Quick Jumplinks to Navigate
The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” -Marcel Proust
A lot of us travel solo, with friends and family or strangers to live the best experiences of our lives. But for Sagarika Sood, taking a trip all the way to Andaman & Nicobar Islands was an enthralling experience as this was her first ever trip with her mother. When kids grow up, parents form a friendship with their kids but traveling with a parent until they are super chill (for their kids) is a dare, not every kid takes. She booked a trip with Thrillophilia and went out on an exhilarating trip to Andaman with her mother.
“Well I traveled to this heaven with my mother, who is also my best friend and by the way, is perhaps younger than me by heart. She was an absolutely perfect partner on this beautiful journey. With her youthful energy and positive vibes, we enjoyed every moment of our journey. She did not even hesitate to try new experiences. We were more like friends than parent and child.”
Clumsy Beginning
Things may get awry while you are traveling but what if the very first step of the trip starts with a glitch? The daughter-mother duo had a 10:30 PM bus to catch from Chandigarh to IGI Delhi which got canceled without prior intimation. Two female travelers who had to catch an early morning flight decided to grab the first local bus that they could find instead of a cab due to safety reasons. Fortunately, they could manage to reach the airport well before time and headed for the plaza lounge for ease.
“We had a hearty breakfast and proceeded for the journey that was ready to give us the best memories that will stick in our hearts forever.”
Here is the account of Sagarika Sood’s Andaman and Nicobar Island experience in her own words!
Enter The Heaven
“We reached the Port Blair Airport at around 2 PM. Here I would like to mention that throughout our journey, the drivers Sudhir (Port Blair) and Pardeep (Havelock) showed exemplary chivalry and were indeed very punctual and well behaved. Sudhir was there at the airport gate to welcome us and we proceeded towards our hotel SR Castle which was just 10 minutes drive from the airport. The hotel had an excellent vibe and we actually spent quite a lot of time in the reception area because of the positive vibes and well mannered staff. The rooms were fairly clean. Overall, I would highly recommend this hotel to future travelers.”
Check Out the Best Things to do in Andaman and Nicobar Island
Day 1
On the first day, the duo visited the Carbyn Cove Beach and it was the first time, Sagarika’s mother felt a sense of liberation from her monotonous life and on her insistence, she tried riding the speed boat which turned out to be an exhilarating experience. The evening ended with a trip to Cellular Jail.
“This was a magical place. With its rich historical relevance and the Sound & Light Show, that place made us sad imagining the life of the inmates and on the same hand, left us amazed by sensing their spirits.”
Day 2
The itinerary of the day was Ross Island and North Bay, however, due to rough weather conditions, the duo had to take the plan B i.e. visiting museums: Samudrika and the Anthropological Museum. After a well informed tour of history, Sagarika and her mother headed to Chidiya Tapu, another heavenly island which is not to be missed. “The natural sitting arrangements made from logs of wood was a work of some creative genius at the island. The food in Port Blair was not a problem for non vegetarians. We traced a great authentic Bengali Dhaba which offered us great fish curry and other delightful dishes.”
Day 3
“It was the day of the cruise and it was quite exciting for us as we hadn’t ever traveled by the sea. It was an experience in itself that I can’t describe in words. We were greeted by Pardeep here at the Havelock Island who took us to our 4 star hotel: Symphony Palms Beach Resort with a private beach. After freshening up, we visited Radhanagar Beach which is one of the most beautiful beaches in Asia. We had a great time there and the time just seemed to pass by so quickly before we realized that we had to move back.”
Day 4
This day was committed for adventure activities which included snorkeling and scuba diving for Sagarika and her mother. Early morning, Pardeep took them to the Nimolem Beach where their most memorable experience awaited. Sagarika was trained for scuba diving by the instructor Saneesh who helped build confidence in her to take the journey below, into the unknown treasure. Sagarika’s mother experienced snorkeling which turned out to be the highest point of her entire journey.
“The experience of scuba diving for me and snorkeling for my mother was perhaps the highest point of our journey. This was something we did beyond our comfort zone. The life of the underwater was mesmerizing. It was like an untouched and priceless treasure. The entire experience was totally awe-inspiring.”
Day 5
“We headed back to Port Blair via cruise but this time perhaps, a lot of travelers felt sea sick and it turned out into a bumpy ride. Anyhow, we reached our stop at 11 AM from where we visited the Sagarika Emporium during the afternoon and bought some souvenirs for our people back home. I loved this place maybe, because we shared the same name!
Day 6
“It was the last day of our visit to the paradise as we had our flight at 11 AM. The time spent there with my mother was truly astonishing and memorable, and it brought us even closer by the end of the journey as compared to how we were at the beginning. The high point of sea exploring, sitting by the beach side, tasting the sumptuous food, shopping for our beloved people and clicking each other’s photos: the memories of which are etched in our hearts forever.”
“Traveling with my mother had one disadvantage though. Throughout the journey, I was the one who was clicking really good pictures of her and she never managed to take good captures of me. But still she tried and I love her for that. I do have a few good pictures of me!”
“Andaman and Nicobar Islands had always been on my bucket list for numerous reasons. Be it the calmness of the beaches or the scuba experience, Andaman was an ultimate family destination. For someone who is entrapped in the vicious corporate circle, the sea provided the much needed break. The experience of cruise, the view of Radhanagar Beach, the cellular jail shall remain with us forever.”
Hey Readers, Know This
- The weather of Andaman Island is quite unpredictable in June. I guess the ideal time to visit is till May. Post that, irregular shower can hamper your travel plans.
- Only SIMs of Airtel and BSNL works there.
- Traveling in a cruise can cause seasickness so it is better to take precautions. More than 80% on board travelers puked during the sail.
- It was a good decision to upgrade the hotels on time. We had a look at the 3 star accommodation provided at Havelock Island and it was not all in good shape.
- One can plan to visit some offbeat places like Baratang which isn’t mentioned in any packages. The natural limestone caves were a good site that we heard of.
- Havelock Island lacks a good hospital so it is advisable to carry necessary medicines while you travel.
- Be ready to learn punctuality and cleanliness from the people of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
