Havelock Island - what makes it special

The beauty of Havelock Island in Andaman kept me glued to it during my on 10-day trip. The moment I landed at Port Blair, I didn't know what to expect from Andaman Islands, I was on a impromptu , unplanned trip. All I knew was I wanted to dive and get certified as an Advanced Adventure SCUBA Diver in Andaman Islands. I had heard a lot about Andaman sea hiding many marine gems in its vast expanse. I knew the diving was good around Havelock Island and so I headed there the very next morning. I planned to dive to my heart's content in Havelock and then hop around different islands in Andaman. It's only after I stayed there for few days I realized how irresistible everything about this island is. "Unlike me", I didn't hop around to any other Island but spent all my days at Havelock.

I could just not keep my eyes away from the myriad shades of blue. I would keep gazing through the clear waters, the sky, the meadows, the crystal sand.

The deep dive sites were around 1.5 hrs boat ride away. These rides gave me lot of time to make new friends on the boat and cherish the island from a distance.

Just when I would be done with my exhaustive diving in the day, i would get the entire beaches to myself for my "Me Time". Those were the most splendid evenings I spent here.

I hired a bike and rode around the interiors of the island. I got some pristine views straight from fairy tales.

The best and cleanest beach of Asia - Radhanagar beach, is the best place to unwind in the evenings. It has the most picturesque views of the sunset.

I was so fascinated by the mangroves, I made extra efforts to walk through the inner lands to view them in abundance.

I had celebrated my Birthday diving the entire day and a dinner in the night with my new friends, Christian from Switzerland and Kristina from Bulgaria. It took us very less time to be friends and crack ceaseless jokes over extended dinners. They asked me a lot of questions about India and shared details about their country too. After a couple of days, Kristina says this for me "We need to find another Indian friend. She doesn't know how to wrap a Saree and eats European food with us!"

Well, honestly, I did think of going to Neil Island and Long Island. But everytime I would look at this cute chicken hut of mine, the thoughts would snap off. I had found the most ideal accommodation in Andaman.

Once the sun sets, the entire island becomes lazy and laidback. I spent one of the most memorable evenings on a secluded beach, under the star-lit sky, with a bottle of red wine. Such special moments can only be captured by eyes.

​Flights to Port Blair:

Yes, they are expensive. It's the best if you can manage to find some offers during flight sale in advance. Flights from Nov-February are invariably expensive.

How to reach Havelock Island from Port Blair

Government ferries and private cruises sail from Phoenix Jetty in Port Blair everyday. The tickets have to be booked in advance, there is a very narrow chance of getting the ticket on the spot.  The day I landed in Port Blair, I bought the private cruise ticket for the next morning

Cost of ferries to Havelock Island from Port Blair

Govt. ferries cost Rs.500-600, private ones cost Rs.800-1200.

Best time to visit Andaman Islands

November - February. The skies are clear and the weather isn't too hot. I had traveled in mid-November, just before it starts getting crowded in December.
Most tourists book packages, stay in Port Blair and make day trips to other islands. Havelock Island isn't much frequented by tourists. Neil Island is quieter than Havelock. Long Island is the quietest.

Dates on which I had made trip to Andaman Islands

I had made this trip on: 14th Nov 2015 - 22nd Nov 2015

Hopping around to different islands in Andaman

Honestly, island hopping isn't quite simple in Andaman. Most of the islands are restricted and only govt. ferries are allowed to few Islands. The ferries don't run everyday. If you are backpacking, it is difficult to show up at the jetty and get a ferry. It's easier if you plan well and book the ferries in advance. Plus, the ferry schedule keeps changing and information isn't available anywhere except the office which is open only during the govt work hours. This was 1 more reason that I stuck to Havelock Island and didn't waste my time hopping around different islands. Also, I had been diving around different Islands and the shore life seemed lesser interesting after diving in the deep. But before flying back, I did pay a visit to the the abandoned Ross Island from Port Blair.

Accommodation in Andaman Islands

In Havelock: I stayed in the chicken hut in Barefoot Scuba Resort, which walked straight to the beach. These huts are available only to divers, at Rs.300 per night. It is equipped with a thick mattress covered with net, just enough for 2 people. The hut was the main reason I chose to dive with Barefoot. I couldn't have found any better accommodation than this.
In Port Blair: I landed at Port Blair with my rucksack, without any booking. Some auto-driver recognized me as a diver and offered to help me find a good accommodation after understanding my backpacking requirements. He suggested Lalaji's Bay View and helped me get a basic room for Rs.500 (the actual rates are Rs.700-1200). He kept appreciating the rooftop cafe overlooking the sea, while he drove me there. I thanked him a hundred times after he got me there. That was undoubtedly the best place in Port Blair.

Rooftop cafe at Lalaji's Bay View

Read more on my experience in Andaman Islands:

Scuba diving in Havelock Island

The abandoned Ross Island