Vrushali and Amit – Andaman
Aftering tying the knot in Pune, they chose Andaman Islands as their exotic honeymoon destination.
Vrushali from Bhavnagar and Amit from Mumbai are both bankers and got married in Pune. Here, Vrushali writes about how they met and their week-long honeymoon in February.
“We were family friends, my father and father-in-law were school buddies but me and Amit never really met until our meeting was ‘arranged’. From the beginning we got along fantastically well, and we still wonder why we didn’t meet earlier. We had a long courtship period of ten months when we spent quality time and got to know each other well before we tied the knot.”
Honeymoon planning
We were clear about one thing- we wanted a Beach destination. We initially thought of Bali and Maldives, but later closer to the date by when we had to finalise the booking, I realised my passport may not be ready so we decided on a destination in India itself. And immediately Andaman & Nicobar Islands and its crystal clear blue beaches alike Bali & Maldives came to our mind. We spent some time researching online and after reading up about their adventure sports and amazing fine dining experiences we were excited to travel there.
Bookings
We booked our travel and stay through Makemytrip.com, and we travelled from Mumbai via Chennai to Port Blair. I must emphasise that we were most impressed with the arrangements and ground management by Makemytrip. From airport pick-up to sightseeing and transfers to other islands, everything was very well-managed through the six days.
Trip Details
Day 1
Mumbai to Port Blair is a four and a half hour to five hour journey, we boarded the flight at 6:30 AM and landed in Port Blair at 10:30 AM, where MakeMyTrip (MMT) ‘Tour Managers’ received us and directed us to the cab.
We checked in to the Seashell Resort in Andaman Sports Complex, Port Blair and after taking some rest we took the boat to Viper Island and Carby’n Cove beach. In Viper Island, the tour guide shared the history of trial courts and gallons where many of our freedom fighters got martyrdom. We then headed to the Carby’n Cove beach- a very beautiful non-crowded island. We had a lovely beach walk and returned back to Andaman Sports Complex by 6pm. We then went to see the light and sound show at Cellular Jail later in the evening.
Day 2
After breakfast, we were off to Ross Island which is 45 minutes away by speedboat. We went snorkelling at Ross Island which is home to some exotic marine life, both flora and fauna. There is nothing much else to do on the island, but it was beautiful nonetheless!! We headed back to Port Blair and had lunch at Adi Bengali Hotel which is well-known for its traditional delicacies.
We then headed to the fisheries museum- it exhibits species of marine life peculiar to the Islands and the ones found in the Indo Pacific and Bay of Bengal. Over 350 species of marine life have been very carefully preserved in this Museum. They also sell varieties of shell-made items. Next, we went to the Anthropological Museum which illustrates the four Negrito tribes of Andaman viz. the Jarawas, Sentinelese, Great Andamanese and the Onges, and two Mongoloid tribes of the Nicobar. Since it was 5pm and we were free for the rest of the day, we decided to explore Andaman. We headed to Samudrika (Naval Marine Museum). This museum is meant to create awareness about the oceanic environment.
Day 3
After lunch, we went to the famous Radhanagar Beach where we had a relaxing afternoon. A walk by the beach is a perfect thing to do at Radhanagar which is one of the cleanest and the longest beaches in Asia. The day ended early as the sun sets at around 5:30pm. We returned to the resort where we had a safety briefing on the next day’s ‘Scuba Diving’ session at Elephanta Beach.
Day 4
We were super excited and geared up for our adventure sports. We hopped on a boat to reach Elephanta beach. After reaching Elephanta beach, we started with a glass bottom boat ride. It was amazing to see corals and marine life through the magnifying glass fitted on the floor of the boat. After reaching the diving spot, the most awaited moment was here. We got dressed in the scuba diving suits, had the oxygen cylinders fitted on our backs and after the 20 minute practice session, we began our scuba diving journey along with the professional scuba diver. We saw many colourful parrot fishes, damsel fishes, sea-horses and different anemone fishes (nemos). After the scuba session we also enjoyed snorkelling and other water scooter rides.
Day 5
We were off to the tiny and beautiful Neil Island by ferry and reached there in an hour. We went to the Seashell Resort there, which is situated amidst the picturesque view of gently curving bay showcasing the white sandy beach, the tranquil blue waters and backdrop of the lush green tropical forest. Neil Island exhibits serene relaxed vibes away from the hustle of city life. It is a 19 square kilometre long stretch with a population of just 2868 people. The resort also has a private beach with shacks. After spending some time at the resort we headed to the Laxmanpur beach. It is a beautiful white sandy beach, full of shells and dead corals with an impressive sunset view.
Day 6
This was the last day of our trip, and we wanted to utilize it to the best. After breakfast, we headed to the Bharatpur beach which is well known for its beautiful coral reefs. By noon, we headed back to the resort, packed and started our journey back to Port Blair.
Recommendations/ Must Dos
– If you’re unable to travel abroad for your honeymoon and want to go to a beach destination head to Andaman & Nicobar Island for the rich feel of nature’s beauty, enchanting sceneries, crystal clear waters and white islands.
– Try to spend less time in Port Blair, and more time on the Islands around Andaman & Nicobar.
– In Port Blair visit Cellular Jail, Fisheries Museum, Anthropological Museum & the Sagarekha market for shopping.
– Do not miss saying Hello to ‘Nemo’ so do try Scuba Diving at Havelock Island.
– Take a long walk on the Radhanagar beach at Havelock; it is one of the longest and cleanest beaches in Asia.
– Vegetarians may need to compromise a little on taste, but if you are a seafood lover you will surely enjoy the amazing and authentic spread of sea food dishes.
– Do not forget to carry your sunglasses and hat, and take care of your skin- “I didn’t step out without my favourite sunscreen- Banana Sports SPF 50.”
