Located around 1000 km off the east coast in India and in the heart of the Bay of Bengal, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands is the remotest state of India connected to the mainland through ferries and flights from Chennai, Kolkata and Vizag. Densely stretched by the lush green tropical jungle, the island group is rich in biodiversity and wildlife, along with some of the rare bird species. But the pristine reefs and beaches are the major center of attraction which covers most part of the islands.
Getting There
Port Blair is the capital of Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and the major gateway to the islands. It is well connected to the mainland through waterways and airways. One can take ferries or ship services from Chennai, Vishakhapatnam and Kolkata to Port Blair which takes hardly 50 to 60 hours. One can also take flights from Kolkata, New Delhi, and Chennai.
By Sea
Andaman & Nicobar Islands are located in the Bay of Bengal. So, getting there through ship can really give a great experience. To reach Port Blair from Kolkata, Chennai and Vishakhapatnam, you can take regular passenger ship. Every month, ships take at least 3 to 4 trips per month from Chennai and Kolkata to Port Blair. The journey takes around 3 days to reach. Here is the journey time and distance from three cities –
Kolkata to Port Blair (1255 km) – Around 66 Hours
Chennai to Port Blair (1190 km) – Around 60 Hours
Vishakhapatnam to Port Blair (1200 km) – Around 56 Hours
Port Blair – Kolkata / Chennai / Vishakapatnam, Ship Fare for the Year 2017-18
| Name of Vessel | Class of Accommodation | Fare per berth for Islanders (In Rs.) | Fare per berth for Tourist/Non-islanders (In Rs.) |
| M.V. Swaraj Dweep / Nancowry / Nicobar / Campbell Bay | Deluxe Cabin | 5,040.00 | 9,750.00 |
| 1st Class Cabin | 4,550.00 | 8,080.00 | |
| 2nd Class Cabin | 3,420.00 | 6,420.00 | |
| Bunk Class | 920.00 | 2,500.00 | |
| M.V. Harshvardhana | Deluxe Cabin | 5,040.00 | 9,750.00 |
| 1st Class Cabin | 4,550.00 | 8,080.00 | |
| 2nd Class ‘A’ Cabin | 3,420.00 | 6,420.00 | |
| 2nd Class ‘B’ Cabin | 3,010.00 | 4,960.00 | |
| Bunk Class | 920.00 | 2,500.00 | |
| M.V. Akbar | Deluxe Cabin | 5,040.00 | 9,750.00 |
| 1st Class Cabin | 4,380.00 | 6,890.00 | |
| 2nd Class Cabin | 2,280.00 | 4,190.00 | |
| Bunk | 830.00 | 2,180.00 |
For any further details, you can reach the following offices –
- Directorate of Shipping Services, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, Phoenix Bay Jetty, Port Blair. ( For MV Nancowry and MV Swarajdweep) Tel: 03192-245555, 230480 Fax: 03192-230480
- M/s A.V. Bhanojirao and Garuda Pattabhiramayya & Co., Near Port Main Gate, Post Box No: 17,Vishakapatnam (Agent – Shipping Corporation of India Ltd.)Tel: 0891-2565597 Fax: 0891-2566507
- The Asst. Director of Shipping Services, A & N Administration, 6, Rajaji Salai, Chennai – 600001(For MV Nancowry and MV Swarajdweep) Tel: 044-25220841 Fax: 044-25226873
- The Shipping Corporation of India Ltd., Shipping House, No. 13, Strand Road, Kolkata – 700001.Tel: 033-22484921, 22543506 Fax: 033- 24822035, 24820377
- The Shipping Corporation of India Ltd., “Shipping House”, 245, Madame Cama Road,Mumbai- 400 021 Tel: 022-2202 6666 Fax: 022-22831044
- The Shipping Corporation of India Ltd., Gati Coast-to-Coast Bldg., No 99 Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Delanipur, Post Box No. 310, Port Blair 744 102 Andaman Islands Tel : (03192) 233590 / 233347 Fax: (03912) 233778
By Air
If you do not live in the mainland of India, you should first book a flight to the country since the flights that take you to Andaman and Nicobar Islands fly from the mainland. Airlines like Air India, Go Air, Spice Jet & Jet Airways operate regularly from the mainland and have flights that connect Port Blair, the gateway of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to Chennai, New Delhi, Bhubaneshwar and Kolkata.
Apart from the commercial flights which fly from the mainland, foreign charter flights too are allowed to land at Port Blair as long as they have fulfilled all of the guidelines which are laid down by the Director General of Civil Aviation, Government of India.
Indian Airlines
Every day, two flights connect to Andaman from Kolkata and Chennai. Both of these flights take around 2 hours to get there.
Jet Lite
One flight from New Delhi connects Andaman every day via Kolkata. It takes around 5 hours.
Here is the updated list of Flights available from various Airlines –
| AIRLINES NAME | FLIGHT CODE | TIME | PATH |
| AIR INDIA | A1549 | 7:00 | CHENNAI(MAA) – PORT BLAIR(IXZ) |
| AIR INDIA | A1787 | 7:45 | KOLKATA(CUU) – PORT BLAIR(IXZ) |
| JET AIRWAYS | 9W7140 | 7:35 | KOLKATA(CUU) – PORT BLAIR(IXZ) |
| INDIGO | 6E6615 | 10:00 | DELHI – KOLKATA (CUU) – PORT BLAIR(IXZ) |
| GO AIR | G8304 | 10:15 | MUMBAI – CHENAI – PORT BLAIR(IXZ) |
| GO AIR | G8101 | 10:55 | DELHI – KOLKATA (CUU) – PORT BLAIR(IXZ) |
| INDIGO | 6 E188 | 11:15 | HYDERABAD – CHENNAI(MAA) – PORT BLAIR(IXZ) |
| JET AIRWAYS | 9W613 | 13:50 | MUMBAI – CHENNAI(MAA) – PORT BLAIR(IXZ) |
| SPICE JET | SG608 | 14:20 | CHENNAI(MAA) – PORT BLAIR(IXZ) |
| SPICE JET | SG251 | 14:05 | KOLKATA (CUU) – PORT BLAIR(IXZ) |
| GO AIR | G8291 | 17:20 | BANGALOR – PORT BLAIR(IXZ) |
| VISTARA | UK747 | 12:30 | KOLKATA (CUU) – PORT BLAIR(IXZ) |
| AIR INDIA | 10:15 | DELHI – BHUBANESHWAR – PORT BLAIR(IXZ) | |
| AIR INDIA | A1550 | 7:45 | PORT BLAIR(IXZ) – CHENNAI (MAA) |
| AIR INDIA | A1788 | 8:20 | PORT BLAIR(IXZ) – KOLKATA (CUU) |
| JET AIRWAYS | 9W7141 | 8:10 | PORT BLAIR(IXZ) – KOLKATA (CUU) |
| INDIGO | 6E6616 | 11:30 | PORT BLAIR(IXZ) – KOLKATA (CUU) – DELHI |
| GO AIR | G8305 | 10:45 | PORT BLAIR(IXZ) – CHENNAI (MAA) – BOMBAY(MAM) |
| GO AIR | G8102 | 5:30 | PORT BLAIR(IXZ) – KOLKATA (CUU) – DELHI |
| INDIGO | 6E858 | 11:30 | PORT BLAIR(IXZ) -BOMBAY(MAM) – HYDERABAD |
| JET AIRWAYS | 9W614 | 2:25 | PORT BLAIR(IXZ) – CHENNAI (MAA) |
| SPICE JET | SG609 | 2:45 | PORT BLAIR(IXZ) – CHENNAI (MAA) |
| SPICE JET | SG252 | 2:30 | PORT BLAIR(IXZ) – KOLKATA (CUU) |
| GO AIR | G8299 | 11:45 | PORT BLAIR(IXZ) – BANGALOR |
| VISTARA | UK778 | 13:50 | PORT BLAIR(IXZ) – KOLKATA (CUU) |
| AIR INDIA | 10:45 | PORT BLAIR(IXZ) – BHUBANESHWAR – DELHI |
Legal Formalities to Visit Andaman & Nicobar Islands
For Foreigners
Foreign nationals are allowed to stay there only for 30 days. They have to seek permission if they want to extend it by another 15 days. They have to seek permission from immigration authorities to stay there. However, they can also seek permit from Foreigner’s Registration Offices in Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata, Indian Missions Overseas, along with immigration authorities at airports in Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai.
For night halt, the places covered by the permit are Middle Andaman Island, South Andaman Island, Neil Island, Little Andaman Island (excluding tribal reserves), Havelock Island, Baratang, Diglipur, North Passage, Long Island and islands that are covered under Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park (except Twin, Boat Hobday, Malay, Tarmugli and Pluto). One has to seek permission for night halt in national park.
For Indians
There is no permit needed for Indians to visit Andaman Islands. But they have to seek permits to visit tribal areas and Nicobar Islands.