Andaman and Nicobar Islands
A short flight from Kolkata (Calcutta) by air (it is also connected by flights from Delhi and Chennai (Madras) is Port Blair, capital of the Andaman Islands. Though travel is restricted here, those islands open to tourism, with their lovely beaches and coral beds, are a traveller’s delight. On Port Blair, the Cellular Jail and Anthropological Museum merit a visit. Excursions can be taken by motor launch to the islands of Wandoor and Jolly Buoy and to the bird sanctuary at Chiriyatapoo.The Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands consisting of about 293 islands (39 of which are inhabited) is situated in the Bay of Bengal. Andaman roup of islands consists of North Andaman, Middle Andaman. South Andaman and Little Andaman besides many smaller islands.Nicobar group of islands comprises Great Nicobar, Car Nicobar, Nancowry, Katchal and Chowra. The headquarters of this Union Territory is at Port Blair, situated in South Andaman Island.The topography of the islands is hilly & they abound in evergreen forests.Timber is plentiful and of a vast variety. The white sandy beaches have a back drop of luxuriant greenery & in the clear blue waters of the lagoons enclosed by coral reefs is an underwater world full of fish of every possible variety.
Area: 8248 sq.kms (Andaman- 6408, Nicober- 1841 sq.kms)
Altitude: Varies from sea-level to 732 metres. (Highest Point- Saddle Peak)
Temperature (°C): Min 23, Max30
Rainfall: 3000 mms (May to Mid-September & November to January)
Relative Humidity: 70% to 90%
Forest cover: 86%
Best Season: October to April
Clothings: Cottons throughout the year
Languages Spoken: Nicobari, Bengali, Tamil, Telegu, Malayalam, Hindi, English
ISD Code: +91-3192 (STD 03192)
Altitude: Varies from sea-level to 732 metres. (Highest Point- Saddle Peak)
Temperature (°C): Min 23, Max30
Rainfall: 3000 mms (May to Mid-September & November to January)
Relative Humidity: 70% to 90%
Forest cover: 86%
Best Season: October to April
Clothings: Cottons throughout the year
Languages Spoken: Nicobari, Bengali, Tamil, Telegu, Malayalam, Hindi, English
ISD Code: +91-3192 (STD 03192)
Entry Formalities
Foreigners: Foreign tourists need a special permit to visit the Andaman Islands. This can be obtained from Indian Missions abroad or the immigration authorities in Mumbai (Bombay), Kolkata (Calcutta), Delhi, Chennai (Madras) or on arrival at Port Blair Airport. It can also be obtained from The Director, Ministry of Home Affairs (ANL Division), Government of India, 2nd Floor, North Block, New Delhi- 110 001, through Indian Missions at least 3 months in advance. Foreign Nationals are not allowed to visit Nicobar Islands.This permit is valid for Port Blair Municipal Area; Havelock Islands; Long; Neil Islands; Mayabunder; Diglipur; Rangat for a period of one month where night halt is permitted. However only a day's visit is allowed to places like Jolly Buoy; South Cinque; Red Skin; Moun Hariet and Madhuban.
Indians: Indian nationals need no special permits to visit Andamans. However, permits are required to visit Nicobar islands, issued by The Deputy Commissioner, Andamans at Port Blair.
How to get there
 | Air: Port Blair is connected by Indian Airlines with Chennai (Madras), Kolkata (Kalkutta) and Car Nicobar. East-West Airlines operate flights on Chennai (Madras) -Port Blair route on tuesday, thursday and saturday. |
 | Sea: Regular passenger ship services viz. M.V.Harshavardhana, M.V.Akbar and M.V.Nicobar are plying between Port Blair and Chennai (Madras) (1190 km), Kolkata (Kalkutta) (1255 kms), Vizag (1200 kms). One more passenger vessel M.V.Nancowry is likely to be inducted soon on this run. There are 2 sailings in a month each from Kolkata (Calcutta) and Chennai (Madras) to Port Blair & vice versa. There is one sailing from Vishakhapatnam every 3 months. The voyage takes about 3 / 4 days and the ships normally berth at Port Blair for three days. |
 | Internal Transport: There are four inter-island passenger cum cargo vessel operating between Port Blair and other islands. Details regarding schedules can be obtained from the Director, Shipping Services, Port Blair, Tel: 20725. |
Places of Interest
- Cellular Jail. The Bastille of India Where India's freedom fighters were incarcerated
- Anthropological Museum
- Marine Museum
- Cottage Industries Museum
- Mini Zoo
- Chatham Saw Mill
- Corbyn's Cove Beach
- Marine Park
- Viper Island
- Sippighat water Sports Complex
Excursions
- Sippighat Farm (14 kms)
- Chiriya Tapu (30 kms)
- Wandoor Beach (30 kms)
- Havelock Island (54 kms)
- Jolly Buoy
- Cinque & Red Skin Islands
Kolkata (Calcutta) is the largest city in India, indeed one of the largest in the world. Established as a British trading post in the 17th century, the city rapidly grew, acquiring a life and vibrancy of its own. Its glory is still reflected in the buildings of Chowringhee and Clive Street, know as Jawaharlal Nehru Road and Netaji Subhash Road respectively. It is a city which leaves no-one indifferent-fascinating, effervescent, teeming with life, peoples, cultures. The impact can be a shock at first; the rickshaws, cars, brightly painted lorries, trolley buses, the cries of the street vendors, labourers hard at work on the construction of the vast underground railway, the noise and colour of the huge New Market, the bustle of the crowds...but soon the jumbled impressions will sort themselves out. Central Kolkata (Calcutta) is best viewed in perspective around the rolling green of the Maidan, 3 square kilometres of parkland where the early-morning yoga sessions provide for the city dwellers a relaxation from the stresses of urban life. For relaxation of another kind, visit the Indian Museum, one of the finest in Asia. Other attractions include the huge white marble Victoria Memorial, the Octherlony Monument and the headquarters of the Rama Krishna mission. To the north of the city is the silent beauty of the Belur Math and, across the river, the Botanical gardens (with a 200 years old Banyan tree, reputedly the largest in the world)and the Kali temple of Dakshineshwar. Kolkata (Calcutta) has a soul. The Bengalis are poets and artists of India and this has affected their city. Kolkata (Calcutta) will certainly grow on you. For a complete change, take a plane or boat from Kolkata (Calcutta) to Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the peaceful sun-soaked paradise in the Bay of Bengal. 
For those who don’t wish to fly, try taking a train to Darjeeling from Calcutta. The last leg of the journey from New Jalpaiguri takes place on a miniature railway which winds through deep jungles, tea gardens and pine forests. It is one of the great journeys of the world. Darjeeling is an unspoilt, English-style hill station straddling a mountain slope and surrounded with high green hills covered with coniferous trees, with massive drops into the enchanting valley below. It commands a stunning view of Kanchenjunga (8586 metres), particularly from nearby Tiger Hill, and the sunrise which breaks over the mountains is one of the most beautiful on earth. Many Tibetan refugees live here, and it is also the home of the celebrated Sherpa Tenzing, as well as being the headquarters of the India Mountaineering Institute. The tea to which the town gives its name is the finest in the world; where better to sample it than here.
For the visitor wishing to explore southern India extensively, Chennai, the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu, is the most convenient point of entry. Chennai has an international airport, a sea port and a rail and road network that links it to all major towns and cities of the region. It also has several deluxe hotels and others to suit modest budgets. Tamil Nadu is a bastion of Hinduism, whose past endures into the present. Temples with towering spires called gopurams are a common feature of this state, seldom seen anywhere else in the country. Temples in Tamil Nadu were the fulcrum of society and even today art forms that have their origin in religious worship continue to colour daily life. Notable among these are splendid bronzes of deities, painting on glass and Bharatnatyam, an evocative dance form.
A french colony upto 1954, Pondicherry is a living monument of French Culture in India. The Aurobindo Ashram and 'Auroville' the international township are famous all over the world.
The most comprehensive beach resort in the country, Goa is approachable from Mumbai (Bombay) by air. Goa’s coastline provides endless sun drenched crescents of sand. Vagator, Anjuna, Baga, Calangute and Candolim stretch out in an unbroken palm fringed line. Other beaches are at Miramar and Colva. Parasailing, yachting, windsurfing, and deep sea diving are some of the more popular water sports, facilities for which are available. In addition, every sort of accommodation fringes the beaches, from deluxe resorts to budget lodgings Inland, 451 years of Portuguese rule has imbued Goa’s towns and villages with a unique culture. Whitewashed chapels and churches that dot the landscape are surrounded by sleepy villages and rice fields.
Panjim, the capital city, and Margao, an important town, have private houses and government buildings that date back to Portuguese times. Old Goa, now deserted, has a collection of Goa’s largest churches: Se Cathedral with its Iberian exterior, Bom Jesu which enshrines the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier and the starkly beautiful Convent of Saint Monica are a few of these. Mapusa, a market town, comes alive every Friday with a quaint pavement bazar.
There is a powerful life force at work in this thriving, modern commercial city, with its plateglass skyscrapers and hectic colorful street life. The pace and confusion is vibrant, with businessmen hurrying to work, hooting traffic, fisherwomen in their bright sarees and ‘tiffinwallahs’ hurrying with their metal containers to deliver the businessman’s lunch direct from his home to his office. After relaxing on Chowpatty beach under the cool evening sky, sipping refreshing milk from a large green coconut, you will start to love Mumbai (Bombay). You will feel ready to visit the elegant and world famous Taj Mahal hotel for a delicious snack or drink while watching the sunset over the many boats in the harbour. In the luxury and quiet of a hotel room, sightseeing can be planned. Consider a visit to the lofty Hanging Gardens next door to the intriguing Towers of Silence; or maybe win a million at the beautiful Mahalaxmi Racecourse, one of the finest in India. A glamorous day visiting the famous Mumbai (Bombay) film studios can be arranged, and perhaps a chat with one of the many film stars. Relive the ancient stories of the Hindu gods sculpted on the walls of caves at Elephanta. This well known island, where monkeys scamper across your path, is a short and pleasant boat ride from the famous landmark in Mumbai (Bombay) - the Gateway of India. When ready to leave this city of tycoons, commerce, skyscrapers and film stars, prepare for adventures of a very different kind which await at its doorstep. 
Bharatpur is famous for its 29 sq km bird sanctuary which has the largest concentration and variety of birdlife in Asia. Throughout the year Bharatpur’s native population of tree and water birds can be seen, the latter breeding in July-August. However, the sanctuary has gained worldwide attention as being the winter home of several migratory species including the endangered Siberian crane.
Rajasthan – the land of maharajas, of forts and palaces, of romantic havelis, is drenched in royalty. Each monument here echoes with rich architectural grandeur. To allow the travellers a glimpse into the lavish opulence of the royal land, most of these palaces and havelis have been converted into Heritage Hotels. With their impeccable services, they offer unparalleled luxury, as you enjoy the regal lifestyle during your stay - feeling like a real maharaja.
Amongst the three regions of Jammu & Kashmir State, Jammu, perhaps, offers the widest diversity of terrain and beauty. The entire region is pocketed with lakes and valleys, some still little explored. The foundation of the settlement of Jammu is attributed to King Jambulochan of the 9th century BC. In 1730 AD, it came under the Dogra rule of Raja Dhruv Deva and Jammu became an important centre for arts and culture, now renwned as the Pahari School. Religion, too, played an important part in its development, so beautifully evidenced in its various shrines and temples spread throughout the region.
This state could well be called a perfect vacation land: A state that blazed a trail of holiday traditions, with its highway tourism policy. The bird named complexes of Haryana Tourism dot the five national highways passing through the state. They also await the holiday maker at district headquarters towns and place of tourist interest. Here you get in touch with Nature. Kick off your shoes and relax with pampered treatment. Eat out at well appointed restaurants. Crowd the icecream parlours. Gift shops, bars.
India’s capital city, Delhi is the second most widely used entry point into the country, being on the route of most major airlines. It is well linked by rail, air and road to all parts of the country. The remains of seven distinctive capital cities – among them Shahjahanabad and Qutab Minar – can be seen. Here, museums, art galleries and cultural centers attract the finest exhibitions and performances from India and abroad. Shopping encompasses virtually everything that can be bought in the country; hotels range from the deluxe to the more modest. Most fascinating of all is the character of Delhi which varies from the 13th century mausoleum of the Lodi kings set in a sprawling park 
to ultra modern chrome and glass skyscrapers; and from imperial India’s Parliament House and the President’s Palace to the never ending bustle of the walled city surrounding Jama Masjid. Delhi also makes the ideal base for a series of short excursions to neighbouring places, all connected by road.
You’ve arrived at Delhi. The months of planning and curiosity are over; you’re actually in India. Every experience, every sound, every smell shouts that you’ve arrived somewhere magical, somewhere Special. It is here that the deep love of one man for one woman created the Taj Mahal; where the King of Kings ruled; where the sacred Ganges flows past holy cities; where the Himalayas stand silent and magnificent; where 5000 years of culture waits to be absorbed. 