Havelock Island is a perfect getaway for travelers coming to Andaman Islands. Far away from the hustle and bustle of cities, it is a perfect destination and secluded place for a rendezvous with nature.
Havelock island has been named after Sir Henry Havelock, who was a British General, and it holds a history of its own. To reach Havelock, travelers need to take a flight to Port Blair from Delhi or Chennai and then take a ferry to Havelock Island.
Winters is the perfect time to visit and enjoy the island, with beautiful beach experiences and placid tropical rainforests.
You can enjoy ecotourism at its best on Havelock Island. The island is home to beautiful beaches, amazing resorts and forest trails.
If you love watersports, you can indulge in activities like water karting, jet skiing, scuba diving, and snorkeling, and give a finishing touch to the day with splendid views of sunset.
The island is safe to visit and offers an unforgettable travel experience.
Brief history of Havelock
The administration of Andaman and Nicobar Islands promotes Havelock Island with a focus on ecotourism. It was named after Sir Henry Havelock, who was a British general.
In 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi renamed it as Swaraj Dweep paying tribute to Subhash Chandra Bose. On 30th December 1943 Bose hoisted the Indian flag in Port Blair.
How many days are enough for Havelock Island?
In general, any traveler or tourist can cover Havelock Island in 2-3 days. Though, it is recommended to stay for at least 4-5 days to really enjoy and explore the island inside out.
The ferries plying from Port Blair (Neil Island) take almost two hours to reach Havelock Island. You can easily hire four-wheelers or autos on the island. Also, you can rent a two-wheeler to explore the Island on your own. The prices of different vehicles vary.
Places to visit in Havelock Island
- Radhanagar beach: Blue flag certified beach: It is a beautiful beach, offering long stretches of water and white sand. The waves are pretty awesome, and you can enjoy a great sunset view at this beach. Water sports are not available at this beach, though.
- Elephant beach: This is another amazing beach on Havelock Island. Here you can enjoy snorkeling, jet skiing, scuba diving, parasailing, and other water sports.
- Kalapathar beach: Kalapathar beach offers mesmerizing views with turquoise light blue colored water.
- Govind Nagar beach: Filled with colorful fish and corals, this is an exquisite beach to visit in Havelock.
- Vijay Nagar beach: Here you can enjoy your time amidst lovely coconut and other trees. It offers stunning views.
Things to do in Havelock Island
- Scuba diving at Elephant beach
- Sea walk at Elephant beach
- Sea karting
- Glass bottom boat ride
- Parasailing
- Banana ride
How to reach Havelock Island
Even though Havelock Island is quite far from the mainland, it is quite easy to reach there. Direct flights to Port Blair are available from limited Indian cities.
Once you reach Port Blair, you have to wait for the ferries. Also, the tickets have to be booked in advance, especially in high season when a lot of people visit the Island. There are some companies which can help you with the travel arrangements namely Green Ocean, Nautika, ITT and Makruzz.
A thing of respite for foreign tourists is that the Restricted Area Permit which was earlier required for non-Indian nationals has now been lifted for most countries.
Once you reach the island you can get a rental scooter, four wheelers or autos with ease. The best time to visit is between December to April. Travel in between May to September should be avoided as it is the monsoon season. The peak time is December and January, when a lot of tourists visit the island.
FAQs
Is Havelock Island worth visiting?
Yes. It is one of the most worth-visiting locations in India, especially if you are looking for a beach holiday. With beautiful beaches and amazing experiences for travelers, the Island offers much to them. The island has a history of its own, so it is a great place to visit for people interested in historical travel as well.
Is kayaking possible in Havelock?
Yes, it is very much popular among tourists and those interested in kayaking can enjoy the beauty of the island.
How to reach Havelock island?
First you need to reach Port Blair, for which you can get flights from Indian cities like Delhi and Chennai. From Port Blair, you need to book a ferry, which takes some hours to reach Havelock Island.
Is Havelock island safe?
Yes. It is pretty much safe and worth visiting, especially for foreign tourists who should experience this part of India which is quite different and exquisite.
What to do in Havelock island?
You can explore the Island on your own. There are beautiful beaches where you can spend quality time and also engage in water activities. If you love hiking, then the Island provides you many good opportunities for the same.
What are ferry timings from Port Blair to Havelock island?
The ferries ply to and for from Port Blair to Havelock Island. They usually have an irregular timetable. You can do advance booking with help of companies which will notify you about the timings.
What is the best time to visit Havelock island?
The best time to visit is in-between December to April. This is dry season with little or no rain, so you can enjoy the best of the Island. The peak time is in-between December and January.
What language is spoken in Havelock Island?
Bengali, Hindi, Tamil and English.
Which is the best beach for snorkeling in Havelock island?
Elephant beach is the best beach if you are interested in snorkeling.
Which is the best beach for scuba diving in Havelock island?
Elephant beach
Which mobile network works best in Havelock?
BSNL and Airtel are two best networks based upon experience.