Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
NEIL ISLAND
Happy to laze in the shadows of its more famous island neighbour, tranquil Neil is still the
place for that added bit of relaxation. Its beaches may not be as luxurious as Havelock's,
but they have ample character and are a perfect distance apart to explore by bicycle.
There's a lovely unhurried pace of life here; cycling through picturesque villages you'll get
many friendly hellos. In Neil Island you're about 40km from Port Blair, a short ferry ride
from Havelock and several universes away from life at home
There's no ATM or moneychanging facilities on Neil, so bring plenty of cash. There's
pricey satellite
internet
(per 30min ?150; 8.30am-9pm)
and a post office in the bazaar. The main
bazaar has a mellow vibe, and is a popular gathering spot in the early evening.
Sights & Activities
Neil Island's five beaches (numbered one to five) all have their unique charms, though
they're not necessarily great for swimming.
Beach 1 (Lamanpur)
is a long sweep of sandy beach and mangrove, a 40-minute walk west
of the jetty and village. The island's best
snorkelling
is around the coral reef at the far (west-
ern) end of this beach at high tide. If you're extremely lucky you may spot a dugong feed-
ing in the shallows at high tide. There's a good sunset viewpoint out this way accessed via
Pearl Park Resort, which becomes a communal spot in the sand for tourists and locals come
early evening.
Beach 2
, on the north side of the island, has the
Natural Bridge
rock formation, accessible
only at low tide by walking around the rocky cove. To get here by bicycle take the side
road that runs through the bazaar, then take a left where the road forks.
Beach 3 (Ram Nagar)
is a secluded powdery sand cove, which is best accessed via Blue Sea
Restaurant. There's also good snorkelling here.
The best swimming beach is at
Beach 4 (Bharatpur)
, though its proximity to the jetty is a
slight turn-off.
Further ahead the more wild and rugged
Beach 5 (Sitapur)
, 5km from the village, and
reached via the village road to the eastern side of the island, is a nice place to walk along
the beach, with small limestone caves accessible at low tide.
