Neil Island
– Places to visit in Neil Island –
Neil Island is a tiny but beautiful island located 37 km south of Port Blair. Neil Island is also known as vegetable bowl of Andaman Islands; thanks to its climatic conditions the land is ideal for the cultivation of fruits and vegetables.
Known for its magnificent biodiversity, unexplored coral reefs, white sandy beaches, and tropical woodlands, Neil Island is perfect for a peaceful time off. This Island has an area of 13.7 square kilometers only. Given the flat landscape and the small area, Neil can be bicycled around with minimal effort. With its laid-back vibe, and lucid charm the island is soothingly different from its neighboring Havelock.
Neil Island is best suited for those who want to spend a relaxed time among long deserted beaches. With little bustle, few activities to take up, and few resorts, this island is best for those who want to explore the island’s villages. Spend quality time at the named after mythological characters from the Ramayana, or indulge in water sports in the crystal clear water – Neil Island is Andaman’s rustic masterpiece.
The only way to get to Neil Island is to take a ferry from Port Blair. There are both government and private ferries connecting this island to Port Blair and other nearby Islands. The best way to commute is to take a private ferry. The tickets on the government ferries are mostly reserved for islanders and with no option of online booking it is mostly unlikely to get a confirmed ticket To have hassle free travel, it is recommended to book your tickets online and in advance to prevent last-minute rush.
Neil mainly has three main seasons: summer, winter, and monsoon. Owing to its location in the Bay of Bengal, it experiences heavy winds during the monsoon and a tropical climate otherwise. Early November until mid-May sees the best weather in the islands.
The Natural bridge formation in Neil Island is a rock jutting out from the main wall with a giant hole in it created by the continuous lashing waves over the years. The wall alongside bore the brunt of the Tsunami in the year 2004 and protected Neil Island from devastation. In the far corner, another natural bridge formation is underway. The bridge is also known as Howrah Bridge locally, a name given in jest by the Bengali settlers.
To reach this place you need to trek down from the main road where you get to witness the rocky beach with limestone rocks spread across the beach which are partially eroded in the salt waters probably due to the erosion with tides over thousands of years. You can see many star fishes or a sea cucumbers visible in the shallow waters between the rocks.
Laxmanpur Beach is a picturesque waterfront, covering a long stretch of area of Laxmanpur Village of Neil Island. White shell sand covering this secluded beach is quite a contrast to the blue sea. Corals and sea shells are found in abundance at this seafront, which are often collected as souvenirs by visitors
Laxmanpur Beach is a picturesque waterfront, covering a long stretch of area of Laxmanpur Village of Neil Island. White shell sand covering this secluded beach is quite a contrast to the blue sea. Corals and sea shells are found in abundance at this seafront, which are often collected as souvenirs by visitors.
The sea is shallow and calm, making it perfect for swimming and snorkelling. This serene beach offers a stunning panorama, especially when the sun sets in the horizon.
Bharatpur Beach – One of the finest and most spectacular beaches of Neil Island, Bharatpur Beach attracts a horde of tourists year-round. This beach has a sprawling stretch of sand and greenery that overlooks a vast expanse of the blue sea.
What makes this seafront popular is the presence of colorful coral reefs, which fascinate visitors. These reefs are inhabited by a variety of beautiful aquatic creatures that can be seen swimming around. By taking a ride in a glass bottom boat, tourists can view these reefs closely. Another activity that tourists enjoy at this beach is swimming.
Bharatpur beach is a beach of a low tide, located just half a kilometer from the jetty, considered to be the best beach in the Neil Island. It is great beach to view the early morning catching the divine sunrise, a perfect view where the colors get platter with the stark contrast of sand, water and the sky.
The sea close to the beach inhabits abundant marine life. One hire glass bottom boat rides and set on ride to view the marine life. The ecosystem formation created by those corals, fishes, molluscs, sea plankton and algae certainly sooths the eye and the mind.
The calm, tranquil and perchance the picturesque beach is also popular with ious water activities like swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving. The real beauty is experienced only with scuba diving which exposes to an amazing array of fish with colorful reef and other interesting species of fish. It is noted to end the day at the Bharatpur beach viewing the golden sun setting down and set the sky on glimpsing yellow while the water glistens with liquid gold.