Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Foreigner's Registration Office
( Chennai 044-23454970, Kolkata 033-22470549;
www.immihelp.com/nri/
Additional permits are required to visit some national parks and sanctuaries. The tourism
office in Port Blair can tell you whether a permit is needed and how to go about getting it.
If you plan to do something complicated, you'll be sent to the
Chief Wildlife Warden
MAP
GOOGLE MAP
(CWW; 03192-233321; Haddo Rd, Port Blair; 8.30am-noon & 1-4pm Mon-Fri)
.
For most day permits it's not the hassle but the cost. For areas such as Mahatma Gandhi
Marine National Park, and Ross and Smith Islands near Diglipur, the permits cost ?50/500
for Indians/foreigners. For Saddle Peak National Park, also near Diglipur, the cost is ?25/
250. Students with valid ID pay minimal entry fees, so don't forget to bring your card.
The Nicobar Islands are off-limits to all except Indian nationals engaged in research,
government business or trade.
PERMIT COPIES
At the time of research it was a requirement to produce a photocopy of your permit when booking ferry tickets.
While you're not always asked to provide it, to avoid the trauma of having to re-queue, it's worth taking five or
so copies before arriving at Port Blair's ferry office: you'll likely need them later in your trip.
Getting There & Away
AIR
There are daily flights to Port Blair from Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai, although flights
from Delhi and Kolkata are often routed through Chennai. Round-trip fares are between
US$250 and US$600 depending on how early you book; some airlines offer one-way
flights for as low as US$80, but these need to be booked months in advance. Airlines that
head to Port Blair include
SpiceJet
(
1800 222111;
22-39893333;
03192-242707;
www.jetlite.com
)
. Kingfisher flights were suspen-
ded at time of research.
There are no international flights from Port Blair to Southeast Asia
BOAT
Depending on who you ask, the infamous boat to Port Blair is either 'the only
real
way to
get to the Andamans' or a hassle and a half. The truth lies somewhere in between. There
