Havelock Island

Havelock Island (Hindi: हैवलॉक द्वीप, Malayalam: ഹെയ്വ്ലോക് ദ്വീപുകള്‍) is the most visited of the Andaman Islands. It's becoming popular for its beaches, laid back atmoshere and great scuba diving.

The Indian government has been advocating eco-friendly tourism development on Havelock for a while now, and while it's the most visited of the islands it sees only a fraction of the visitors that crowd other island destinations such as Thailand. The pace of life is slow, the locals are friendly and still not too affected by tourism, and the facilities are moderately basic for the most part. While many of the lodges have 'resort' in their names, none come even close, thankfully.

The beaches have been given a rather boring numbering system instead of names, although some names like Radhanagar are in popular use. The arrival port is at Beach #1, the junction at the center is Beach #3 (aka Govind Nagar), the junction near Dolphin Resort is Beach #5 (Vijay Nagar) and so on. Govind Nagar, the main "town", is small and has only a handful of shops and local dhabas. Most accommodation is grouped along the road from Beach #3 to Beach #5. From the 'junction' near Beach #3 a road veers off to Beach #7 (Radhanagar Beach), the most beautiful spot on the island.

Mid-January until mid-May sees the best weather, and often the best diving conditions. The days are mostly sunny at this time of year, and the sea sometimes flat enough to reflect the clouds. The monsoon usually hits around late May, lasting until the end of July, and is probably the worst time to visit the island – strong winds, frequent rain and low visibility underwater. August thru November see some occasional showers and slightly rougher seas, but diving can still be great at this time of year. The weather often takes a turn for the worse for the month of December through early January.

Havelock island now has an ATM, and some of the hotels and resorts are able to perform card transactions. Nevertheless, it is best to make sure you take plenty of cash with you from Port Blair. Also, it is hard to buy some items in the market - differing factors of sun cream can be hard to find, as can mosquito repellent.

• Radhanagar Beach. One of the most beautiful beaches on the island and rated as the best in Asia by Time in 2004. Gorgeous, silky white sand backed by a forest that provides welcome shade looks out over turquoise water, some stretches with a sandy bottom good for swimming and some with excellent coral reefs that are great for snorkeling ; a great combination indeed. Sunsets here are often spectacular and it's a popular time to be at the beach, but be careful not to miss the last trucks back if you're not staying here. A man with an elephant walks through the forest occasionally, offering rides for a fee. Buses run throughout the day until sunset, as do auto-rickshaws and shared 4 wheel-drive trucks. If you are fit, you can bicycle from Govind Nagar but the journey is quite bumpy and steep. There are a few food shacks where the road hits the beach, all of which rent snorkels and fins.
• Elephant Beach. * Elephant Beach is further north from Radhanagar and is popular with Indian tourists. The shoreline here was largely swept away by the 2004 tsunami and the beach is a fraction of what it used to be; however, the coral here is probably the best on the island, making this an excellent spot for snorkeling. It's reachable on foot from Beach #7 or by fishing boat from the east side of the island; many resorts arrange snorkeling and diving trips here. Since the tsunami, the path ends in an expanse of uninviting looking swampy water. Rather than attempting to go around, wade straight through it — the beach is only 100 meters straight ahead, the water is rarely above knee-height and the ground is solid. As you enter the swamp, you would see a small red board ahead, to your left; bear towards it. Wear sandals when crossing to avoid sharp shells. During high tide, water may be a foot deeper in last 6 metres or so. While snorkeling, keep an eye out for the glass-bottom boats. If trek and get to the beach and are tired to trek back an option would be to take a boat ride from there to jetty, normally they charge ₹ 100 per person, only challenge is finding someone who is willing to take you and then take an Auto ride for ₹ 100 again to the point where the vehicle is parked.
• Kalapathar Beach. Located on one corner of Havelock, this beach gets its name from the surrounding village Kalapathar and the black rocks (Kalapathar Rocks) that adorn the coastline here. The emerald seas, the tropical forests on one side of the road the coastline, and on other side the silken smooth silver sands and the sheer solitude make this beach a great place to relax.

Radhanagar Beach. One of the most beautiful beaches on the island and rated as the best in Asia by Time in 2004. Gorgeous, silky white sand backed by a forest that provides welcome shade looks out over turquoise water, some stretches with a sandy bottom good for swimming and some with excellent coral reefs that are great for snorkeling ; a great combination indeed. Sunsets here are often spectacular and it's a popular time to be at the beach, but be careful not to miss the last trucks back if you're not staying here. A man with an elephant walks through the forest occasionally, offering rides for a fee. Buses run throughout the day until sunset, as do auto-rickshaws and shared 4 wheel-drive trucks. If you are fit, you can bicycle from Govind Nagar but the journey is quite bumpy and steep. There are a few food shacks where the road hits the beach, all of which rent snorkels and fins.

Elephant Beach. * Elephant Beach is further north from Radhanagar and is popular with Indian tourists. The shoreline here was largely swept away by the 2004 tsunami and the beach is a fraction of what it used to be; however, the coral here is probably the best on the island, making this an excellent spot for snorkeling. It's reachable on foot from Beach #7 or by fishing boat from the east side of the island; many resorts arrange snorkeling and diving trips here. Since the tsunami, the path ends in an expanse of uninviting looking swampy water. Rather than attempting to go around, wade straight through it — the beach is only 100 meters straight ahead, the water is rarely above knee-height and the ground is solid. As you enter the swamp, you would see a small red board ahead, to your left; bear towards it. Wear sandals when crossing to avoid sharp shells. During high tide, water may be a foot deeper in last 6 metres or so. While snorkeling, keep an eye out for the glass-bottom boats. If trek and get to the beach and are tired to trek back an option would be to take a boat ride from there to jetty, normally they charge ₹ 100 per person, only challenge is finding someone who is willing to take you and then take an Auto ride for ₹ 100 again to the point where the vehicle is parked.

Kalapathar Beach. Located on one corner of Havelock, this beach gets its name from the surrounding village Kalapathar and the black rocks (Kalapathar Rocks) that adorn the coastline here. The emerald seas, the tropical forests on one side of the road the coastline, and on other side the silken smooth silver sands and the sheer solitude make this beach a great place to relax.

• Pool Table at Pearl Beach Resort. Pool Table is available at Havelock island at Pearl Beach Resort..Rent is ₹ 400 per Hour ..

Scuba diving is probably the biggest activity on the island other than lying around and eating great seafood. Andaman Bubbles, Barefoot Scuba, Doongi Dives and Dive India are the top 4 SSI http://www.divessi.com/ PADI certified dive centers, provide good equipment and offer training up to instructor. They share pretty much all of the same discovered dive sites, and prices are more or less standardized at ₹.4500 for discover scuba dive for non-certified divers, with a 10% discount for your own equipment for fun dives for certified divers. You don’t need to be a swimmer to do the discover scuba diving. However, you should book your schedule with the dive center's well in advance as there are limited trips.

The diving possibilities around the Andamans are vast and it feels that what has been discovered is only the beginning... and even that is pretty great. Look for more sites to open up soon. Havelock is the main center for diving in the island chain. Usual places for diving are Elephant beach and Lighthouse in Havelock. If you're an experienced diver, also enquire about dive expeditions, where they will take you out hunting for new and undiscovered sites. For certified divers, South Button is another great place to dive.

Earlier, diving was done in converted dungi fishing boats but Government has mandated compulsory use of speed boats now for safety of tourists.In the event of an accident, the nearest recompression chamber is at the naval base in Port Blair, so it's wise to keep your diving profiles on the conservative side.

• Andaman Bubbles Dive Centre, near Wild Orchid Resort (Follow the east road south till Vijar Nagar, +91 3192 282140, +91 95318 92216. 07:00-20:00. A well run dive shop with confident dive masters, Bubbles provides extensive dive courses and a few selected fun dive spots. It is limited in the dive sites offered which also means contending with diving crowds, and a lack of exploration. The equipment may not be the most recent, but this is one of the cheapest options on the Island. An on-site café (Fat Martin) offers early breakfasts and late lunches before and after the dive trips. The equipment centre is a 5-minute jeep-ride further south. You may have to carry your equipment to the boat, 100 metres across the beach. 2 dives for ₹ 4000 all included, special discounts for couples or multiple dives.
• Barefoot Scuba, Cafe Del Mar, Beach #3. ₹5000 for 2 dives.
• DIVE India. ₹5000 for 2 dives.
• Doongi Dives, +91 94742 96200.
• Havelock Divers, +91 7063955900.
• Nemo Divers, +91 9434264321.

Andaman Bubbles Dive Centre, near Wild Orchid Resort (Follow the east road south till Vijar Nagar, +91 3192 282140, +91 95318 92216. 07:00-20:00. A well run dive shop with confident dive masters, Bubbles provides extensive dive courses and a few selected fun dive spots. It is limited in the dive sites offered which also means contending with diving crowds, and a lack of exploration. The equipment may not be the most recent, but this is one of the cheapest options on the Island. An on-site café (Fat Martin) offers early breakfasts and late lunches before and after the dive trips. The equipment centre is a 5-minute jeep-ride further south. You may have to carry your equipment to the boat, 100 metres across the beach. 2 dives for ₹ 4000 all included, special discounts for couples or multiple dives.

Barefoot Scuba, Cafe Del Mar, Beach #3. ₹5000 for 2 dives.

DIVE India. ₹5000 for 2 dives.

Doongi Dives, +91 94742 96200.

Havelock Divers, +91 7063955900.

Nemo Divers, +91 9434264321.

Snorkeling is also popular, with several options.

• Radhanagar Beach (Beach #7) has a couple of food shacks at the end of the road that rent out fins and masks for ₹ 50/each. There are great reefs for snorkeling in both directions from the end of the road.
• Elephant Beach also has some good snorkeling sites.
• Both of the dive shops can also take along snorkelers to some of the off-shore sites.
• Local fishermen offer day trips and half day trips to different locations. South Button Island is particularly good as the reef is shallow, colorful and beautiful. It makes sense to get a group of 5-10 people together to share the cost of the boat.
• Near Havelock Jetty, opposite reservation counter there is a small lane which goes along side the beach. Keep going on that road and you‘ll reach some boats parked at the shore. They can take you for snorkeling at Lighthouse and Elephant Beach. Corals out there are worth watching. They charge 2000/- for a couple for Speed boat transfer + Snorkel.

If you've had enough of the beach, try a little hot and sweaty jungle trekking. If you're into confluence hunting, you can find 12°N 93°E just 800 metres away from the end of beach #5. Guides can be arranged through resorts. The Wild Orchid Resort and Emerald Gecko Resort also conduct Jungle treks and you can walk into the reception and check on their offers.

• Barefoot Eco Tours, operating from the Barefoot Brasserie at the jetty and at Barefoot at Havelock Resort can arrange interesting treks both on Havelock and at other islands (e.g. Long Island) and even conduct overnight camping and trips including treking, kayaking and snorkeling.
• Wild Orchid Resort, on beach #5 organise trekking, fishing trips and snorkeling.
• Emerald Gecko Resort, on beach #5 organise trekking, fishing trips and snorkeling.

Barefoot Eco Tours, operating from the Barefoot Brasserie at the jetty and at Barefoot at Havelock Resort can arrange interesting treks both on Havelock and at other islands (e.g. Long Island) and even conduct overnight camping and trips including treking, kayaking and snorkeling.

Wild Orchid Resort, on beach #5 organise trekking, fishing trips and snorkeling.

Emerald Gecko Resort, on beach #5 organise trekking, fishing trips and snorkeling.

A local trip on a speed boat with two local fishermen to the nearby mangroves (which is not that great if you've seen dense mangroves before) and then to deeper waters for fishing. The fishermen will prepare fishing lines for you and you can catch fishes. Duration: 3-4 hr. Time: 15:00-19:00 usually. Cost: ₹. 3500.

• Mike's Fishing Adventures, +91-9840238042. 1-day or 2-day fishing trips on the reefs around the Island, departing from Port Blair or Havelock.
• Andaman Aquaholics, +91-8001165888. They offer Sports fishing and Island hopping in three different boats as per budget. Rs.10000 for a couple to Rs.1 Lakh for a luxury cruise charter.

Mike's Fishing Adventures, +91-9840238042. 1-day or 2-day fishing trips on the reefs around the Island, departing from Port Blair or Havelock.

Andaman Aquaholics, +91-8001165888. They offer Sports fishing and Island hopping in three different boats as per budget. Rs.10000 for a couple to Rs.1 Lakh for a luxury cruise charter.

Pool Table at Pearl Beach Resort. Pool Table is available at Havelock island at Pearl Beach Resort..Rent is ₹ 400 per Hour ..

Govind Nagar has a few basic shops selling daily essentials plus a small pharmacy. If you pick up one of the ubiquitous Andaman & Nicobar T-shirts sold everywhere for ₹50, take one with black printing, as white text bleeds off the first time you wash it.

• AXIS & SBI ATMs. There is a 24/7 Axis Bank ATM near the Market place. The SBI ATM is not open all the time though.

AXIS & SBI ATMs. There is a 24/7 Axis Bank ATM near the Market place. The SBI ATM is not open all the time though.

Some food is grown on the island (like tasty bananas), but most vegetables and fruits are imported. The best thing to eat is the locally caught fresh seafood.

• Golden Spoon. 07:00 - late night. The wooden benches and low-celiing shack may seem humble, but the seafood is exceptional. Home-made masalas dress the most delectable prawns, crabs, or freshly-fished snappers at low prices. Cheapest lobster on the Island. Provides take-away service so you can enjoy your meal on the beach. Considering it is a small kitchen, and all the food is prepared fresh - expect to wait for your order but it is worth it. dinner ₹250-500.
• Dhabas. serve seafood and basic local Indian food, and are the cheapest way to eat on the island. There are also snack stands near here selling samosas, sweets and the like. More dhabas can be found near Radhanagar Beach (Beach #7), serving fresh sea food at reasonable prices; you may have to wait up to an hour for the food out here.
• Geetha Restaurant. Grilled fish, prawns are served. Price varies with size Grilled fish ₹150-350.
• Catch of the Day is for sale near the port on Beach #1 in the afternoons, and you can have your guesthouse cook it up for a fee
• Pristine Beach Resort (Now moved to Diglipur), Orient Legend Resort and the others in the same vein all have restaurants serving the catch of the day, local Indian food and some traveler's favorites like french fries and chow mein.
• Symphony Palms Beach Resort has their own restaurant which has very good vegetarian food. Boufets for ₹ 350 per head.
• Big Bite Restaurant, Havelock Jetty (near to market at Beach #3, +91 9434 298228. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Lunch Thali Rs.150.

Golden Spoon. 07:00 - late night. The wooden benches and low-celiing shack may seem humble, but the seafood is exceptional. Home-made masalas dress the most delectable prawns, crabs, or freshly-fished snappers at low prices. Cheapest lobster on the Island. Provides take-away service so you can enjoy your meal on the beach. Considering it is a small kitchen, and all the food is prepared fresh - expect to wait for your order but it is worth it. dinner ₹250-500.

Dhabas. serve seafood and basic local Indian food, and are the cheapest way to eat on the island. There are also snack stands near here selling samosas, sweets and the like. More dhabas can be found near Radhanagar Beach (Beach #7), serving fresh sea food at reasonable prices; you may have to wait up to an hour for the food out here.

Geetha Restaurant. Grilled fish, prawns are served. Price varies with size Grilled fish ₹150-350.

Catch of the Day is for sale near the port on Beach #1 in the afternoons, and you can have your guesthouse cook it up for a fee

Pristine Beach Resort (Now moved to Diglipur), Orient Legend Resort and the others in the same vein all have restaurants serving the catch of the day, local Indian food and some traveler's favorites like french fries and chow mein.

Symphony Palms Beach Resort has their own restaurant which has very good vegetarian food. Boufets for ₹ 350 per head.

Big Bite Restaurant, Havelock Jetty (near to market at Beach #3, +91 9434 298228. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Lunch Thali Rs.150.

• B3, Barefoot Bar and Brasserie, Village #1 / Jetty. The high level restaurant is managed by an Indian / Austrian couple. The head chief in the kitchen is a Swiss cook. Serves pizza, fresh home made pasta, Indian dishes from a tandoori oven, and fusion dishes. The restaurant is situated on the first floor and all tables offer a spectacular overview over the busy goings at the port and main road. ₹ 600-700 per person.
• Venom(Bar) and Charcoal(Restaurant) at Symphony Palms beach no 3(B3) is one of the best restaurants in the islands offering delicious food in the best price .The price of the food is in mid range segment. The restaurant is known for the best sea food and its good services.
• Red Snapper at the Wild Orchid Resort is the one of the better and most expensive restaurants on the island, serving freshly caught and well-prepared seafood and a selection of Indian and continental dishes. It's best to go from the specials board or ask your waiter for his recommendation. Lunch or dinner will run about ₹ 300-600 per person.
• Emerald Gecko is run by the same couple who run the Wild Orchid. The food is similarly tasty, the menu is much, much smaller, and it's a bit cheaper. Evening meals cost around ₹ 200.
• Clown Fish Cafe is also a restaurant in Wild Orchid. it is located at the Andaman Bubbles Dive Center. and has a variety of snacks and milk shakes.
• White Sand, Radhanagar Beach (Beach #7). An Italian restaurant, where the old Mahua restaurant (now moved inside Barefoot Resort) used to be, offering good breakfast options, and pastas & pizzas for lunch and dinner, it is run by a Russian lady with her Bengali husband. Located on the Radhanagar beach and managed by the Indian Government Tourism Board. Plan for a leisurely meal as everything is made fresh once you've ordered. ₹ 300-400 per person.
• Cicada Lounge & Grill, Beach #5. 11:00-23:00. Sited off the main road at the end of a lit path through the fores. Offered tasty tapas, barbecued fish and a fatmosphere. Animations, games or movies every night. Homemade cocktails and imported wines for a fair price. ₹300-500 for tapas, ₹300 for a cocktail.

B3, Barefoot Bar and Brasserie, Village #1 / Jetty. The high level restaurant is managed by an Indian / Austrian couple. The head chief in the kitchen is a Swiss cook. Serves pizza, fresh home made pasta, Indian dishes from a tandoori oven, and fusion dishes. The restaurant is situated on the first floor and all tables offer a spectacular overview over the busy goings at the port and main road. ₹ 600-700 per person.

Venom(Bar) and Charcoal(Restaurant) at Symphony Palms beach no 3(B3) is one of the best restaurants in the islands offering delicious food in the best price .The price of the food is in mid range segment. The restaurant is known for the best sea food and its good services.

Red Snapper at the Wild Orchid Resort is the one of the better and most expensive restaurants on the island, serving freshly caught and well-prepared seafood and a selection of Indian and continental dishes. It's best to go from the specials board or ask your waiter for his recommendation. Lunch or dinner will run about ₹ 300-600 per person.

Emerald Gecko is run by the same couple who run the Wild Orchid. The food is similarly tasty, the menu is much, much smaller, and it's a bit cheaper. Evening meals cost around ₹ 200.

Clown Fish Cafe is also a restaurant in Wild Orchid. it is located at the Andaman Bubbles Dive Center. and has a variety of snacks and milk shakes.

White Sand, Radhanagar Beach (Beach #7). An Italian restaurant, where the old Mahua restaurant (now moved inside Barefoot Resort) used to be, offering good breakfast options, and pastas & pizzas for lunch and dinner, it is run by a Russian lady with her Bengali husband. Located on the Radhanagar beach and managed by the Indian Government Tourism Board. Plan for a leisurely meal as everything is made fresh once you've ordered. ₹ 300-400 per person.

Cicada Lounge & Grill, Beach #5. 11:00-23:00. Sited off the main road at the end of a lit path through the fores. Offered tasty tapas, barbecued fish and a fatmosphere. Animations, games or movies every night. Homemade cocktails and imported wines for a fair price. ₹300-500 for tapas, ₹300 for a cocktail.

• Beer is available at most of the resorts and at the "English Beer & Wine Shop" near the port. Wild Orchid, B3, Symphony Palms offers various brand of beers
• Alcohol all types of alcohol are available at the bar in the Wild Orchid Resort.
• Fresh coconuts are available around the island - after you drink the juice they'll be happy to whack it open so you can eat the flesh too.

Beer is available at most of the resorts and at the "English Beer & Wine Shop" near the port. Wild Orchid, B3, Symphony Palms offers various brand of beers

Alcohol all types of alcohol are available at the bar in the Wild Orchid Resort.

Fresh coconuts are available around the island - after you drink the juice they'll be happy to whack it open so you can eat the flesh too.

Mosquitoes are a nuisance, particularly at dusk and after rain, and the Andaman Islands are malarial. Use mosquito repellent, wear long sleeves and long trousers in the evening, and sleep under a mosquito net.

Sandflies can be a problem while sunbathing. Occasionally they are in a larger number, so longer shirts and trousers are recommended.

Wild dogs can be a problem, especially along the beach at night – people are sometimes bitten. Carry a stick or a handful of stones to scare them off.

If you plan to be out until sunset or beyond it's a good idea to carry a torch. It can get dark, especially if there's no moon out, and the beaches are often backed by dense forest.

Beware of currents at Radhanagar Beach during monsoon (June - Sept). There have been two recorded accidents as people have been caught out by powerful waves during the monsoon months. Supposedly the authorities have taken action to employ trained lifeguards and put up watchtowers.

Beware of jagged edges of Bleached Coral at Beaches #2, #3 and #5 as the shallow beachfront waters on the northern coast of Havelock (the backpacker strip) is covered with this.

Beware of Saltwater Crocodiles from the Sanctuary on neighbouring islands. A woman was killed in May 2010 while snorkeling.

Beware, there some travel agents and touts who appear honest but try to scam people.

There is a small post office next to the port at Beach #1.

Landlines are scarce, and with the exception of a couple of the nicer accommodation options, most places don't have a phone.

• PCO/ISD's (phone booths) are located on Beach #5, near the junction at Beach #3 and near the port at Beach #1. Service outages are common.
• Mobile phones can be used in many parts of island. Service is provided by BSNL and Airtel. Although the Airtel service disappears if you move far from the jetty. Vodafone and Idea Cellular also provide the service throughout the Island which is more reliable and stable.

PCO/ISD's (phone booths) are located on Beach #5, near the junction at Beach #3 and near the port at Beach #1. Service outages are common.

Mobile phones can be used in many parts of island. Service is provided by BSNL and Airtel. Although the Airtel service disappears if you move far from the jetty. Vodafone and Idea Cellular also provide the service throughout the Island which is more reliable and stable.

Internet access on Havelock is extremely slow and unreliable, and also expensive. you can get satellite internet on some of the dive resorts, but at ₹300 an hour it's extremely expensive

• Wild Orchid Resort has a satellite broadband internet cafe. though the speeds are not lighting fast, it is definitely better than dialup.
• Pristine Beach Resort has a couple of computers which every once in a while are connected to the internet via a near-dead dial-up connection.
• Anu's Internet Cafe has two computers set up in a shop just off the main road near Dolphin Resort in village no.3. It is not fast but still usable.
• Island Vinnie's can burn photos onto CDs or DVDs for a fee, and claim to have non broad-band internet access.

Outside Symphony Inn there is a cyber cafe, charges are ₹ 2 per minute the connection is a dial up connection with 45 kbps.

• Barefoot Scuba Internet Café. 07:00-20:00. An Internet café serving gelato and espresso. ₹300 / hour.

Wild Orchid Resort has a satellite broadband internet cafe. though the speeds are not lighting fast, it is definitely better than dialup.

Pristine Beach Resort has a couple of computers which every once in a while are connected to the internet via a near-dead dial-up connection.

Anu's Internet Cafe has two computers set up in a shop just off the main road near Dolphin Resort in village no.3. It is not fast but still usable.

Island Vinnie's can burn photos onto CDs or DVDs for a fee, and claim to have non broad-band internet access.

Barefoot Scuba Internet Café. 07:00-20:00. An Internet café serving gelato and espresso. ₹300 / hour.

Escaping the island is hard to do, since tickets are only available at the Jetty, at the * Government ticket booth.. Expect long queues and limited opening times (09:00-12:00, 14:00-16:00). Book your ticket at least two days before. Only half the available seats are sold in advance. If you are unlucky, try to show up very early the same day as your departure and hope for the best. Before to queue, head up to the window and ask for the ticket form. Fill it while queuing and when it's your turn, tender it to the officer. Prepare a copy of your Andaman stay permit, your passport if needed and the exact fare. After getting your ticket, check the reported details accurately to avoid later complications.

• Neil Island ; a smaller and quieter island, with only 2 accommodation options. Some say it's best to stop here before Havelock.
• Diglipur ; the far north of the island chain, and the jumping off point for Smith and Ross Islands.
• Long Island (Andamans) ; a small and still untouched island a 2-hour boat-ride north of Havelock.

Escaping the island is hard to do, since tickets are only available at the Jetty, at the * Government ticket booth.. Expect long queues and limited opening times (09:00-12:00, 14:00-16:00). Book your ticket at least two days before. Only half the available seats are sold in advance. If you are unlucky, try to show up very early the same day as your departure and hope for the best. Before to queue, head up to the window and ask for the ticket form. Fill it while queuing and when it's your turn, tender it to the officer. Prepare a copy of your Andaman stay permit, your passport if needed and the exact fare. After getting your ticket, check the reported details accurately to avoid later complications.