Address
Swaraj Dweep,
Andaman and Nicobar Islands 74421
Directions: Google Maps
Support
Phone: 03192-232694/ 232747 (Anadaman tourism)
Email: nil
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About Havelock Island
Nestled across the shores of the Bay of Bengal, the white sandy Havelock Island is a prime attraction of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, located 41 km to the northeast of Port Blair. The island with a land area of 92.2 km2, is one of the largest islands of Andaman, and is the most often visited holiday destination, all year round.
Officially called Swaraj Island, the inhabitants are mostly Bengali migrants and, the languages spoken are Hindi, English, Tamil, Bengali, and Telugu, and the currency is Indian Rupee. A sparsely populated island, it is part of the Archipelago group of Islands, and stands named after the British General, Sir Henry Havelock. A hidden gem in the Great Andaman’s, Havelock Island is tourist-friendly, and is great for backpackers, honeymooners, and nature enthusiasts.
The rich sea life, filled with coral reefs and exotic marine species, along with the shimmering white sandy beach, and turquoise calm waters, with green mangroves, and deep jungles, makes Havelock Island, an all-season tourist destination, in the Andaman Islands.
Prime attractions of the island are the famous Radhanagar Beach, voted as the “Best Beach in Asia” in 2004, followed by the Vijay Nagar Beach, and the Elephanta Beach, which is popular for snorkeling and swimming with elephants. Water sport activities are found all over the island, and is best done during the months of Oct-Mar, as the season is great for scuba diving, jet-skiing, underwater sea walk, banana rides, kayaking, and others.
A stay of 2 nights and 3 days, are highly recommended to experience the sheer fun of water sports, and other land exploring activities. Entry to the island is via the DSS inter Island Port, and the peak season starts from Sep-May, with tourists flocking from all over the globe, visiting the island through government- operated ferries, seaplanes, and privately owned cruises. The ferries and seaplanes leave from Phoenix Bay, operating on a daily basis from Port Blair to the island, and the services remain unavailable on Sundays.
Accommodations are plenty at Havelock Island, ranging from luxury cottages, to sea view resorts, and independent villas. Advance reservation of rooms is highly suggested during the peak season, and the cost ranges from INR 500 – INR 1200, for an economy to mid-budget, and INR 10,000 – INR 28,000 for the high budget end.
Traveling via a ferry takes about 2.5 hours to reach the island from Port Blair, and around 90 minutes via a Jet speed cruise. Helicopter rides are also available, and direct flights to Port Blair, operate daily from Chennai, Kolkata, and Delhi, at very reasonable prices, if booked early.
