The magical Andaman Islands

It has been a childhood dream to visit the mystical and magical island called Andamans…the green-blue sea, the stories of Indian freedom fighters from the far away “kaalapani”, the flora and fauna, rare corals and shoals (a group of fish), littoral forests, picking up shells only to be taken away at the airport security..... the beautiful picturesque island has something new to offer every day and amaze you with its silhouettes…..

Since my travel updates atleast a dozen people have asked me about the trip, costs and how long the trip should be…so I decided I will write the blog in parts…

Firstly, Andamans trip cannot be done in 3 days. So if you thought Andamans is doable in 3 days or 4 you are wrong, its not your destination. The place deserves atleast 5 days if not 7 or 10.
We toured Andamans for seven days and came back rejuvenated and happy.
An ideal trip includes

Day 1-
Most of the tourists reach Port Blair airport by afternoon, it’s advisable if you take a morning flight and reach their by lunch. After lunch we headed to see the Cellular Jail, the star shaped stone building which takes you through the stories of Indian freedom struggle. There is a sound and light show which starts in the evening at 6pm. After the tour we visited the Carbyn Cove beach….this is one of the beaches where water sports takes place. You can also see snake island from there. Recently crocodiles have been spotted on the beach and it is advisable to avoid bathing in this one.
Entry tickets in the jail is rs 20 per person and rs 30 extra for cameras.


Day 2: Ross Island, Viper Island, North Bay Island
One heads to the three islands.. Ross Islands, Viper Island and in the end North Bay Islands.
Ross Islands is where British officers used to stay, you can see peacocks and deers roaming around…
From ross Islands we headed to Viper island where there is a small ‘faasighar’ on top of a small hill….it was actually the first jail in Andamans Island, later the Britishers shifted it to Port Blair. From Viper the ferry heads to North Bay Islands, which is the bed of coral reefs and underwater sports.
You get to do snorkelling, scuba diving and underwater sea walk at this point. Also there is a concept of glass boat, wherein the boat has glass on its base through which you can see coral reefs and water life.
Costs- Snorkelling in North Bay Island costs Rs 500/- per person
Scuba Diving costs Rs 3500 per person with photo and video cd
Underwater sea walk costs Rs 3200 with photo cd
Glass boat ride costs Rs 300 per person

Snorkelling can be avoided at this beach because the best place to snorkel is Jolly bouy island and it is included in the ferry ticket so one doesn’t have to pay for it. Also snorkelling doesn’t cost more than Rs 300 in other beaches. It is advisable to buy your own snorkelling kit and roam around on your own.
Ferry ticket costs Rs 500 per person inclusive of lunch meal and a water bottle


Day3-
Baratang Islands
Have you ever heard of Jarawa tribe?Andamans has four-five tribes of its own one of which is Jarawa tribe, they are found in the forests that starts from Jirkatang. The dense forest is the house of Jarawa’s and it’s a treat to drive through that part of the forest.
It takes nearly two hours to reach Jirkatang from Port Blair in the car and one has to get permit done before entering the forest. It is a 50 km stretch, one and half hour ride, where you do nothing byut sit back and look out for Jarawas.
Jarawa watching was banned by the court a few years back in fact the gates have been opened just a month back. Travellers cannot click pictures, if found guilty one will be jailed. The drivers cannot stop their cars or over take, if done their licenses would be cancelled. You cannot give clothes, food, or talk to them.
Once you cross the forest, you will reach Middle Strait from there ferry’s ply to Baratang Island where one visits the limestone caves and Mud Volcano. To reach the limestone caves one has to go in a speed boat which speeds through mangrove forests and takes you to a forest and after a 2 km walk you reach the limestone caves. This experience is just splendid to say the least.
The whole day trip costs around Rs 1000 per person.

Rest continued in the second part.

Rain drops keep falling on my head!

Rain drops keep falling on my head!

As a child one of the most frequented poems while getting ready during monsoon season used to be,' Rain Rain go away come again another day' but now the antithesis dominates the desire list.
With rains hitting Kerala yesterday it has already begun its descent towards Mumbai.
The petrichor, little new green grasses, parched land tracts soaking the water gush, rush of greenery, nature trails and the joy of jumping and dancing under the waterfalls, the western ghats, a new lease of life for the flaura and faunna and ofcourse for us too.
I will enlist some destinations which needs one time check box in your travel list if you are in Bombay!
The most common names being-

1.Matheran-early june-walk walk and keep walking. It’s not the road less travelled so avoid it if you are looking for less crowded place.

2.Malshej Ghats- during July. Once you reach Bhiwandi and take the right to Malshej the roads are a driver's dream. Empty roads without potholes and greenery all around. Don't stop at the MTDC resort and come back but take the pain go right till Lenyadri temple and see the abundance of pilgrimage to farming to a beautiful overflowing river.
Fill your petrol or diesel tank, even though there are petrol pumps on the ghat sometimes they don't have reserves or ATM slots. Don't take risk!

3. Lonavala-Khandala- Aamir Khan sang,'Ati kya Khandala?' Yes. Indeed. It’s one place every Mumbaikar visits every year and shall continue to do so for the simple fact that it looks more beautiful with every passing year.

4. Kolad- White water rafting-Kayaking-Flying Fox and other activities. As clock strikes 8 and water from the dam gushes through the Kundalika River and rain pouring endlessly expect average rapid of 3 to sometimes 4 or more. It’s thrilling, exihilarating and an experience you take home with much pride. Though Hrishikesh is the best place for rafting, this can be considered as the best learner ground. Please don't say that you did this in Coorg because that's hilarious. Don't insult rafting.
There are various packages available on groupon and other sites. Rafting usually costs Rs 1200-1300 per person and each raft can carry maximum 8 people. Go in large groups.
Overnight tent and camping and normal hotel stays are available.

5. Beyond Amby Valley: Okay so I don't really know the name of the place but take the road that goes parallel to Amby valley's airport strip and keep going straight and after crossing fields, empty villages to mountain ranges you will end up being on Kolad which is on the Old Mumbai- goa highway. Kolad to Mumbai is 3.30-4 hours journey on a clean stretch.
I saw a few trekkers making their way to the mountain but couldn't ascertain the name but it’s a fantastic stretch. If you figure out let me know.

6. Nagaon, Kashid, Revdanda, Mandwa, Murud-Janjira- they all fall in the Alibaug region. Avoid Alibaug per se but try these places.

8. Igatpuri-Nashik-Kasara- Drive safely, click pictures abundantly and come back home rejuvenated and in a mode that's called Freshly.

9. Bhandardhara, Jawhar, Ganpatipule, Amboli Ghats, Kankavli, Durshet Forest, Guhagar, Malhar Machi- haven't been but research shows worth a visit!

10.Lavasa- good roads but feels like you are a compass making circles for hours since you hit the first patch of road which HCC has made- the entrance of Lavasa project. I am not a fan some of my friends are and it is a 5 hour drive from Peddar Road to Fortune hotel at Lavasa- just one way! I will avoid it but from Pune its 65kms.

11.Karnala Fort- there are two roads that take you up ..one on the left- the easier one and the one that's right infront of you as you cross the little lake. Take the road on the left it’s not that easy too. Should take around three hours to go and come back with ample break time.

12. N ofcourse the array of mountains Rajmachi, Harishchandragad and many more. I am not a trekking fan so will skip this part. Also don't forget to cycle around close to 21 kms inside the Borivili National Park.
With all these recos I am hoping even rains will dazzle us this year with some little extra MM's...
Have a great and safe trip with loads of chai breaks and garam bhuttas :)

The travel begins...

Travelling is a way of life. It opens new doors, new perspectives, contemplation, ideas, execution skills, emotions, testing our abilities and some times much more than what we think while setting out for the journey.
This blog was essentially made to capture my travel sojourns yet after travelling extensively for last few months I haven't updated anything. So I will start with the konkan wonderland-Goa, then head downwards to the hill station called Coorg via Bangalore. Not to be missed the highlight of the Coorg tour was the Storm Festival at Napoklu with electrifying performance by Indian Ocean and Shankar Mahadevan.
The month of March was all about taking a step towards making new friends whom I have known and been around with since childhood. A review of Rivertouch Resort at Karjat.
And then comes the heavenly abode lying in the midst of the Indian Ocean the beautiful islands called Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The seven day extravaganza of walking 30 feet under the sea to walking inside the limestone caves to watching Jarawa tribes while crossing 50kms of Jarkatang forest range. Did I forget to mention the cellular jail, breath taking islands and coral reefs?
Of course each trip comes with the hole in the pocket details and in some cases details of tour operators.
This is just the brief and I hope after reading the travelogues you will get your chappals on!
And of course hopefully with rains catching their train on time this year the journey has merely begun for travel crazos!
Happy reading and travelling!