Day 2 - Off to Wandoor
On our 2nd day, we headed for Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Wandoor.
Its under government control. Entry is restricted to a limited number of people per day. Its also a no plastic zone - only factory packaged food is allowed. Commercial plastic bottles (Kinley, Bisleri) are not allowed in the national park. You need to rent empty water bottles at the ticket counter and then fill them up. You can carry packaged water or buy them from the near by shops and then fill the rented bottles before entering the national park area. There is only a tiny snacks stall at the island, so do bring food & water sufficient for the whole group for at-least 3-4 hours.
So you can imagine how preserved & natural it is. And I request you to please try and keep it like this. Don't try to act a hero, sneaking in some not-allowed plastic.
The reception
The Jetty at Wandoor
Jolly Buoy & Red Skin are the only 2 islands in the national park open for tourist. But sadly, they are open alternatively for 6 months, based on the time of your visit you may go to Red Skin or Jolly Buoy island.
The tour starts around 7:30 AM in the morning. Plus there is a short film that is screened around 7. We missed it as we reached late. So we went directly to the Island. From the jetty, you would be allocated a boat which will be your identity for the whole trip. So remember the details. The crew on the boat are also responsible for water activities like snorkeling & glass bottom boat ride. Both the activities have some options like INR 300 for 15 mins, INR 600 for 30 mins etc.
When we went, Red Skin was operational so all the photos after this point are from Red Skin Island. The beach at Red Skin is super clean & natural. Walk bare foot on the white sand and relax. This place is far from our concrete civilization so slow down and take time to soak up the nature. The sea is very calm with not much of a wave and add to it the sallow beach. So you can walk through the water a long way or just find a spot to sit in the water and let the small waves swing you as you fall asleep.
The beach at Red Skin
The beach at Red Skin
The beach at Red Skin
This was a super fun experience. Nothing that you can find on the main land and I think this is the kind of experience for which we wanted to come to Andaman.
We came back by lunch and had a local village style bengali lunch near by the National Park reception. If that doesnot suit you you can head for Sea Princess Beach Resort.
Post lunch we went to the North Wandoor Beach. Its 10 mins drive from there. We chilled out for a while there and then reached Port Blair around 4 in the evening. Rest of the day was spent lazing around our accommodation watching some movies with the whole family & a nice dinner.