Shimmering cobalt blue waters fringed with pristine forests, and vast stretches of white, sun-toasted beaches, make Havelock Island nothing less than a paradise on Earth. Havelock Island is one of the largest and most popular islands in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is spread over an area of 113.93 sq km and is located 57 km north-east of Port Blair- the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar group of islands. The island has a lot to offer to its travelers and there is no dearth of places to visit in Havelock Island. But before we talk about that, let’s get some brief overview of the island.
Havelock Island is named after a British General, Sir Henry Havelock, who served in India during the British Raj. However, in December 2018, the island was rechristened as Swaraj Island as a tribute to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. He had hoisted the Indian flag on the soil of Andaman and Nicobar on 30 Dec 1943 and had proclaimed these territories free from the British rule. He, subsequently, renamed the Andaman Island as Shaheed and Nicobar Island as Swaraj.
To honor his memory, the Government of India, decided to rename Havelock island as Swaraj Island.
Havelock Island belongs to Ritchie’s archipelago and geographically rests between Peel Island and Neill Island. It consists of five villages namely Shyam Nagar, Vijay Nagar, Radha Nagar, Krishna Nagar, and Govinda Nagar. Tourism is quite developed on this island.
Havelock Island’s ethereal beauty is the reason behind its popularity. It features silken beaches, thick forests, and some of the best diving in the entire South Asia. Despite all the development, and original beach bamboo huts giving way to snazzy resorts, the major part of Havelock remains primeval and untouched. The beaches here are enchanting as ever. Some of the most enticing beaches here include Radhanagar Beach, Elephant Beach, and Kalapathar Beach. The sunsets and sunrise on these beaches are an out-of-the-world experience. There is also a plethora of exciting adventure activities and water sports to keep you busy throughout the day.
Havelock Island boasts of pristine shores and turquoise blue waters, bewitching enough for anyone to cross the Bay of Bengal to reach this island. A long walk along the stretch of sand is the perfect way to explore the islands on your own. If you are an adrenaline junkie, you can indulge in various adventure activities such as sea walking, scuba diving, snorkeling, and kayaking here. We will talk about these activities at length later in this article.
Havelock Island is besprinkled with enchanting places to visit. Once here, you will be spoilt for choice! You will not spend one boring moment here.
Radhanagar Beach got the coveted title of ‘Asia’s Best Beach’ by Time Magazine in the year 2004. And you will know ‘why’ the moment you glance at it. Fringed by lush native forest, Radhanagar Beach is a beautiful curve of powdery white sand fronted with playful and frothy aqua waves. All this looks like a scene from your most beautiful dreams.
The beach stretches across 7 km and is hugely popular among the tourists because of its unparalleled beauty. It is situated at a distance of just 7kms from another extremely popular beach called the Vijaynagar beach and at a distance of approximately 12km from the main Havelock Island.
The Radhanagar beach is nothing short of a spectacle. You can just relax here and bask in the sun while enjoying the unfathomable beauty of this place. This beach is also one of the best places to enjoy water sports in the entire Andamans. You can enjoy parasailing, scuba diving, and other water sports and adventure activities here. The fringes of the shore lie decorated with food stalls and vendors where you can enjoy fresh and delicious seafood as well as refreshing beverages. There is also the provision of booking beach beds, parasols, and umbrellas if you wish to spend hours gazing at the exquisiteness of this beach.
Elephant Beach is one of the best beaches in India for water sports and leisure tours. This beach boasts of heavenly coral reefs and stunning underwater marine life and is a relaxing and colorful escape from the monotony of city life. Besides immersing yourself completely in the raw beauty of the beach, you can also enjoy a variety of water sports here such as diving and snorkeling. In addition to that, it is also a great place to pursue activities like bird-watching, hiking, and kayaking. If you wish to explore the beautiful marine life, enjoy some breathtaking views, and have a lovely picnic by the beachside, then the Elephant Beach is the perfect spot for you. You can also take the much sought-after mirror boat ride here, which would let you explore the bewitching world of coral reefs.
Also known as Beach No. 5, Vijaynagar Beach lies in the north-east part of Havelock Island. It oozes a typical tropical vibe and is ideal for those who seek respite away from the usually crowded locations on the island. This beach is quite secluded and is perfect for travelers looking for bliss in solitude. The silence here is quite refreshing. Even the waves touching the powdery shores do not make any noise as if to not spoil the quietude.
The beauty of this place cannot be described in words. It needs to be experienced. You can come here just to take a stroll along the beach, or read under the large shade given by the trees fringing the beach, or just sunbathe on the shore. The beach lies embellished with beautiful Mahua trees that make the location even more picturesque and photogenic. Talking of photogenic, well, this beach will give you your most picture-perfect moments ever! The sunrise here is magnificent. As the rays of the sun touch the sand, it turns into powdered gold, and the entire atmosphere turns into a beautiful shade of flame and purple. This beach is a photographer’s delight. It is an ideal place for those who are seeking some tranquil moments away from the usual din. It is known for relaxed swimming and sunbathing. Because of its secluded location, and soothing ambiance, adventure activities are not the norm here.
Kalapathar beach, situated near Kalapathar village, got its name from the black stones found here in abundance. It is a long stretch of silky white sands with clear blue waters juxtaposed against big black rocks. The beach is indeed a visual delight. Situated on the tip of Havelock island, the Kalapathar beach offers stunning views of the sunrise and sunset. This beach is relatively less crowded and is a perfect place to spend some moments in solitude, amidst natural surroundings. Kalapathar is a Hindi word that means Black Rocks in English. The name is derived from the black rocks that fringe this beach, making it look even more appealing.
Kalapathar is quite isolated and secluded, hence it does not have the usual shacks and shops you would find on other beaches. But its solitary nature has its charm. The whole beach is lined with lush greenery, and the best part about it is that it provides a brief respite from all your worries.
If you wish to spend a few moments in complete silence, then this is the right place for you. If you are planning to spend a lot of time, just be sure to carry some food and water, as there are no restaurants around. Swimming in this beach is restricted due to the presence of dead coral reefs. Hence, swim only in designated swimming areas. Do not venture into spots that are not safe for swimming.
The Cellular Jail, also known as ‘Kala Pani’, is an old colonial prison, which is reminiscent of the worst moments in the history of India. It was constructed by the British during their colonial rule in India, and they used to exile political prisoners here and subjected them to the worst form of atrocities and tortures. The construction of the jail started in the year 1896 and finished in 1906. Many notable freedom fighters including Yogendra Shukla and Batukeshwar Dutt were kept here in inhumane conditions. The jail originally had seven wings, out of which the Japanese destroyed four during the Second World War.
After the first war of independence that took place in the year 1857, the British began to use this jail to put freedom fighters behind the bars. However, despite the walls and wardens, the patriotic fervor of those who were chained here refused to die down, and this prison became an avenue for our fighters to exchange books and ideas and keep each other motivated.
While some were able to make out of it alive, many perished inside the walls of the jail. The Andaman islands were chosen for this jail because they were secluded from the rest of the country. The British thought that by isolating these fighters, they would be able to permanently erase their ideas from the minds of people. Today, the jail stands as a grave reminder of all the struggles that our freedom fighters had to endure to free our country from the shackles of colonizers. It constantly reminds us of the price we had to pay for our freedom, and the need to defend it at all cost.
In the memory of the brave martyrs who sacrificed everything for our country, the Cellular Jail authorities organize a light and sound show every Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The timing for the show in English is 7:15 PM, while the Hindi show is at 6:00 PM. During the show, the jail transforms into a beautiful stage with stunning lights to narrate the heart-wrenching history of the Indian freedom struggle.
By Air: The nearest airport to Havelock Island is Port Blair. From there you can take a seaplane, which will fly you to the island in twenty minutes. The services are usually available on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
By Water: It is the best way to reach Havelock Island. From Port Blair, you can take either the air-conditioned catamaran ferry or any one of the government-run ferries to Havelock Island. It is better to book tickets in advance, especially during peak season.
Havelock has always attracted tourists from all across the country and abroad. You can simply plan a trip to Havelock Island. It is a perfect destination for honeymooners, nature lovers, and adventure enthusiasts. The stunning surroundings coupled with great people and amazing cuisines make Havelock Island one of the most sought after tourist places in India.
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