Telegu, Malayalam, Hindi, English.
ISD Code : +91-3192 (STD 03192).
ENTRY
FORMALITIES
Foreigners :
Foreign tourists need a special permit to visit the
Andaman Islands. This can be obtained from Indian Missions
abroad or the immigration authorities in Bombay, Calcutta,
Delhi, Madras or on arrival at Port Blair Airport. It can
also be obtained from The Director, Ministry of Home
Affairs (ANL Division), Government of India, 2nd Floor,
North Block, New Delhi- 110 001, through Indian Missions
at least 3 months in advance. Foreign Nationals are not
allowed to visit Nicobar Islands.
This permit is
valid for Port Blair Municipal Area; Havelock Islands;
Long; Neil Islands; Mayabunder; Diglipur; Rangat for a
period of one month where night halt is permitted. However
only a day's visit is allowed to places like Jolly Buoy;
South Cinque; Red Skin; Moun Hariet and Madhuban.
Indians: Indian
nationals need no special permits to visit Andamans.
However, permits are required to visit Nicobar islands,
issued by The Deputy Commissioner, Andamans at Port Blair.
TRANSPORT
AND COMMUNICATION
- Air
: Port Blair is connected by Indian Airlines with
Madras, Calcutta and Car Nicobar. East-West Airlines
operate flights on Madras-Port Blair route on tuesday,
thursday and saturday.
 Sea
: Regular passenger ship services viz.
M.V.Harshavardhana, M.V.Akbar and M.V.Nicobar are
plying between Port Blair and Madras (1190 km), Calcutta
(1255 kms), Vizag (1200 kms). One more passenger vessel
M.V.Nancowry is likely to be inducted soon on this run.
There are 2 sailings in a month each from Calcutta and
Madras to Port Blair & vice versa. There is one
sailing from Vishakhapatnam every 3 months. The voyage
takes about 3 / 4 days and the ships normally berth at
Port Blair for three days.
Information
regarding shipping schedules can be obtained from :
1.
The Manager
Shipping Corporation of India Ltd.
Shipping House
13, Strand Road
Calcutta - 700 001
Tel : 248-2354, 248-4286 |
2.
The Manager
Shipping Corporation of India Ltd.
Aberdeen Bazar
Port Blair - 744 101
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Tel : 21347, 21916. |
3.
The Manager
Shipping Corporation of India Ltd
Madras Port Trust
Jawahar Building, Rajai Salai
Madras - 600 001
Tel : 514537, 514401 |
4.
The Deputy Director
Office of The Shipping Services
A & N Administration
Near SCI Office
Madras - 600 001
Tel : 582669, 427715. |
5.
M/s A.V.Bhanojiraw and Guru Pattabiramayya &
Company
Post Box No.17, Vishakapatnam
Tel :
(Agent, Shipping Corp. of India Ltd.) |
6.
The Directorate of Shipping Services
A & N Administration
( For M.V.Nancowry only )
Port Blair - 744 101
Tel : 20725. |
7.
The Manager, Shipping Corporation of India Ltd.
Coastal
Passenger Services Division, 5th Floor, Discovery
of India Building
Nehru Centre, Dr. Annie Beasant Road, Worli,
Bombay- 400018, Tel : 4931461. |
Ship Fare
Per Berth (w.e.f. 15.05.95)
- Deluxe
Cabin - Rs.3000/-
- 1st
Class Cabin - Rs.2480/-
- 2nd
Class Cabin - Rs.1950/-
- Bunk -
Rs.830/-
Booking
: Passengers wishing to get reservation of passage should
contact the Shipping Corporation of India office at 13
Strand Road, Calcutta-1and the booking is done seven days
in advance of the sailing date on first come first served
basis.
All
passengers ( except Government servants and Defence
Personnel holding valid identity cards) are requird to
produce 3 passport size photographs.
Internal
Transport : There are four inter-island passenger
cum cargo vessel operating between Port Blair and other
islands. Details regarding schedules can be obtained from
the Director, Shipping Services, Port Blair, Tel : 20725.
Conducted
Tours :
1) Harbour Criuse every day at 1500 hrs from Cholunga
Wharf.
Duration : 2 & 1/2 hours.
Reservation : Marine Department, Port Blair, Tel : 00000.
Places covered : Panighat, Bambooflat, Haddo, Dundaspoint,
Viper Islands, Junglighat and Chouldhari.
2) City tour at
1330 hours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays from
Tourist Home.
Duration : 3 & 1/2 hours.
Reservation : Tourist Information Centre, Tourist Home,
Haddo, Port Blair, Tel : 20380.
Places covered : Mini Zoo, Chatham Saw Mill,
Anthropological Museum, Cottage Industries Emporium,
Cellular Jail, Fisheries Museum and Cove.
PLACES
OF INTERST
Cellular
Jail
The Bastille of India Where India's freedom fighters were
incarcerated;
Anthropological
Museum; Marine
Museum; Cottage Industries Museum; Mini Zoo; Chatham
Saw Mill; Corbyn's Cove Beach; Marine Park, Viper Island,
Sippighat water Sports Complex.
EXCURSIONS
Sippighat
Farm- 14 kms; Chiriya Tapu- 30 kms; Wandoor Beach- 30 kms;
Havelock Island- 54 kms; Jolly Buoy; Cinque & Red Skin
Islands.
TOUR
OPERATOR
(Govt.
Approved): Sagar Tours & Travels (P) Limited,
7 Krishna Bldg, P.O. Haddo, Port Blair- 744 102. Tel:
21704 (office), 21703 (residence).
TOURIST
INFORMATION CENTRES
Director
(Tourism), A & N Administration, Port Blair-744 101.
Tel:(03192) 20694/30933/20747. Fax:30933.
Govt. of India Tourist Office, VIP Road, Middle Point,
Port Blair, Tel: 21006.Tourist Information Centre,
Government of Andaman & Nicobar Island, 3-A, Aucland
Place, CMDA Bldg. (2nd floor), Calcutta- 17. Tel :
247-2604/6935. Fax: 247 5084.
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