Hyderabad: The Andaman Islands truly are a backpacker’s paradise. If losing yourself in turquoise blue seas and white sand is your idea of fun, then this is the place for you. But there is much more to this archipelago than its pristine shores.
I started my exploration with Corbyn’s Cove Beach at Port Blair. The place is as tranquil as can be and one can spend hours walking along the shores, collecting butterfly-shaped corals and feeling the cool breeze. Next, I headed towards Jolly Bouy Island. A 25-minute boat ride from Port Blair, it is a go-to beach if you’re an adrenaline junkie, apart from being a treasure trove of coral reefs. I tried my hand at scuba diving and snorkelling — an experience you shouldn’t miss out on when here.
Next I headed towards Havelock Islands — a much needed respite after a physically exhausting (and fun of course) time at Jolly Bouy. Characterised by lush green forests, white sand and a gorgeous seaside, the place is the perfect location to put up a tent and laze on the hammock. This also happens to be part of the archipelago with most historic significance. A must-visit when here should be to the Ross Island, erstwhile capital of Port Blair during the British regime. A desolate yet imposing place, it carries remnants of its past and revives history. It was the administrative headquarters for the islands, before an earthquake wrecked it in 1941. The headquarters were then shifted to Port Blair. With worn out church buildings and broken structures dotting the area, it bares an eerie yet dramatic façade. History buffs mustn’t miss this one for sure.
After a thorough tour of the islands, I headed back towards Port Blair to explore untold stories of the Jarwa Tribes, which means “people of the Earth” in an Andamanese language that is believed to be extinct. The biggest attraction here is undoubtedly the Cellular Jail or Kala Paani — a colonial prison used by the British especially to exile political prisoners. One can almost feel the presence of those great freedom fighters while walking along those prisons. The haunted silence of the empty cells, the unending corridors, seem like they are bellowing out the tales of agony and torture that the prisoners had gone through, behind those bars.
While the entire trip was adventurous and exciting, this last place on my itinerary left a lump in my throat.
Aparna is a clinical research professional who loves to dance, write and travel
