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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 require the
‘Restricted Access Permit’ is issued on arrival at Port
Blair by the Immigrations and the same does not need to be
applied in advance. However guests need to make sure that there
is no ‘Entry to Restricted Areas Not Permitted’ on their
Visa stamps. Guests need to declare that they are visiting these
Islands during visa issuance process.
This process ensures that there is no separate stamp stating
‘Entry to Restricted Areas Not Permitted’. If this
exists, do contact the Indian mission to amend the same.
Hotels
typically are not responsible and do not adjust payments or
amend reservations to account for any issues related to
Restricted area permits. So guests have to make sure that the
‘Entry to Restricted Areas Not Permitted’ is not there.
Kindly
do not confuse 'Entry to Restricted Areas Not Permitted’ with
‘Not valid for prohibited, restricted and cantonment areas’.
‘Not valid for prohibited, restricted and cantonment areas’
is a pre-printed separate line applicable for military zones and
has nothing to do with Andaman Islands..
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:
Private
ferry to Havelock - 8.30 AM departure from Port Blair.
Takes 90 minutes. Tickets 650, 750 and 1,000 per person 1
way. Always recommended for 650 and 750 tickets as maximum
number of seats. Havelock
to Port Blair 4 pm departure.
Government
ferry Port Blair to Havelock at 6 Am and 2 PM. Ferry
tickets 500 and 600 per person 1 way. Havelock to Port Blair 2
PM and 4 PM. Travel time 150 minutes.
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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