The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are an Indian archipelago of around 550 islands in the eastern Bay of Bengal, much closer to Myanmar and Thailand than to mainland India. Most of the islands are forested, uninhabited, and off-limits. The ones that are open to visitors offer some of the finest beaches, coral reefs, and diving in Asia — still far less visited than similar destinations in Southeast Asia.
Port Blair on South Andaman is the only significant town and the entry point for all visitors. The Cellular Jail here is the territory's most significant historical site: a colonial-era prison where the British interned Indian independence fighters in harsh isolation. Today it operates as a national memorial with a light-and-sound show in the evenings. The harbour and the Ross Island ruins (a former British administrative centre, now jungle-covered) are worth a morning.
The main destination for most travellers is Havelock Island (officially Swaraj Dweep), about two hours by ferry from Port Blair. Radhanagar Beach here has been rated one of Asia's best beaches — a long crescent of white sand backed by forest, with calm clear water. The snorkelling and diving are excellent; Barefoot at Havelock runs the island's main dive operation. Elephant Beach on the same island offers easy snorkelling over shallow reefs.
The Andaman Sea has an active volcano — Barren Island, the only confirmed active volcano in South Asia — visible on some boat tours. The indigenous peoples of the islands, including the Sentinelese (who have had no contact with the outside world), live in protected zones strictly off limits to outsiders. When to go: October to May; the monsoon hits hard from June to September.