Places to visit in

Andaman

Port Blair is the administrative capital of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and a key historical gateway to India's island territories. It is notable for the Cellular Jail (Kala Pani), a colonial-era penal settlement where Indian freedom fighters were imprisoned. The city also preserves WWII relics and colonial ruins, and serves as a base for exploring rich coral reefs, tropical rainforests and unique island ecosystems.

Cellular Jail (Kala Pani), Port Blair is a national memorial and a key symbol of India's struggle for independence. Built by the British between 1896 and 1906, the jail was used to exile political prisoners from the mainland and subject them to harsh solitary confinement and penal labour. The structure and its history highlight colonial penal policy, the sacrifices of freedom fighters, and the cultural memory of resistance — making it an important heritage site and place of national remembrance.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep (Ross Island) was the administrative headquarters of the British in the Andamans during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The island's ruined colonial buildings, infrastructure and artifacts document the era of British rule, followed by the Japanese occupation during World War II. Over time, nature has reclaimed many structures, creating a striking blend of colonial architecture and tropical vegetation. The island is also important for local biodiversity — it supports resident peafowl, deer and rich coastal flora, making it valuable from both cultural-historical and natural perspectives.

Viper Island is a small island near Port Blair that played a role during the British colonial period as a site associated with the penal system in the Andamans. Named after the ship H.M.S. Viper, it contains the ruins of a colonial-era jail and a graveyard used during the 19th century, making it a place of historical remembrance about convict life and colonial repression. The island is also valued for its quiet natural setting and views across the harbor.

Corbyn’s Cove Beach is one of the nearest and most accessible beaches to Port Blair, valued for its scenic crescent-shaped bay, palm-fringed shoreline and relatively calm waters. It serves both recreational and ecological roles — popular with visitors for swimming and water sports, and set against coastal vegetation and nearshore coral communities that support local marine life.

Chidiya Tapu (literally 'Bird Point') is a small promontory on the southern tip of South Andaman near Port Blair, valued for its rich coastal biodiversity, mangrove and evergreen forests, and vibrant birdlife. It is a popular natural lookout for spectacular sunsets over the Bay of Bengal and serves as a local conservation spot — home to many resident and migratory bird species and coral reef ecosystems nearshore.

Wandoor Beach, located about 25 km south of Port Blair on South Andaman Island, is best known as the gateway to Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park. The area is important for marine conservation and biodiversity, serving as habitat for coral reefs, seagrass beds, and a variety of fish and invertebrates. The beach and surrounding islands hold cultural significance for local island communities who rely on coastal resources and traditional fishing. Wandoor also has wartime history in the broader Andaman context, with the islands influenced by colonial and World War II events.

Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park (established 1983) is one of the most important protected marine areas in the Andaman archipelago. Covering roughly about 281 sq km, the park conserves a rich mosaic of ecosystems — coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves and littoral forests — and supports diverse marine life including reef fish, corals, and sea turtles. It is a flagship site for coral conservation and sustainable marine tourism in the Andamans.

Jolly Buoy Island is part of the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park in the South Andaman region. It is renowned for its vibrant coral reefs, clear turquoise waters and diverse marine life, making it an important site for marine conservation, education and eco-tourism in the Andaman Islands.

Red Skin Island is a small, largely uninhabited island in the Andaman archipelago known primarily for its clear waters, coral reefs and rocky shoreline with reddish-hued rock formations in places. It is valued for its marine biodiversity and as a quiet day-trip destination for snorkeling and nature appreciation rather than for major historical or cultural monuments.

Mount Manipur National Park (formerly Mount Harriet National Park) is a compact but ecologically important protected area in South Andaman near Port Blair. The park preserves tropical evergreen forest, coastal scrub and rocky outcrops that support a variety of native and endemic species. It is also culturally and historically significant — the renaming commemorates the exiled freedom fighters from Manipur who were sent to the Andamans after the Anglo–Manipur conflict of 1891, and remnants of colonial-era paths and viewpoints give the site a layered historical feel.

Mount Manipur (formerly Mount Harriet) is a prominent hill and viewpoint in the South Andaman Islands near Port Blair. It is part of the Mount Manipur National Park and is valued for its panoramic sea views, rich tropical forest, and role as a popular nature and heritage site for residents and visitors. In 2021 the hill was officially renamed from Mount Harriet to Mount Manipur as a tribute to the freedom fighters from Manipur who were exiled to the Andaman Cellular Jail during the colonial period.

Madhuban Nature Trail is an important natural area within the Andaman Islands that represents coastal evergreen forest and associated ecosystems. It supports a variety of native and migratory bird species, insect life and coastal flora, and provides an accessible location for environmental education and low-impact recreation. The trail contributes to local conservation awareness and offers visitors a direct experience of island biodiversity.

North Bay Island is an important marine tourism spot in the Andaman archipelago, valued primarily for its vibrant coral reefs and accessible shallow waters. It provides a compact example of the region's rich marine biodiversity and is often included as a short excursion from Port Blair for visitors wanting quick access to underwater life without traveling far. The island contributes to local livelihoods through tourism and water-sport services.

Swaraj Dweep (Havelock Island) is part of the Ritchie's Archipelago in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Renamed from Havelock to Swaraj Dweep in 2018, the island is internationally renowned for its pristine white-sand beaches, extensive coral reefs and rich marine biodiversity. It is an important destination for marine conservation, eco-tourism and serves as a gateway for scuba diving and snorkeling in the Bay of Bengal.

Radhanagar Beach (Beach No. 7) on Swaraj Dweep (formerly Havelock Island) is renowned for its natural beauty and ecological value. It is regularly listed among Asia's best beaches for its pristine white sand, clear turquoise waters, and healthy coastal vegetation. The beach and surrounding marine areas support coral reefs and diverse marine life, making it important for conservation and sustainable tourism in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Natural importance: Elephant Beach (near Havelock / Swaraj Dweep) is a well-known marine and coastal spot in the Andaman Islands valued for its pristine white sand, clear turquoise waters and healthy coral gardens. It is a popular site for reef-based activities (snorkeling, glass-bottom boat rides) and contributes to local ecotourism and marine conservation awareness.

Kalapathar Beach is primarily significant for its natural coastal beauty rather than historical monuments. It is known locally for its dramatic black rock outcrops (the name 'Kalapathar' literally means 'black rock') and long stretches of white sand backed by tropical vegetation. The beach is part of the marine ecosystem of the Andaman Islands, which hosts coral reefs, diverse fish species, and occasional sea turtles.

Shaheed Dweep (Neil Island) — formerly known as Neil Island — is part of the Andaman archipelago and was renamed to honor Indian freedom fighters. The island is valued for its tranquil rural character, rich coastal biodiversity, and coral reef systems. It provides an important, relatively undisturbed habitat for marine life and shorebirds and complements the more developed tourism around Port Blair and Havelock (Swaraj Dweep). The island's agriculture (paddy fields and coconut groves) and small fishing communities preserve a traditional island way of life.

Bharatpur Beach is a pristine coastal stretch on Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) in the Andaman Islands. Its importance is primarily natural: a calm, shallow bay with clear waters, healthy near-shore coral formations and white sandy stretches that support marine life and seasonal turtle activity. The beach contributes to the island's reputation as a quieter, eco-friendly alternative to Havelock for visitors seeking relaxed island landscapes.