Neil Island

Lost in the hustle bustle of city? Find yourself again surrounded by the lush green forests and a turquoise blue seas along a stretch of golden sandy beach with a breath - taking sunset. Wondering which place we are talking about? Well, I am pretty sure you have heard about Andaman Islands. Neil Island which is also known as Shaheed Dweep comes under the administrative part of South Andaman district and is located separately far from the mainland in the sea towards east. It is almost 37 km away from the city of Port Blair. The local people have termed this island as the vegetable bowl of Andaman. You can come here from Havelock for a day’s trip. But who’s in a hurry? Take your time and absorb the vibe of this place at your own pace.

How to reach Neil Island?

Neil Island is located in Ritchie’s archipelago of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Once you reach Port Blair or Havelock Island the inter-island ferries will connect you to Neil Island via Government ferries, private ferries and helicopter services. The entry to Neil Island is the Bharatpur Jetty. A government ferry from Port Blair which normally takes approximately 2-3 hours, depending on the weather conditions. One ride will cost you between INR 500-800 Rupees. Apart from ferries, chopper service and seaplanes are also available. Now you don’t have to spend hours in getting your tickets. Just click on Booking Page. and book your tickets hassle free.

Best time to visit Neil Island?

The best time to visit Neil Islands is during the winter months from December to January. During summers it gets very sweaty and if you want to make it a fun trip then winters is the ideal time to visit. During winters you can also see light showers which will add rainbows to you sky scape. Also this time of the year is suitable for water sports as well, as rains won’t cause any hindrances to your adventure.

Getting Around in Neil Island

Neil Island is one tiny stretch of island spread over only a few kilometres, which makes transport option more convenient and accessible. The flat, easy going and well-navigated roads make it easy for travellers to make their way very easily. There are other options of transport available in the island as well.

Rented Bicycles

Go around the island with your group or solo on rented bicycles. With the current lifestyle in the cities, it has become very difficult to take bicycles out. So, why waste the chance of reliving those carefree childhood days when you have the chance. The rented bicycles will cost you not more than 150 bucks.

Rented Scooters

Well, everyone will agree that scooters are the best option of transport, as it is quick and cost effective. Rented scooters will cost you around 500-600 bucks for one day. But make sure to have fuel in your scooters before 5 in the evening as there are no petrol pumps in the island. Also don’t forget your license, as you won’t want to ruin your trip.

Auto-Rickshaws

There are auto-rickshaws available all over the island. But there is no particular fare. The fare varies from location to location.

Buses

Public buses are available, but on an interval of 1.5 hrs. It will start from the main bazaar (market) till Sitapur beach. These government buses will give you a two-time ride in the island. The tickets are very cheap and will only cost you 20 /-.

Rented/ Pre- Booked Cabs

If you are with your family or in a group then we would recommend you to take cabs. You cab pre-book your cabs to make your journey hassle free. The rates might vary but are generally around 1500 /-.

Ferries

Port Blair, Havelock and Neil Island are connected by ferries. It takes 60 to 90 minutes to reach the respective Islands. The kinds of cruises available are Go Nautika, Sea Link etc. These ferries run on a daily basis. You can get your tickets from Booking Page.

How many days are ideal for a Neil Island Trip?

Ideally, it takes 1 entire day to cover Neil Island. But there’s no harm in extending it by one more day to totally absorb the vibes of the island.

Places to visit

Neil is completely in contrast from the flamboyant Havelock. While Neil is calm, serene and still remain untouched by the extreme modernisation, Havelock is bustling with tourists thus offering a luxurious holiday. Just a few kilometres from each other, but Havelock and Neil are almost opposite in character. So here is a list of things to do at Shahed Dweep or Neil Island. The 5 beaches are named after the characters of the Ramayana- the Hindu epic, namely: Ramnagar Beach, Laxmanpur Beach, Sitapur Beach, Bharatpur Beach and Natural Bridge Formation.

Ramnagar Beach

This beach is close to the Atreya Mangrove Point and is considered under-rated. This beach has some amazing sunsets. The beach is located in an off area near the Sitapur Beach, full of various species of trees and vibrant coral reefs. You can also go for snorkelling as the ample of fishes, swimming and cutting through the water hypes up the thrill of this water sport.

Laxmanpur Beach

This beach had earned the title of 2nd best beach of Andaman after Radhanagar Beach. This triangular beach is a treasure of wonders in terms of sightseeing with a wide shoreline. The waters of this beach is a home to variety of creatures. The sunset is quite captivating from this beach. If you visit early in the morning, you’ll have the whole place to yourself. The stretches of silvery sands and blue waters makes the sunsets way better.

Sitapur Beach

If Laxmanpur Beach is known for sunsets the Sitapur Beach is a treat to your eyes for sunrise. It has a curved shoreline with tropical trees and hilly rocks on the sides. The ocean is not very suitable for swimming and other water sports because of the deal corals and rocky features. This place was damaged by the 2004 Tsunami and it still bear its marks.

Bharatpur Beach

A pristine beach bordered by a few shady trees and followed by a clear turquoise sea meeting the sky at the horizon. This beach is the perfect for swimming and lazing around. Other than that you can also go scuba diving and snorkeling. And if you are not much into water sports, you can always go for a glass bottom boat ride that will introduce you to the spectacular coral reefs and colourful fishes. You will lost count of the varieties of fishes you’ll get to see.

Natural Bridge Formation

The natural bridge is fondly named as Howrah Bridge. It is located near Laxmanpur Beach 2 but it is not visible from the beach so the tourists have to take a left from the Laxmanpur beach shoreline to reach there. During the low tide the sea retreats and the coral reefs gets visible. The underwater marine life is at your footsteps quite literally.

Places to stay in Neil Island

Many budget friendly as well as luxury hotels/ resorts are available in Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep). Prices can range from Rs.500 per night for backpackers choosing to stay longer to Rs.10,000 per night for the most luxurious room in high end resorts. Among these are Cocoon Heart Resort, Blue Lagoon Resort, Blue Lagoon Resort, Seashell, Silver Sand Beach are among the best places to stay in Port Blair.

Things to do in Neil Island

Scuba Diving and Snorkeling

If you interested in some thrilling sports that will give you adrenaline rush, then you must go for scuba diving or snorkiling organised by the only one dive shop in Moonshine café called India Scuba Explorers by PADI certified scuba ddiving instructors. PADI is Professional Association of Diving Instructors.

Explore on a bicycle or scooter

As this island is a small one, you can travel across the length and breadth of the island in a day on a rented bicycle or scooter.

Talk to the locals

The entire Neil Island is extremely beautiful. The villagers are extremely polite and friendly and each of them has a tale to tell. The people are simple there and you can chat with them for hours.

Trekking and Bird Watching

The tropical forest of the Neil Island is perfect for trekking, but with a proper hired guide so that you don’t get lost. The forest is a home to wide range of birds. You just need to be patient and keep eye on the movements and sounds in the dense forest. You can take your binoculars to the trip to get a better view of the wide range of species.

Candlelight Dinner

What could be more perfect than spending evening with your partner under the star lit night along the beach, with 2 perfectly lit candles and exotic food served on the platter? The gentle romantic music adds to ambience to shred off the tiredness of the entire day with your loved ones.

Nightlife in Neil Island

Although this places is not known for having rave parties, still this place offers some private rooms and halls in some resorts and hotels to enjoy in Neil Island. Certain hotels and resorts also hosts pool parties, outdoor parties and other café parties for the tourists to give them a better stay experience.


Just a small tip for you. Do not carry dead coral or shells in your backpack without a bill. You’ll have to pay fine at the airport security check if caught, and it might get a little embarrassing. So, what are you waiting for? Go pack your bags and explore the fascinating history of Port Blair and do not forget to include these on your trip to Andaman. Make sure to visit all of these places and make your vacation memorable. Now go ahead and book the flight, hotel and ferry tickets from Booking Page.