Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Travel Guide

Andaman and Nicobar islands is a tropical paradise. Filled with essentially beautiful beaches and seas this is one of the best travel spots of India. World class beaches, amazing scuba diving experience and an otherworldly atmosphere makes this one of the most pleasurable travel experiences ever. There are a few places one should not miss if they visit the islands!

}Port Blair:

}Cellular Jail

The Cellular jail situated in Port Blair, Andaman Islands  is closely associated with the freedom struggle of India. The  Cellular jail,  built in 1896 was used by the British to transport Indian freedom fighters from the Indian mainland. Thousands of freedom fighters languished for years in solitary confinement in the cells of the Cellular Jail. Today, the Cellular Jail is declared as the National Memorial, a tribute to those who dared to raise their voices against the British rule. Some of the famous inmates of the Cellular jail were Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Dr. Diwan Singh Kalepani, Yogendra Shukla, Bhai Parmanand, and Maulana Ahmadullah.

}Andaman Water Sports Complex

It offers all kinds of water sports facilities: Sail boats, para sailing, water scooters, rowing boats, kayaks, paddle boats, water skiing facilities etc.,. Boating from this complex  up to the Ross Island is really an exciting experience. There is also a Sea water swimming pool and a change room. There is an artificial waterfall as well, which is a great attraction among the visitors. A children park nearby is a place for children to enjoy the serene environment. There is also a Memorial for the Battle of Aberdeen fought between Britishers and Andamanese aboriginals in 1859.

}Fisheries Museum

The Fisheries Museum houses more than 300 marine  species of marine life, including live coral, sharks, polyps and  Starfish. These marine species, peculiar to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands is found only in the Indo-Pacific and the Bay of Bengal.

}Chatham Saw Mill

Chatham Saw Mill, once Asia’s largest Saw Mill is located in Chatham Island & is connected to Port Blair by a Sea bridge. Since the Supreme Court of India banned logging   in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, most of the wood now comes by  ship from Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand. Chatham Saw Mill converts huge Logs  into different sizes of timber. It also processes ornamental species which is used in the manufacture of furniture and handicraft.

}Corbyn's Cove

The Corbyn’s Cove, is a serene and unspoiled soft sandy beach, set in picturesque background of lush green coconut palms and pleasant blue sea. The main attractions of this beach are the inviting water sports activities like surfing, scuba diving and boating. The Corbyn’s Cove beach, situated 8 kms from the City centre is the closest Beach from the city. This coconut- palm fringed beach, is ideal for swimming, surfing and sun bathing.The Waves Restaurant, The Peerless Sarovar Portico Resort and the Hornbill Nest Guest House are at a stone's throw, from the beach front.  In fact, Peerless Sarovar Portico is the only beach resort inside the city.

}North Bay Beach

}Bharatpur Beach

}Mount Harriet

ØMount Harriet was  once the summer headquarters of the Chief Commissioner during    the British Raj. Mount Harriet, the  highest point in Port Blair is an   ideal place for a Picnic or a Trek. Mount Harriet is about 55 km from Port Blair by road (15 km by ferry and road), & has a  Forest Guest House located at a height of 365 m

ØTrekking is one of the most sought-after adventure sport in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Camps are the right choice for nature-lovers who wish to enjoy the sun, sea and nature by spending quiet holidays right on the beach.One can go trekking through the nature trail from Mt. Harriet to Madhuban and enjoy the rare forest life, flora and fauna. There are other trekking routes also.  Sometimes, trekking expeditions are only a day or two long.

}Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park

The Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park near Wandoor  is rich in corals, varieties of coloured fishes, sea turtles etc., besides other marine life. Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park  is a bird's paradise  having more than 271 varieties of birds including,  39 that are endemic. Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is located 29 kms from Port Blair. You have to get a permit from the Wildlife Warden's office near the Wandoor Jetty to visit the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park.

}Cinque Island

The Cinque Island is located 54 kms from Port Blair (2 hours by boat from Chidiyatapu). Cinque Island is one of the best diving destination in Andaman & Nicobar Islands & has clear water with visibility levels of up to 80 feet. It is the best place to view a large variety of marine life and black corals. Nobody is allowed to stay overnight in Cinque Island.  

}Havelock Island *MUST* 2 DAY STAY

Some 2.5 hours (54 kms) away from Port Blair, Havelock offers the best diving and snorkelling sites & unspoiled sandy beaches. People can reach Havelock Island through ship and regular ship service run between Port Blair and Havelock. At Havelock Island, you can visit beaches of Radhanagar and Elephant beach. On Elephant beach, people can even watch training of elephants and elephants swimming in sea. People can also explore other adventures activities like scuba diving, snorkeling and sight seeing etc.MV Makruzz, a luxury catamaran, ply daily  between Port Blair and Havelock Island. The vessel with its luxurious interiors and inboard food Kiosk has a maximum cruising speed of 31.5 nautical miles, covering thedistance between Port Blair and Havelock in an estimated time of 90 minutes. The vessel is fitted with approved lifejackets and life rafts in line with class and high speed craft code passenger safety requirements.Scuba diving is probably the biggest activity on Havelock island other than lying around and eating seafood.

}Baratang Island

Baratang Island is about 90 km away from Port Blair. At Baratang you can see Mud Volcano which is about 4 km away from the boat jetty. Limestone Caves are located about 50 minutes (by sea) away from Baratang boat jetty. The experience at Parrot Island at sunset, when all the parrots are returning home is indeed a mesmerizing experience. 

}Neil Island

A marvelous Island with plenty of marine life, Neil Island is an ideal location for eco-tourism. Neil Island is also known as the vegetable bowl of Andamans. The sandy beaches at Sitapur, Bharatpur and Lakshmanpur are very attractive for spending the evenings. The breathtaking view of sea and the lusting greeneries in the island is really rejuvenating and enjoyable for enthusiastic travelers. Neil Island is connected by regular Boat service from Port Blair. Neil Island is also famous for snorkeling. Another famous activity carried out at the Neil Islands is fishing and angling. 

}Long Island

Long Island is 82 kms. from Port Blair. Long Island is connected by boat from Port Blair, either directly or "island hopping" via Neil Island and Havelock. Long Island offers an excellent sandy beach at Lalaji Bay with unpolluted environment and evergreen forests. Lalaji bay Beach is 6 kms. away from the boat jetty of Long Island. Long Island is approximately 10km from North to South, 5km from East to West, much of it forested. You can also visit nearby uninhabited islands from Long Island. There are no motor cars on the island, and no roads: free of traffic or crime, the island is a perfect destination for families. Generally, people walk or use bicycles.

It is an ideal location for Indians as well as tourists to make the best of tropical memories and also to be close to nature. So go and get your tanlines!

7 countries to visit in your life if you love history

Travelling is the most enriching and fulfilling experience in one’s lives. It is said that travelling fills your soul. A person, who sees the world, gets closer and closer to oneself and tends to appreciate the world in all its tainted glory.

    1)  Greece-Rich history, picturesque landscapes, food and incessant events draw visitors to this magnificent country. Athens, the capital of the country is a must see if one goes there. Places one shouldn’t miss in Athens are: The Acropolis, The Parthenon, The Agora, National Archeological Museum, Syntagma Square, The Plaka, Cape Souniou, The Temple of Poseidon. Olympia, Rhode Island, Meteora are amongst the cities one shouldn’t miss.

     2) China- One of the largest counties in the world with one of the richest histories. The capital, Beijing, is embellished with historical marvels. The Great Wall of China, Temple of Heaven, Beijing Hutogs are the not-to-miss spots in the city. Also the city of Xi'an sustains the Ancient City Wall and the widely popular Muslim Food Street. In the city of Dunhuang, Mingsha Sand Dune, Crescent Spring are must see spots.

     3) Egypt- It has remnants of one of the earliest civilizations of the world. The Pyramids of Ghiza, Abu simbel temples, Statue of Ramsses , the Great, the Sphinx, Karnak Temple, Temple of Haschtepsut are amongst the most magnificent structures of the world. A cruise down the river Nile is also a must to relish the country’s beauty.

    4) Turkey- Undoubtedly, the very first place one has to go to Istanbul because it was the capital-ruling centre of both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires and many of their former buildings still stand today. The old part of the city that is the Sultanahmet district belonging to the UNESCO World Heritage collection includes prominent landmarks and buildings such as the former church, mosque, and now museum of the Hagia Sophia. As one of Turkey’s most visited attractions receiving millions of visitors every year, Ephesus should be on everyone’s bucket list when they come to the country. Sitting in the central Anatolian region of Cappadocia, is one pf the most magnificent sites too. The mass of ancient cave churches and monasteries containing 13th and 14th-century original frescoes is hard to ignore, even if you are a hardcore atheist. Also, the three ancient landmarks of Miletus, Priene and Didyma, often marketed in travel brochures as one-day trips are remarkably close to each other. Then, the Temple of Apollo sits in the current holiday resort of Altinkum and as a former pagan worshipping Oracle structure. One should also venture to the Ghost Village of Kayakoy situated near the bustling city of Fethiye.

     5) Germany- One of the countries with the most brutal history, it is soul food for a traveller. The must-see spots in this country for any traveller are: Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom), Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom),  The Black Forest,The Ultimate Fairytale Castle of Neuschwanstein, Miniatur Wunderland and the Historic Port of Hamburg, The Rhine Valley, Museum Island in Berlin,m Bamberg and the Bürgerstadt, Zugspitze Massif; these are a few spots amongst several other ones. This country also offers several picturesque sights and landscapes to look out for.

    6)  India- A magnificent country with a huge diversity of terrains, people and history. The history of this country is almost unmatched by any other. Vanarasi, the city of Gods, is a city depicting Hindu history.  Delhi, Agra and Fatehpur Sikri are amongst cities which show us architectural brilliance of the Mughal Empire. Udaipur, Raigarh, Jaipur are cities which depict the Rajasthani history. Almost any city in this country will have amazing historical spots, so it is a must for any history lover to explore!

    7)   Vatican City- It is one of the most popular theocracies of the world, as it stands to be a city-state of stringent orthodox of Christians. Yet, it is also one of the best places for traveller’s spots to look out for. St Peter’s Basilica, Sistine Chapel, Pinacoteca, Raphael’s rooms,  Appartamento Borgia, Etruscan Museum, Vatican Library, Egyptian museum are the best spots in the country. The architectural brilliant, the artist’s heaven, and a traveller’s paradise, it’s a must-see!

Autonomous Vehicles: Future Of Personal Transportation

What’s the future of personal transportation? Well, you’ll likely be spending a lot less time behind the wheel, for one. The rise of self-driving cars means that some scenes out of science-fiction flicks (think Total Recall or I, Robot) are now reality—and even more will be available soon

So what exactly are these autonomous vehicles?

An autonomous car (also known as a driver-less car, self-driving car, robotic car) and unmanned ground vehicle is a vehicle that is capable of sensing its environment and navigating without human input.

Cars today already include many semi-autonomous features, like assisted parking and self-braking systems. And completely autonomous vehicles—able to operate without human control—are rapidly becoming more of a reality. You’re probably familiar with Google’s version, which has made headlines with its Google Chauffeur software, which the company hopes to bring to market by 2020.

Why do we need them?

The pros of autonomous cars are many. “The sensors in a self-driving car are always observing, are not affected by the state of the driver (sleepy, angry, etc.), and can scan in multiple directions simultaneously,” says Dr. Dominique Freckmann, an automotive engineering manager at TE Connectivity, a global technology leader providing connectivity and sensor solutions that are essential in today’s increasingly connected world. “Autonomous driving is a key aspect of the industry’s drive toward safer roadways.”

“Recent NHTSA research shows that approximately 94 percent of accidents are caused by human error,” adds Alan Amici, a vice president of automotive engineering at TE. “Cars with advance safety features and eventually, self-driving cars, can significantly reduce the number of collisions. The impact of this innovation can be far-reaching, including reduced demand on emergency response systems and reduced auto insurance and health care costs.”

What technology makes self-driving cars possible? 

It’s really three technologies: sensors, connectivity, and software/control algorithms.

“Most of the sensors required for autonomous driving are available today and are used in advanced safety features such as blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assistance, and forward collision warning,” he says. “Sensors for other features such as radar, ultrasonics, and cameras provide the input necessary to navigate the car safely.”

Connectivity means cars have access to the latest traffic, weather, surface conditions, construction, maps, adjacent cars, and road infrastructure, he says. This data is used to monitor a car’s surrounding operating environment to anticipate braking or avoid hazardous conditions.

Finally, software/control algorithms are needed to reliably capture the data from sensors and connectivity and make decisions on steering, braking, speed, and route guidance.  “By far the most complex part of self-driving cars, the decision-making of the algorithms, must be able to handle a multitude of simple and complex driving situations flawlessly,” Amici says. “The software used to implement these algorithms must be robust and fault-tolerant.”

With so many advantages, why don't we see these cars more often on streets?

While technologies and capabilities continue to evolve toward making autonomous vehicles a reality, there are some hurdles. Right now, autonomous cars are legal only in a few U.S. states, as regulators weigh how to best ensure their safe interaction with standard human-driven vehicles.

“Self-driving capability will add benefits to our whole society, such as providing transportation for people who are otherwise not able to drive because of age or physical impairment,” Freckmann says. “That is both exciting and meaningful.”

Soon, your car will be able to drive itself faster and safer, while you relax in the seat.