Andaman Islands Islands

The Andaman Islands are an Indian archipelago in the Bay of Bengal comprising several hundred islands and islets, forming part of the union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The group is known for coral reefs, tropical forests and colonial-era heritage sites.

Main visitor activities include beach tourism, snorkelling and scuba diving around coral reefs, and visits to heritage sites such as the Cellular Jail in Port Blair. Island-to-island ferry services connect key tourism islands like Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) and Neil (Shaheed Dweep).

The islands have a long history of indigenous habitation and later colonial occupation; Port Blair was the site of a British penal colony in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Since Indian independence the islands have developed as a strategic and ecological territory with limited tourism infrastructure concentrated on a handful of islands.

Situated in the eastern Bay of Bengal, the Andaman group lies off the eastern coast of mainland India; Port Blair is the administrative capital and primary transport gateway for visitors.

• Archipelago size and status: The archipelago consists of several hundred islands in the Bay of Bengal and forms part of India’s union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Indigenous communities and access: Several islands have protected indigenous communities and restricted access zones; visitor movement is regulated and permits are required for some areas.

What to See#

• Port Blair: Port Blair is the administrative and transport hub with the Cellular Jail memorial located inside the town.
• Havelock / Swaraj Dweep: Swaraj Dweep (Havelock Island) is known for accessible coral-backed beaches and popular diving sites reachable by ferry.
• Neil / Shaheed Dweep: Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) offers sheltered beaches and a smaller, quieter island experience with easy inter-island connections.

The Andaman Islands are reached by air or sea to Port Blair (the capital). Regular commercial flights operate to Veer Savarkar International Airport (Port Blair) from Indian cities such as Chennai and Kolkata (and other selected metros); scheduled passenger ships also sail from Chennai, Kolkata and Visakhapatnam but these take several days. From Port Blair you reach other islands (for example Havelock/Swaraj Dweep) by government or private ferries and high‑speed boats (journeys typically 1.5-4 hours depending on the service); the Port Blair airport is a short taxi ride (10-25 minutes) from the main jetty and town.

• Visit during the dry season (November-April) when sea conditions are calmest and inter‑island ferries and dive/snorkel operators are running reliably; the southwest monsoon (May-October) brings reduced services and rough seas.
• Book inter‑island ferries and popular island transfers (for example to Havelock/Swaraj Dweep) well in advance, especially during peak season and holiday weekends, because options sell out quickly.
• If you're not an Indian national, obtain the required Restricted/Protected Area permission on arrival at Port Blair (or check visa/permit requirements beforehand); use Port Blair as the main hub for onward island travel.