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Words & Photography Varun Anchan

We explored the beautiful, unchartered territory in the Andamans

Island in the sun

tHe HYUNdAi i20

Driving around the Andaman islands is great in a compact car

as it makes the best of narrow roads especially in remote parts

of the island. The Hyundai i20 is the perfect size since it’s as

spacious as a sedan inside, but smaller in footprint. We drove

down beaches and through narrow bridges and the tight turning

radius and reverse camera proved remarkably handy.

FeAtureLive briLLiant with hyundai

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Born and raised amid the hustle and bustle of Mumbai city, a travel opportu-nity offered to us by Hyundai to the An-daman Islands was justifiably something we were thrilled to embark on. Having

heard of exciting stories about the charming island from avid travellers, we made our way to the provincial capital of Port Blair via Chennai.

Andaman is made up of 325 islands and Port Blair is the largest town and union territory of the district with a population of only 70,000 - a large fraction of a total of 3 lakh for the entire island. Indians of various descents (predominantly Tamilians and Bengalis) are the inhabitants of the city with a number of tourists pouring in around the year. The major language is Hindi and the residents are known to be extremely hospitable, something we can vouch for as well.

Though just like any other small city in India with a gritty, old world charm, the winding roads running across its coast line are like nothing you will seen in an urban jungle. Known as the ‘veritable garden of Eden’, the town is usually used by visitors as a pit stop while booking onward travels to the islands. And though not the biggest attraction of your visit, Port Blair’s incredible

history and rustic vibe will make for terrific sightseeing and this is why, it definitely merits spending a day or two here.

Our day began with driving in and around Port Blair, discovering and enjoying its serene and exquisite surroundings. A large slice of historic and architectural heritage lies here, in the form of the Cellular Jail, also known as Kala Pani - a colonial prison used by the British to exile prisoners. These dingy ruins were witness to the tortures meted out to the freedom fighters, who were kept as captives in this jail. The adjective ‘cellular’ is attributed to the individual cells comprising this facility, used for solitary confinement. Time and the elements have worn down this monument to our past but the building now holds the status of a national memorial.

For the adrenaline junkies, though, a must-visit is the Rajiv Gandhi water sports complex – the infamous memorial place known for the battle of Aberdeen fought between the British and Andamanese aboriginals in 1859. Those who don’t enjoy sightseeing, lazing on the beach or just driving around town enjoying the coastal cuisine, can enjoy an array of adventure activities like scuba diving, jet skiing,

Scuba Diving in the Andamans is a major draw for tourists and is known to be an experience like no other.

tHiNgs to do Island hopping

Rain forest trekking and camping

Snorkelling

Scuba diving

j Kayaking

Parasailing

Sailing

Surfing / Wind Surfing

Havelock island is known for its natural paradise, replete with white sand beaches and coral reefs.

One can see the fascinating marine life under the water, comprised of colourful fish and amazing corals. Explore the wonders of scuba diving and experience the rare thrill of nature’s beauty mixed with adventure.

kayaking, snorkelling and more.As we moved along toward the popular Wandoor

beach, we drove through some isolated villages surrounded by coconut trees and back waters of the Andaman Island amid the early monsoon showers. The beach, located 25km east of Port Blair, was breathtaking with its clean blue waters contrasting beautifully against the dried trees making for a striking, picture-perfect scene. The trees uprooted during the Tsunami in 2004, could be seen sprawled across the shore. On talking to several locals, we realised a shattering truth that the fear of this disastrous calamity repeating itself lay within their hearts to this day.

We ended the day at Chidiya Tapu - also known as ‘sunset point’ and ‘bird island’, one of the best places to watch the sun go down in Port Blair. The beach, located on the southern most tip of Andaman Island is dotted with green mangroves and peaceful forests.

After an eventful day of exploring the sights and sounds of Port Blair, it was time to silence the sounds of our stomachs. Even though the Andaman Islands do not boast of a cuisine specific to the area, sea food of course, is the local delicacy.

Our next day began with nothing short of a postcard perfect moment - us standing at the shore of Havelock beach in our scuba diving gear ready to dive in! Most of us have only witnessed these beautiful places on screensavers and wallpapers on our desktops. Having admired the beautiful virgin beaches, swimming elephants and clear blue skies from our mundane office desks for ages, we were finally here.

Havelock is another popular tourist destinations of

the Andaman and Nicobar Island. Known for its natural paradise, replete with white sand beaches, coral reefs with a colourful array of aquatic life, palm trees, as well as dense forests in the interiors, this pristine island is a great base from which one can hike, fish, kayak and sail to other islands. It also offers some brilliant snorkelling and diving opportunities.

To get here and literally disappear into this pure serenity, you can take a local ferry that won’t burn a hole in your wallet. For those willing to splurge, a scenic ride on a sea plane is another great way to get here.

Among the many striking moments here, what I cherish the most was my first scuba diving experience. It was a surreal feeling - much like watching an under water documentary in HD! Although our diving experience was restricted due to bad weather and we had to head back in no time, I do plan to go back and explore more of what these beautiful, untapped islands have to offer and live brilliant.

scUbA diviNgScuba diving is an experience recommended for every tourist at the Andaman and Nicobar islands. The best time for diving in these islands is De‑cember to April. The exciting, breathtaking scenes under the sea are the real attraction, apart from the thrill of adventure. One can see the fascinating ma‑rine life, colorful fish and amazing corals. The scuba diving centres have all the facilities and necessary equipment required for a great dive experience. Moreover, there are skilled trainers who can provide assistance to new and seasoned scuba divers alike.

• CostsforScubadiving(forfirsttimersand non certified divers ‑ 1 dive) ‑ `4,500/‑

• PADIScubacourse(2dives)-`16,000/‑

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