The approach to Baratang island seems in itself a separate adventure. We had to take a cruise first where you get to experience the vast expanse of the sea and with child like exuberance you quickly climb the precariously placed steps to the deck of the ship and enjoy the breeze which swiftly embraces you and you continue to look in awe the magnitude of the seas with dense forest cover as the superlative backdrop.
After we alighted from the cruise ship we had to get into a speed boat which navigates deftly through some magnificent mangrove forests to reach the baratrang island. When we reached the island we walked through some dense jungles which boasted some rare species of flora.
We were quite mesmerised by the stunning stalactite and lime stone caves . We did have our Manjummel boys moment in some scary dark crevices and corners of the caves and was wanting to come out unscathed. Truly the adventure to reach there was one hell of a life defining moment for me which would be cherished forever.
The next day it was journey to the Havelock Island which boasted some prestigious blue flag beaches. The Radha Nagar beach is definitely in the bucket list of every world traveller and glad I soaked my legs in the white sand of this breathtaking beach.
The trees and the dense greenary which borders the beach gives you a truly heavenly experience and with very few human beings around you suddenly want to detach from everything and everyone else and experience that solitary stroll with only the noise of the waves swiftly touching your feet and the delicately swaying treees in the distance for your company.
This for me is the perfect natural therapy with only the pristine sand and the emerald green waters. The Kala pathar beach we visited also felt very breathtaking for me and the black stones hit your leg with alarming regularity as waves surround your already muddy feet.
The final leg of the tour was to visit the Ross Island and the North Bay Island amongst the five hundred plus islands in the mesmersing archipelago. As you get off the jetty and reach the Ross Island you are amazed to see the amalgamation of the colonial architecture and the natural wonders offering the tourists a unique experience.
The Island also served as a base for Japan in World War II and you get to see the remnants of bunkers with so much historical significance. You go through a plethora of emotions as you navigate the ruins and descend few hundred steps to see that isolated light house literally in the middle of nowhere.
The sailors statue placed near the light house paying encomiums for their supreme sacrifice makes you stand in wonderment in the midst of wild and enchanting seascape.As you return from the long walk to the lighthouse you see lots of long legged deers with their huge antlers walking around freely and you can sure pose with them .
We then proceeded to the North bay Island which is the centre for all under water sports activities. Scuba diving is definitely recommended for those who want to explore the coral reefs and the marine life.
Snorkelling can also be tried to explore from the surface level the fascinating marine species. The semi submarine we ventured was worth it and we were amazed to see numerous corals and some luminiscent , scaly and iridiscent fishes in close quarters.
Sure the isolated islands in Andamans can be quite challenging in terms of logistics to explore and experience. But we were in adept hands in terms of the tour manager and if not for him Andamans can turn extremely challenging in terms of logistics and the unpredictable weather conditions.
Nevertheless thankfully due to meticulous planning we did experience the tropical rain forests, breathtaking white sand beaches with turquoise waters and sites of great historical significance without any hurdles.
