Andaman Islands travel guide
Bharathpur Beach is considered the best beach on Neil Island by Indian tourists. The long sandy beach is right next to the jetty and has plenty of shade. What makes this beach stand out compared to the other beaches on Neil Island is the calm shallow water and sandy bottom. Considered how chilled Neil Island otherwise is, Bharathpur Beach is a bit crowded with cafes and operators for glass-bottom boats and other water activities.
Though Havelock is getting more and more popular, and not just with Indian tourists, most of Havelock Island is still pristine forest, mangrove and rice paddy fields. There are three main areas with resorts. Govind Nagar Beach (no. 3) near the jetty, Vijay Nagar Beach (no. 5) further south, and Beach 7 (Radhanagar) across the island. Govind Nagar Beach is very narrow with patches of lovely mangrove. There are some nice resorts here with palm filled grounds.
Far south of the main strip of resorts at Govind Nagar Beach lies this gorgeous semi-deserted beach. Deserted because there are no resorts or local houses, semi because there are vendors and snack shacks. There are plenty of shade under the dense green canopies and the sea is tempting azure blue. The beach is apparently named after the many black stones.
Laxmanpur Beach is very photogenic with azure water, long stretch of secluded sandy beach, and on a backdrop of tall tropical trees. The triangular spot with water on two sides is known as “Sunset Point”. Even the narrow road, which winds its way to the small parkering area, is pretty. Since the beach is popular, there is a cluster of small snack stands. Maybe because the beach is directly exposed to the sea, it’s unfortunately littered with sea trash (plastic bottles, old shoes, wrappings, etc.).
At low tide you can walk out to this spectacular natural rock bridge. The view of both the bridge and the beautiful coastline is best from the backside of the bridge, where there also are some rockpools with lots of small sea creatures. The rocks and dead corals can be super sharp or slippery, so wear sturdy footwear (they will get wet). There is another newly developed natural bridge a short walk pass the first one. Just make sure you have enough time to return before the tide shifts. The Natural Bridge is very popular with Indian tourists, so you might experience Neil Island's only traffic jam at the small parkering area.
If you have expected something different than an ordinary Indian town, you might be disappointed with Port Blair. However with a population of only 100,000, Port Blair feels less hectic and the locals are easy going. There aren't that many sights, but the Cellular Jail with its grim history is definitely worth a visit, and so is Corbyn's Cove Beach. Else, there are always the corniche, the anthropological museum and the market.
Radhanagar Beach is probably the most famous beach on Havelock, well even the Andamans. The sandy beach is long and fringed by palms and tall trees. No resorts are visible from the beach, making the setting surprisingly lush, green and shady. The famous swimming elephant, Rajan, used to roam here at Radhanagar Beach, but unfortunately it passed away due to old age in 2016. Guide books are happy to point out that Radhanagar Beach was named "best beach in Asia" by TIME magazine in 2004, but you better do the judgement.
Like Sitapur Beach, Ramnagar Beach is less popular than Bharathpur Beach and Laxmanpur Beach. Ramnagar Beach is made up of several curved stretches of sand backed by shady vegetation. Due to the protecting reef, the azure water are usually calm here. It can be difficult to find access to the beach, but ask at one of the restaurants near the road.
Sitapur Beach is the sunrise spot on Neil Island, but the rest of the day it's pretty much empty. The serene beach is a mix of rocks and sand on a backdrop of what can only be described as jungle. Don't mind the trash at the viewpoint, because the beach itself is clean. The further you walk on the beach, the more wild the coastline gets with dead treetrunks, big boulders, and vertical cliffs. The beach is a real natural gem, though the water can be too rough for swimming. There is a restricted military area above the beach, but it's ok to venture off to all the connecting coves. Just keep track of the tide, so you don't get trapped midway.