How To Reach Andaman And Nicobar?: The Andaman Islands are a beautiful group of over 572 islands, perfect for a peaceful vacation with stunning beaches and rich colonial history. Indian citizens can visit these islands without a passport or visa, just by following the local administration's guidelines.
Foreigners need a passport and visa to visit. Most don’t need a Restricted Area Permit, except for travelers from Afghanistan, Myanmar, China, and Pakistan, who must get one from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Andaman Islands are served by Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair, which handles all incoming and outgoing flights for tourists traveling to and from the islands globally. Let's delve into How To Reach Andaman And Nicobar from various locations in this article.
Reaching Andaman And Nicobar From Air and Ship
Andaman offers two primary travel options: air or sea. If you prioritize speed and comfort, flying is the way to go. However, a ship or cruise journey is an ideal choice if you desire adventure and enjoy the sea. Explore both options for how to reach Andaman Nicobar with our comprehensive covering of all major attractions.
From Air
- Flight Time: Approximately 2 hours from the Indian mainland to Port Blair.
- Connections: Flights are available from Chennai, Kolkata, New Delhi, Bhubaneswar, and Visakhapatnam.
- Main Airport: Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair.
From Ship
- Ports: Ships to Port Blair depart regularly from Kolkata, Chennai, and Visakhapatnam (Vizag).
- Travel Time: It takes about 3-4 days to reach Port Blair by sea.
- Main Ships: MV Nancowry, MV Nicobar, MV Harshavardhana, M.V. Swaraj Dweep, and M.V. Akbar.
- Booking: Tickets can be booked in advance at the STARS Ticketing Counters in Vizag, Kolkata, and Chennai.
How To Reach Andaman And Nicobar from Different Indian Cities?
Here's a general guide on how to reach Andaman Nicobar from various cities in India:
From Mumbai
By Air:
- Distance: 2269 kms.
- Airport: Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai to Veer Savarkar International Airport in Andaman.
- Airlines: SpiceJet, Go Air, Indigo, Vistara, and Air India operate flights.
- Direct Flight Duration: Around 5 hours 20 minutes.
- Indirect Flight Duration: Approximately 13 to 17 hours with a stopover.
By Ship:
- Indirect Route: Take a flight, train, or road journey to reach Chennai, then board a ship from Chennai to Port Blair.
- Flight Frequency: Flights from Mumbai to Port Blair are available every three hours.
- Ship Names: Ships from Chennai to Andaman include M.V. Nicobar, M.V. Nancowry, M.V. Akbar, M.V. Harshavardhana, and M.V. Swaraj Dweep.
From Delhi
By Air:
- Distance: 2468 kms.
- Airport: Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi to Veer Savarkar International Airport in Andaman.
- Airlines: Air India, Jet Lite, IndiGo, Alliance Air, Vistara Airlines, SpiceJet, and Go Air operate flights.
- Direct Flight Duration: Approximately 2 hours 20 minutes.
- Connecting Flight Duration: Around 3 to 4 hours.
By Ship:
- Duration: Approximately 2.5 to 3 days, depending on the ship and weather conditions.
- Routes: Ships connect Andaman from Chennai, Kolkata, or Vizag.
- Booking: Ships can be booked after checking schedules from the website published by Andaman Nicobar Administration.
- Alternative: Regular flights connect Delhi with the major cities from where ships depart, providing an option for those interested in sailing to Andaman by sea.
From Kolkata
By Flight:
- Distance: Approximately 1300 km.
- Airport: Veer Savarkar Airport in Port Blair to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata.
- Airlines: SpiceJet, Go First, IndiGo, and Vistara operate regular flights.
- Duration: Flights typically take between 2 to 2.5 hours.
By Ship:
- Distance: Approximately 1255 km.
- Duration: Around 66 hours by ship.
- Routes: Various companies operate ships from Chennai, Visakhapatnam, and Kolkata to Port Blair.
- Experience: Traveling by sea from Kolkata to Andaman is a memorable adventure, with ships equipped to carry hundreds of passengers.
- Schedule: Ships leave from Kolkata harbor several times a week, reaching Andaman in 2-3 days (65-80 hours).
From Hyderabad
By Train and Flight Combination:
- Journey: Take a train from Hyderabad to Wadi, then change for a train to Yelahanka Jn. From there, take a flight to Veer Savarkar International Airport.
- Duration: Approximately 24 hours for this break journey.
By Flight:
- Distance: Approximately 1648 km.
- Airport: Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair.
- Route: Flights from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad to Veer Savarkar International Airport via connecting cities like Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, or Vishakhapatnam.
- Duration: Direct flights take around 7 hours 20 minutes, while flights with multiple stops may take longer.
- Convenience: This is the fastest and most convenient way to reach Andaman from Hyderabad.
By Ship:
- No Direct Route: There are no scheduled ships from Hyderabad to Andaman.
- Routes: Ships connect Andaman from major port cities like Chennai, Kolkata, and Vizag.
- Duration: Around 2.5 to 3 days on average by sea, depending on the ship and weather conditions.
- Booking: Ships can be booked after checking schedules, journey time, facilities, and prices on the Andaman and Nicobar Administration website.
From Chennai
By Air:
- Distance: 1352 km
- Airport: Chennai International Airport to Veer Savarkar International Airport in Andaman.
- Flights available: SpiceJet, Go Air, Indigo, Air India
- Travel time: ~2 hours 20 minutes
By Ship:
- Distance: 1462 km
- Ships available: M.V. Nicobar, M.V. Nancowry, M.V. Akbar, M.V. Harshavardhana, M.V. Swaraj Dweep
- Travel time: ~60 hours (2.5 days)
