Havelock Island, Andaman and Nicobar Best Places to visit

Named after Henry Havelock, a British colonial-era general in the region, Havelock is the star attraction of the Andaman and thousands of tourists flock to this paradise on earth every year. The top five towns that boast their own unique beaches are Govinda Nagar, Radha Nagar, Bejoy Nagar, Shyam Nagar, Krishna Nagar. Radha Nagar beach is the best of all, having been rated the best beach in Asia by the coveted TIME magazine in 2004.

Havelock Island is approximately 55 kilometers northeast of the capital city of Port Blair, with around two to three daily departures from Port Blair to the island. Ferry tickets are reasonably priced at US$5-8. Catamaran ferries are a bit more expensive, and if time is a concern, Pawan Hans operates helicopters from Port Blair to Havelock.

Once you’re on Havelock Island, the best way to get around is on foot, exploring the various beaches, shacks and shopping venues. Radha Nagar Beach features pristine white sand with emerald-colored reefs and is a great place to spend an afternoon with sumptuous seafood. Elephant Beach, another tourist favourite, is just a short walk from Radha Nagar Beach, and it really is a great walk. If walking is not your thing, an Auto Rickshaw costs around 2 dollars or 100 Indian rupees. In addition to rickshaws, you can choose to hire a taxi or rent a two-wheeler for a day which costs no more than 4 dollars per day or 200 Indian rupees.

SCUBA diving is by far the most enjoyable activity on Havelock Island and the Andamans are not well equipped with speedboats and a recompression chamber at Port Blair. SCUBA expeditions for all tastes, beginner, intermediate and experienced are available on Havelock Island and are very reasonably priced. It’s a great way to explore marine flora and fauna up close and personal!

Aside from SCUBA, trekking is another famous sport on Havelock Island, with many tour operators offering standardized guided walks. Unlike other islands in the Andaman and Nicobar Island group, Havelock offers many hotel and bedroom options to suit all budgets. Cafe Del Mar and Wild Orchid are two places worth considering! Done with sun and sand, you may want to head to Village Number 3, which is the main market selling various local artifacts and accessories.