Stay logged in to proceed with bookings, orders and offers.
On changing the terminal, you will loose items in your cart. Are you sure you want to change your terminal?
Love grows and overflows in this beautiful beachy paradise
Cerulean blues greeted us at every step! We alighted the speedboat and celebrated our love for a tropical paradise. A walk along the wooden pier left us wondering which was a bluer blue – the cyan blues of the ocean waters, or the bright blues of the skies, dotted with whisks of clouds. Havelock Island, also called Swaraj Dweep is a beach paradise perfect for soaking in the sun and surfing! Mind you, adventure on this beautiful island is not limited to beach fun! Dense jungle foliage flanked the white sandy beaches. Colourful coral reefs were beneath the blue waters making it an ideal destination for a romantic vacation.
The sea beckoned us. We kickstarted our celebration of love with an underwater adventure. Being water babies, we started with diving! One need not be diving-certified to enjoy a dip in the vast waters, a relief for amateur divers like us. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are the richest in coral diversity in the Indian region, with as many as 179 species. These corals house exotic marine biodiversity in every nook and cranny. Being beginner divers, we decided to explore the gentle dive slopes of Turtle Bay and Barracuda City. We enjoyed the sights of beautiful coloured corals amid the serene silence.
At the diving centre, we met with experienced divers set to test themselves in the expansive waters of the Lighthouse – a dive site. They were preparing for a night dive to discover the glory of nocturnal marine life! For adventure seekers, another advanced dive is the Wall, which descends up to 55 metres around a gigantic submerged rock and offers a chance to see deeper marine species. For those seeking a thrilling punch, the bottom of the Pilot Reef sometimes offered a chance to encounter leopard sharks or white-tip sharks. These species are harmless and are great swimming companions under controlled environments.
Intrigued by this information, we embarked on a half-day hopping tour, starting with the Fringing Reef Aquarium. A shoal of bright-hued fish and funny-shaped corals greeted us. Mac Point was another destination we visited, keen to spot one of the large and fascinating marine mammals – a Dugong. However, it eluded us! We were fascinated by Turtle Bay, where we encountered a large green sea turtle bobbing around in the shallows. I could recollect my earlier trips where I had seen the hatchlings of these turtles emerge from the sands and make their first journeys towards the sea in the moonlight!
For those not too keen on staying underwater for long, snorkelling or sea walking provides a similar experience to view marine life. One can walk on the sea floor wearing an astronaut-type breathing unit. It is a great way to enjoy marine beauty with your feet firmly on the ocean floor!
After a fun-filled adventure of visual extravaganza, we dug into local cuisine at a restaurant. Our next destination was Radhanagar Beach. It truly stood up to its reputation of being ranked the seventh-best beach in Asia by Time Magazine in 2004! Super clean and inviting, with its white sands and coral formations, it mesmerised us. The soft silver sand stretched across two kilometres, and we took to a romantic walk hand-in-hand!
While families and kids were frolicking among the waves, we decided to explore further and escape far from the crowds to revel in true seclusion. A 10-minute trek towards the north of Radhanagar Beach took us to the remote Neil’s Cove, formed from lagoon inlets and fringed by dense tropical greenery. As the balmy breeze blew through our hair, we enjoyed the joy of being alone together in nature. Thanks to its remote location, more than 92% of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands' is covered with forests. We also walked to Neil’s Cove beach where we rested on the sands and later frolicked about in the clear warm waters.
One can also carry their snorkelling equipment and take a dip to observe the colourful marine life and coral reefs. However, watch out for saltwater crocodiles; swimming is prohibited here at dawn and dusk.
We headed back after soaking in a surreal sunset. Little did I know what awaited us. A fairy-tale view welcomed us at the hotel, with our resort beach decked up with soft candlelight-heart decorations and a dinner table set with candles! A lavish meal to the sound of softly lapping waves amid pretty candles lit up the beach and our souls. A perfect romantic evening unfolded just for us. The thoughts that came to my mind were somewhere along the following lines:
The gentle lapping of the waves soothes your mind,
In these crystal clear waters, marine treasures you can find,
Far removed from the mainstream, this beautiful isle beckons,
With your better half, you can celebrate love
and see your bond deepen!
The next day, we took a detour from the sea and sands and explored a lesser-known destination – mangrove forests! As nature lovers, different types of flora and fauna have always fascinated us.
Early in the morning, we trekked along the forest camps further from Radhanagar Beach and through the mangrove forests, mesmerised by the uniqueness of the salty marshes. Mangroves serve as nesting and breeding ground for birds and animals and are self-maintaining and renewable in the wake of constant sea tides. The mangrove forests of Havelock have options for night kayaking, and if lucky, you can observe bioluminescence. Experience the waters light up with a serene glow as living microorganisms emit light. An ideal romantic setting to declare or even redeclare your love!
After a 45-minute trail, the pristine waters of Elephant Beach welcomed us! Elephant Beach can also be reached by boat. We made the most of the remote wonders of this beach by hiring a glass boat and watching the frolicky fish flit about; an ideal way to end the day, with the sun setting on the horizon amid a gorgeous display of hues. We walked back to the hotel hand-in-hand, enjoying the romantic night breeze.
The next day was all about exploring raw nature, and we rose early and visited Vijayanagar Beach to see the first rays of the sun envelop the planet. The tuk-tuk of a woodpecker broke the morning silence, and a group of olive-backed sunbirds chirped happily as they dug into fruity feasts. With binoculars and long camera lenses, we went shutter-happy!
Birding is a one-of-a-kind experience in Andamans, thanks to the large presence of endemic species such as the Andaman green pigeon, Andaman white-headed starling, Andaman drongo, Andaman bulbul, and Andaman hawk-owl. After sighting the birds, we moved to watch the elephants, my favourite wild animals. I had heard of the Andaman. Our next destination was the Elephant Training Camp to learn how the log-carrying elephants were tamed and trained to help mankind!
The spectacle of elephants walking with their trainers peacefully in the forests was delightful. What truly stood out for me was the special relationship between the elephant and its mahout. We even saw an elephant bathing and swimming in the sea while taking the mahout for a joy ride!
After all the rustic immersions in nature and wildlife, our last evening in Havelock ended on a glamorous note – a sunset sea cruise on a yacht. Downing exotic sundowners and yummy food while watching the setting sun paint the canvas of the skies with dainty hues, we indulged in sweet whisperings and were reminded of our honeymoon. This was truly us, happy and together in our travels.
How to reach Havelock: Government ferries run daily by the Directorate of Shipping Services and private luxury boats connect Phoenix Bay Jetty with Port Blair.
Important note: Certain protected seas harbour dangerous marine life. Always check with the Tourist Information Centre and the Coast Guard on duty before taking a dip in the seas.
The Adani One expressly disclaims all liability, direct and indirect, in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all the contents of this Blog. The Blog is an opinion of the contributor based on the collation of data from various sources and is provided only for information purpose. Adani One does not canvass, advertise, solicit, invite or induct for any product, merchandise, information, brand or any other materials mentioned in the Blog, nor does it obtain any monetary benefit from the same. Reader is advised to read and apply his/her intellect and discretion in this regard. Any Intellectual Property mentioned in this blog belongs to the rightful owner. We do not intent to claim any interest over the same.
