Know every details about Neil Island like When to Visit, Things to do, Activities near Neil, Best Cuisines in Neil Island, Hotels for Accommodation in Neil Island, etc.
One of the most popular places to visit in Andaman is Neil Island, which is officially known as ‘Shaheed Island’. It comes under South Andaman district to the east of Great Andaman Island, which is 36 Km north east from Port Blair and has an area of 13.7 square Km.
This island belongs to Ritchic Archipelago, located between Havelock Island and Ross Island.Neil Island is named after British Brigadier General, James Neil. On 30th December 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi renamed this Island to Shaheed Island as a tribute to Subash Chandra Bose.
This island is well renowned for its rich biodiversity and its flora. It’s a fairly unexplored island with a huge expansion of dense tropical forests and serene greenery. Hence, it became one of the most visited places in Andaman.
Neil Island’s raw beauty is further enhanciated by its white and beautiful sandy beaches and coral reefs. Unwind and relax there for a couple of hours and try to take in the unparalleled beauty of Neil Island comprising of Hawrah natural bridge, Bharatpur beach and Sitapur beach.
Places to Visit in Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep)
Bharatpur Beach
Bhartapur Beach should be on any traveler’s itinerary as it is really close to Neil Island’s jetty and also a wonderful place to visit. One of the astonishing aspects of this beach is the cyan-colored sea which will mesmerise you instantly. The wide shoreline has an abundance of both personal and commercial boats or yachts and is located to right next to the jetty. It’s a fairly small beach that won’t take much of your time to explore and is a great places to unwind and relax and have some local foods. Also, it’s the only beach in Neil Island where water sports such as Jet Ski ride, Banana Ride, Snorkelling, Parasailing, etc are available. Also, you will find local shops to eat or buy something from this memorable trip. From Bharatpur beach, you can easily move to Laxmanpur beach, which is only 2.2 km away and takes 20 minutes by walking or 5-7 minutes by cab.
How to get there :
One can visit there through Government-operated ferries or by private cruises. After reaching there, local transport is available which connects the jetty and village.
Timings :
Open till 6:30 pm every day.
Best Time To Visit :
October to May.
Sitapur Beach
Sitapur beach is located at a distance of 4.6 km from Neil Island’s jetty and is almost at the far end of the island. It is one of the best places to visit during your trip, especially in the morning. This beach is famous for giving a quaint view of the sunrise. This beach gives a sense of peace that is unmatched by anywhere else. This beach has a curved shoreline that is vast and is a treat to the eye. A view of the horizon from this beach is coupled with rocks and tropical trees that makes it a heavenly paradise for visitors. With the fresh breeze of air always touching your face and the corals underneath the water makes for an experience that can’t be forgotten easily.
How to get there :
One can visit there through Government-operated ferries or by private cruises. After reaching there, local transport is available which connects the jetty and village.
Timings :
Open till 6:30 pm every day.
Best Time To Visit :
October to May.
Lakshmipur Beach
Laxmanpur beach is the second best beach (Radhanagar beach being the first) in the entire Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This place will entice you with its white sandy beach and picturesque shoreline. The view of the ever-ending horizon is a sight that you will cherish long after the trip is over. The triangular shape of the beach gives it a unique edge over other beaches that gives the visitors a sight of the horizon that is unforgettable and priceless. This place is undoubtedly one of the best places in Neil Island to relax and enjoy and also take great photos for your Instagram posts. One more charm of this beach is that it is surrounded by dense forests on one side. It makes for awesome views that are soothing and pleasing to the eye and also make for great photos.
How to get there :
One can visit there through Government-operated ferries or by private cruises. After reaching there, local transport is available which connects the jetty and village.
Timings :
Open till 7:30 pm every day
Best Time To Visit :
October to May.
Natural Bridge
The natural bridge is located close to the Laxmanpur beach on Neil Island. Located to the left of Laxmanpur beach, it is not visible from the beach and hence one has to take a little walk to reach there. It is called “Howrah Bridge” by the locals. This bridge was formed because of water flowing to the rocky hills for many years. However, the bridge is only accessible during low tides and otherwise, the path will be engulfed by wild and strong waves that won’t allow you to visit there. It is advisable to hire local guides who can take you there safely and will also help you in clicking photos as well. Don’t miss out on this natural site if you have plans to visit Laxmanpur beach.
How to get there :
One can visit there through Government-operated ferries or by private cruises. After reaching there, local transport is available which connects the jetty and village.
Timings :
Open till 5:30 pm every day
Best Time To Visit :
October to May.
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