Andaman and Nicobar islands is a cluster of beautiful islands situated on the heart of Bay of Bengal. It is one of the most sought after tourist destination with golden sandy beaches and coral reefs. This island has a unique culture. While travelling through this island you have to take care of so many things to make your journey safe and comfortable.
How to Reach
There are two ways to reach Andaman and Nicobar islands. By Air and by Sea. The capital Port Blair is connected with Chennai and Calcutta by Air. At present flights are operated by Alliance Air Indian Airlines and Jet Airways.
By sea there are regular passenger ship services to Port Blair from Chennai, Kolkata and Vishakhapatnam. From Kolkata and Chennai there are three to four sailings every month to Port Blair. The voyage take 50 to 60 hours. In Port Blair the ship usually berth for about two to four days. The ship fare is different for different company but all are affordable.
Entry Formalities
With a permit from the immigration authorities every foreigner can stay in the island for 30 days. With special permission this can extend to another 15 days. This permit can also obtained from Indian Missions Overseas, Foreigner’s Registration Offices at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Calcutta and the immigration authorities at the airports at Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Chennai. Indian nationals need no permission to stay in Andaman, but permits are required to visit Nicobar Islands and other tribal areas, which are given in exceptional cases. Application on a prescribed form addressing to the Deputy Commissioner, Andaman District, Port Blair.
Language
In Andaman the main spoken languages are Tamil and Bengali. Apart from these Telugu, Hindi and English were also used widely by the major inhabitants of the island.
Safety Measures
Though Andaman and Nicobar island is a peaceful place the tourists have to obey the rules and regulations strictly. Before entering the island obtain the permit. Prefer the service of an authorised tourist guide. Follow traffic rules strictly while driving and carry all the legal documents like driving license, permit and passport to avoid any confusion. Before entering the sea consult life guards and swim only in safe areas. Nudity on beaches and public places is restricted. Make use the service of authorised Scuba dive centres only. In case of any emergency contact Tourist Information Centres or Tourist Police personnel.
