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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
.
ENTRY
FORMALITIES :
Overseas Nationals: Foreign tourists need a special permit
to visit the
Andaman Islands
. This can be obtained
on arrival at
Port
Blair
Airport
.
Indians: Indian nationals need no special permits to
visit Andamans.
HOW TO GET THERE?
Air: Port Blair is connected by Indian Airlines, Jetairways
and Air Deccan with Chennai, Kolkata and
Delhi. This is the preferred way to reach Portblair.
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). This is not preferred mode of transport as it takes
two days to reach Portblair.
From
Portblair, Havelock Island is accessible by a Ferry and
the timings are as under:
Port
Blair - Havelock Ferry List -
-
Large
- 6 AM Morning - 4 hours 30 minutes - 700 capacity - 3
classes (Bunk Class, Deck Class and Cabin Class)
-
Small
- 2 PM Afternoon - 2 hours 30 minutes - 94 capacity - 2
classes (Cabin Class and Standing)
-
One
more small ferry is added for 10 AM departure during High
and Peak season
Havelock
- Port Blair Ferry List -
-
Large
- 2 PM Morning - 4 hours 30 minutes - 700 capacity - 3
classes (Bunk Class, Deck Class and Cabin Class)
-
Small
- 2:30 PM Afternoon - 2 hours 30 minutes - 94 capacity - 2
classes (Cabin Class and Standing)
-
One
more small ferry is added for 1 PM departure during High and
Peak season
Fares -
Rs. 200 for the Cabin Class. As the ferries have to be booked
locally and dont have any computerised reservations system
elsewhere where it can be booked, hotels / local agents reserve
them for a service charge that varies from Rs. 100 - Rs. 150 per
ticket.
Note:
Hotels
- There are limited rooms in Port Blair and Havelock and so
prior reservation is an absolute must. The way ferries and
flights timing mismatch, transit accommodation at Portblair at
least once and in most cases twice is required.
Flight
- Port Blair Airport is closed after 2 PM everyday. Therefore
all Flights are scheduled during Morning to early Afternoon
Hours. Flights are not co-ordinated with ferries for onward
journeys and So all itineraries with Havelock Island have to be
designed keeping 1 night at Portblair each way in Transit (As 2
PM Portblair - Havelock Ferry is small and so getting tickets is
not always a certainty). Flights tend to go full during Season
and to be booked well in advance.
Season
Peak
Season - Winter - Dec and January (Best time)
High Season - Winter - Oct, Nov and Feb,March (Good time)
Summer Season - April-May (Hot and humid)
Low Season (Monsoon) - June to September (Unpredictable weather)
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