How to plan your trip to Baratang Island

 

Baratang Island is about 100 km from the Capital city of Port Blair on the National Highway 4 towards Diglipur. The total length of the Island is around 22 kms. 

To reach Baratang one has to travel by road. The trip has to be planned according to the convoy timings at Jirgatang Police check-post which is one and a half hours from Port Blair. At present convoy timings from Jirgatang are 6.00 AM, 9 AM, 12 noon & 2.30 PM. This means that the check-post gate is opened at only these 4 timings for entry into the tribal reserve through which the road passes.

One has to start from Port Blair at least one and a half hours before these convoy timings. If the targeted time slot is missed then one will have to wait for the next convoy timing. If this was the last convoy then there is no other option but to return to Port Blair. 

To ensure a hassle-free trip, it is advisable to book a package through a reliable tour operator. Please beware that it might be that some cab operators looking to make a quick buck may quote the car hire charges as one-way. Don't get misguided. The quote is for a round trip. If you are not careful you might end up paying double the car-hire charges or else you might cancel the trip for this reason as well. Unwittingly, you will miss experiencing what could have been one of the highlights of your Andaman Vacation.

BARATANG ISLAND Tourist Spots

• PARROT  ISLAND

• LIMESTONE CAVES

• MUD VOLCANO

• BALUDERA BEACH

• MERK BAY

• LALAJI BAY

 

1.           PARROT  ISLAND
Parrot Island is a tiny island situated near Baratang. It is home to thousands of parrots. During sunset, thousands of parrots come in groups to settle in that island. The landing of parrots can be viewed from boats and it's an incredible experience to watch such a huge number of parrots landing there.

2.           LIMESTONE CAVES
The lime stone caves, full of splendid stalagmites, stalactites and pillar rocks, can be accessed by a 40-minute boat ride through the creeks from the Nilambur Jetty. And about 15-minute trek further through village and forest.  It gives an immense sense of adventure to the tourist.

3.           MUD VOLCANO
A mud volcano is created by natural gases emitted by decaying organic matter underground. As the mud is pushed upwards by the gas, it deposits and hardens above ground. As more mud oozes out and spills over the edge it grows in size, gradually forming what you can see today - a miniature volcano with a rich, creamy mud crater at the top.

4.           BALUDERA BEACH
Baludera Beach is an unpolluted shallow and isolated beach. During low tide one can wade through for almost a kilometre.

5.           MERK BAY
Merk Bay beach is in North Passage Island offers an excellent sandy Beach with unpolluted environment and evergreen forests. Merk Bay is famous for coral, white sandy, shallow beach suitable for snorkelling, swimming and sun basking. The sea around the island is famous for playful dolphins.

6.           LALAJI BAY
Lalaji Bay Beach is in Long Island and offers an excellent sandy Beach with unpolluted environment and evergreen forests. The sea around these islands is frequented by Dolphin Convoys.

 Parrot Island - Parrots  coming home to roost

Why Baratang Island?

Baratang Island can also be called the gateway to Middle and North Andaman. 
The Andaman & Nicobar Islands are a series of scattered Islands. Baratang is one of them. Onward to the north after the island of Baratang come Kadamtala, Rangat, Mayabunder and finally Diglipur.

This island is rural in nature and undeveloped in the modern sense of the term.  However, with the building of bridges at both ends, linking this island to South Andaman and  Kadamtala at the other end, the development of this Island is fast becoming reality. 

Baratang is an eco-tourism hotspot. There are mangroves, limestone caves, beaches, mud volcanoes and much more to see especially for nature lovers. 

A must-see phenomena is the one at sunset at Parrot Island.

Wouldn't you like to enjoy nature after all those concrete jungles?

Sightseeing options in Baratang

Resort Website