With sand in my feet and wind in my hair; I was fascinated by the beauty of this place comprising of 572 islands that make Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
What happens when you get to travel after ages? Your soul is
filled with glee and you are on cloud nine. Hell, yeah! The same feeling was
intrigued when my father planned to take all of us to Andamans. It was 2009 and
I was done with my boards. It was a complete family trip and a proud moment for
me to announce it in my friend’s group that I am traveling to Andamans.
We traveled on leave travel
concession for 7 days in which we also covered the Tirupati Balaji temple. This
comprised of return trips, accommodation, and sightseeing. Although, the best
time to visit the Andamans is between October to March; but, we went in June.
We had no other option but just to explore this exotic place.
Here is the mentioned-below day-wise
itinerary of the trip.
We left from Lucknow in the morning and flew to New Delhi. Then,
we traveled to Chennai as New Delhi was just a halt. After reaching Chennai we
traveled to Tirupati where we went to Tirupati Temple for darshan. Located in the
Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, this temple needs no introduction. To get
inside you need be a part of the long queue. After entering into the queue we
got the chance to get darshan. The vibe of the temple was so divine. Unfortunately,
that day was so crowded that we didn’t get to do darshan comfortably. After
darshan we went to our hotel took rest for a night as the next day we had to
fly to Port Blair.
Our first destination at Port Blair was Viper Island. This
place is a must-visit if you are traveling to Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It
is named after a vessel by the name of Viper who carried Lieutenant Archibald
Blair to this island. This was the palace where the political prisoners were
imprisoned and tortured until they were hung. Viper Island was abandoned when
the Cellular Jail was created. The ruins of this place got even worse after
tsunami destruction in 2004.
The next day we headed to North Bay Island. The most
valuable thing about this place is the marine life. The pristine blue waters,
incredible corals, and the multiple creatures that live in the vast ocean will
leave you mesmerized. North Bay Island is mainly known for snorkeling. You can
get your costumes and buy equipment on the beach on rent. Delving into marine
life with activities such as scuba diving and snorkeling will provide you an
enriching experience. If you are scared of going underwater, then you have the
choice of viewing the coral reefs from the glass bottom boats. Make sure to wear
life jackets while on the boat and going for swimming. After visiting this place, I really felt close to nature.
My next
destination was Cellular Jail, known as Kaala Pani is considered as a
commemorative to mark the sacrifice of the freedom fighter. The prisoners that
have been sent to this jail are forced to work hard and they have gone through
torture. They cannot escape from this jail as it is surrounded by water on all
sides.
Every evening
there takes place a sound and light show, an initiative taken by the Andaman
and Nicobar tourism that depicts the agony of the prisoners and history of this
spot. This jail today stands as a mark of respect for our ancestors.
The next destination
we headed to Corbyn’s Cove that has beautiful blue water and coconut trees.
This place was calm as there were few very people present on the beach. You can
take a dip and play in the sea waves.
The different
beaches have their beauty and a sense of serenity that can make you fall in love
with this place. The next most awaited destination in the trip was Radhanagar
Beach which is situated on the east side of Havelock Island. This is known as
Asia’s best beach and the 7th most beautiful beach in the world. You
will find white sand and turquoise blue water. Enjoy the beautiful sunset and
the twilight before the sunsets. The beach is not at all crowded; but, yes you
will find some people if you are visiting during the peak season. You can visit
this place by ferries or private cruise. The boating services start from 6 am
to 2 pm so that visitors can reach this place early. You can get some beautiful
sunset clicks from this place.
Traveling and
exploring Andamans gave me immense happiness. Now, when today I look back and remember
those times I only crave to travel Andamans again. I do not have many pictures
from this trip, but the memory is still fresh in my mind. Whenever I see
pictures of the place I get the feeling that the water of the sea has become bluer. Maybe that is my vision of being a traveler or this place is calling me
again. I do not know when I will get a chance to travel again; but, yes this
place has a special place in my heart and memories.
