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‘How good a swimmer are you?’ asked the form the manager at Soul & Surf handed us to fill. This seemingly innocuous dart in our direction was actually one of those existential questions in the true sense of the word. And as we were to find out soon, the answer possibly determined our survival in the middle of an ocean. The sea waves charge at 55 kilometres per hour. Can we be faster? After all, we are just pool swimmers! These were the thoughts that lingered on hindsight when we filled the ‘You will not be responsible if we die surfing’ form, sitting in the 200-year-old reception building at Soul & Surf in Varkala. Yep, we had signed up for the beginners surfing lessons with them, and though we knew that the instructors were ISA qualified, we were apprehensive. Turns out, we weren’t required to be that great a swimmer to surf. Let us rewind a bit… As we had stated in our earlier blog on Places to visit in Varkala, we wanted a quiet and secluded place to stay (away from the North Cliff’s hullabaloo) and wished to learn surfing. When we stumbled upon the Soul & Surf’s website, we were sold. The place single-handedly satisfied both purposes – The hotel is located on a quiet street on the South Cliff, and it has its own in-house surf school. Soul & Surf brought us an unforeseen fortune, and we booked right away; both the stay and the surfing lessons. In this article, we will highlight our stay and surfing experience with Soul & Surf, Varkala. Soul & Surf, Varkala Soul & Surf’s website claims that it is a ‘hotel’, but ask us, and we would classify it more as a mix of a hotel, a homestay and a hostel. Hotel because it gives privacy and access to all modern amenities, homestay because it made us feel at home, and hostel because of the laidback yet energetic vibes it triggered within us. Layout of Soul & Surf, Varkala Soul & Surf is located on a secluded street on Varkala’s South Cliff. The property’s boundary wall is covered with thick shrubbery, with a profusion of pink bougainvillaea flowers growing all over the gate. Riding inside, we came face-to-face with an old Keralan traditional house. The signpost outside the house indicated that it was the reception. We later realised that it is a 200-year-old structure bought by Ed and Sofie Templeton when they first thought of establishing Soul & Surf in 2009. The building was quite airy and rendered much-needed comfort after a ride in the scorching sun. This old Keralan heritage structure at Soul & Surf houses the reception office, a merchandise store, a large and cosy lounge area with a small library at one end, a shower/ changing room, and a veranda. Right beside the old reception building is a vast cliff garden that directly overlooks the Arabian Sea below. The lush garden is bedecked with several outdoor lounge chairs and hammocks for guests to hang out under the canopy of trees and play with pet dogs. It also houses Soul & Surf’s in-house café cum restaurant named Soul Food Café. The dining area gives a beautiful view of the sea. On the other end of the old building is the surf school – a small room with loads of surfboards and all accessories required for surfing. And besides that is where the accommodation block is. It is a new, modern, simple, clean building with elegant designs and an eye for detail. It is a three-storeyed building with an open-air roof-top yoga shed. Accommodation block at Soul & Surf, Varkala Soul & Surf’s accommodation block contains three different types of rooms, and they have named them pretty straightforward yet peculiarly. The categories are Quite Nice rooms, Nice rooms and Really Nice rooms. Nice rooms are basic, clean and are ideal for budget travellers. Quite rooms are good-sized, stylish rooms with a balcony and an optional air-conditioner. The Really Nice rooms have an air-conditioner and are pretty big, open and airy with a sea-view balcony. Each room has an en-suite bathroom with solar-powered hot water. Soul & Surf also lets out a few rooms present in the old Kerala heritage building with a cottage vacation vibe. When we entered the ‘Really Nice’ room at Soul & Surf, we were transferred to a different world altogether. The sea green and white colour décor instantly soothed our senses. The rooms are designed to give a classic beach décor look with sheer white curtains that provide a screen for the room without blocking out the light. It felt like entering beautiful sets of a Bollywood movie being shot at a beach. The Really Nice room at Soul & Surf, Varkala, is quite big, airy and has a balcony that gives a good view of the sea (slightly obstructed by trees but no complaints whatsoever). The balcony has a small sit-out with chairs, a table and a cloth dryer that proved extremely useful. The room is air-conditioned with lots of natural light from the large windows and a small sit-out area (our favourite) that gives a view of almost the entire property with the patch of the garden looking out over the ocean. Amenities at Soul & Surf, Varkala The furniture includes a king-size bed, a study table, a sofa, a centre table, bedside tables with lamps and an enormous wardrobe. Everything in the room was thoughtfully placed, and we loved the designer’s attention to detail. The room was adorned with some very often ignored but practical things like laundry bags, beach bags, an extra set of towels, magnifying mirror, ash-tray, a full-length mirror, glass water bottle, and extension cord for charging multiple devices. What turned out to be the most helpful is their A-to-Z guide, placed in every room, that lists down all valuable things to know about Soul & Surf and beyond. Guests at Soul & Surf are free to re-fill their glass water bottles provided in the rooms from the water filling stations placed all across the property. They are also free to pick up and read any book from the library as far as they put it back by the end of their stay. And oh, they also provide free Wi-fi that actually works pretty well as per Indian standards, making Soul & Surf an excellent place for long workations (work vacations). Surf School at Soul & Surf, Varkala The Surf school at Soul & Surf operates seamlessly in the old school way. On the ground floor of the accommodation building is a wall blackboard at the entrance. The guests who wish to take surf lessons have to write down their name on the board before mid-day and be ready for the lessons the next day morning by 6:30 AM. Everything else is taken care of by the surf instructors. You will also be required to fill a ‘Waiver form’ to take the surfing lessons. The surf instructors at Soul & Surf, Varkala, are International Surfing Association (ISA) certified and are experts in water safety and rescue operations. Our time at Soul & Surf, Varkala Well, let’s talk about an average day at Soul & Surf. We had enrolled for the Beginner’s surfing lessons with Soul & Surf for 3 days. Each day, we rolled out of bed at 6:30 AM and meandered over to the surf house located next to the reception. Then followed a meet-and-greet session with the instructors and other surfers over a cup of black coffee. Later, we mounted our boards on top of a tuk-tuk (autorickshaw) and headed to the beach. The tuk-tuk followed the instructors who assessed and searched for a beach with the best waves. Once at the beach, we did some warm-up exercises and were split up into groups based on the ability levels (beginners, intermediates and experts). The ISA certified instructors at Soul & Surf are super patient, easy-going, humble and attentive. They taught us how to paddle and pop up on the board with other useful tips and tricks like how to carry the board (beginner boards tend to be long and thick and are a real pain to handle), how to tie the surfboard leash string, and when and how to lay on the board once inside the water. Finally, after some practice on the sand, we were ready to catch some waves. The first day entirely went in learning how to be one with the sea and understanding the board. It didn’t take us time to know that consistency is the key to master surfing. Standing on the surfboard for a few seconds on the wave gave us a tremendous sense of achievement; of course, after a lot (read: assload) of falls, rolls and tumbles under the water. If you take the process positively and try to have fun, you nail it sooner than others. By the end of the first day, we caught a few waves (more accidentally than regularly). Our little successes were celebrated each time by other surfers and the instructors. That gave us more confidence and willingness to learn more. The following two days went in further learning, watching other surfers, understanding the cues, and manoeuvring the waves with helpful guidance from the instructors. We took breaks in between to lie on the shore and soak ourselves in the goodness of Vitamin D. After two days on the waves, we were getting the hang of it and couldn’t wait to get back out to surf for the third and last day. Slowly but steadily, our timing of paddling, catching the waves and popping up on the boards became better by the third day. Finally, we felt confident riding a few bigger swells and felt really powerful nailing them. Our instructors took to the waves too and showed us what real surfers look like! Not only were they catching the biggest waves, they were one with their surfboards flashing the biggest smiles, making us realise that we still have a lot to learn. Like everything else in life, surfing the waves successfully depends a lot on timing. It is incredibly crucial that you choose the right wave, paddle at the right moment, and pop up on the surfboard at the right time. By the time we were done with surfing lessons, the sun used to be all bright and shiny, and we forced ourselves out of the water, bargaining for some more time from the instructors. Then, finally, we had to find the last remnants of energy to carry our boards back to the tuk-tuk. Back at Soul & Surf, everyone used to be in high spirits, chattering about the morning surf. All of us, along with our instructors, used to sit around the big wooden table, eating the healthiest energy-packed breakfast prepared and served lovingly by the staff, boasting about the big waves we caught and laughing about how many times we nose-dived and rolled under the board. Honestly, late morning breakfast sessions, which sometimes lasted for hours, were the best times we have had at Soul & Surf. After all the stories that were told and tips and tricks exchanged, we dragged ourselves to our cosy rooms. Voila, they were cleaned and ready for a nap! In the afternoon, we mostly fell asleep because we were very exhausted by so much physical activity. Also, because the heat and humidity of Keralan afternoons did not allow us to step out much. Evenings were mostly spent sipping refreshing drinks at the Soul Café, networking with other guests in the lounge area of the garden, or reading a book that we picked from the small library at Soul & Surf. Sunset times were special at Soul & Surf, as it brought with it a cool breeze and the magical colours lingered on the horizon. Down from the cliff garden, we would see people taking a dip in the sea and up there, there were tourists paragliding. One evening, we also climbed down through the private beach access stairs from the cliff garden to the beach. We hardly found anyone at this part of the Papanasham beach, and it felt so good to have quality time. Late evenings, we rode down to the Varkala town to sample some of the fantastic array of restaurants at the North Cliff – the most active area of Varkala. And again, the nights were early, and we would get ourselves some much-needed rest to prepare for the next day’s surf. Soul Food Café at Soul & Surf, Varkala Soul Food Café is the in-house café cum restaurant at Soul & Surf. It is open to the guests who are staying at Soul & Surf and any walk-in guests or tourists. The cafe is located in the clifftop garden with a gorgeous view of the vast ocean and makes for a good hang-out spot. Soul Food Café has a short but delicious menu that includes sumptuous meals with generous proportions. The complimentary breakfast that they serve after the surf sessions is nutritious and fulfilling, starting with a healthy juice and followed by choice of mains. The staff also mixes up a variety of ingredients to make refreshing drinks. Other activities at Soul & Surf, Varkala When Soul & Surf goes full-house, the staff organises outdoor cinema nights where they serve mouth-watering stone-baked pizzas. The environment at the hotel is always lively, and you could also request a night with a bonfire, barbeques and live jamming. Yoga classes are conducted by certified instructors in the morning and evening at the roof-top shed. Soul & Surf also organises free surf lessons for local kids every weekend, hoping that they might make a living with an increase in surf tourism in the region. They hire staff and surf instructors from the local community and pledge to give 1% of their profits each year to the environmentally focussed ‘1% For the Planet’ charity. They also organise beach clean drives and have partnered with ‘Mossy Earth’ to plant two trees for each person that books a holiday with them. Few surfing tips for beginners: Surfing can be really trying for your arms and shoulders. Start training them weeks before your surf lessons. Wear fully covered clothes. As we write this from the backwaters of Munroe Island, our arms and fingers are numb, while our knees and elbows are bruised (Damn, we wore shorts on the first day). But we have the biggest smile on our face for having learnt a sport. Fix a point at the shore and keep your eyes concentrated on it to master balancing on the board. Even if you are into yoga and surfing, Soul & Surf is a beautiful place to do nothing, hang out, relax, eat, sunbathe and lounge around, making it ideal for every type of traveller. You can book your stay and surf lessons with Soul & Surf through their website. It’s fun adding a new skill to your repertoire every year. Try surfing this time! Let us know if you liked our review on Soul & Surf, Varkala or if you have any questions in the comment section below. PIN THESE IMAGES

Port Blair is the capital city of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory of India. One cannot visit Andamans without stepping into this only urban-like part of the Andaman Islands. It acts as the entry point both through air and water into Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Due to this, you would very likely spend a couple of nights in Port Blair, so it is important to know the best way to use this time. Also, if you are interested in the history and culture of the Andaman Islands, Port Blair is the only place where you can learn about the heritage of these islands. Here is a compilation of places to visit and things to do in Port Blair. Most travellers take a flight to Andamans and hence land at Veer Savarkar Airport. The airport is located close to major commercial areas of the capital city. Aberdeen Bazaar (a major commercial market), Phoenix Bay Jetty (where you take ferries for popular Havelock and Neil Islands), tourist attractions like Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex (where you take ferries for Ross & North Bay Islands), Cellular Jail, number of interesting museums, Corbyn's Cove (the only beach in the town) all lie in the vicinity of the airport. There are then a few interesting attractions on the outskirts of Port Blair like Chidiya Tapu, Wandoor Beach, Jolly Buoy Island, Mount Harriet National Park, Collinpur beach, etc., which on its own can be a half-day/full-day trip. Together with all these destinations, it might take you around 4 full days to explore Port Blair. The Andaman Odyssey is a series of 16 articles that covers Andamans extensively giving you all the information you might need to plan a trip (or multiple trips) to these beautiful emerald islands of India. Click on images below to read these articles - 1. Introduction to Emerald islands of India 2. Plan your own trip to Andamans 3. A complete travel guide to Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) 3.1 Review: Summer Sands Beach Resort 4. A complete travel guide to Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) 4.1 Review: Symphony Palms Beach Resort 4.2 Review: Havelock Island Beach Resort 5. Review: Dive with Scuba Lov 6. Review: Makruzz - Cruising across Andamans 7. Plan your trip to North Andaman and Middle Andaman Islands 8. Visit Baratang Island, Middle Andaman Island 9. Visit Rangat - Middle Andaman Island 10. Visit Mayabunder - Middle Andaman Island 11. Visit Diglipur - North Andaman Island 12. Travel Guide to Port Blair (This article) 13. Places to visit near Port Blair (This article) Understanding the Geography of Port Blair The main Andaman Island is divided into 3 parts - North, Middle, and South Andaman. Port Blair is the major hub in South Andaman and lies in the southeast part of main Andaman Island. It hence has a good coastline facing the east. The popular islands of Andamans, namely Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) and Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep), are further towards the east of Port Blair city and can easily be accessed from Port Blair through ferries. Places to Visit in Port Blair Port Blair is the only urban area in the Andaman Islands. It has many attractions of interest, ranging from historical sites & museums to Marina Bay-type seaside attractions. Let's cover the major attractions within Port Blair city - 1. Seaside attractions in Port Blair city As you move past Aberdeen Bazaar (a happening market in Port Blair), you will reach several attractions on the seaside. All of these attractions are next to each other and a leisurely walk in this area in the evening would be very pleasant. 1.1 Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex is the go-to spot for many fun and water sports activities. From Jet skis, banana boats, paddle boats, parasailing, etc., it is the place to take your kids for them to have fun. Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex is also where you can get tickets and ferries for day trips to Ross Island and North Bay Island (Viper Island tickets have been discontinued). The area has long 'V shape' jetties with the iconic statue of Rajiv Gandhi, and the entire place is a good stroll with a number of benches for you to sit and enjoy the sea breeze. As you enter the Rajiv Gandhi Sports Complex, you will also notice 2 historically important memorials on each side. On the left, you would find the Aberdeen Memorial in memory of aborigines of Andamans who fought and lost a battle with the British in 1859. On the right, you would find the Tsunami memorial paying homage to those who lost their lives in the Tsunami of 2004. Note - Timing - 5:30 AM to 9:00 PM though the water sports are available only between 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM There are no entry fees, but you need to pay for any activity you may want to do. 1.2 Marina Park, Aquarium Right next to Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex lies Marina Park. It is a well-maintained park with certain attractions like the 'I love Port Blair' signpost, great lighting at night, hawkers serving chaats, a kid's play area, open lawns, an open-air gym, and several benches in front of the ocean make it a must-visit in the evenings. The park also has an aquarium and children's cycle park at one end. As the name suggests, the aquarium houses a number of interesting fishes that kids would love to see. You would also be fascinated to see the huge Indian flag waving further up the seaside road, and a huge Indian map created inland on a slope visible from Marina Park. 1.3 Corbyn's Cove The coastal road from Marina Park would take you to the only beach in Port Blair - Corbyn's Cove. The U-shaped landscape around the beach naturally stops rough waves, making it a pleasant beach to swim. Some water sports activities have also started here, which are priced on the higher side and hence not recommended. Corbyn's cove beach may not be as serene and clean as most other island beaches of Andamans. However this is the best you have in Port Blair in case you want to get into waters. You cannot see the sunset from this beach, but sunrises here are worth watching. There are a few Japanese bunkers as well on the rocky side of this beach, in case you are interested. 2. Historical Sites Since the Andaman Islands were primarily homes of a few aborigine tribes, the history does not go back too far. The history of Andamans is limited to the last 150-200 years since the onset of British rule in India. 2.1 Cellular Jail If you had planned a trip to Andamans 20 years ago before some of the turquoise beaches and serene islands became popular, the major attraction you would have wanted to see is the Cellular Jail. This iconic place is what Andamans have been historically known for. They have become a reminder of the brutality and torture experienced by some freedom fighters as they were brought to these islands away from the Indian mainland with no way to return. Cellular Jail, a 3 storied, 7 winged radial structure, housed 600-700 prisoners who were made to do physical labour while the British established the nearby island - Ross island, as their home. While there are many heart-breaking tales of cruelty in the jail between 1906 to 1937, there were also stories of inspiration, revolt, and courage. With the Indian freedom struggle momentum, the onset of World War II, and the intervention of Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru & Rabindranath Tagore, the British were forced to empty the jail by 1939. The Japanese then took over the islands in 1942 as part of the World War II invasion against England. As the tides turned, the jail was then used to keep captured British soldiers and Indians who seemed to be loyal to the British. Notably, the Islands were notionally in control of Subhas Chandra Bose (an Indian revolutionary who had established good relationships with Axis powers like Germany and Japan in a bid to fight the British). Interestingly, during this time, a provisional government of Free India was formed here in Andamans as it became the first piece of land to be declared Independent, and an Indian flag was hoisted by Subhas Chandra Bose. However, as Japan surrendered towards the end of World War II in 1945, the British took over the islands and the Cellular Jail again. One can understand the history of the jail and Islands in the Cellular Jail museum. One can also go around the jail to understand how it was designed. A single tower housing British soldiers would keep an eye on numerous wings to ensure everything was in order. Also, the wings' design is such that none of the wings face each other, thus preventing any prisoners from seeing each other. One can also see inside the prisons and specifically go to the prison of famed Veer Savarkar (the airport of Port Blair is named after him). Another added attraction at the Cellular Jail is the light and sound show which describes the history and story of Cellular Jail in a heartfelt manner. Note - We frankly were disappointed with the one-hour light and sound show of Cellular Jail. There were a number of things that did not work for us. The long queues are always a turn-off for us. The audience seats were flat at the same level instead of staggered in height (like an amphitheater) which is what one would expect for any show. Since it is in the open, we also experienced many mosquito bites. And finally, when the show started, we realized the 'light' part of it was simply bulbs/tube lights getting switched on and off in a pre-arranged manner. For example, as the story narrates something about Veer Savarkar, the lights in Veer Savarkar's prison cell would switch on. It seemed like a 25-year-old technology that was never upgraded, whereas the world moved to lasers, projections, and pyrotechnics. The narrated story itself is heart-wrenching, but the lights part of the show put us to sleep. And it definitely did not seem worth the cost. So in case you are not able to cover it or decide to skip it, you would not miss much. Entry ticket to Cellular Jail - Rs.30 for Indians & Rs.100 for Foreigners Video Cameras - Rs.200 for non-professional & Rs.1000 for professional Sound & Light show at Cellular Jail - Rs.300 for adults & Rs.150 for child Timings of Cellular Jail - 8 AM to 4 PM Timings of Light & Sound Show in English - 7:35 PM on Mon, Wed, Fri Timings of Light & Sound Show in Hindi - 5:20 PM & 6:30 PM on all days, 7:35 on Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun Cellular Jail is closed on Mondays & national holidays. 2.2 Chatham Saw Mill Port Blair's other place of historical importance is the Chatham Saw Mill. As the name suggests, this is a saw mill; Asia's largest and older saw mill that was established in 1883 on an island near Port Blair called Chatham Island. Run by the Forest Department, Chatham Island itself is connected to Port Blair through a bridge, and you can simply drive to this mill. The Japanese bombed the mill during their invasion in World War II. The bomb created a huge pit that still exists but is now filled with water. This history is well depicted in photographs, along with intricately crafted wooden products in the Forest Museum within the premises of Chatham Saw Mill. While you can walk around and see different operational workshops within the mill, there is nothing much to see here except the Forest Museum, a Japanese bunker, and a memorial. There is a souvenir shop where you can get wooden crafts and Andaman-themed products. Note - If you are not really into knowing history, you can easily skip Chatham Saw Mill from your itinerary. If you still prefer to visit Chatham Saw Mill, you might spend anything between 20 minutes to 1 hour based on your interest. Timings: 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM Entry Fee: INR 20 Chatham Saw Mill is closed on Sundays & industrial holidays. 3. Museums Apart from the Forest Museum inside Chatham Saw Mill and Cellular Jail Museum inside Cellular Jail, Port Blair does have some other interesting museums. 3.1 Samudrika Marine Museum As the name suggests, this museum is primarily about marine life and its treasures such as fishes, corals, shells, etc. Owned and maintained by Indian National Navy, the Samudrika Marine Museum has 5 sections covering marine life - flora & fauna, marine archaeology, history, and tribes of Andamans. One of the major attractions at Samudrika Marine Museum is an actual skeleton of a baby blue whale that was found on the shores of Andamans. There is also a souvenir shop near the exit of Samudrika marine museum, which has a fairly good variety of Andaman-themed merchandise. Note - If you are not really into museums, you can skip Samudrika Marine Museum from your itinerary. If you still would prefer to visit Samudrika Marine Museum, you might spend anything between 30 minutes to 1.25 hours based on your interest. Timings: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM Entry Fee: INR 50 (adults), INR 25 (Children) 3.2 Zonal Anthropological Museum It is natural to have curiosity about the tribes of Andamans. As you probably already know, many tribal communities of Andamans still live isolated from the world. They are unaware of technological advancements and modern developments. Their ways of life are reminiscent of how man used to live a few thousands of years ago. At the same time, the government prevents normal people from visiting these communities to preserve their indigenous life as well as prevent them from attacking any curious visitors. However, Anthropological Museum in Port Blair can give you a detailed insight into these tribes, their culture, and ways of living (Anthropology itself means the study of the human condition - history, culture, biology, and more) The Andaman and Nicobar Islands were historically inhabited by 6 aboriginal tribes - 4 tribes of Andamans are negroids, i.e., origins in Africa with darker skin and very little black colored body hair Great Andamanese - Once the largest tribe of Andamans is now endangered and settled on Strait Island (near Baratang Island). They were the ones who fought the battle of Aberdeen in 1859, referred to earlier in this article, using bows & arrows to prevent a British invasion. Onges - They inhabit parts of the Little Andaman Islands located further south of the main Andaman Islands. They are relatively friendly with the Andaman administration and welfare teams. Sentinelese - Sentinelese inhabit North Sentinelese Island and the most hostile tribes currently. Even the efforts of the Andaman administration to establish a friendly connection with them have had very little success. You might have heard news reports of them attacking any incoming visitor. Jarawas - Jarawas inhabit parts of the South and Middle Andaman Islands. They, too, are hostile to any visitors, but the administration have successfully made good connections with them and hence are friendly with them. If you are lucky, you might spot them on your road trip to Baratang or Middle Andaman Islands. Their hostility is the reason a convoy runs every morning as tourists head towards North Andamans to ensure the safety of visitors. 2 tribes inhabit the Nicobar Islands and are Mongloids i.e., originated in Central Asia (around Mongolia) and characterized by different physical features such as yellow-brownish skin & hair color, straight hair, and prominent cheekbones Shompens - Smaller in population, they live in isolated areas of the Nicobar Islands. Shompens are hunters and gatherers. Pig rearing and farming are practiced in a very limited manner. Nicobarese - Nicobarese are the largest population of all tribes in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. They are also relatively more modern than all other tribes and are primarily farmers. Most have adopted Christianity as their religion. However, they suffered a huge setback during the Tsunami of 2004 as it destroyed many of their villages. The Anthropological Museum effectively depicts the lives and cultures of all these tribes through clay models of houses, basic utensils, attire, tools, weapons, boats, etc., along with many photographs to give you a clear idea. Note - If you are really interested in understanding the life of indigenous tribes, you might spend around 1 hour in the Zonal Anthropological Museum Timings: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM Entry Fee: INR 20 3.3 Kalapani Museum If you would prefer to visit just one museum in Andamans, Kalapani Museum is our recommendation. It is a private museum that provides the most comprehensive view of the entire history of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Spread across a 3-floor residential building converted into a museum, each floor of Kalapani throws at you interesting insights into different times. From understanding native tribes to the British invasion, building the Cellular Jail, to the Japanese invasion of islands. Kalapani is a treasure house full of rare photographs, actual documents, artefacts, clay models depicting stories, and so much more. The top floor ends with a short movie that is equally informative. Though quite costlier than other government museums, Kalapani Museum is worth the cost given their staff is well knowledgeable and explains many key aspects that you need to know. In fact, we would recommend you start your Andaman trip with the Kalapani Museum. You would be able to relate so well as you visit other historical places. However, note that this museum is situated a little away from the heart of Port Blair. It is recommended to cover Kalapani Museum on your way to Wandoor or Chidiya Tapu. Note - If you are a history buff, you could spend as long as 2.5-3 hours at Kalapani Museum, so plan accordingly. Else you could cover everything in an hour. If you are someone who cannot climb stairs, skip this place. Entry Fee: INR 250, which includes an explanation by a guide, welcome tea, and a DVD explaining the museum Timings - 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM 4. Other attractions If you have even more time on your hands while at Port Blair, here are a few other things you could visit. 4.1 Murugan Temple If you are a religious person, Sri Vetrimalai Murugun Temple is the best pilgrimage site in the Andaman Islands. Typical Dravidian architecture with intricate artwork would capture your attention as you enter this historical temple. Dedicated to Lord Murugan, i.e., Karthikeyan - Son of Lord Shiva & Parvati, Murugan temple attracts many devotees throughout the year, especially during Hindu festivals. Interestingly this temple was first built by the British on Ross Island to win the support of Tamilians. After Indian Independence, it was moved to its current location in Port Blair. 4.2 Nature Park and Interpretation Centre Historically just a Mini Zoo, the Nature Park and Interpretation Centre of Port Blair is a new attraction that tourists can visit if they have time. It is Port Blair's biggest park and has a well-manicured garden and many attractions like a small zoo, butterfly observatory, treehouse aquarium, orchid and fern greenhouse, collection of medicinal & aquatic plants, spice trees, rock garden, children's play area, and more. The best part is the amazing sea view you get along with several benches placed for you to relax. If you are a nature lover, we recommend visiting this place to get a tranquil and peaceful experience. Note - Mornings or late evenings are preferable to avoid the sun. Timings: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Entry fee: INR 30 Pure vegetarian Restaurants in Port Blair: It isn't easy to find good vegetarian food whenever we visit seaside towns that are known for delicious seafood. Having stayed in Port Blair for about a week in two visits, we have found some really good restaurants serving vegetarian food that might help our readers. Annapurna restaurant and Hotel Kattabomman located near main Aberdeen Bazaar are 2 reliable pure vegetarian restaurants. They mainly serve South Indian cuisines. If you are fed with eating roti, sabzi, and vegetarian thalis in Port Blair and want to try something different, Icy Spicy is your place. Icy Spicy is again a pure vegetarian restaurant, also serving bakery items and sweets. We tried a lot of dishes from their menu here, and all were yum, including the sweets. Highly highly recommended. 2 other places we would recommend eating which serve both veg and non-veg are Coco Anju resto (they are very famous in Havelock Island and opened their 2nd restaurant with same name in Port Blair) and The Hub (a small cozy fast food cafe sort of place) both located in Aberdeen Bazaar. There is so much to discover and fall in love with in and around Port Blair. Our romance with this part of Andaman Islands has only just begun, and we're already counting down to our next trip to explore more in Port Blair! Have you been to Port Blair? How many of these places have you covered? We are also in process of curating an article for places to visit near Port Blair that often go unexplored. So, stay tuned. Pin this image Hope this extensive guide on Port Blair helps you plan your trip. If you have any doubts or questions, drop them in the comment section below. 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Baratang Island is one of the Middle Andaman Islands. It is often part of travel agent's itinerary if a traveller spends adequate time in Andamans. It is usually offered as a day trip from Port Blair while most other tourists who spend less than a week in Andamans completely miss visiting Baratang Island. In case you are one of those who are planning to explore Andamans beyond the usual trio of Havelock, Neil and Port Blair, this might be the easy one to include. But note that reaching and exploring Baratang Island isn't a piece of cake. There are points to keep in mind and things you must know before travelling to Baratang Island. This article will highlight everything about Baratang Island, so stay tuned! What is the best time to visit Baratang Island? The best time to visit Baratang Island is from October to March. The weather is pleasant during these months and is ideal for sightseeing. Also, since visiting key places of interest in Baratang Island requires you to be out in the sun, even October and March could seem hot to many travellers. It starts becoming hotter from March and April. May to June is the peak summertime, whereas the monsoon may start from the end of June. Visiting Baratang Island is not recommended in the peak monsoon months from July to September because of incessant rainfall and strong weather winds. The Andaman Trunk Road to Baratang, which passes through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve, closes down intermittently in monsoon due to tree falls. Even the ferries stop operating due to high tidal waves and rough sea conditions. How to reach Baratang Island? To reach anywhere in Andamans, you have to start your journey from Port Blair. Baratang Island is located approximately 100 kilometres north of Port Blair. Note that Baratang is the southernmost part of middle Andaman Island, and hence you will also have to cross the creek (actually a thin portion of the sea). Here is how you can reach Baratang island - Reaching Baratang via road: Port Blair (part of South Andaman Island) is connected with the North and Middle Andaman Islands by the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR). This road passes through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve, where all the vehicles queue at the starting point, i.e. Jirkatang Check Post, and the entire convoy is preceded and succeeded by Forest Department vans. Hence the route is: Port Blair – Jirkatang Check Post – Jarawa Tribal Reserve – Middle Strait Jetty - Oralkatcha Jetty - Baratang Island Jirkatang Check Post is located about 42 kilometres away from Port Blair, and it takes about 1 to 1.5 hours to reach there from the capital town. The check post opens only at specified times of the day – (6 AM to 6:30 AM; 9 AM to 9:30 AM; 12 PM to 12:30PM; and 3 PM to 3:30 PM). Hence, you will have to reach Jirkatang before these slots. If you are on a day trip to Baratang, you should reach Jirkatang in the very first time window (i.e. 6 AM to 6:30 AM), so that you have a good time to explore the island and return back in the last time window (i.e. 3 PM to 3:30 PM convoy). We started at 4:30 AM in the morning in a private cab to the Jirkatang Check Post. As we approached the check post, we saw a long (read: more than a few kilometres) queue of vehicles that had already lined up before us. We were asked to fill out a couple of forms at the check post and submit a copy of our photo ID proofs that our driver helped us with. There are a few shops lined up at Jirkatang, which are open as early as 5 AM, serving breakfast and snacks to the waiting queue of passengers. You can plan on having a basic breakfast here. The forest administrative staff at Jirkatang advised us against stopping our vehicle or clicking any photos or videos while driving through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve. As the clock struck 6 AM, we resumed our journey with a forest van leading the route. We did happen to spot a few people from Jarawa tribes on the way, but as instructed, we didn't stop or click. Another hour of journey on the ATR (Andaman Truck Road) took us to Middle Strait Jetty, where the tribal reserve ends. At Middle Strait Jetty, you would find several vehicles parked, waiting for their turn to get on a ferry. There are also public toilets here. We boarded a government ferry along with our vehicle (yes, the ferry transfers all types of vehicles) to cross the Middle Strait. After another 15 minutes of sailing, we finally reached Oralkatcha Jetty, part of Baratang Island. Wasn't that easy, was it? It took us almost 4 hours, with lots of wait in between, to get to Baratang Island. Government and private buses run early morning from Port Blair to Baratang Island. You can opt to travel in them if you are on a budget. However, given all the vehicles reach Middle Strait Jetty around similar times, we observed they allowed private cars to take the ferry first while buses and trucks waited. You can also catch any bus plying to Rangat, Mayabunder or Diglipur; they will all pass through Baratang Island. Note that Jarawas is one of the indigenous tribes of Andamans that have been cut off from human evolution and still live like men used to live fa ew thousand years ago. There have been cases in the past where they attack the vehicles. Hence the forest department takes utmost care to ensure we do not intervene in their lives (hence no photography) and do not harm us (hence a convoy). An opportunity to spot Jarawas is one good reason to take the road to the Middle and North Andamans. We did see Jarawas a couple of times on our way. While some of them wanted a lift, there was a father-child duo where the child seemed like trying to use a bow and arrow and attack. Not sure if he was having fun. We, of course, didn't click any photographs as per prohibited rules. Reaching Baratang via sea: Makruzz, the private cruise player in the Andaman Islands, operates daily ships from Haddo Jetty near Chatham in Port Blair to Nilambur Jetty in Baratang and vice versa. The sea journey from Port Blair to Baratang Island takes about 2-2.5 hours, and the tickets can be booked online or purchased offline from Makruzz's office in Port Blair. You can check the timings of the cruise to Baratang Island on their official website. Government ferries do not yet operate to Baratang Island, so the only way to reach the island via sea is by sailing with Makruzz. What are the places to visit in Baratang Island? 1. Limestone caves and a ride through mangroves As soon as you get down at Baratang Island, you will have to form a group of about 10 people (which is relatively easy owing to all the crowd from the convoy that reaches together). One of you will have to fill out a form and purchase a boat ticket to the limestone caves. Once the payment is made, you are assigned a boatsman who hands you a life jacket and helps you onboard the boat. An hour boat ride in the Middle Strait will take you to the mangrove plantations. From there, your boat goes in a narrow strip of the sea under low branches right into the mangrove clearing. You alight your boat here and walk on a wooden platform and uneven trail for a kilometre to reach the Baratang limestone caves. The boatman doubles up as your guide here and leads the way. You walk through thick mangrove plantations that clear up into a flat trail surrounded by green fields. Baratang limestone cave is a geological wonder with layers of shiny stalagmites and stalactites. The caves are completely dark inside. However, the guide carries a torch, and even your mobile phone torches will help light up the structures. The guide throws light on various limestone formations that have attained different shapes, like a swan, a tiger, and several idols. These are all formed naturally over a period of time. You will be given about an hour to explore the caves and return to your boat for the return journey. On our way back to the boat, we relished delicious lemon water made by the local inhabitants of Baratang Island. 2. Mud volcano Baratang Island is amongst the very few places in the world where you can find active mud volcanos. These are a rare natural wonder. From the main jetty in Baratang, you will find jeeps that take you to the Baratang mud volcano site. These are shared jeeps, and the entire payment gets divided amongst all the passengers interested in exploring the mud volcano. You reach the location after a 15-20-minute-long bumpy ride. From here, climbing about 100 steps takes you to the mud volcano site. Note that if you start from Port Blair and plan to reach Diglipur on the same evening, you can easily do the limestone caves. But adding mud volcanoes might be too ambitious. Also, most of the mud volcanos are dead, and there are a few calm ones. Basically, a mud volcano is formed by gases and liquids excreted by the earth's interior. It isn't like an actual lava volcano, but it spews out liquid clay, and you can see occasional mud bubbles. It will take you an hour in entirety to visit the Baratang mud volcano and return back. So, if you have time in hand, visit this natural wonder; otherwise, it can be skipped. 3. Baludera Beach Baludera beach is very close to the Baratang mud volcano site. So, if you get a chance to visit the mud volcano, do stop by to check out the beach. Very few tourists end up seeing the Baludera beach; hence you will almost always find it deserted. The beach is clean, shallow, and ideal for swimming. You will find a beautiful mangrove plantation on one end and dead tree trunks on the other end of the Baludera beach, which gives it a stunning look. 4. Parrot Island Parrot Island is another attraction very close to Baratang Island that we skipped visiting due to lack of time. Parrot Island is a must-visit in the evening when it is said that a flock of thousands of parrots descend back to their home. We can only wonder how incredible that sight would be – a must-visit for bird lovers and photography enthusiasts. Parrot Island is also known for watching the magical sunset. The boats generally leave for the island at 4 PM. So, if you plan to visit Parrot Island, make your night stay arrangements in Baratang, as the last convoy for Port Blair closes at 3:30 PM. Note: There are no accommodation options on Parrot Island. It is an uninhabited island. 5. Guitar Island Well, honestly, we don't know much about Guitar Island except that it's shaped like a guitar when looked at from a bird's eye view. It is amongst the very rarely visited islands of India. Guitar Island can be visited as a day trip from Baratang Island. The Guitar Island beach is tagged as a nature reserve due to its rich coral life, mangroves, and rainforest. We have heard that you can easily snorkel at the beach and spot colourful marine life inside the sea. How many nights should one stay in Baratang Island? As we mentioned earlier, Baratang Island is generally visited as a day trip from Port Blair, or explored on the way to the other Middle and North Andaman Islands (Rangat, Mayabunder and Diglipur). There are very few basic accommodation options to stay in Baratang Island. Since the number of places to visit in Baratang Island can be covered in a day, we recommend returning back to Port Blair or staying further in Rangat if need be. Things to keep in mind when visiting Baratang Island, Middle Andaman: - Our mobile phones did not catch any signal in Baratang Island when we visited in early 2020. In fact, you will lose all network connectivity (Airtel, Vodafone) from the Jirkatang checkpoint. BSNL may work in some areas but do not be very hopeful - No mobile signals mean no internet/ data connectivity. The hotel you book in Baratang Island or Rangat will most likely not have a wi-fi connection. The area is totally cut off from the rest of the world - Few inhabitants reside in Baratang Island, and the homestay concept has not yet penetrated this region. You would find very basic and limited options even in terms of hotels. That is one of the reasons why people prefer to explore it as a day trip - You will find a few restaurants (more of small eateries or dhabas) at the Baratang Jetty that serve local cuisine. There are no restaurants or eateries at the sightseeing spots. The maximum you can get at the places to visit are road side hawkers selling lemon water, coconut water, and cucumbers. It's always advisable to carry some light snacks with you - We recommend that you visit Baratang Island as a day trip from Port Blair or explore it on your way to other parts of North / Middle Andaman (Rangat, Mayabunder, Diglipur). However, if you wish to stay, a few decent accommodation options have come up over the years, like Dew Dale Resort and Coral Creek Resort. It's advisable to call the hotel directly for booking purposes rather than booking online - The sightseeing places in Baratang Island involve quite a lot of walking. Make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes instead of heels and sandals. And do not forget to carry drinking water - As with any coastal area, the weather in Baratang Island remains tropical, meaning hot and humid. The boats that take you to the limestone caves or the nearby islands are open from the top. Hence, you must wear breathable clothes, preferably light and loose cotton. You may also wish to carry your umbrella or ponchos just in case - When you visit tropical areas, it's needless to say that you carry and keep applying sunscreen to save yourself from getting tanned - Since you will be spending a lot of time near water bodies, in rainforests, and amongst mangroves, it's essential that you stay protected from mosquitoes and other insects. Carry and apply a mosquito repellent especially if you plan to stay overnight - There are no ATMs in Baratang Island, so carry sufficient cash with you - Baratang Island lacks well equipped medical facilities or pharmacies; hence carry all the basic as well as prescribed medications with you - Since Baratang Island is not a typical tourist destination, people are not well versed in the English language. Most people know Hindi, and there shouldn't be a problem to converse with them We hope this article helps you understand Baratang Island better and assists you in planning your trip. If you have any questions, please drop them in the comment section below.

Rangat is a town on the Middle Andaman Island known for its stunning beaches. As you travel north from Port Blair to Rangat, you can see the changing colors of sea from brown to the beautiful shade of turquoise. We believe that’s why the town is named Rangat. In the Hindi language, ‘Rangat’ means ‘color’. Such a perfect name! We wrote a detailed travel guide to Baratang Island in our last blog. Due to the lack of decent accommodation facilities in Baratang, tourists generally travel up to Rangat for a night's stay. Where is Rangat? Rangat is a coastal town located about 60 kilometers away from the Baratang Island in the Middle Andamans. The approximate distance from Port Blair by road is 180 kilometers and 50 nautical miles (approx. 90 kilometers) by sea. How to reach Rangat? As we have mentioned in our previous blogs on Andamans, you have to start your journey from Port Blair to reach anywhere in the Andamans. Here’s how to get to Rangat from Port Blair: Via road: It takes around 7-8 hours to reach Rangat from Port Blair via road. Port Blair (part of South Andaman Island) is connected with Rangat (part of Middle Andaman Island) by the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR). This road passes through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve, where all the vehicles queue at the starting point, i.e., Jirkatang Check Post, and the entire convoy is preceded and succeeded by Forest Department vans. Hence the route is: Port Blair – Jirkatang Check Post – Jarawa Tribal Reserve – Baratang Island – Rangat Jirkatang Check Post is located about 42 kilometers away (1 to 1.5 hours) from Port Blair. The check post opens only at specified times of the day – (6 AM to 6:30 AM; 9 AM to 9:30 AM; 12 PM to 12:30PM; and 3 PM to 3:30 PM). Hence, you will have to reach Jirkatang before these time slots. Read more about our experience reaching the North and Middle Andaman Islands in our previous blog on Baratang Island. An hour of journey on the ATR (Andaman Truck Road) through Jarawa Tribal Reserve will take you to the Middle Strait Jetty point (where the tribal reserve ends). Here, you will have to board a 15-minute-long government ferry (along with your vehicle). After another 72 kilometers of road journey and crossing a state-of-art 1.18-kilometre creek bridge over Humphrey Strait, you will reach Rangat. Note that the road condition is not good especially as you go further away from Port Blair towards Diglipur. Government buses to Rangat run early from Aberdeen Bazaar bus station in Port Blair. You can opt to travel in them if you are on a budget. You can also book yourself a private AC or Non-AC bus through several reservation offices spread across Port Blair town. There’s hardly any bus service operator through whom you can book online; hence, reaching Port Blair a day earlier and making physical bookings is recommended. Via Ferry: It takes around 6 hours to reach Rangat from Port Blair via a ferry. Only government ferries operate from Port Blair to Rangat (and back). The ferry runs only on alternate days and may take pitstops at Neil Island, Havelock Island, Long Island, and Kadamtala before reaching Rangat. The bookings open only 1 or 2 days before the departure, and tickets are issued from the STAR ticket counters in Port Blair. The return tickets need to be booked from Rangat itself. What is the best time to visit Rangat? The best time to visit Rangat is from October to March. The weather is pleasant during these months and is ideal for sightseeing. It starts becoming quite hot from March and April. May to June is the peak summertime, whereas the monsoon may start from the end of June. Visiting Rangat is not recommended in the peak monsoon months from July to September because of incessant rainfall and strong weather winds. The Andaman Trunk Road to Rangat, which passes through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve, closes down intermittently in monsoon due to tree falls. Even the government ferries stop operating due to high tidal waves and rough sea conditions. What are the places to visit in Rangat? 1. Yerrata walkway and Mangrove Interpretation Centre Yerrata is the jetty point in Rangat from where you can catch ferries to Port Blair and the other Andaman Islands and the point where the ferries arrive from these islands. The harbor lies about 9 kilometers away from the Rangat town towards the southern end of the district. Quite close to the Yerrata jetty is the Yerrata Mangrove Interpretation Centre, which offers valuable information about the mangrove plantations around the region. The mangrove view watchtower in Yerrata provides a magnificent view of the adjacent mangrove plantation and tropical forests. You can reach this one of its kind 13-metre-tall watchtower via a walkway that is beautiful in itself. 2. Amkunj Beach Amkunj Beach is located barely 100 meters from the Andaman Truck Road and is easily accessible. The beach is very nicely developed and maintained by the government who has installed innovative infrastructure for the tourist that includes eco-friendly log sofas, sit-outs, tables, and huts made out of fallen trees. You will also find toilet facilities at the beach. Amkunj beach’s shoreline is sandy and receives low tides. However, we did not find it ideal for swimming, owing to the sharp coral rocks and small pebbles. We had the entire beach to ourselves on our visit barring a few locals with their coconut selling outlet. The beach is the perfect pitstop to relax on the way to Diglipur from Port Blair. 3. Moricedera Beach Moricedera Beach is another gorgeous beach located right on Andaman Trunk Road. It is located 5 kilometers south of Amkunj beach. However, unlike Amkunj Beach, Moricedera beach has a black rocky shoreline that seems to be formed from volcanic eruptions. Small eco-friendly sit-outs installed alongside the beach make this place an ideal spot to spend time with nature. We specifically loved the splendid swing overlooking the sea and hung precariously on iron hooks under a tree. A wooden walkway is built between two substantial natural rock formations, which leads to an eye-catching horizon viewpoint. Towards the end of the walkway, small benches are placed to sit and admire the vast blue open sea. We found it to be an excellent place for photography. 4. Cuthbert Bay Beach Cuthbert Bay Beach lies near the Hawksbill Nest Resort, a tourist department run accommodation in Rangat. This lesser-known sandy beach with a vast shoreline is a part of a wildlife sanctuary and is famous for turtle nesting. Every year, between December to March, the mother turtles visit Cuthbert Bay Beach to lay eggs. The marine conservationists transfer these eggs to a hatchery, and once the turtle hatchlings are born, they release them into the sea. If you are lucky, you will be able to witness one of these events (if you visit during the season). 5. Dhaninallah Mangrove Walk and Beach Dhaninallah Mangrove Walk is a 700-800 meter of one of its kind wooden walkway in Rangat (in fact, India) that leads to Dhaninallah beach. We have only seen such a beautiful walkway in Singapore before! The Dhaninallah Mangrove walkway is the longest constructed raised platform walkway in India. It lies adjoining the Andaman Trunk Road and has a big parking area. The walkway snakes through a mangrove forest system where you will find several different types of mangrove plantations surrounding you. Many are labelled along with a bit of scientific explanation. You will also find cozy sit-out areas and eco-gazebos built at intervals after several hundred meters on the walkway, where you can relax and admire the ecosystem. It takes around 15-20 minutes to reach the beach. The Dhaninallah mangrove walkway opens up to a stunning sandy beach with kilometers and kilometers of shoreline. The Dhaninallah beach is known for Olive Ridley Turtle nesting. We visited this beach twice, once while driving towards Diglipur and again while returning to Port Blair. And, we were super lucky to witness the hatchling of a few newly born turtles that were released into the sea by the forest officials. The sight of these baby turtles scrambling towards the sea is pure magic. This happens only during the turtle breeding season (November to March). We also visited the turtle hatchery where the forest officials preserve the turtle eggs till they hatch. The Dhaninallah beach is a beauty in itself. It receives shallow waves and hence is ideal for swimming. Some eco-friendly beach facilities like treetop huts, toilets, changing rooms, log-sofas add to the convenience of the visitors. 6. Long Island Long Island is a remote island located close to Rangat than any other island in the Andamans. It is reachable by a government ferry from Yerrata jetty in Rangat. The island is known for its pristine white sandy beaches (Merck Bay beach and Lalaji Bay beach) and the lush green tropical forests. The island is devoid of concrete roads and motor vehicles. Cemented footpaths connect the different parts of the island, and walking or renting a bicycle (if available) is the only way to explore the island. It is advisable to spend a night at Long Island. It has 3 government and 1 private accommodation option. You can swim, snorkel, and relax at the emerald beaches of the island. Trekking through the jungle paths is also an activity you can enjoy while staying at Long Island. How many nights should one stay in Rangat? All the sightseeing places or the places to visit in Rangat can be covered at ease if you stay for a night in Rangat. On Day 1, you can start from Port Blair, visit Baratang Island on the way, reach Rangat, explore its stunning beaches, and spend a night in the town. On Day 2, you can cover all the remaining places of interest in Rangat and move further towards Diglipur. People, however, visit Rangat as a pitstop on the way to Diglipur from Port Blair or while returning from Diglipur. Where to stay in Rangat? You'll find several basic lodge options in the main town area of Rangat that you could book for a night's stay. The best option is, however, the government guesthouse named 'Hawksbill Nest' located very close to the Cuthbert Bay beach. You can book your stay in this online from the UT Tourism's website. PIN THIS IMAGE Hope this travel guide of Rangat in Andamans helps you plan your own trip. If you think we have missed out on any other place to visit in Rangat, hit us up in the comments section. Also, if you face any difficulties in trip planning or have any doubts, reach out to us via e-mail or use the comments section below. We’ll be happy to help.

Mayabunder is located at the northernmost corner of the Middle Andaman Island. It is the administrative quarters of the North and Middle Andaman District. During the British occupation of the Andaman Islands, Myanmar residents were brought to Mayabunder for labour work. They chose to stay in India after Independence, and hence this town has a small concentration of Karen community. Blessed with semi-evergreen and deciduous forests, the coastal areas of Mayabunder are enriched with mangrove creeks, stony coral reefs and seaweeds. Though the town has very few sightseeing places that attracts tourists, we specifically fell in love with its rawness, its down-to-earth people, and its greenery. Where is Mayabunder? From Port Blair, Mayabunder lies at a distance of around 230 kilometres by road or around 75 nautical miles by sea. From an unnamed junction on the bumpy Andaman Trunk Road, you’ll see a narrow road curving towards right. This will take you to Mayabunder nestled in the upper Middle Andaman Islands. How to reach Mayabunder? There are two ways to reach Mayabunder: via road, and sea. By road: It takes around 10 hours to reach Mayabunder from Port Blair via road. Either book a bus (government or private) or hire a private car. As discussed in our previous blogs on North and Middle Andaman, you will have to take to the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR) to reach Mayabunder via roadways. The route is as follows: Port Blair – Jirkatang – Jarawa Tribal Reserve – Baratang – Kadamtala – Rangat – Nimbudera – Mayabunder You may or may not halt for a night in one of the towns in between. It is possible to reach Mayabunder in a single day from Port Blair; however, be ready for a tiring journey. This is because of bad road conditions and lots of waiting time in between when you will have to cross two creeks on the way on a government ferry. To complete the journey in a single day, start as early as 4 or 5 AM from Port Blair. The government buses to Mayabunder run from the Central bus station at Aberdeen Bazaar in Port Blair. The private buses have several pick-up points from the Port Blair town, so enquire beforehand from the bus service operator you book with and select the one nearest to your hotel. Advance bookings are highly recommended in both cases. By sea: It takes around 8 hours to reach Mayabunder from Port Blair via a ferry. Only government ferries operate from Port Blair to Mayabunder (and back). The ferry runs only once a week. The bookings open only 1 or 2 days before the departure, and tickets are issued from the STAR ticket counters in Port Blair. The return tickets need to be booked from Mayabunder itself. If the ‘once a week’ ferry timing doesn’t suit you, take a ferry either to Rangat or Diglipur that sail at higher frequencies than the ones to Mayabunder, and then catch a government bus from there to reach Mayabunder. What is the best time to visit Mayabunder? The best time to visit Mayabunder is from October to March. The weather is pleasant during these months and is ideal for sightseeing. It starts becoming hot in Mayabunder from March and April. May to June is the peak summer season, whereas the monsoon begins by the end of June. Visiting Mayabunder is not recommended in the peak monsoon months from July to September because of incessant rainfall and strong weather winds. The Andaman Trunk Road to Mayabunder, which passes through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve, closes down intermittently in monsoon due to tree falls. Even the government ferries connecting Port Blair to Mayabunder and the two creeks in between stop operating due to flooding, high tidal waves, and rough sea conditions. What are the places to visit in Mayabunder? 1. Karmatang Beach Karmatang Beach lies 12 kilometres away from the centre of Mayabunder. It is connected by good roads, hence can be easily reached by car or autos. It is one of the most picturesque beaches of the Middle Andaman Islands. The Forest Department has developed and maintained the entire shoreline into an eco-friendly spot by installing changing rooms, toilets, bamboo tree houses, wooden seating area, short nature trails, and playgrounds. There is plenty of shade underneath big trees at Karmatang beach where you can rest after a strenuous swim in the sea. Several hammocks are also hung in between coconut trees. The beach is super clean and well-maintained; hence you can even plan a small picnic here. To be frank, we were pleasantly surprised to see the upkeep of facilities at Karmatang beach. Karmatang beach is perfect for swimming as the beach is flat and the sand is soft and less grainy. The beach is also a turtle nesting ground, and if you visit between December to March, you might be able to see Olive Ridley or the Andaman green turtles laying eggs or hatching in large numbers. 2. Webi Village In 1924, when the Andaman administration was under British rule, the Britishers invited people to come and settle in the Middle Andaman Islands in return providing work opportunities (clearing forests, working in timber factories, and cultivating agricultural lands). The Karen community in Burma (Myanmar) saw this as a great opportunity and about 63 families landed in Mayabunder in a span of two years. In Mayabunder, the Karen founded Webi village (meaning: the hidden village). After India gained Independence in 1947, the migrated people of the Karen community chose to stay back in the country and were granted Citizenship. Today, about 2500 Karens live in Mayabunder. They have adapted to some new initiatives to tap into the region’s tourism potential, but have still tried to keep their ancient traditions and culture alive. They speak the Karen language, use traditional methods to catch fish, grow their own food, live in bamboo and mud houses with thatched roofs, and earn a living through agriculture and by selling eco-friendly handicrafts. A walk through Webi village and some chit chat with the friendly locals will give you an insight into their rich culture and history of their settlement in the Andamans. You can also stay with a Karen family in their traditional house converted into a homestay named Koh Hee Homestay. John and Doris are excellent hosts and will take you on guided walks, tell you interesting stories about Karen community and the Webi village, and treat you to mouth-watering traditional Karen food. 3. Andaman Karen Crafts Andaman Karen Crafts or AKC is a small crafts centre where the local Karen women from Webi village make hand-crafted traditional Karen arts. This centre has been set up to support livelihood of local Karen community, preserve their culture and to provide women empowerment. They weave baskets, clothes, and are also involved in carpentry. They sell the final products at the centre as well as to other retailers. The products include purses, sling bags, hand bags, traditional Karen clothes, fishing nets, and bamboo baskets. 4. German Jetty German jetty is the former harbour (ferry point) of Mayabunder which was built during the Second World War by a German engineer. Hence the name! You can find it in a rather dilapidated condition today very close to the APWD Guest House. However, you can still enjoy a quiet time here as there’s seldom anyone who visits this place. Covered with huge rocks towards the shore, the jetty area gives a spectacular view of the open sea. On the ground floor of the Andaman Karen Craft Centre is a small restaurant that serves authentic Karen dishes to the visiting guests. Surrounding the bamboo building is a nursery where they grow organic produce for their kitchen, as well as nurture and sell flowering plants. 5. Anmol Driftwood Museum Anmol museum houses a collection of woodwork sculpted using driftwood by a private entrepreneur. Driftwood is basically log of wood that gets washed on to the shore by waves, and winds. The sculptor/ owner, Mr. Shanmugam, himself takes you around the museum and explains his vision while sculpting the particular piece of art. The design of some of the art pieces is incredible and a 15-minute quick visit to the museum is recommended. 6. Nearby islands Mayabunder is surrounded by lesser-known islands mainly Avis Island, Interview Island, and Austin X Island. These are located about 20–30-minute boat ride away from Mayabunder jetty and are seldom visited by tourists. None of these tiny islands have accommodation options, and hence you can only visit them as a day trip. Special permission has to be procured to visit the islands that you can procure from the Forest Department Office in Mayabunder. We didn’t have time to visit any of these, hence can’t provide you with much detailed information. How many nights should one stay in Mayabunder? All the sightseeing places or the places to visit in Mayabunder can be covered at ease if you stay for 1 night in the town. You require 1 full day to visit everything, so plan out accordingly. Where to stay in Mayabunder? The Andaman PWD Guest House, run and managed by the Andaman Tourism Board is the most reliable option to stay in Mayabunder. There are a few other lodges and guest houses scattered across the town, but we can’t vouch for their reliability. Regardless, to have an authentic and immersive experience, the best place to stay in Mayabunder is the Koh Hee Homestay in Webi village, which is 8 kilometres away from the centre of Mayabunder. Koh Hee Homestay is a traditional Karen home surrounded by paddy fields and a seasonal freshwater stream flowing just behind. The host (John, Doris and family) live on the ground floor, while the first floor has 3 rooms and an open-shelf library for the guests. The washroom is common and is located on the ground floor, however it is always very clean. It has also been recognised as the best homestay by Outlook Responsible Tourism. They also have a nursery where they grow Karen traditional medicinal plants and native fruits. John took us to his nursery and showed us so many plants, vegetables, fruits and patiently informed us about their medicinal uses. He is very passionate about preserving his roots and is always happy to educate guests about these. PIN THIS IMAGE We hope that this guide to Mayabunder helps you in planning your trip. Get in touch with us in the comments section below should you have any questions.

Diglipur is the largest town situated in North Andaman Island. It is the northernmost point in the chain of Andaman Islands that has facilities for travellers. Diglipur houses some of the most unique sights that you will not get to see anywhere in India; like Ross & Smith Islands (twin islands that unite through a sand bar during low tide), Saddle peak (highest peak in Andaman), mud volcanoes (the small bubbling puddles that spurt out mud), Lamiya Bay beach (popular for ‘arribadas’), and Kalpong River (only flowing river on Andaman Island). Already sold? Well, read on to know more about Diglipur, how to reach there, and detailed information on places to stay and visit in Diglipur. Where is Diglipur? Diglipur (North Andaman) is located about 300 kilometres away by road from the capital city of Port Blair (South Andaman). By sea, it is 180 kilometres or 160 nautical miles away from Port Blair. The Andaman Trunk Road that runs from Port Blair ends in Diglipur, connecting major towns like Baratang, Rangat, and Mayabunder in between. How to reach Diglipur? There are three ways to reach Diglipur: via road, sea, and air. However, only the road and sea routes are reliable. By road: It takes around 12 hours to reach Diglipur from Port Blair via road. Either book a bus (government or private) or hire a private car. As discussed in our previous blogs on North and Middle Andaman, you will have to take to the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR) to reach Diglipur via roadways. The route is as follows: Port Blair – Jirkatang – Jarawa Tribal Reserve – Baratang – Kadamtala – Rangat – Nimbudera – Mayabunder – Diglipur You may or may not halt for a night in one of the towns in between based on your preference. Night journeys are not allowed on this route. It is possible to reach Diglipur in a single day from Port Blair; however, be ready for a tiring journey. This is because of bad road conditions and lots of waiting time in between when you will have to cross creeks on the way by getting on a government ferry along with your vehicle. To complete the journey in a single day, start as early as 4 or 5 AM from Port Blair. The government buses run from the Central bus station at Aberdeen Bazaar in Port Blair. The private buses have several pick-up points from the Port Blair town, so enquire beforehand from the bus service operator you book with and select the one nearest to your hotel. Advance bookings are highly recommended in both cases. By sea: It takes around 10 hours to reach Diglipur from Port Blair via a ferry. Only government ferries operate from Port Blair to Aerial Bay jetty in Diglipur (and back). The ferry runs 3-4 times a week and takes a pitstop at Rangat before reaching Diglipur. The bookings open only 1 or 2 days before the departure, and tickets are issued from the STAR ticket counters in Port Blair. The return tickets need to be booked from Diglipur itself. The good thing about travelling to Diglipur via government ferry is that they are convenient, and overnight sails are available that don’t eat up your entire day. However the drawback is that you cannot cover every attraction along the way. By air: Seaplanes do not fly from Port Blair to Diglipur yet. Wherever you find this information, it is wrong! Helicopters only fly to Diglipur in case of some medical emergencies. There is no scheduled helicopter departure. If vacant seats are available in one such helicopter, tourists can book them on the spot. Hence, you cannot rely on air journeys to reach Diglipur. The good news is a new airport is being constructed in Diglipur and is in its completion stages. Once operational, Diglipur will be connected to Port Blair via Andaman Airways, and the travel time will reduce to 45 minutes or 1 hour. Given the above options, we would recommend the following - If you are a budgeted traveller, take ferry for onward journey to Diglipur and bus while returning or vice-versa. This way you can experience best of both journeys. You can also stop midway while on bus and take another bus the next day hence covering various attractions in Middle Andaman If budget is not an issue, hire a private cab from Port Blair for your entire journey. They may charge INR 3000-4500 per day based on size of car and how well you can negotiate What is the best time to visit Diglipur? The best time to visit Diglipur is from October to March. The weather is charming during these months and is ideal for sightseeing. It starts becoming hot in Diglipur from March and April. May to June is the peak summer season, whereas the monsoon begins by the end of June. Visiting Diglipur is not recommended in the peak monsoon months from July to September because of incessant rainfall and strong weather winds. The Andaman Trunk Road to Diglipur, which passes through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve, closes down intermittently in monsoon due to tree falls. Even the government ferries connecting Port Blair to Diglipur and the two creeks in between stop operating due to flooding, high tidal waves, and rough sea conditions. How many nights should one stay in Diglipur? All the sightseeing places or the places to visit in Diglipur can be covered at ease if you stay for 3 nights in the town. You require 3 full days to visit everything, out of which one entire day goes in trekking to the Saddle Peak, one day in exploring Ross & Smith Islands, and one additional day for the rest of the places. What are the places to visit in Diglipur? 1. Saddle Peak At 2420 feet, Saddle Peak is the highest peak in the Andamans. Its base is located in the Saddle Peak National Park, about 11 kilometres away from the Aerial Bay Jetty in Diglipur. Here, you will have to procure permission to enter the National Park (fill a form) and pay a certain permit fee. No prior permission is required in advance, and you can do this while starting your trek to Saddle Peak. The permit counter is open from 6 AM to 2 PM. The trek to Saddle Peak is easy to moderate in difficulty level. However, the trek is long (about 13 kilometres one way), so if you wish to trek the entire way to the peak, you should be physically fit and, most importantly, start as early as possible. The National Park starts losing natural light as early as 4 PM due to the dense forest cover. We started our trek to Saddle Peak a bit late (around 8 AM). The initial 7 kilometres of the trail is an easy walk through the dense tropical forest alongside the sea. The trail is well marked with signposts (no guides required) and if you are confused, follow the beach. The forest houses tall and huge trees that opened up at some places to give access to the sea. We also came across a few water streams that were completely dried up, but big logs were placed to cross them easily. Whenever we needed a break, we looked for a clearing and took a rest on the shore. After an easy walk for 7 kilometres, we took a right to enter the dense jungle and started ascending towards Saddle Peak. We climbed the natural steps formed by the roots of big old trees and followed the trail. The tree canopy kept the trail quite cool and saved us from the scorching afternoon heat. Anyhow, we were lucky it was a bit cloudy that day. We reached the peak after 6 hours, and to our dismay, the distant view was completely foggy. It was unclear where the sea ended, and the sky began. As we were already running out of time, we took a few pictures and started descending. The descent was relatively easy, but as the distance was long, it still took us 4 hours to get back to the base. We walked the last stretch of the descent in complete darkness with the help of our mobile torch lights. We knew that the forest did not house wild animals, but it still was scary. We reached back by around 6 PM and hence highly advise everyone to start early to get back in daylight. Was the trek to Saddle Peak worth it? We do not think so. The trek is too time-consuming and strenuous with what you get in return. For us, it was disappointing. But we really loved walking alongside the beach in the forest. If you are not interested in summitting the peak, you definitely should at least enter the National Park (the entrance fee isn’t expensive), walk for a few kilometres following the trail, admire the sandy shores and dense tree cover, and return back without actually ascending the peak. The beaches would be completely deserted and feel private. This way, you will also get access to the Lamiya Bay beach and the turtle hatchery that borders the Saddle Peak National Park. Entrance fee and permit to the Saddle Peak National Park – INR 50 per person Camera fee – INR 500 Tip – Carry sufficient food and water, and wear comfortable shoes and clothes Interesting fact - Saddle peak and as such entire Andaman Islands are part of Himalayan ranges! Himalayas extend to North-East of India, Myanmar, submerge under the ocean and rise up as Andamans. 2. Lamiya Bay beach The Lamiya Bay Beach is located at the foot of the Saddle Peak trekking trail. It lies about 12 kilometres away from the Aerial Bay jetty in Diglipur. As stated above, entry charges have to be paid to enter the beach premises as it is located in the Saddle Peak National Park. The forest officials have installed eco-friendly infrastructure for the tourists on the beach, including bamboo huts, wooden tables, sit-outs, and log-sofas. Lamiya Bay beach is a lesser-known turtle nesting site in Andamans where even mass turtle nesting events (arribadas) have been observed. There is a covered hatchery taken care of by the forest officials who even perform night vigils during the nesting season. The beach is seldom visited by any tourist, and it’s highly likely that you find the entire stretch to yourself. Visit the beach for a peaceful time amidst nature. 3. Ross and Smith Islands The moment we saw the first pictures of Ross & Smith Islands while researching the trip, we were sold. Ross & Smith Islands are twin islands that get connected via a strip of 50 metre sand bar during low tide and again separated as individual islands during high tide. You can actually walk on the sand bar and go from one island to the other during your visit. The boat for Ross & Smith Islands alights from the Aerial Bay jetty in Diglipur. From the jetty, you need to obtain a permit (as the islands fall under a protected marine sanctuary), pay the necessary permit fee, and buy the return boat tickets. The boat accommodates 5-10 people and if you are not in a group, wait for some time for other tourists to share the cost. After a 25-minute boat ride, you get down at the Smith Island and get 3 hours to explore the islands. We were able to see the beautiful twin islands from the boat itself. The islands are surrounded by turquoise blue crystal-clear water. Once on Smith Island, we decided to walk the sand bar and explore Ross Island first. The natural sand bar is formed by fine, white, grainy sand and is surrounded by a picturesque sea on both sides. As your boat approaches the islands, Ross Island is the small one on the right. It is mostly covered with dense foliage, and there are just a few eco-huts where you can rest and spend some time admiring the beauty of nature. We were not allowed to swim anywhere near Ross Island or surrounding the sand bar. Smith Island is the one on left, is bigger, has a lot of facilities like seating benches, changing rooms, bamboo huts, and toilets. There’s a dedicated marked area surrounding Smith Island where we were allowed to enter the water and swim. There weren’t any water sports facilities to our relief (water sports facilities usually result in more crowds and unclear water which we tend to avoid). We carried our own snorkelling gear, but the officials did not allow us to use the mask and the tube (bummer). However, we swam in the not-so-deep marked area that has transparent water and even managed to see some pretty fish underwater (with the help of swimming goggles). We then spent some time on the beach. The beauty of the place can’t be described in words. It was a pure visual treat. 3 hours went by in a jiffy, and it was time to return. Trust us, you just can’t get enough of Ross & Smith Islands. This one place makes it worth visiting Diglipur. Permit fee for Ross & Smith Islands – INR 80 per person Return ferry tickets to Ross & Smith Islands – INR 8000/big boat (accommodates 10 people) or INR 5000/small boat (accommodates 5 people) Tip – Carry extra clothes (you won’t be able to stop yourself from entering the water). Also, carry some light snacks, water, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Smith Island does have couple of vendors who sell basic eatieries Note – Ross & Smith Islands are closed on Tuesdays 4. Kalipur beach Kalipur beach is the most popular beach in Diglipur and is located about 8 kilometres away from the Aerial Bay jetty. It is amongst the very few beaches in the world which is a nesting ground for four species of sea turtles (Olive ridley, Leatherback, Hawksbill, and green turtle). There’s a government hatchery maintained and taken care of by the forest officials. If you visit the beach between November to April, you might be able to witness turtle nesting or hatching. If you stay near Kalipur beach, visit the beach late in the night to see mother turtles lay their eggs or early in the morning to see baby turtles being released into the sea. We would wake up at 4 AM each day to visit the beach in the hope of seeing a mother turtle laying eggs. While we could not see the mother turtle, we were lucky enough to find trail of mother turtle that had dug a hole, laid eggs, filled the hole and returned to the sea. The forest officials then dug up the hole, retrieved all the eggs and took it to a safe hatchery area on the beach and buried the eggs at the same depth. We were also lucky to see the baby hatchlings released into the sea by forest officials one morning. If you love turtles and would like to witness what we just described, read our blog on Velas, a small village in Maharashtra where we witnessed similar practice. The sand at Kalipur beach is dark grey in colour (possibly due to volcanic eruption centuries ago), and maybe that’s why it is called so (Kali means black in the English language). The beach is wide, and during low tide, you’ll be able to see dead rocky corals on the shore. A part of the beach is safe for swimming and snorkelling; however, we did not venture out in the sea. The mountain you see from Kalipur beach is the Saddle Peak. 5. Craggy Island Craggy Island is a tiny island (about half a kilometre in length) off Kalipur beach. We stayed near Kalipur beach, and as per our host, one can swim/ snorkel to Craggy Island in 20 minutes. He told us that in the past, experienced swimmers have trodden the water to visit Craggy Island and that one can spot colourful corals and fishes while snorkelling on the way. Nevertheless, we did not dare perform this stunt, and we advise our readers to seek information before venturing out this way into the sea. If you do, keep someone informed, carry proper underwater gears, and wait for low tides. 6. Mud volcanoes at Shyamnagar About 35 kilometres away from the Aerial Bay jetty in Diglipur, you can spot mud volcanoes similar to those of Baratang. These lie a few kilometres away from the Shyamnagar village, north of Diglipur town. The locals describe the mud volcanoes of Diglipur as being better than those of Baratang, but if you have already witnessed the ones in Baratang, you better give it a skip. The return journey to these mud volcanoes may take you half a day which may not seem worth it. Mud volcanoes are basically a rare natural wonder where gases and liquid mixed with mud are excreted by the earth’s interior. You can see the mud bubbling and the liquid clay being spewed out. 7. Ramnagar Beach and Alfred Caves Ramnagar Beach is located about 40 kilometres from the Aerial Bay jetty in Diglipur. It is an eco-tourism site developed quite well by the government with changing room facilities, toilets, sit-out areas, and tree-top viewpoints. The beach is calm, ideal for swimming, sunbathing, or just relaxing on the shore. It is also a turtle nesting ground, and there is a big hatchery built on the coast. The beach is seldom visited by tourists as it is pretty far and the roads are pretty bad in condition. Alfred caves are limestone caves located very close to the Ramnagar beach. These are a cluster of 40 natural caves with a narrow opening that keeps on getting wider as you go deeper inside. Where to stay in Diglipur? You will find several basic tourist lodges spread across Diglipur town. Most of the sightseeing places in Diglipur are located around Kalipur village. Hence, booking accommodation near that area would make more sense. We stayed in a private property named Pristine Beach Resort. It is located near Kalipur beach, has different categories of rooms, and all the required amenities. However, do not expect luxury anywhere in the North or Middle Andaman Islands. Checkout current prices of Pristine Beach resort by clicking below links - Another good option in Kalipur is the Turtle Resort, run by Andaman and Nicobar Tourism Department. There’s also one APWD Guesthouse run by the tourism board in the town that you might want to check. These can be booked online through the Andaman Tourism board’s website. If you are visiting Diglipur in the peak season (i.e., From October to February), ensure that you pre-book your stay. As far as the food is concerned, all the hotels have their in-house restaurants serving delicious food. You will also find some basic eating joints and small dhabas in Diglipur town. These have a limited menu but nevertheless serve freshly cooked and home-like food. Other important information Internal transportation: All the places to visit in Diglipur are scattered around the town at long distances. If you arrive by a private car that stays at your disposal, sightseeing won’t be difficult. But, if you arrive by ferry or by bus, transportation within Diglipur will turn out to be pricier. We highly suggest renting a two-wheeler (scooter) from the Diglipur market area and go about exploring everything at your ease. Mobile and internet connectivity: BSNL is the most reliable network in the North and Middle Andaman Islands. When we visited in early 2020, there weren’t any Airtel or Vodafone connections. We aren’t too sure about current connectivity conditions. You can always call your accommodation beforehand and ask them about specific network connectivity. As with mobile networks, internet connectivity is highly unreliable. Your accommodation may or may not have any Wi-Fi connectivity as well. So, go prepared. ATM and Supermarket: Diglipur is the biggest town in the North Andamans; hence, ATMs are readily available. We would still suggest carrying sufficient cash in case the ATMs don’t work. You will also find plenty of shops selling fruits, vegetables, groceries, processed food packets, as well as pharmacies selling basic medicines in the Diglipur town. Since connectivity is an issue, you wouldn't find many shops accepting e-wallet, UPI or credit card payments. Hence having cash is important. Pin this image Hope this extensive guide on Diglipur helps you plan your trip. If you have any doubts or questions, drop them in the comment section below. You can also directly contact us via our Email or DM us on Instagram.

Have you been planning a cheap foreign trip from Dubai? Since we began our journey as full-time travellers, we have always looked for cheap countries to travel to. We soon realised that travelling to cheaper countries is an excellent way to start our international travel odyssey. So, we have compiled this list of the cheapest top 10 travel destinations to travel from Dubai. It's no surprise that there are a lot of nations where Dubai travellers can go on a resourceful budget. And with low-cost airlines like FlyDubai, booking an affordable flight has never been easier. So, if you have plans to take a foreign trip from Dubai this year, here are the top 10 countries that we highly recommend you should explore. 10 Cheapest Countries You Can Travel to from Dubai 1. Iran (1 AED ~ 11529 IRR) After the 2020 pandemic, many countries are suffering from over-tourism. But Iran is one of the countries where tourism is low; hence you can have unique experiences across the country. Since Iran is always under some negative news, travellers feel that it isn't a safe country to visit. However, life in Iran is not what is represented in Western media. On the contrary, it is one of the most hospitable nations with locals who are absolutely welcoming and heart-warming. Iran will impress you with its stunning landscapes, magnificent architecture, vibrant colours, awe-inspiring shrines, and mouth-watering Persian food. 2. Uzbekistan (1 AED ~ 2965 UZS) Have you ever dreamt of exploring the ancient Silk Road regions? Well, stop by Uzbekistan, a short flight from Dubai, to visit the remains of the Silk Road in Central Asia. The country is yet another lesser-known travel destination and is a cheap nation to travel to from Dubai. Unlike Iran, Uzbekistan does not expect its travellers to dress a certain way. It is one of those Muslim-dominated countries that is still liberal when it comes to religion. Uzbeks are some of the kindest and friendliest people in the world. Travel to the popular cities of Khiva, Tashkent, Bukhara, and Samarkand in Uzbekistan and get charmed by the striking monuments. 3. Kazakhstan (1 AED ~ 130 KZT) Club your trip to Uzbekistan with Kazakhstan and save on your conveyance by flying only once. From Uzbekistan, you can travel to Kazakhstan by train. Kazakhstan is modern and is home to one of the largest steppes (vast land of grasslands) in the world, named the Kazak steppe. It also houses the third largest mosque in Asia, the Nur Astana Mosque, which is a must-visit. Also, have you heard of apple forests? Yes, the nation is known as the fatherland of apples. Visit Kazakhstan for endless deserts, majestic canyons, futuristic skyscrapers, and colossal glaciers. 4. Armenia (1 AED ~ 111 AMD) Armenia is a hugely popular destination to travel to from Dubai. You will love this nation if you are into places that are off the usual trail. Located in the middle of Asia and Europe, Armenia follows the customs and traditions of the two continents, making it an incredibly diverse country to visit. Armenia is dotted with Soviet-era relics, old churches and monasteries set in magical locations, and the highlands of the Ararat mountains. In addition, Armenia's cuisine is nothing short of spectacular. Step into the gorgeous countryside of Armenia and create unforgettable memories. 5. Sri Lanka (1 AED ~ 98 LKR) Except for some parts of Sri Lanka with political unrest, this island nation is peaceful and very welcoming towards travellers. The coastal country is home to incredible beaches and is a haven for water sports, like surfing, diving, snorkelling, and swimming. Not just the beaches, Sri Lanka also has some stunning waterfalls, majestic mountains, tropical forests, and fantastic wildlife. The country is also highly known for its excellent seafood. Explore the many UNESCO World Heritage sites, white sandy beaches, jungle safaris, and picture-perfect landscapes while touring Sri Lanka. 6. Nepal (1 AED ~ 34 NPR) Nepal offers a great backpacking experience and is an incredibly cheap country to travel to from Dubai. In addition, the nation is a trekker's paradise and provides ample opportunities for mountain explorations. In Nepal, you will wake up to beautiful Himalayan views each day and feel at home with the warm hospitality of the Nepalese. The country is home to phenomenal rice terraces, snow peaks, glaciers, and forests. Predominantly a Hindu country, you will be a spectator to unique customs and traditions in Nepal, especially while exploring Kathmandu. 7. India (1 AED ~ 21 INR) With a large number of ex-pats and labourers from India, frequent flights from Dubai ply to several cities of this nation daily and are often cheap. Only a few countries can offer diverse experiences to their visitors as India can. India is a perfect all-in-one destination for tourists looking to combine mountains, beaches, culture, traditions, deserts, jungles, and bustling cities. Visit the Taj Mahal in Agra, bathe in the Ganges in Varanasi, explore the beaches in Goa, get lost in the ancient ruins of Hampi, and find your inner self at the authentic Ayurvedic centres in Kerala. 8. Egypt (1 AED ~ 5 EGP) Home to Cairo, one of the most magical cities in the world, Egypt is only 4 hours away from Dubai. So, if Dubai starts feeling like a skyscraper forest to you, it's best to take a trip to Egypt to regenerate your body with its soulful food, vibrant places, and beautiful people. Among many other places to explore, do not miss out on visiting the Great Pyramids and cruising the Nile in Egypt. Learn the history behind the 500-year-old Egyptian civilisation, visit the Egyptian Museum, and book a sunset cruise on the Nile to make the most of your trip to this magical nation. 9. Turkey (1 AED ~ 4.7 TRY) Turkey is a perfect weekend getaway from Dubai and is worth every penny you spend on a few hours' flight. It is a fairytale nation with incredible mosques and souqs, decorated chapels, crystal clear lagoons and beaches, green mountains, and lively culture. Turkey has something for each kind of traveller – be it a backpacker, luxury traveller, or cultural addict. Explore the cave cities, visit the stunning Blue Mosque in Istanbul, stroll through the Roman ruins, and enjoy the delicious Turkish food while touring this breath-taking country. 10. Maldives (1 AED ~ 4 MVR) The Maldives is often tagged as an expensive destination because of its luxury overwater accommodations and the exorbitant rates of water activities. But it is easily possible to have a budget-friendly vacation in this country with careful planning and good research. The fear of cost should not deter you from exploring the turquoise waters and the aquatic life in the Maldives. Dive in the Banana Reef, gorge on the delicious seafood, stay on a local island, enjoy a sunset cruise, and watch dolphins while touring the Maldives. Low-cost airline to and from Dubai: With an excellent range of destinations and well-trained staff, Fly Dubai is an affordable and convenient airline to fly out of the Middle East. In addition, it is the only low-cost carrier to offer Business class services in its fleet of clean, modern Boeing 737 planes with and exceptional comfort. You can find great deals for FlyDubai booking on several travel portals, and enjoy a relaxing journey to these highly affordable countries to visit. Have you been to any of these countries? How much did you spend in that specific country? Let us know in the comments below.

Port Blair, the capital city of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is a part of the South Andaman Islands. To reach anywhere in the Andamans, you first fly to or sail to Port Blair. Hence, it makes up for a great start to your Andaman itinerary. However, there are some incredible places to visit near Port Blair that you must include in your itinerary. Each of these places can easily be covered in a day, making up for great half day trips or full day trips from Port Blair. In this article, we have detailed all these wonderful places to visit near Port Blair. While you consider all places listed in this article to your itinerary, there are many places worth visiting inside Port Blair as well. Ranging from water sports activities, gardens, museums, historical places and also a beach is what you can find in Port Blair. Read below article to know about such places. The Andaman Odyssey is a series of 16 articles that covers Andamans extensively giving you all the information you might need to plan a trip (or multiple trips) to these beautiful emerald islands of India. Click on images below to read these articles - 1. Introduction to Emerald islands of India 2. Plan your own trip to Andamans 3. A complete travel guide to Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) 3.1 Review: Summer Sands Beach Resort 4. A complete travel guide to Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) 4.1 Review: Symphony Palms Beach Resort 4.2 Review: Havelock Island Beach Resort 5. Review: Dive with Scuba Lov 6. Review: Makruzz - Cruising across Andamans 7. Plan your trip to North Andaman and Middle Andaman Islands 8. Visit Baratang Island, Middle Andaman Island 9. Visit Rangat - Middle Andaman Island 10. Visit Mayabunder - Middle Andaman Island 11. Visit Diglipur - North Andaman Island 12. Travel Guide to Port Blair 13. Places to visit near Port Blair (This article) Places to visit near Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar The places to visit in Port Blair, including the museums, the beaches, and the other sea-side attractions, can be easily explored in two full days. If you have additional time beyond that, we recommend these places to visit near Port Blair that can each be covered as a day trip from the capital town. 1. Eastern Islands - Ross Island or Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island - North Bay Island - Viper Island There are set of 3 islands on east of Port Blair - Ross island now renamed as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island, North Bay Island and Viper Island. Covering all the 3 is one full day trip starting from Rajiv Gandhi water sports complex. However, Viper Island has been closed for tourists since quite some time and we would never recommend anyone to visit North Bay Island. This leaves you with Ross island which we would recommend visiting towards evening. Read on to know why. 1.1 Ross Island or Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island Ross Island, also known as the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island, is located 3 kilometres (15 minutes boat ride) east of Port Blair in the Andamans and is amongst the best place to visit near Port Blair. The island was once an important seat of British power, who brought beautiful infrastructural changes to Ross Island. Today, the buildings are in ruin, which is still breathtaking to visit. Every evening the island lit up with a Light and Sound show. The Light and Sound show tickets are available from the Rajiv Gandhi water Sports Complex in Port Blair. The walk across Ross Island is uphill, which can be really strenuous and tiring. Since you get just 1 hour to explore the island, we suggest getting around in the recirculating electric golf carts by paying INR 80 extra. In this, the driver doubles up as a guide and explains you everything. Once you reach the topmost point of Ross Island, climb the stairs to the other side, and visit the lighthouse that gives an excellent view of the blue sea. You can return in another recirculating golf cart. Deer, rabbits, squirrels, and peacocks fearlessly roam Ross Island. The roots of big trees have grown around the ruins of the old buildings, church, and garrison. While most islands in Andamans are known for their beaches and water sports, Ross Island is the only one where you find history. Note: Ross Island is closed every Wednesday. Since the boat to Ross Island is a shared boat, make sure that you complete the exploration and reach back in the allotted time. We would recommend you do only Ross Island (not North Bay Island - Read on to why) and you do it in evening i.e. take last or 2nd last ferry to Ross Island. This way you will be able to see light and sound show as well as see sun setting behind Port Blair. Also the light and sound show at Ross Island is better than that of Cellular jail. Entry fee for Ross Island: INR 30 per person Golf Cart ride charges at Ross Island: INR 80 per person Light and Sound Show ticket charge: INR 100 per person; Show timing: 5:30 PM Last ferry timing from Rajiv Gandhi water sports complex to Ross Island: 4:00 PM 1.2 North Bay Island North Bay Island is another 15 minutes boat ride from Ross Island. It doesn’t offer much other than water sports activities like snorkelling, scuba diving, jet-skiing, glass-bottom boat ride, coral safari submarine and sea walk. The beach is non-existent, and the island is filled with stalls of vendors offering you packages of different water sports activities. The water is filthy, the visibility is very, very poor, and the toilets/ changing rooms are extremely dirty. In our opinion, the North Bay Island is, in fact, the worst place to visit near Port Blair. Take our advice – Do not visit North Bay Island. While buying boat tickets at the Rajiv Gandhi water sports complex in Port Blair, opt only to visit Ross Island and completely skip the North Bay Island. If at all, you buy the combined package for both the islands, do not, and we repeat, do not buy tickets/ packages for water sports activities. Snorkelling and Scuba diving are done right on the shore where the visibility is poor. They try to sell you the activities by showing pretty photos and videos of the underwater marine life. Trust us; you will not see even 10% of what they show you in videos and photos. Snorkelling and scuba diving activities at Havelock Island and Neil Island are far far better than what you get at the North Bay Island. We dived with Scuba Lov in Havelock Island and it was one of the most amazing underwater experiences of our life. Also in terms of under water activities, think of it this way - If you are old (>50 yrs) or have any lung/heart ailments, Glass bottom ride and Coral Safari Submarine are for you. They are safe, simple ways for you to experience underwater life. You can even try Seawalk depending on your health situation. If you are young and healthy - doing above mentioned activities are a waste of your time. You just need to do Snorkelling and/or Scuba diving. Both these activities are better done away from crowds and away from shore where underwater aquatic life and corals would be thriving. Doing it in North Bay Island near Port Blair or Elephant beach in Havelock is simply a waste. We were completely disappointed looking at the state of affairs as soon as we reached the North Bay Island. The worst part was that we were in a shared boat and had to wait and stall time at the island for 2.5 hours. What irked us more was that they prohibited us from using our personal snorkelling gear on the shore. The only grace was the North Bay Island Lighthouse, located a short hike from the commotion. It is situated on a small hill that gives a magnificent view of the endless sea. Hardly anyone climbed this hill, and we spent all our time on the bench beside the lighthouse overlooking the incredible view. So, if you are stranded like us, you know where to go! Boat to Ross Island and North Bay Island operate from the Rajiv Gandhi water Sports Complex at Aberdeen Jetty in Port Blair, South Andamans. Both these islands can be easily visited one after the other in a single day. If you buy a combined ticket, you will be first taken to Ross Island, where you will get 1 hour for exploration. You will then have to board the same boat that will take you to North Bay Island, where you get 2 to 2.5 hours to explore this island. The same boat then brings you back to Port Blair. The ticket counter at Rajiv Gandhi water sports complex is open from 8:30 AM to 3 PM. Boat ticket charge (Ross Island + North Bay Island): INR 750 per person round trip Ross Island Entry Charge: INR 30 per person North Bay Island Entry: Free 1.3 Viper Island Viper Island is another island located near Port Blair. Presently, the island is closed due to major destruction during the 2004 earthquake and tsunami. However, we heard that the jail was first constructed on Viper Island, and since it wasn’t able to accommodate many prisoners, another jail (The Cellular Jail) was built in Port Blair. Today, the island boasts of the ruins of the former jail on a hilltop. The boat for the Viper Island used to leave from Junglighat Jetty in Port Blair. The island sure makes a great place to visit near Port Blair. Hope it reopens soon! Hence we would recommend you to do few museums listed in our travel guide to Port Blair, Cellular Jail followed by Ross Island towards evening and Marina park in night as one day itinerary. 2. Western coast - Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park (Jolly Buoy Island / Red Skin Island), Wandoor beach and Amber Sunset point Another full day trip would be reaching western coast of Southern Andaman Island early in the day, heading to Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park doing Jolly Buoy / Red Skin Island. Post lunch covering Wandoor beach and ending the day with Amber Sunset point. Read on to know more. 2.1 Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park (Jolly Buoy Island / Red Skin Island) While Ross Island and North Bay Island are located towards the east of Port Blair, the Jolly Buoy Island and Red Skin Island are situated towards the west. The boats for both these islands leave from Wandoor Jetty, about 20 kilometres away from Port Blair. Both these islands fall under Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park. This is a group of 17-20 islands which are preserved and protected by the Andaman Administration. Only 2 of these islands Jolly Buoy and Red skin island can be accessed by tourists and you have to obtain permits to visit them. The permits are available at the IPT office (Information, Publicity and Tourism) in Port Blair, where you will have to submit copies of your photo IDs and fill out a form. You should obtain the permit in advance (a day or two before your trip). Only limited permits are issued per day to restrict tourist footfall. To protect the marine life and let the corals regenerate, one island is closed when the other is open for tourists, meaning you can visit only one of these islands during your trip. We were fortunate to get the permits for Jolly Buoy Island, the best place to visit near Port Blair in our opinion. The boat from Wandoor Jetty takes about 45 minutes to reach the island. The island is surrounded by this amazing shade of blue water, very transparent and very inviting. You get to sit at the beach, swim in the marked areas, and enjoy 3-4 hours on the island. Apart from the beach, Jolly Buoy Island is completely covered with tropical forest. It’s advisable not to go deep inside the forest. Scuba diving and snorkelling activities were closed during our visit, but we hear that the area surrounding the island is extremely rich in unique coral population and colourful marine life. There was an option of a glass-bottom boat ride where we got to see a few corals, but that wasn’t too much fun. We, however, enjoyed the Jolly Buoy Beach and the incredible views of the sea from there. When you are back from Jolly Buoy Island, do not forget to check out the Marine Interpretation Centre. It is sort of a museum that explains kind of flora and fauna found in Mahatma Gandhi marine national park with some lovely exhibits and photographs. Note: The boats to Jolly Buoy Island leave quite early in the morning (9 AM to 10 PM), so make sure you reach Wandoor on time. The island is a no-plastic zone. You will have to deposit all your plastic carry-ons at the counter at Wandoor Jetty. You do get steel bottles at ticket counter on rent where you can transfer your water There are no shops or food stalls on the island, neither are you allowed to carry packaged food. Have a fulfilling meal before you reach Wandoor. Changing rooms and toilet facilities are available on the islands. Permit charges and boat ticket charges for Jolly Buoy Island: INR 950 per person 2.2 Wandoor beach After your trip to one of these islands, spend some time at Wandoor Beach. It is a nice beach with plenty of photo opportunities because of the drifted wood and dense plantation. Wandoor beach has some stalls, eateries and shops as well. You can watch the sunset from Wandoor beach as well but we have a better spot identified for this. 2.3 Amber sunset point As you go further south of Wandoor on the western coast of southern Andaman Island, you would reach a point post which you would not be allowed to go further. This point is Amber sunset point. You might very well find the best sunsets in your Andaman trip at this point. Let us not say more and let the pictures do the talking. Note that sun sets pretty early in Andamans given it is at extreme east but yet follows Indian Standard Time (IST). Time your visit accordingly. As mentioned, the whole western coast would take one full day and you might return only post dark. 3. Southern tip - Chidiya Tapu, Biological Park & Munda Pahad Chidiya Tapu and Munda Pahad are among the best places to visit near Port Blair for sunset viewing (along with Amber sunset point). These are southern most places in the greater Andaman Island and Munda Pahad acts as the southern most tip. 3.1 Chidiya Tapu and Biological park Chidiya Tapu is located some 18 kilometres south of Port Blair, whereas Munda Pahad is 2 kilometres further ahead. The Biological Park at Chidiya Tapu is basically a park featuring varied flora and fauna. It also has a small zoo where you can see wildlife like deer, monkeys, wild pigs, some birds, monitor lizards, turtles, and crocodiles. It is a good park to visit if you are travelling with kids. Else, you can easily skip it. Even though Chidiya Tapu is far from Port Blair, we recommend visiting it once. Make sure you leave early and reach on time; the sun sets pretty early in the Andaman Islands. The place boasts of some of the most magical sunsets. The sky changes into incredible shades of colours during and after the sunset. We went there to see the sunset twice, once from Chidiya Tapu and another time to explore the Munda Pahad beach and viewpoint. From Chidiya Tapu, you can even drive further to the Munda Pahad beach – a very beautiful white sandy long stretch of beach to watch the sunset. The road from Chidiya Tapu to Munda Pahad beach runs parallel to the ocean and is an absolutely joyful ride. From Munda Pahad Beach, you will find a trail up a hill to a viewpoint called Munda Pahad viewpoint. It’s a 1.5-kilometre hike and takes approximately 30 minutes to reach the top. You will find a path heading into the woods with a small sign board. While the hike is easy, if you are old, we would suggest avoiding it given you will be walking on unpaved path full of rocks, stones and roots. It is also slightly uphill. But the views from up there are absolutely mesmerizing. A small lighthouse atop the hill makes for a great photo background. It is advised not to see sunset from here since it gets dark pretty quickly and you should head back while it is still bright. You will find great sunset view from down the hill as well. Note: If you plan to hike to the Munda Pahad viewpoint, leave Port Blair as early as 2:00 PM and reach the base by 3:00 PM (The drive is rough in some parts and can easily take an hour based on where you start from). Munda Pahad beach and view point has its own entry point which closes at 4:00 PM. 4. North of Port Blair - Mount Harriet National Park, Collinpur beach, Baratang island There are few interesting places to visit towards north of Port Blair. But you might not be club all of them as one day trip. We would recommend doing Mount Harriet National Park and Collinpur beach as one day trip. And cover Baratang Island when you plan to visit Middle and North Andaman Islands (Rangat, Mayabunder, Diglipur). 4.1 Mount Harriet National Park Mount Harriet National Park (recently renamed Mount Manipur) is located about 45 kilometres from Port Blair by road. But, if you opt to take a ferry from Phoenix Bay Jetty to Bamboo Flat Jetty, which lies to the north of Port Blair, the distance decreases to 20 kilometres. This ferry also transfers vehicles, making this route the best way to reach Mount Harriet National Park. From Bamboo Flat, the road goes uphill all the way to the national park. From the top of the hill at Mount Harriet National Park, you can see the North Bay Island and Ross Island. On a clear day, you can see as far as Havelock Island. The photo printed on the former INR 20 Indian currency note is from Mount Harriet National Park. In the park, you will find several watchtowers, a children’s playground, a deer park, a butterfly park, a few tourist sheds, and a guest house. Mount Harriet Peak, located in the national park, is the third highest peak of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Head to the Emerald viewpoint to get some amazing views of the coastal areas. You can also trek on a nature trail leading to KalaPathar viewpoint, where you will find incredible landscapes for photography. Mount Harriet National Park is also a birder’s paradise, making it qualify among the best places to visit near Port Blair. The park can be easily visited as a day trip from Port Blair. Note: Carry water and eatables with you when visiting Mt. Harriet National Park Ferry ticket charge from Phoenix Bay Jetty to Bamboo Flat Jetty: INR 15 per person (extra cost for vehicle loading applies – INR 50 for two-wheelers and INR 130 for four-wheelers) Entry fee to Mount Harriet National Park: INR 50 per person 4.2 Collinpur Beach Collinpur Beach, also known as Sunset Bay, is another incredible sunset viewpoint near Port Blair. The beach is located about 26 kilometres northwest of Port Blair. It boasts turquoise blue water and a big stretch of soft sand. There’s a thick layer of palm tree plantations in the backdrop, so much that you wouldn’t imagine that a secluded beach exists behind it. Clean and quiet, Collinpur beach is best visited in the evening to witness magical sunsets. 4.3 Baratang Island Baratang Island is located 95 kilometres away from Port Blair by road or 52 nautical miles by sea. It is a part of Middle Andaman Island and makes for a beautiful day trip from Port Blair. The island is known for its limestone caves, mud volcanoes, mangrove forests, and nearby secluded beaches. You can reach Baratang Island via ferry (operated by Makruzz) or road. Reaching this island isn’t a piece of cake, and you must plan everything in advance. We have written a travel guide to Baratang Island wherein we have described in detail on how to reach and places to visit on the island. If you choose to visit Baratang Island by road, you have to leave as early as 4:30 AM from Port Blair, reach Jirkatang Check Post, queue up for the convoy, drive through the Jarawa Tribal area on the Andaman Trunk Road, and then take a ferry to cross the Middle Strait. Please read all about it in our blog. If you choose to visit the island via Makruzz ferry, book your tickets in advance, sit back, and enjoy your sail to the island. Once at Baratang, you have to hire a boat to reach the limestone caves, one of the best place to visit near Port Blair. This ride is through dense mangrove plantations. The limestone caves are formed naturally over hundreds of years and are a must-visit in Baratang. Mud volcanoes are natural wonders that spew out gases (excreted by the earth’s interior) along with mud. From Baratang, you can also visit the nearby islands like Parrot Island and Guitar Island. PS: To explore the above-mentioned places to visit near Port Blair, you can rent a two-wheeler from the many rental agencies in the Port Blair market. This will help you cover these places in an economical way. Pin this image Hope this detailed guide on the places to visit near Port Blair entices you to add some additional days in Port Blair to your Andaman itinerary. If you know of any other such great places to visit near Port Blair that we have missed out on, do let us know in the comments section below. Note that timings & costs mentioned in this article could have changed since publishing this article. #India #EastIndia #AndamanandNicobar #PortBlair #UnionTerritory

Gokarna is a coastal town located in the state of Karnataka in Southern India. For most local visitors, Gokarna is a town of ancient temples and a sacred pilgrimage. But for youngsters and international travellers, Gokarna is a hippie town complete with pristine white-sand beaches and a laid-back lifestyle. In our previous article, we wrote about Gokarna, its temples, and beaches. However, apart from these beaches and temples, there are several other places to visit near Gokarna that are worth exploring. If you have already been to Gokarna and crave more, then head to these other destinations within a 100-kilometre range from Gokarna. Here are the 5 must-visit places near Gokarna: Checkout other articles that may help you in planning a trip to Gokarna and nearby places - 1. Gokarna - Complete Travel Guide 2. Kahani Paradise - Luxury villa in Gokarna 3. Travel guide to Murudeshwar 4. Travel guide to Jog Falls Places to visit near Gokarna Here is a compilation of places you must visit near Gokarna and club it with your Gokarna trip. 1. Mirjan Fort Mirjan Fort is located about 22 kilometres away from Gokarna town. It falls on the Gokarna-Kumta highway. Mirjan Fort is a 16th-century fort believed to be built by Queen Chennabhaira Devi, the queen of Gerusoppa (a small town near Jog Falls), which came under the Vijayanagara empire. During the medieval period, Mirjan Fort served as an important port for overseas trading of spices (especially pepper). Hence the queen was also regarded as ‘Pepper Queen’. After the fall of the Vijayanagara empire, Mirjan Fort went successively into the hands of Bahamani Sultans, Portuguese, Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan, and finally Britishers. Mirjan Fort is mostly in ruins but whatever is left is very well maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The fort looks magnificent from the outside, and since we went right after the monsoon, the fort’s walls were covered in thick green moss, which was a feast to our eyes. We were, however, able to see the red laterite stones that were used to build the entire fort. Mirjan Fort has 4 entrances, and the entire structure is surrounded by a deep moat which must be filled with water in its prime time. Inside the fort, there are several huge courtyards. From the watchtower or the flag hoisting tower, you will be able to have a panoramic look at all these courtyards. There are a few wells in the courtyard, which are now closed. We walked towards the other end of the fort, where River Aghanashini flows by. You can climb up other higher decks in the fort and get amazing views of the fort from the top. You can easily spend 1-1.5 hours exploring this majestic place to visit near Gokarna. Note: No charges are levied to enter and visit the Mirjan Fort. Clicking photographs from DSLR cameras is prohibited; however, you can click photos on your cell phone. 2. Yana rock caves Yana caves are located about 50 kilometres away from the town of Gokarna. Yana is a small village situated between Kumta and Sirsi, which is famous for its naturally formed rock formations. Yana rocks are basically 2 gigantic black limestone rock formations within the Western Ghats that seem alien to this otherwise ordinary place. The 2 peaks are named Mohini peak (300 feet tall) and Bhairaveshwara peak (400 feet tall). These names come from an ancient belief. After years of penance, Lord Shiva granted a boon to a demon named Bhasmasura that whosoever’s head he touches will convert to ash (Bhasma in the Hindi language). The demon attempted to touch the head of the boon-giver Shiva itself, who ran to Lord Vishnu for help. To help Shiva, Vishnu gained the form of glamorous Mohini and tried to woo Bhasmasura. Mohini accepted to take Bhasmasura’s marriage proposal only on the condition that he dances with her and matches her steps. As the dance progressed, Mohini touched her head, and Bhasmasura duplicated her, soon turning into thick solid black ash stone as per the boon. Sadly, these incredible rock formations cannot be viewed from outside, and you will have to hike for at least half an hour (15-20 minutes walk and 350 stairs to ascend) through a thick forest to see the rocks. Inside the rocks are the caves where idols are installed, and temples are built (Goddess Parvathi temple in Mohini caves and Lord Shiva temple in Bhairaveshwara caves). There is a path through Bhairaveshwara caves that starts by climbing some steep steps, enters the dark caves, and ends towards the other side. The caves are beautiful from the inside, with differently patterned rocks and sunlight filtering from a few openings, making Yana caves amongst the best places to visit near Gokarna. Note: You will require around 2-3 hours to completely explore the Yana rocks and caves after you reach the parking lot. There are 2 different routes to reach Yana caves from Gokarna (both the same distance-wise). If you take the Kumta route to reach the Yana parking lot, you will have to hike for 2 kilometres to reach the caves, and if you take the Sirsi route, you will have to hike for 0.5 kilometres. The Sirsi route is highly recommended if you want to club Vibhooti Falls and Yana caves. The drive from Gokarna to Yana caves is deserted, and you should return before it gets dark, so start early. Very few people visit Yana caves on regular days (weekends can be crowded), and the hike is through a thick forest; hence travelling in a group is preferred to being solo. The parking charges are INR 10 per 2-wheeler and INR 20 per 4-wheeler. INR 5 per person has to be paid as an entrance charge near the parking lot itself. 3. Vibhooti Falls Vibhooti Falls is located about 42 kilometres away from the main town of Gokarna. The majestic falls are just 9 kilometres from the Yana caves. Tourists generally club visiting both Yana caves, and Vibhooti falls together. Make sure you take the Sirsi route to reach both these places. After parking your vehicle at the parking lot, you will have to walk for 0.5 kilometres and then hike on rocky terrain for another 15-20 minutes to reach Vibhooti Falls. The falls are multi-tiered and surrounded by greenery. The best time to visit Vibhooti Falls is the post-monsoon season. A pool is formed by all the water collected from the falls, and youngsters generally come here to plunge into the water. Even a lifeguard is posted at the location to ensure the safety of travellers. The falls certainly make up for a great place to visit near Gokarna. 4. Murudeshwar Murudeshwar is located at a distance of 78 kilometres from Gokarna town. The drive from Gokarna to Murudeshwar is smooth and scenic. The place is a pilgrimage centre and is famous for the world’s second tallest statue of Lord Shiva. It is believed that Ravana threw one of the scattered pieces of Atma Linga in Murudeshwar (Read our previous blog on Gokarna to understand better). Murudeshwar also houses the tallest Gopuram, which is 250 feet in height. Murudeshwar temple is surrounded by sea on three sides, and the Shiva statue is set in a beautiful setting on top of a small hill right beside the temple. Murudeshwar beach is another attraction that is quite well-maintained and offers gorgeous views of the Shiva statue and Gopuram. Read our blog on Murudeshwar, where we highlight the history, the temples, gardens, statues, caves, and other places of interest in Murudeshwar in detail. You can also try snorkelling and scuba diving at Netrani Island near Murudeshwar. You will find a number of scuba diving companies in Murudeshwar, and Netrani island is a popular destination for underwater adventure sports when the weather is clear and suitable. Of course, the experience might not be as good as Scuba diving in Andamans or snorkelling in crystal clear waters of the Umngot river in Meghalaya. However, for those looking to get a first-time experience of underwater activities, Netrani Island is a good beginning. We also visited Apsarakonda on our way to Murudeshwar from Gokarna. Both the waterfalls and garden at Apsarakonda deserve a quick visit. The garden is made on top of a hill that provides a good view of Apsarakonda beach. Apsarakonda waterfalls provides an opportunity to take a refreshing dip and is a great place to visit near Gokarna. 5. Jog Falls Jog Falls is located approximately 111 kilometres away from Gokarna. It is the second-highest plunge waterfall in India and falls from a height of about 820 feet. Jog Falls is best visited right after the rainy season. The falls are basically formed by the water of the Sharavathi River that plunges down the tall hill. There are various viewpoints from where the visitors can see the falls, all the viewpoints providing spectacular views of the mighty falls. To learn more about Jog Falls, the different viewpoints, and recommendations on stay options, read our dedicated blog on Jog Falls. The journey from Gokarna to Jog Falls is a 4 lane highway till Honnavar and is then a forested area, but the roads are well laid, and the drive is extremely picturesque. On the way, you can take quick halts at the Sharavathi valley viewpoint, Sharavathi suspension bridge, and gaze at the Gerusoppa waterfalls far from the road. Suggested itinerary for Gokarna and nearby places You will not be disappointed by any of these above-listed places near Gokarna. In terms of itinerary, you can try out the following - 3 days Gokarna and places to visit near Gokarna - Plan to spend around 3 days in Gokarna, which can include: 2 days of beach hopping and cultural exploration of temples with 1 day excursion to Vibhooti falls, Yana caves, and Mirjan fort. 1 day in Murudeshwar - You can then head towards Murudeshwar with a pitstop at Apsarakonda. One day in Murudeshwar should give you adequate time to visit the temple, Shiva statue, and explore underwater activities on Netrani Island. 1 day at Jog Falls - You can then head to Jog falls and halt at Sharavathi viewpoints, suspension bridge and see Gerusoppa falls on the way. Spending a night at Jog falls would give you enough time to see it from various vantage points though we preferred spending 2 nights here. Plan your vacation for at least 5-6 days to cover Gokarna and all of these places to visit near Gokarna. PIN THESE IMAGES Have you been to any of these above-mentioned places near Gokarna? How was your experience? Let us know in the comment section below. #India #SouthIndia #Karnataka #BengaluruWeekendOutings #MumbaiWeekendOutings #HyderabadWeekendOutings #PuneWeekendOutings

Have you ever visited a place with some preconceived notion but then discovered a totally different side to that place? Gokarna, located in coastal Karnataka (India), was one such place for us. We planned to travel to Gokarna thinking that it is an easy-going, laid-back beach destination, but never did we imagine that Gokarna is so much more than just being beach, booze and hippie life. With all of the above, Gokarna has an interesting drawn-out historical story that gave us a completely new perspective of the place. Read on to know more about Gokarna, places to visit and our experience. Location of Gokarna: Gokarna is located on the western coastline in the Indian state of Karnataka. The small-town falls in the Uttara Kannada district under Kumta taluka. It is located about 150 kilometres south of Goa. Gokarna’s location is flawless, with the Aghnashini River to its south and the Gangavalli River to its north. Both these rivers meet the Arabian Sea, and Gokarna stands in dignity between both the confluences. How to reach Gokarna: You can reach Gokarna in one of the following ways: Air: Dabolim airport in Goa is the nearest international airport (approx. 150 kilometres) to Gokarna. Whereas, Hubballi airport in Hubli is the nearest domestic airport (approx. 145 kilometres) to Gokarna. From Dabolim airport, you can either take a train, bus or taxi to reach Gokarna and from Hubballi airport, you can either take a bus or a taxi to reach Gokarna. Rail: Gokarna Road station is connected to all trains running on the Western Rail lines or Konkan rail lines. Hence, Goa, Mumbai, Pune, Mangalore, and Bengaluru (Bangalore) are well connected to this rail line. Gokarna town is 6 kilometres far from the Gokarna Road railway station, and you will easily get an auto that will take you to the main town. However, being a small station, not all trains might stop at Gokarna Road station. Ankola station to the north of Gokarna and Kumta station to its south are the major railway stations where you can get down. After that, you can easily take a bus or a taxi to reach Gokarna. Road: Several government and private buses ply from major cities like Bengaluru (Bangalore), Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, Goa and Mangalore to Gokarna. Private taxis are also available from these cities that can take you to Gokarna. However, most of the buses will drop you at Madangeri cross or Gokarna cross, which is about 10 kilometres from the main town of Gokarna. How to reach Gokarna from Madangeri cross or Gokarna cross: The main Gokarna town is located 12 kilometres away from Madangeri cross or Gokarna cross. You can hop on into a government bus coming from Kumta (Kumta-Gokarna-Kumta route bus). All buses heading to Gokarna from down south will stop at Madangeri cross or Gokarna cross. You can also take an auto from Madangeri cross or Gokarna cross to reach Gokarna. Remember to bargain with the auto drivers. As of 2019, the bus charges are INR 15 per person, and auto charges are INR 250 (can easily accommodate 3 people) from Madangeri cross or Gokarna cross to Gokarna main town. The autos will charge more if you ask them to drop you at the beaches. Best time to visit Gokarna: Gokarna can be travelled to throughout the year. However, October to February is an ideal time to visit Gokarna as the weather is pleasant and humidity is at its least. March to May are summer months, and it becomes too hot to chill on the beaches. June to early September is the monsoon when the beaches are either closed or too desolate and unkempt. If your main purpose of visit is to see the lively temples, then the Shivratri festival in March and the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in August is the best time to visit Gokarna. Ideal duration of visit to Gokarna: Gokarna is known for its temples and beaches. It can be easily covered in a 3-day duration. However, plenty of interesting destinations near Gokarna are worth visiting like Yana caves, Vibhooti Falls, Mirjan Fort, Murudeshwar and Jog Falls. If you plan to cover each of these places, a 6-day trip duration will be ideal. Check out other articles of places you can visit along with Gokarna - 1. Best places to visit near Gokarna 2. Kahani Paradise - Luxury villa in Gokarna 3. Travel guide to Murudeshwar 4. Travel guide to Jog Falls History of Gokarna: There are several interesting stories and folklore about how Gokarna got its name. Gokarna, meaning ‘Cow’s ear’, is derived from two Hindi language words, Go = Cow, Karna = Ear. Interestingly, even the zoomed-out map of Gokarna town seems to be like an ear (ear-shaped confluence of Aghnashini and Gangavalli rivers to Arabian sea). It is believed that Lord Brahma, who considered himself superior and creator of the universe, was cursed by Lord Shiva for his arrogance. Lord Brahma penanced and asked for forgiveness from Lord Shiva at the very place where Gokarna exists. Impressed by Brahma’s penance, Lord Shiva appeared in front of him from the ear of a cow. Hence, the place came to be known as Gokarna (cow’s ear). As per another folklore, the mother of Ravana (demon King of Lanka) was a loyal devotee of Lord Shiva and wanted to worship the main ‘Atma linga’ (Soul of Lord Shiva). Hence, Ravana went to Mount Kailash (abode of Lord Shiva) and performed rigorous penance to please Lord Shiva to offer him the ‘Atma linga’ as a boon. Lord Shiva finally appeared and granted Ravana the ‘Atma linga’ on the condition that he should directly take it to Lanka without placing it on the ground, failing which the linga will permanently embed where it is placed. Ravana started his journey back to Lanka after receiving the boon. Lord Vishnu knew that Ravana was evil, and he would attain immortality and invincibility if he successfully took the ‘Atma linga’ to Lanka. He also knew that Ravana was punctual in performing his evening prayers. So, he took the help of Lord Ganesha and devised a plan so that Ravana had to place the ‘Atma linga’ somewhere on his way. When Ravana was nearing Gokarna, Lord Vishnu hid the sun with the help of his ‘Sudarshan chakra’, giving an impression of dusk. At this time, Ravana looked out for someone who could hold the ‘Atma linga’ for him till he performed his evening rituals. Lord Ganesha disguised as a Brahmin boy herding his cow and appeared in front of Ravana. Ravana persuaded him to hold and protect the ‘Atma linga’ without placing it on the ground. As soon as Ravana went for performing his rites, Lord Ganesha placed the linga on the ground and vanished. The ‘Atma linga’ got permanently embedded at that place. Agitated, Ravana tried chasing Lord Ganesha and his cows. He hurt Lord Ganesha’s head in the process, but the Lord was successful in disappearing. As one of the cows started disappearing underground, he grabbed hold of just its ear. Hence, the place was given the name Gokarna (cow’s ear). Ravana tried to uproot the ‘Atma linga’, and due to force exerted by him, some scattered pieces got detached, which he threw in different directions. The scattered linga fell in Dhareshwar, Shejjeshwar, Gunavanthe, Surathkal and Murudeshwar, respectively, but the main ‘Atma linga’ refused to move. After the pieces scattered in these places, the remaining linga gained the shape of a cow’s ear. Hence, the place was named Gokarna (cow’s ear). Failing to uproot the linga, Ravana called it ‘Mahabal’ (i.e.. Extremely strong). Later, a temple was built here and named as ‘Mahabaleshwara temple’. Since then, Gokarna has been a pilgrimage centre, but recently due to the influx of tourists to its unspoilt beaches, the eminence of the town has changed to a ‘beach destination’. Gokarna has a laid-back vibe that attracts many foreign tourists, owing to which many shacks, hotels, resorts and restaurants have come up to cater to the incoming crowd. Nonetheless, a large number of devotees still flock to this temple town to offer prayers. All in all, Gokarna is blessed with two types of places to visit – Temples and Beaches. Places to visit in Gokarna: Gokarna Religious Sites or Temples: If any of you plan on visiting the below-mentioned religious sites or temples in Gokarna, remember to respect the local traditions. Wear fully covered clothes, be quiet and do not touch objects or idols on the premises. 1. Sri Mahabaleshwara Swamy Temple The temple was built entirely of granite in the 4th century in Dravidian architectural style. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple houses the ‘Atma linga’, which is worshipped by hordes of pilgrims visiting Gokarna. The Mahabaleshwara temple is regarded as the ‘Dakshin Kashi’ (i.e.. Kashi of the South). It is located very near to the main Gokarna beach. The Hindu festival of Shivratri is celebrated with a lot of pomp and cheer at Gokarna, where a chariot procession or Rath Yatra is held. 2. Maha Ganapathi Temple This temple was built in honor of Lord Ganesha, who played a pivotal role in saving and installing ‘Atma linga’ in Gokarna. A 5-feet tall granite idol of Lord Ganesha adorns the sanctum sanctorum of Maha Ganapathi temple. You can still see the blow (in the form of a hole) on the head of the idol caused by Ravana. The temple is located next door to the Mahabaleshwara temple. It is a custom to worship Lord Ganesha before the ‘Atma linga’ in the Mahabaleshwara temple. 3. Kotiteertha This is a man-made pond-like water body that is used for the holy immersions of idols. Kotiteertha literally means ‘Thousand Springs’. Staunch devotees also bathe in Kotiteertha before visiting the temples. 4. Shiva Caves These caves are also called ‘Gogarbha’ (womb of a cow). It is said that the cow which Ravana caught hold of escaped and made a cave on a nearby hill. Locals believe that by entering Gogarbha, a devotee can reach the holy city of Kashi in Varanasi. Sadhus (saints) and devotees often visit the caves and use them as a resting place while visiting Gokarna. Gokarna Beaches: Gokarna could be easily called a hilly destination with pretty beaches beyond the hills. It isn’t that you will drive/ walk on a flat road to reach the beaches; you will have to trek or drive through the winding roads on the hills to get to them. There are 5 beaches of interest in total– 3 towards the south and only 2 facing west. All the beaches are interconnected via trails through hills and forest and can be trekked starting from the Gokarna main beach to the Paradise beach or vice versa. The beach trail trek is quite popular amongst youngsters. 1. Gokarna main beach This one is probably the longest stretch of beach in Gokarna. As it is closest to the temples, it is frequented by pilgrims more than tourists. The waves at Gokarna main beach are subtle and are best to learn surfing. You can easily reach this west-facing beach via an auto or a rented bike/ scooter. 2. Kudle beach This beach is not accessible directly via road. It is a 10-minute downhill trek over rocky terrain from the parking area. Kudle beach is popular with hippies and foreign tourists. The beach shore area is extremely broad, with lots of space to sit, relax, practise yoga or play volleyball. The water isn’t deep, and the waves are not violent; hence it is best for non-swimmers. The beach is lined with several shack restaurants and huts for accommodation. The backdrop of Kudle beach is beautifully covered with coconut and palm trees over the hills, and you will be able to see stunning sunset from this west-facing beach. However, we found Kudle beach extremely unkempt and dirty during our visit. 3. Om beach Om beach is again not directly accessible via road. It can be approached by descending some 100 paved stairs from the parking lot. The drive to Om beach from the main Gokarna town is through hills and is quite scenic. This is the most popular beach in Gokarna and is named so as it is naturally shaped like the sacred Hindu symbol ‘OM. It is amongst the most visited place in Gokarna. Om beach is well maintained and kept clean. It is a south-facing beach, but still, sunset can be viewed from the rocky part in the middle. The beach is lined with trees providing much-needed shade on the shore during hot days. It also has several colourful boats anchored to its shore belonging to the local fisherman. Om beach is dotted with popular upscale cafes that serve freshly prepared seafood. To get a perfect view of the symbol ‘OM’, you will have to trek to a hill towards the rightmost end of the beach. 4. Half-moon beach Half-moon beach is named such as its shape resembles that of a half-moon. It cannot be accessed via road. You can reach it only after a 30-minute trek either from the leftmost end of Om beach or through a trail starting from the main road leading to Om beach. The trek to Half-moon beach is through a forested area and is easy to moderate in difficulty level. The trek from Om beach to Hal-moon beach will provide you with awesome views as the trail runs along the hill overlooking the vast Arabian Sea on one side. It’s best to trek to Half-moon beach in a group or with someone experienced with the trails as there are plenty of chances that you will end up on the wrong trail or get lost on the many zig-zag paths. This south-facing beach is small, just like a lagoon, but clean and beautiful, just resembling a paradise. Half-moon beach is totally cut off from the world and has close to no amenities. Tourists have also claimed to witness bioluminescence in the sea at night-time at the beach, but it's best to visit it before sunset unless you plan to spend the night there. 5. Paradise beach Paradise beach is another south-facing beach that can only be accessed by trekking. The beach can be reached after a 30-minute trek either from Half-moon beach or from Belekan beach (which can be reached via road). The beach is mostly rocky with some sandy patches in between, and it is dangerous to swim as the waves are extremely strong. Paradise beach is again a small beach hardly resembling a paradise. We did not find anything special about the beach except getting ourselves clicked with ‘Para Para Paradise’ written over the rocks with spray paint which was amusing in a way. There are no shacks or restaurants (which is good), but the beach is popular for illegal camping. 6. Cliff viewpoint This, of course, isn't a beach but a viewpoint. Towards the right from the Kudle beach parking lot goes a trail up a hill. This takes you to the cliff viewpoint, from where you can see the entire stretch of Kudle beach from a cliff. If you walk some more towards the left, Gokarna main beach is visible. The viewpoint is best visited during sunrise or sunset. Not many people know about this viewpoint; hence it is extremely peaceful and devoid of crowds. Note: During peak season and good weather conditions, you can hop beaches in a boat if you are not interested in trekking. The boats are operated by local fishermen that take you from one beach to another. Even water sports are available at most of these above-mentioned beaches during peak season. There is also a ferry line that operates from Belekan to Kumta. You can take this ferry, which operates almost every half an hour, to visit the beaches in Kumta like Nirvana beach and Heaven beach. Gokarna market: Gokarna's main market is another good place to visit in Gokarna. The market is located near the temples and the Gokarna main beach. Most of the shops sell clothes or items used in temples for worship. You can shop for cheap incense sticks, beads, printed T-shirts, hats, dresses, imitation jewellery, utensils, picture frames of God and Goddesses, souvenirs, and other religious items. Gokarna Thursday market is also quite well known. Place to stay in Gokarna: Being a place popular with youngsters and teenagers, we very soon realised that Gokarna lacked the proper infrastructure for a luxurious stay. We found low-budget shacks, huts, cottages and hotels that completely failed to impress us. What we were seeking out was a clean, comfortable, environment-friendly, away-from-crowd, luxurious accommodation with good views, great food and friendly staff. Thus, we spent a lot of time researching such a place, and we are fortunate that we came across the luxury villas of ‘Kahani Paradise’. It ticked all our boxes and was much more than what we had expected. We highly recommend travellers heading to Gokarna to check them out. Perched on a hill in the middle of forest, Kahani Paradise is a perfect place to leave your world behind and relax. Read more about our experience of staying at Kahani Paradise, Gokarna. Gokarna left us speechless with its beauty and history and taught us many things. Our trip to Gokarna turned out to be exceptional, not just because it is a great beach destination, but because we got a chance to unearth the rich history behind the magnificent temples, something that very few people tend to explore in Gokarna. PIN THESE IMAGES If you love such places, then Gokarna should be your next travel destination. And if you have been there already, do let us know about your thoughts on this magical place in the comment section below. #India #SouthIndia #Karnataka #BengaluruWeekendOutings #MumbaiWeekendOutings #HyderabadWeekendOutings #PuneWeekendOutings

Munroe Island is a network of 8 islets located at the confluence of the Ashtamudi Lake and the Kallada River in the Kollam district of South Kerala, India. The 8 islets of Munroe are separated by small canals and lakes, forming an extensive and beautiful network of waterway. The main island, also called Mundrothuruthu, Munroturuttu and Mundro island, still remains unheard of to many Indians even today. While Alleppey is famous as the Venice of India, Munroe Island is rightly known as the 'Hidden Venice of India'. After Munroe Island gained some popularity through social media, the residents started opening their houses to welcome visitors. Munroe Island has been quite popular with foreign backpackers for a while who visit Kovalam, Varkala and Munroe for a laidback and budget-friendly beach and backwater experience, respectively. Some of the island's main attraction is cruising through the narrow canals, passing under the naturally formed mangrove arches and low-lying bridges, experiencing the village life and witnessing the famous Kallada Boat race up-close (held during the Onam festival). We would, in fact, recommend Munroe Island over its more popular counterpart Allepey (Alappuzha), due to lesser crowds, more serene landscape and lower costs. Read on to know more about Munroe Island. Location of Munroe Island Munroe Island is located barely 20 kilometres away from Kollam town in South Kerala. In contrast to Kollam's bustling business centre, Munroe Island is laid-back, peaceful and calm. On two sides, Munroe Island is surrounded by the Kallada River and its tributary, and on the other two sides, it's surrounded by the vast Ashtamudi Lake. Have a look at the below Google map to get a better idea about the island's location. How to reach Munroe Island Wondering how to reach Munroe Island? The island is accessible by rail, road and waterways. However, to reach the Peringalam ward in Munroe Island, locals and visitors have to take government-run boat services. Nearest railway station: Munroturuttu Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) Rail: The cheapest way to reach Munroe Island is through railways. The island has got its own railway station called Munroturuttu. Munroturuttu railway station can be reached by train in 20 mins from Kollam railway station, 2 hours from Trivandrum railway station and 3 hours from Kochi railway station. You can hire auto-rickshaws from Munroturuttu railway station to get to your resort/ homestay/ area of interest. Note: Please cross-check the train timings and make your rail ticket bookings at the IRCTC website. Road: From Kollam railway station (26 kilometres away from Munroe Island) or Trivandrum airport (80 kilometres away from Munroe Island), you can hire a taxi to reach Munroe Island. You can also inquire with the hosts you are staying with on the island, and they can arrange a pick-up. If you are driving yourself, turn towards the Adoor-Kollam road from Highway no. 744 at Kundara. Go straight until you take a left on the Munroe-Chittumala road to reach Munroe Island. Waterways: You can hire a motorboat, houseboat or shikara from DTPC Kollam to take you for a tour of Munroe Island. Usually, the trip to Munroe Island from Kollam starts at 9 AM and 2 PM, from where you ride leisurely for 3 hours in the lake/ canals. However, we highly recommend that you reach the island either by train or by road and then do the canal cruise in a country boat rather than hiring a boat from Kollam. Best time to visit Munroe Island Though Munroe Island can be visited throughout the year, it's best to visit between October and February. From March it starts becoming extremely hot and humid till May. By the start of June, the monsoon arrives, often flooding the low-lying areas of the island. If you want to be a spectator of the Kallada boat race held in the Kallada River at Munroe Island, visit the island 28 days after the Onam festival. You can google and find out the Onam festival dates and add 28 days to it or simply google the date for the Kallada boat race. Depending on the Malayalam calendar, it mostly happens by the end of September or the start of October. Munroe Island is the best place to view the Kallada boat race conveniently. History of Munroe Island British started governing the State of Travancore (Modern day southern Kerala and southern Tamil Nadu) in 1795 and started appointing administrative heads. Colonel John Munroe was nominated for this position in 1810. He was a very popular administrator as he introduced many reforms in the region. He played an important role in improving revenue and the judicial system as well as decreasing corruption in the state. As you might have guessed, Munroe Island is named in honour of Colonel John Munroe. He is said to have integrated several backwater regions by digging canals. John Munroe presented a deserted island to a missionary church society to set up a religious, academic centre for training priests. The members of the Church society, in turn, expressed their gratitude to the head of Travancore by naming the island after him. Things to do at Munroe Island OR Places to visit in Munroe Island 1. Canoe tour to the Mangrove Arch If you have limited time and decide to do one thing while visiting Munroe Island, it has to be a 2-hour canoe ride through the backwaters surrounding the island. The canoe tour was the highlight of our trip and is one of the best things to do at Munroe Island. Such a tour takes place in a local country boat where a boatsman rows the boat manually with the help of a thick wooden pole. The backwaters are shallow in most areas, and hence the boat can be sailed without engines. We sailed in narrow canals surrounded by divine nature during our 2-hour canoe boat ride in the backwaters around Munroe Island. We went past villages and observed the daily village life that involved coir-making, prawn farming, fish farming and country boat construction. At most places, the water was so still that it replicated a mirror, and we were able to see perfect reflections of the stooping palm and coconut trees surrounding the canals. The canoe ride was adventurous as well, as we had to bend down while passing below the low-lying concrete bridges and constantly watch out for the tree branches that bent precariously over the water, ready to hit our faces. We sailed through several zig-zag tiny canals that finally opened up to the vast Ashtamudi Lake. The most surreal part of our canoe tour was towards the end when our boatmen rowed the boat towards thick mangrove plantations and sailed the canoe beneath a naturally formed mangrove arch. We experienced the canoe tour twice – once early in the morning and once in the evening. It was incredible to watch both the sunrise and the sunset through the mangrove arch while on the canoe. This mangrove arch is one of the most instagrammable spots in South Kerala. Tip: We recommend that you take a canoe tour early in the morning for three reasons – one because the water is still in the morning and hence you can see great reflections, two because the surroundings are peaceful in the morning when all you can hear are just the sounds of nature, and three because the canals become crowded with several other canoes in the evening. Cost of a canoe tour: In 2021, we were charged INR 1200 for a 2-hour ride canoe ride. Generally, a single canoe can accommodate a maximum of 4 people. 2. S-curve viewpoint or Munroe viewpoint As the name suggests, the S-curve viewpoint provides a beautiful view of Ashtamudi Lake. This is the place to visit in Munroe Island, from where you can find boatmen for a canoe tour. They offer several packages for different time durations depending on the different types of boats. There's a straight road that leads to the backwaters. On our visit, this road was partly submerged due to high tide. So, we parked our two-wheeler on the main street and walked through ankle-deep water to reach the end of the road. From here, we watched the beautiful sun setting behind the mangrove plantation. There's also a tiny restaurant and a 2-star hotel on the S-curve where you could spend some quality time sipping on a cup of coffee while munching snacks. 3. AD 1878 Dutch Church The Dutch church, located on the banks of the Ashtamudi lake, was constructed in the year 1878. The church is isolated, and hardly anyone visits it. In fact, there's no direct route to the Dutch church. You will have to park your vehicle on the main road, walk a bit, cross the railway line, and walk some more through the fields to reach the church. The structure of the church is still intact and bears a colonial look. No regular services are held at the church, and it was closed on our visit. We walked past the church towards the Ashtamudi lake, and after crossing a few coconut tree plantations and a statue of Mother Mary, we reached a shed at the end. It seemed like an old boating dock. Here, we had the entire place to ourselves, and we saw one of the most incredible sunsets of our trip from this spot. The lake seemed so enormous from here that it almost looked like an ocean. It is an excellent place for photography that the visitors are hardly aware of. Undoubtedly one of the best places to visit on Munroe Island. Tip: The Dutch Church is best visited during the evening time during sunset. 4. John Munroe Bungalow or Museum John Munroe Bungalow is where the resident colonel, John Munroe, carried out his administrative work. The bungalow dates back more than 200 years old and is now converted into museum sorts. The house is colonial-styled with a vast veranda in the front. Inside, there are photographs of John Munroe and his family and descendants. The main highlight of the bungalow is the Indian style toilet seat that is covered with a glass casing. It is believed that it was shipped especially for John Munroe from Europe and the locals say it could be one of the first toilets in India. The bungalow is converted into a rehabilitation centre today. Tip: Look out for the caretaker of the bungalow, who will be happy to show you around. 5. Munroe mocktail Munroe mocktail is a small shop run by a local who mixes up unique ingredients to prepare a mocktail. The guy does his job so effortlessly that you will be really amazed to see him prepare the drinks. One of our favourite things to do at Munroe Island was riding to Munroe mocktail and sipping on a glass of freshly made mocktail every day. Do not miss out on his milk plus ice cream plus fruits mocktail/ shake. The guy is even lovely to chat to. 6. Perumon railway bridge Another great place to view sunset at Munroe Island is the Perumon railway bridge. This bridge is a short ride away from the Dutch church. This is the place where a major train accident took place in the year 1988. A memorial for the victims is installed at an edge near the bridge. There are, in fact, two rail bridges now – one for incoming trains and the other for outgoing ones. There's also a ferry point nearby where large government ferries ship passengers and vehicles to the other side of the island. All in all, it is an excellent place to visit in Munroe Island. 7. Raghu Munroe Art Gallery: This is a small shop run by a very deserving artist, Raghu Munroe, who paints beautiful paintings of Munroe Island's landscapes. He is a very down-to-earth person who identifies stunning places in Munroe, clicks photographs on his mobile phone, comes back and starts painting the replica on canvas in bright colours that he imports from Germany. He sells his paintings at a very nominal price which you could get framed or gift to your loved ones. 8. Others If you are interested, you can participate in fishing – either in Ashtamudi Lake or in the Kallada River. You can even hire a canoe, bring in your own fishing gear and go on a sail for your catch of the day. Munroe Island's water bodies are rich in fishes like green chromide, tilapia, murrel, pear spot, and lobsters, crabs, clams, oysters, and prawns. Bird watching is amongst the other things to do in Munroe Island. Apart from the local birds like egrets, herons and water ducks, you can also spot storks, kingfishers, kites and African love birds. Munroe Island Hotels/ Resorts: Due to Munroe Island's recent popularity with foreign travellers coming here for extended stays, several local families have opened up their houses that double up as homestays. A few private resorts/ hotels have also popped up on the island, although the real charm lies in staying with a localite in their homestay and understanding the tradition and culture of the region. We stayed at two completely different accommodations on our trip to Munroe Island, and each had its own charm. Green Chromide homestays – A simple yet super-comfortable waterfront chalet located right on the banks of the Kallada River and run by a caring and welcoming family. It is ideal for those who prefer to stay in serene settings with friendly hosts. It is also suitable for a workcation with good wi-fi connectivity and wholesome meals. Apart from the private chalet, they also have budget-friendly rooms in their bungalows that are nicely furnished. Read our review and experience of staying at Green Chromide Homestay. Vini's Farm – A luxurious stay on a tiny island where we had the entire island to ourselves. There was no one else except the staff members, and there were several activities to indulge in like kayaking, a canoe tour, swimming, a few outdoor sports and a bonfire. Though a bit on the expensive side, staying at Vini's Farm is a one-of-a-kind experience. It is ideal for honeymooners or couples looking for privacy and a peaceful stay. Read our review and experience of staying at Vini's Farm. The future of Munroe Island Researchers believe that Munroe Island is slowly sinking. Even we came across several abandoned villas that were underwater. While some believe that the sinking of Munroe Island is due to the 2004 tsunami, many others think it is because of global warming. Another reason for the island's slow sinking could be the construction of the Kallada dam in Thenmala. The water from the Kallada River used to bring clay-rich soil that used to sediment at the island's periphery giving it support and fertility. With the dam's construction and the salinity brought in by the high tides from the sea, Munroe Island's so-called support has alleviated, causing it to sink bit by bit. Destruction of thick mangroves and the continuous vibrations caused by the trains passing the island could be the other reasons researchers attribute to the island's sinking. In recent years, studies also say that it is not the land that is sinking but heavy structures such as big concrete houses that have subsided. Hence, many new properties or accommodations for travellers are wooden or built on raised platforms. While the government continues to study and take measures to tackle the sinking situation, Munroe Island definitely has huge potential in terms of tourism. We feel that it could match Allepey's popularity as a backwaters destination over the years. Along with other beachside and hillside destinations of Southern Kerala, this area seems to edge out for us compared to Central Kerala's more popular destinations. PIN THESE IMAGES Sightseeing hungry tourists often look for places to visit in Munroe Island. However, the island is a place to relax, live amongst nature and understand the long-lost Keralan culture. If you keep an open mind, there are plenty of things at Munroe Island to maze you. Do let us know if you liked this travel guide to Munroe Island, South Kerala. Also, follow our Instagram and Facebook handles to see the beautiful pictures of Munroe island and other such new destinations. Suggested Reads - Places to visit in Kovalam Tourist places in Kollam Places to visit in Varkala Jatayu Earth's Centre #India #SouthIndia #Kerala

Branded as the Queen of Hills, the hill station Mussoorie is located in the foothills of the Garhwal range of Himalayas. The name Mussoorie is derived from 'mansoor', which is a shrub indigenous to the area. Most Indians still refer to the town as 'Mansoori'. Mussoorie is located 35 kilometres away from Dehradun, the capital city of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Tens of thousands of tourists visit Mussoorie during summer to escape the continental heat and during winter to enjoy the snow. However, Mussoorie has lost its charm over the years due to traffic snarls and over-commercialization. Because of its easy access, many people flock to this small town owing to heavy tourist traffic, increased garbage production, noisy roads, hordes of shops, deforestation, illegal construction and skyrocketed tariffs of accommodations. Having read all about Mussoorie, we started to look for some relatively unexplored places near Mussoorie. That is when we found Landour, Jabarkhet Nature Reserve and Sainji Village. Read on to know more about these unexplored places to visit near Mussoorie. Landour Home to famous authors like Ruskin Bond, Landour is Mussoorie's best-kept secret. It definitely is at the top of our list of unexplored places near Mussoorie though tourists might make a day visit to Lal Tibba in Landour. However, Landour is so much more than a day visit. Landour is made for people who love spending time away from the hustle-bustle of Mussoorie but still be close to Mussoorie. Landour is just 7 km north of Mussoorie and is located at an altitude of 7500 feet above sea level. This sleepy town can be visited at any time of the year owing to its pleasant climate. Landour, which was once developed as a sanatorium, belongs to the military cantonment today. As per the Cantonment Act of 1924, no trees could be fell, and no new permanent structure could be erected in Landour. Because of these rules, Landour has not been touched by tourism and modernization yet, making it an unexplored place to visit near Mussoorie. Everything in Landour is around the Upper Chukkar Road,, creating the number 8. The road stretches for 3.5 km and is best walked on foot. We have compiled a list of Things to do in Landour in our earlier blog post. Refer to that post to know everything about Landour and things to do in detail. Due to the restrictions of the Cantonment Act, there are not many places to stay in Landour. However, several residents have converted their houses into homestays and rented them out to guests visiting Landour. We stay at one such unique pet-friendly boutique homestay - La Villa Bethany. La Villa Bethany has the only Hobbit hole in India - a room that they call Bags End. Do check out our review on La Villa Bethany in our earlier post. Jabarkhet Nature Reserve Next on our list of unexplored places near Mussoorie is Jabarkhet Nature Reserve. This is a private venture located just 8 km from Mussoorie. The nature reserve is set up to protect and conserve the ecology of the forests around Mussoorie. If you wish to discover a natural world far away from the crowded Mussoorie, then Jabarkhet Nature Reserve is the place for you. The 100 acres of land of Jabarkhet Nature Reserve belongs to Mr. Vipul Jain. He has partnered with Ms. Sejal Worah, a lifelong conservationist, to set up Jabarkhet Nature Reserve. The reserve harbours a wide variety of flora and fauna, and to date, over 50 species of ferns, 40 species of grasses, 80 species of mushrooms and fungi, 300 species of flowering plants and 100 species of birds have been identified in the area. Numerous reptiles, amphibians and insects have also been found in reserve. While mammals are difficult to spot, the motion sensor cameras planted around the area have captured photographs of leopards, barking deer, black bears, porcupines, langurs, wild cats and wild boars. The 2-3 hour guided walk inside the Jabarkhet Nature Reserve provides nature-based education and spreads awareness regarding the conservation of the rich biodiversity. The locals and forest officials have mapped a total of seven trails inside Jabarkhet Nature Reserve. Once you sign-up for the walk in the nature reserve, the guide provides you with a detailed map of all the trails. The seven trails are named Ridge trail, Leopard trail, Wildflower trail, Mushroom trail, Spring trail, Rhododendron trail and Rockfall trail. Two or more trails meet at most points. Our guide helped us plan a route through which we touched upon multiple trails. We started with the Ridge trail from the entrance of the reserve. Walking along the ridge, we climbed steadily to the top of Flag Hill, where multi-coloured Tibetan flags were strung. The view of Himalayan peaks from the Flag Hill point was spectacular. A further steep uphill path lead us to the Lone Oak - a large Oak tree with log benches around it. Here, we rested for some time while soaking in the incredible views. From here, we took the Leopard trail, which gave us an experience of being deep in the forest. The Leopard trail is full of oak and rhododendron trees. The bears in the forest feed on the acorns of the Oak trees. Trekking on this trail, we reached the saddle and further climbed to Bear Hilltop. Walking some more on the Leopard Trail, we took some steps to join the Wildflower Trail. Descending downhill, we reached The Hut, where there were a circular sit-out and a small waterhole. We spent some more time at The Hut and returned to the entrance. We came across mushrooms, wildflowers, butterflies, and other small wonders of nature during our walk! While we did not spot a mammal during our walk, our guide showed us photographs of leopards, porcupines, langurs and wild boars captured by the motion sensor camera traps installed over the trees. Animals that we seldom see mark their presence when no humans are around often during the night. Note: Call and arrange for a guide before reaching the Jabarkhet Nature Reserve. Our guide, Virendra Singh (Contact - 8171264710), was extremely knowledgeable and knew all the trails very well. Throughout our walk, he constantly spoke about the nature reserve, the flora, fauna and animals and the Himalayan peaks. He also answered our curious questions very patiently. Sainji Village During our stay at The Brigadiers Cottage near Kempty Falls on the outskirts of Mussoorie, we got to know about Sainji village, which is also famously known as Corn Village. As we were just 5 kilometres away from Sainji, we decided to visit it. Sainji village lies in the Tehri Garhwal district of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. We passed through lush green farms on our way to Sainji. As we entered, we saw a small irrigation canal running through the entire village. This we learnt was used for irrigation and for washing clothes and utensils. The walkways around the irrigation canal were properly laid. Sainji village amazes the visitors with the hanging golden corns in the houses. The corns are hung outside the homes to let them dry, after which the seeds are separated and preserved. But more than drying, they enhance the decor of the pretty village houses. Corn is the major part of their diet, with Makke ki roti (corn flour bread) and chutney being their daily meals. The houses of Sainji village are very colourful. While most of them are made of concrete, we came across a few wooden houses with short doors made of Deodar wood. The short doors are believed to keep evil away. The village also houses a Garhwal English Medium School headed by Lori, an English woman married to the village chief. The main occupation of the villagers in Sainji is farming. We were amazed to see how the villagers enjoy life's simple pleasures. Everyone seemed to be very close-knit, and gathering in the veranda and gossiping seemed to be their favourite past-time. Unlike urban cities where children are stuck to mobile and TV screens, the children at Sainji village played outdoor fun games. Their smiling faces and welcoming attitude say a lot about their selfless love for everyone. They even allowed us entry into their houses to click pictures. They have grown used to the visitors coming to their village. Sainji village was extremely clean, and we did not spot any garbage lying around. The main reason for this is that Sainji is one of the few villages in India where domestic animals such as cows and buffaloes necessary for farming are not allowed in the village. Outside the village, there is a separate shed area where the livestock is kept. Apart from this, Sainji also has toilets in each house, ensuring no open defecation by humans and animals. Sainji village is ideal for anyone seeking a rural tour, sampling authentic mountain culture and getting to know the rustic lifestyle of the people. It is a perfect example of an unexplored place to visit near Mussoorie. We are blessed to have visited these offbeat places near Mussoorie. But we are sure there must be more. Have you been to Mussoorie and know of any other unexplored place nearby? Do let us know in the comment section below. If you liked this article, do share it on social media. PIN THESE IMAGES Suggested reads - Places to visit in Dehradun Mawlynnong in Meghalaya - Cleanest village of Asia Mawlynnong - A Photoblog #India #NorthIndia #Uttarakhand #DelhiWeekendOutings