Neil Island



Neil Island, now known officially as Shaheed Dweep (Island of Martyrs), is in the Andaman Islands.

Understand
Neil, with its very relaxed vibe and long, deserted beaches is a place to chill out after the "bustle" of Havelock Island. Neil is quite small compared to Havelock. Its widest part is about 5 km in length. You can walk the whole island in about an hour or two.

Get in
Ferry from Port Blair to Neil. It takes 2 hours and costs ₹195. One return sailing a day. Neil Island has no ticket office, just get on the ferry and then buy your tickets on board. There's also the boat from Port Blair to Rangat which calls at Neil as its first stop.

Havelock to Neil. The Rangat ferry calls at Havelock and then to Neil. It takes 1 hour and costs ₹195.

Get around
On arrival, the guesthouse owners will meet you at the jetty, and give you a free autorickshaw ride to their guesthouse. The return journey will cost ₹50.

Bicycles can be rented here for a price between ₹50-₹75 per day. Though not needed they can be useful if you want to travel around Neil in a day.

You can get an auto-rickshaw and go around to see self-declared private 'resorts' to find accommodation.

Two Wheeler Hire: You can hire a two wheeler for ₹300 per day. This is the best way to explore the Island as you have the freedom to go to any place at any time. Definitely much more cheaper than hiring a taxi or an auto. Make sure to fill Fuel before 5 in the evening, as you might not find any later. Having a bike would also help you to stop at any part of the beach to click Pictures and enjoy the place. Also one can use a two-wheeler to explore other resorts for better food, if the food given by their resort is not so good.

See

 * Beach #8: Snorkeling here plus a small cave to check out. Lots of shells around if you are a shell collector.
 * Natural bridge: A small strip of land that connects the mainland to a small (3*3) island of sorts (not worth it but the rockpools around this at low tide are worth checking out).
 * Sitapur beach: Lovely sunrise. Serene beach. Good for a swim.

Do

 * Sunset point is the west most point of the beach west of the jetty which the guesthouses are on. There are ravenous sandflies, so if you're spending any time there then take a hammock.  Pretty sunsets.  If you snorkel directly west off the point there is some wonderful snorkelling.  There's sometimes a current.  Snorkeling near beach with the caves and also off Havelock if you choose to take the private ride. Mantas to be seen on the ride if you are lucky.  Get here in the morning. check the rockpools, snorkel then bail in the afteroon.
 * Snorkelling is also very good around the jetty at Neil. edges of the shallow reefs have some live corals, many different kinds of fish and lots of anemones with resident clown fish. Great variety of shells are available but are not supposed to be taken from the islands.
 * Water sports and swimming are only allowed at the Bharatpur Beach in Neil Island; all other attractions are for sightseeing only.
 * Water sports and swimming are only allowed at the Bharatpur Beach in Neil Island; all other attractions are for sightseeing only.

Eat
The main bazaar has a few eateries serving the usual Indian fare.

At the beach resorts, food has to be ordered generally at least two hours in advance as the "cook" travels to the market gets the supplies and prepares it.



Drink
Coconut milk.

Alcohol is also available in most of the resorts.

Go next
Two options:

1) Leave via the ferry that got you here sometime in the evening

2) You can manage to get a private boat ride to Havelock from here for around ₹1000 if interested.For Indians this is not a problem but foreigners be aware, the police at the jetty on Havelock do check your RAP (restricted area permit) on the way out and EXPECT to see an entry number on it, which you will not have if you came privately. This is done, precisely to stop tourists making unauthorised visits to islands they should not be on and the authorities take this quite seriously so DO expect trouble if you decide to do this. (Of course if you left by the same method and went back to where you came from nobody would be any the wiser).