Tourist Places In Neil Island
Best things to do in Neil Island
Neil Island
Neil is a tiny but beautiful island located 37 Kms. to the south of the Andaman Islands. With unexplored coral reefs, brilliant bio-diversity, white sandy beaches and tropical forest and vegetation, it is one of the hot tourist spots in the Andamans.
Neil Island is known as the ‘vegetable bowl’ of the Andamans. The settlers named the beaches after mythical characters of the epic Ramayana (Bharatpur, Laxmanpur, Sitapur, Ramnagar etc.) The island, with its very relaxed vibes and long, deserted beaches is a place to chill out after the "bustle" of Havelock. The widest part of the island is about 5 km in length. You can walk the whole island in about two hours.
Bharatpur Beach
Bharatpur beach is the beach that one gets to see as soon as you step onto Neil Island jetty.
Bharatpur beach is right at the Neil island jetty (about half a kilometer) and is wide, white beach. Most of the tourists visit this beach in the morning hours and do snorkeling as in the evening they get to watch the sunset at Laxmanpur beach.
The beach is well known for its coral reef which is undoubtedly utterly beautiful and probably the most beautiful in Andamans. This is one reason I call Neil island the coral capital of Andaman.
- The best way to enjoy the beach, its cool sea breeze and the calmness of the place is to carry a nice book and a hammock with you. Tie the hammock around a tree and read the book under the shade. There are plenty of benches to sit and some stalls around that sell packaged drinking water and coconut water.
- To do snorkeling, the snorkeling agents take you in the sea on a glass bottom boat that has a magnifying glass through which you can see the corals and small fish under the surface.
- These service providers charge about Rs. 150 for the glass bottom boat ride and Rs. 400 for one round of snorkeling. The beach has huge trees that provide a shade under the scorching sun on the beach.
- How to reach Bharatpur Beach: There are regular boats from Port Blair to Neil Island. These boats run daily and are government ferries. The beach is right next to the jetty so if you have light luggage, you can directly get down at the beach.
Sitapur Beach
Located in Neil Island
Sitapur Beach
Sitapur Beach is a serene seafront, situated at the tip of the Neil Island in Andaman. Seemingly endless stretches of verdant foliage and white sand render breathtaking natural beauty.
- This picturesque beach along with the vast sea and clear blue sky forms a stunning landscape that mesmerises every visitor. Natural limestone formations are present all over this beach, which add to its scenic charm.
- Though prone to high tides, this beach is considered safe for swimming. It is ideal to visit the beach at the time of dawn, when the sun rises above the horizon.
Laxmanpur Beach
Located in Neil Island
Laxmanpur Beach
Positioned at a distance of just 2 km from the Neil Jetty, Laxmanpur Beach lies in the village of Laxmanpur. One of the most beautiful beaches of Neil Island, Laxmanpur beach is ideal for activities like swimming and sun bathing. White shell sand with shallow waters and dead corals make it perfect for snorkeling as well. The wide beaches becomes perfect for evening walk and offers stunning sunset views.