Andaman Islands Guide – Radhanagar Beach, Cellular Jail & India’s Best Scuba Diving (2026)!

The coral is the size of a car and eight different species of fish are using it simultaneously. A hawksbill turtle drifts past at two metres depth, completely unbothered by your presence. The water is so clear that the turtle’s shadow on the coral below is sharper than most photographs you’ve ever taken. This is Havelock Island, Andaman, and it is firmly within the borders of India — which still surprises people who’ve never been.

Table of Contents

1. Andaman Islands at a Glance
2. Why the Andamans Are India’s Most Underrated Islands
3. Radhanagar Beach — Asia’s Best Beach
4. Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)
5. Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep)
6. Scuba Diving & Snorkelling in the Andamans
7. North Bay Island & Coral Snorkelling
8. Cellular Jail — Port Blair’s Dark History
9. Port Blair — The Gateway City
10. Ross Island (Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island)
11. Baratang Island & Limestone Caves
12. Permits Required for Andaman 2026
13. Best Time to Visit the Andamans
14. How to Reach the Andaman Islands
15. Getting Between Islands — Ferries & Speedboats
16. Where to Stay
17. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Andaman Islands at a Glance {#at-a-glance}

Why the Andamans Are India’s Most Underrated Islands {#why-underrated}

Most Indian travellers instinctively reach for Goa or Kerala when thinking “beach.” The Andamans are further (requires a flight) and logistically more complex — different permit, inter-island ferries, limited connectivity in places. This friction filters out the casual day-tripper and produces an island experience that has no equivalent in mainland India.

The marine ecosystem is the key difference. The Andaman Sea is colder, clearer, and less impacted than India’s west coast waters. The coral is alive in the way that Goa and Kerala coral largely isn’t anymore. Visibility regularly exceeds 20–30 metres on a good day. The Andaman waters have the richest coral biodiversity in Indian territory.

On land, the density of Forest Department-protected rainforest means the islands are still genuinely wild — Havelock and Neil have no vehicles on the beaches, and the interior jungle is primary growth.

Andaman destinations guide | Plan Andaman trip

Radhanagar Beach — Asia’s Best Beach {#radhanagar}

Location: Beach 7, Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)
Distance from Havelock jetty: 11 km

Radhanagar Beach is Havelock’s western beach — 2.5 km of white sand backed by dense tropical forest, facing a sunset over the Andaman Sea. In 2004, Time Magazine named it Asia’s best beach. That ranking has been repeatedly supported by subsequent surveys.

What makes it exceptional:

• Forest-backed: No hotels, development, or development visible from the beach. Just trees.
• Water quality: The sea off Radhanagar is clear and calm — the forest acts as a freshwater and sediment filter.
• Sunset: West-facing with an unobstructed ocean horizon; sunset is spectacular.
• Scale: Long enough to find relative solitude even on a busy day.

Swimming note: Strong currents at both ends of the beach. Swim in the designated central area. Lifeguards are present in season but distances are real.

Photography: Forest framing on both ends gives a natural “beach in the wild” composition. Sunset light hits the sand from the right angle for amber-soaked shots.

Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) {#havelock}

Renamed Swaraj Dweep in 2018 (official government name), but locally still known as Havelock. The most visited island in the Andamans after Port Blair — Havelock is the base for most beach and diving activity.

Havelock’s beaches:

• Radhanagar (Beach 7): The sunset/swimming beach (see above)
• Vijaynagar (Beach 5): Sunrise beach; calm, shallow; good for morning walks
• Kala Patthar (Beach 9): Black rock headland; dramatic photography; no swimming

Layout: Havelock is 13 km long. Most accommodation concentrates around Beach 3 (main jetty and market) and Beach 5. Beach 7 (Radhanagar) is 11 km from the jetty — taxi ₹400–500 one-way.

Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) {#neil-island}

Smaller, quieter, less developed than Havelock — Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep officially) suits those seeking fewer tourists and a slower pace.

Neil’s attractions:

• Laxmanpur Beach (Beach 1): Excellent sunrise; natural coral rock formations at low tide creating tidal pools
• Bharatpur (Beach 3): Calm and shallow; best for snorkelling directly off the beach (coral 50–100m from shore)
• Natural Bridge: A natural coral arch formed in sea erosion — photographed at sunset
• Cycling: Neil is 7 km across and entirely cyclable — hire cycles from guesthouses (₹100–150/half day)

Neil makes an ideal addition to Havelock (1-hour speedboat, ₹500–700) for 1–2 nights.

Scuba Diving & Snorkelling in the Andamans {#diving}

The Andaman Sea has among the best scuba diving in India and is competitive with the best in Asia. Key sites:

Best dive sites near Havelock:

• Aquarium / Lighthouse (Beach 12 area): Shallow training dive for beginners; named for fish density
• Dixon’s Pinnacle: Technical dive (25–30m); large pelagic fish, sharks possible
• Pilot Reef: Drift dive; strong current, spectacular reef fish
• Johnny’s Gorge: Deep dive (25–35m); Manta Rays, Grey Reef Sharks, turtles common
• White House Reef: Night dive specialist site

Near Neil Island:

• Margherita’s Mischief: Named for the schooling fish spirals around the reef structure
• Neck Point Shoal: Turtle sightings extremely reliable

PADI Course availability: Multiple PADI-certified dive centres on Havelock offer Open Water courses (₹20,000–25,000, 3–4 days) and fun dives (₹3,500–5,000/dive). Recommended operators: Barefoot Scuba, Dive India, Proton Dives.

Snorkelling: At Elephant Beach (Havelock; boat transfer), North Bay Island (Port Blair day trip), and Bharatpur Beach (Neil) — all have excellent shallow coral within swimming distance.

North Bay Island & Coral Snorkelling {#north-bay}

Distance from Port Blair: 15 minutes by boat

North Bay Island is Port Blair’s most accessible snorkelling and underwater activity spot — boats depart from Aberdeen Jetty daily. Glass-bottom boat tours (₹700–900) allow non-swimmers to view coral. Snorkelling gear rental and guides available on-arrival.

The reef has experienced some bleaching — it’s not as pristine as Havelock — but remains an excellent accessible introduction for first-time snorkellers. More experienced divers should save their time for Havelock.

Cellular Jail — Port Blair’s Dark History {#cellular-jail}

Location: Central Park area, Port Blair
Entry: ₹30 (Indian), ₹420 (foreigner)

Cellular Jail — Kala Pani (Black Waters) — was the British Empire’s most feared political prison. From 1906 to the 1930s, over 1,700 Indian freedom fighters were incarcerated here, transported to the remote Andamans specifically to break resistance through isolation and forced labour. Conditions were brutal — solitary confinement cells, whippings, hard labour.

The facility held Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (confined for 11 years), Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi, and hundreds of other independence movement leaders.

Today: A memorial museum in one of the seven wings. Preserved cells, torture implements, and biographical records of the imprisoned create a sober, necessary counterpoint to the resort-island tone of most Andaman visits.

Sound & Light Show: The evening Light & Sound Show (₹150) narrates the independence struggle through light projections on the jail’s historic walls. Book tickets at the jail entrance; shows at 6 PM (Hindi) and 7:15 PM (English).

Port Blair — The Gateway City {#port-blair}

Port Blair is where all visitors land (airport or ship) and arrange onward island connections. Most travellers spend only 1–2 nights here — enough for Cellular Jail, shopping, and logistics.

Beyond Cellular Jail in Port Blair:

• Anthropological Museum (Aberdeen Bazaar): Extensive collections on the Great Andamanese, Onge, Jarawa, and Sentinelese tribes — the most comprehensive record of Andaman’s indigenous peoples
• Samudrika Naval Marine Museum: Coral, ecosystems, marine biodiversity
• Aberdeen Bazaar market: Best place to buy locally harvested black pearls and Andaman shell crafts
• Corbyn’s Cove Beach: The closest beach to Port Blair town (7 km); calm swimming

Baratang Island & Limestone Caves {#baratang}

Distance from Port Blair: 100 km (2.5 hours by road + short boat ride)

Baratang Island is accessed through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve — the road passes through a protected corridor where the Jarawa, one of India’s most isolated indigenous tribes, live. Convoys are escorted at fixed times (typically 6 AM and 12 PM from Middle Strait) and photographs of the Jarawa are prohibited to respect their privacy.

What to see at Baratang:

• Limestone Caves: Natural formations reached by a 15-minute motorboat ride + 30-minute rainforest walk. The caves have stalactites and stalagmites.
• Mud Volcanoes: Active mud geysers that emit methane and liquid mud — geological curiosities.

Baratang is a full-day or overnight trip from Port Blair.

Permits Required for Andaman 2026 {#permits}

All visitors require a Restricted Area Permit (RAP):

• Indian citizens: Issued free on arrival at Port Blair airport or harbour — just show ID
• Foreign citizens: RAP issued at Port Blair arrival for standard islands (Havelock, Neil, Port Blair); valid 30 days initially

Tribal Reserve areas (Baratang convoy, etc.): Additional convoy permit issued at Middle Strait checkpoint — automatic when you join the organised convoy.

Restricted Islands (North Sentinel, certain Nicobar islands): Not open to tourists under any circumstances.

Best Time to Visit the Andamans {#best-time}

How to Reach the Andaman Islands {#how-to-reach}

By Air (recommended): Direct flights to Port Blair (Veer Savarkar International Airport) from Delhi (~2.5 hours), Chennai (~1.5 hours), Kolkata (~1.75 hours), Bengaluru (~2 hours), Hyderabad. IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet.

By Ship: Government ships depart from Chennai, Kolkata, and Visakhapatnam. Journey takes 50–70 hours. Bunk/dormitory class (₹2,000–3,500); cabin class (₹6,000–10,000). The experience is genuinely adventurous — arrive in port and watch the islands materialise out of the ocean. Ferries run approximately every 7–10 days.

Getting Between Islands — Ferries & Speedboats {#ferries}

Port Blair → Havelock (Swaraj Dweep):

• Government ferry (2.5 hours): ₹200–350; Basic but scenic
• Makruzz/Green Ocean private speedboat (1.5 hours): ₹1,500–2,200; faster, air-conditioned

Havelock → Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep):

• Speedboat (45 minutes): ₹500–700

Booking: Book government ferries at Haddo Jetty (Port Blair) or online at andaman.gov.in. Private speedboats can be booked through your accommodation. Book in advance for peak season (November–February) — boats sell out.

Where to Stay {#where-to-stay}

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) {#faq}

Q: Is Havelock or Neil Island better? A: Different profiles. Havelock has the best beaches (Radhanagar), best diving, and more restaurant options. Neil is quieter, more intimate, easier to explore independently by cycle. A 7-day Andaman trip optimally splits: 2 nights Port Blair → 3 nights Havelock → 2 nights Neil.

Q: Can I see the Sentinelese tribe of North Sentinel Island? A: No. North Sentinel Island is strictly off-limits — the Indian government has been firm about this to protect the Sentinelese from outside contact (and outsiders from the Sentinelese). The 2018 death of an American missionary who illegally approached the island reinforced this policy.

Q: Is the water safe for swimming everywhere? A: Designated swimming beaches are safe. Currents exist at both ends of Radhanagar — swim in the central flagged area. Most other islands’ calm bays are safe. Never swim near mangroves (saltwater crocodiles exist in the Andamans, primarily in mangrove estuaries — rare on main tourist beaches but real).

Q: How expensive are the Andamans? A: Mid-range budget per person: ₹5,000–8,000/day including accommodation, food, and one dive/activity. Budget travellers can manage ₹3,000/day. The flight is the biggest cost — look for advance-purchase deals, especially for Delhi→Port Blair.