Barren Island
Barren Island in the Andaman Archipelago is the only confirmed active volcano in the entirety of Southern Asia. Home to a number of wonders, Andaman and Nicobar Islands have in their boundary a great treasure in the form of this erupting beauty. Lying on a chain of active volcanoes that run from Sumatra in Indonesia to Myanmar, the Barren Island is located about 140 km from the capital town of Port Blair and is a must visit place during your trip to Andaman

Located on the meeting of the Indian and Burmese tectonic plates, the island is actually almost as old as 2 million years. Formed because of the eruptions of the past, the first ever recorded eruption here dates back to 1787 AD. The Barren Volcano, as it is called, had its last large-scale eruption about a 150 years ago. After about 26 years of being calm, the latest eruption happened in 2017 first, and then again in the year 2018, making it one of the best places to visit in Andaman. People from all over the world are traveling to this place to see the red streak of lava flowing from the top of a 2 km wide caldera of the volcano.

Although the place had been discovered way back in time, lack of research and permits for the same, thereof, has made the Barren Island a mysterious place. Not much is known about what really transpires on the ground in Barren Island, because of the aforementioned reason, and because the island is uninhabited. There is little vegetation on the island, with about a few birds, a small population of goats, bats (flying foxes), and some species of rats and other rodents who have learned to adapt to the harsh conditions of the island.

Because of such remoteness and close to zero activities on the ground and in the waters, the place is still in its most pristine conditions. And that is why, the areas around the island, especially the waters are known to be great spots for scuba diving experience in Andaman. If you are wondering what one can find on one of these dives, you can look for the crystal clear visibility, Manta Rays, interesting basalt formations, topography of the past lava flows and fast-growing coral gardens. You can get organizers for Scuba Diving based in Havelock Island, who will bring you out here on their ships for you to explore what can easily be called one of the world’s best diving spots.

Apart from this, the land on the island is a thing of beauty in itself. With an occasional sighting of the goats that live here, you will find black sand beaches in every direction as far as your eye goes. Underwater, this black sand has helped in preparing, nurturing and maintaining the beauty of the corals, sponges, and sea anemones. Standing on the deck of the boat, as you will look at the amazing island, the experience is something that will erupt like a happy shower inside you. Here is a guide that will tell you all you need to know about this heavenly attraction of the Andamans.

Radhanagar Beach
Situated on the western coast in the Havelock Island, Radhanagar Beach is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in Andaman Islands. With its breathtaking sunsets and mesmerizing sunrises, this beach is something straight out of a wonderland.

Also known as Number 7 Beach, this beach was once titled as the ‘Best Beach in Asia’ in 2004. This crescent shaped 2 kilometers long beach is known for its soft silver sand with high carrying capacity.

With the pristine sand rushing beneath your feet towards the sea, and the unspoiled emerald blue waves caressing the shore, Radhanagar Beach is everything you would have ever dreamt of! Surprisingly, despite its massive popularity, Radahangar Beach is hardly ever over-crowded making it one of the famous tourist spots in Andaman.

The long stretch of the beach makes it easy to find a quiet place, making it perfect for nature lovers wanting some peace, photographers longing for that perfect shot, or honeymooners in Andaman looking for a private spot. The shore lined with lush green palm trees makes it for a postcard perfect scenery.

It also very common for tourists to spot some elephants on the beach, so make sure you keep your eyes open and cameras ready!

Radhanagar Beach tends to get crowded with visitors around late mornings and afternoons usually from 10 am to 4 pm. The best time of that day at the beach has to be the early mornings as you get time to enjoy the beach in its rawest, most secluded form. You might even end up having the entire beach to yourself or just maybe, find a stray soul or two- perhaps walking a dog, or enjoying a peaceful yoga or meditation session on the beach. Sunsets at this beach are stupendous as well, but the forests guards might not let you stay past 6 pm, as it starts growing darker by the minute.

Swimming in the waters is also not allowed post 5 pm due to high tides that might prove to be dangerous. Since it is located very close to the equator, the beach tends to be hot year round. But the best season to visit Radhanagar Beach is during the winters as it provides a slight relief from the scorching heat and humidity.

Radhanagar Beach makes it for a perfect stop for those looking to spend some time peacefully in the midst of nature while feasting on delicious food from cafes selling all sorts of cuisines ranging from traditional to global.

Beach beds and shower rooms are also available at the beach, making it a perfect luxurious spot. It is advised to apply a strong sunscreen lotion to protect yourself from the sun’s glare.

Ross Island
The Andaman Islands archipelago has many pretty islands and those are frequented by nature and marine wildlife loving tourist across the year. However, the remnants of former British settlement in the serene and remote Ross Island hold a unique charm for the visitors. The island was named after Daniel Ross, a British marine surveyor.

In pre-independence India, this island was a British colony where administrative activities were at a peak. It was called Paris of the East’ and even now you can find the remnants of that colonial period. A tour in this island takes you down to road of nostalgia and also offers you an escape from the clutter of busy tourist locations in Andaman.

The flora and fauna you witness in this island are amazing, and the population of peacocks, birds, and deers on the island will amaze you too. The variety of plant species on this island is also great. The ruins of a church, the cellular jail, a bakery, and several other buildings are there to be explored too.

Now, the Indian Navy maintains the former British Administrative Headquarters and its numerous historic ruins. There is the Smritika Museum (Indian Navy) which is well maintained and the newest attraction for visitors is a sound and light show. It takes place every evening barring Wednesday and major holidays.

Elephant Beach
Elephant Beach is one of the key attractions located on Havelock Island, in Andaman and Nicobar. It takes around twenty minutes to get to the beach on a ferry, and the sight of the beach alone is enough to make you fall in love with this place. The beauty of the clean shores, unaffected by man-made pollution.

It is a one of the most popular beaches in Andaman and attracts a lot of visitors every year. Due to its popularity, there are many tour agencies that arrange day trips to the beach on a regular basis, especially during the peak seasons.

Elephant Beach is very famous for the bright coral reefs that one can find at a depth that is as shallow as just one meter. This might sound too good to be true, but it's one of the things that drives tourists to visit this place during their trip to Andaman, and never makes it lose its charm.

The Beach is a public beach and anyone can access it. However, the beach doesn’t stay open for the whole day so you must plan your visit during the first half of the day, to get as much time as possible on these beautiful sandy shores and enjoy all the activities and things that the beach has to offer.

Some of the most popular attractions around the beach include swimming, fishing, kayaking and an array of other super exciting water sports that are famous in Andaman. You can also explore the famous underwater world of the Andaman Islands on the Elephant Beach, and see some of the most exciting marine life, like the famous coral reefs, turtles, sea anemones, as well as many other types of colorful fish.

Cellular Jail
Cellular Jail is one of the most historically significant monuments in the Andaman Islands, as it used to be the place where Britisher officers used to send prisoners for exile, during the period of their rule. The walls of this jail hold many stories of the brave Indian freedom fighters and prisoners who have withstood torment in the cells of this very building. The jail is also referred to as Kala Pani, meaning black water in Hindi, and what was the term for prison cell confinement during that period.

The construction of the jail took place the years of 1896 and 1906, however, the British officers had been using the prison as an exile for prisoners right from the period of the Sepoy mutiny, during the late 1950s. The mutiny caused the death of a large number of Indian soldiers by the hands of the British, and those who were managed to survive were sent to the islands to live the rest of their days there.

This prison, in particular, was considered to be the best place to send the soldiers who protested against the British, as they were completely isolated from their homes, their families and all their loved ones. Therefore, sending the rebels here was considered the highest form of punishment as it not only received torment in the form of physical punishments and torture, but their spirit was broken as well due to the fact that they were far from everything that was familiar to them.


After India got its Independence in 1947, many of the former prisoners went back and visited the prison where they have spent months, and even years. An organization that has been formed by said prisoners, named the “Ex-Andaman Political Prisoner’s Fraternity Circle” had decided to move a petition forward to the government to acknowledge the prison as a national memorial, and that no changes were to be made to it on a large scale. Honoring their struggle, the Prime Minister of India dedicated the prison to the nation on 11th February 1979.


Today, the stories and struggles of the freedom and political fighters of our country are proudly displayed on the walls of the prison, and there is even a gallery dedicated to the photos and exhibitions of the movement of the freedom fighters, and the tales of the hardships faced by the brave soldiers who were unfortunate enough to face the torment of the British in this prison.


Apart from the gallery, the prison also houses a library on the first floor, which has a lot of books related to the freedom movement, and a gallery showcasing the important moments from the first war of Independence. One of the key attractions the prison is the eternal flame of the Freedom-Swatantrya Jyot that has been built in honor of the soldiers who have given their lives to the freedom movement. This place welcomes many travelers who are on their trip to Andaman. If you're planning a visit to this important National Monument, make sure to read all the details in our guide below.