Tuesday 25 June 2024

Baku.... Yes, It is worth the hype !!

An immersive blend of history, adventure, scenic beauty, modernity, and vibrant culture-Azerbaijan is a good mix of many countries all at once making it an ideal choice for a week-long escape. Azerbaijan caters to luxury on a budget, making it a rising star among Indian travelers due to its direct 4 hour flight from Delhi and Mumbai, straightforward e-visa process and affordable international travel experience.

 

Beyond Baku's stunning architecture, parks, and lively streets along the Caspian Sea, trips to places like Shahdag, Gabala, and Sheki offer a perfect fusion of exploration and relaxation.

 

Ours was an action-packed 5D5N program- 

 

Day1 - Arrival at Baku at 12.15am by Indigo Airlines from Delhi. We started late afternoon with quick stop at “I love Baku” outside Hyder Aliyev Center.

The Heydar Aliyev Center is a must-visit for its striking architecture and fluid curves that symbolize modern Baku. Inside, visitors explore diverse cultural exhibits from contemporary art to historical displays and multimedia installations offering a rich educational experience. Amongst the various gallery spaces of rotating and permanent displays, my favorites were the ones of art dolls and musical instruments.  

Then we headed to the Classic Car Museum which with its comprehensive collection of meticulously restored vintage and classic cars, including rare Soviet-era models, provides an educational and visually stunning experience for all ages. Personally I am not a car enthusiast, but the aesthetic appeal of the beautifully restored iconic vehicles, well-curated exhibits and excellent photography opportunities truly made it the biggest and the most amazing car exhibits I have ever seen. 

 

Next in the evening we headed to the lively Baku Boulevard where we enjoyed strolling around Little Venice and relished the stunning views of the city and Caspian Sea from the Baku Ferris wheel. I had my share of adrenaline rush at the slide inside the extravagant Deniz mall (also known as Caspian Waterfront mall)

 

Tourists always visit the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum that is designed to look like a rolled-up carpet showcasing a vast collection of Azerbaijani carpets and weaving art. We didn’t visit itthough as neither we have interests in museums nor we made in time.

 

After enjoying to the core, we ended our day with dinner at “Beytan CS Beyti house” at the popular Nizami Street. 

 

PS –Deniz Mall features a wide array of retail stores, including luxury and international brands, diverse dining options and numerous entertainment facilities such as happyland (indoor ice rink, arcade games, play areas for children, and the aquarium), kinderland and skypark for the kids and karting, lasertag, ontop bowling, slide, etc. for the adults. If you are travelling with kids, spending some time here would be a great recharge for them.


Day 2 – After nearly an hour drive, we reached Gobustan museum, where we changed our car and headed for another 15 minutes’ drive in the desert to the mud volcanoes. 

We skipped the museum but were truly excited to experience the mud volcanoes and witness the rare geological phenomenon up close. Though its grandeur didn’t match the same as on internet, the journey, photos and the memorable experience in Azerbaijan's natural landscape definitely made it worthwhile the visit.

 

Without further ado, we drove for our old Baku Tour exploring the historic Icherisheher (Old City), featuring landmarks like the iconic stone Maiden Tower and Shirvanshahs’ Palace, ancient caravanserais, preserved city walls and the unique Museum of Miniature Books.

  

Next up, we took a funnicular ride for Highland Park that offers stunning panoramic views of the city, the Caspian Sea, and iconic landmarks such as the Flame Towers. You may reach here directly by taxi too.

 

The Flame Towers have captured global attention a symbol of modernity and an architectural masterpiece that defines Baku's skyline and identity in the 21st century. Their sleek, glass façades flame-like shape and illuminated LED screens with dynamic light shows make them stand out. 

 

Also known as Dagustu Park, Highland Park is renowned for its beautiful gardens, walking paths, and the spectacular vantage point it provides over Baku especially at night (sunset happens around 8:30pm in June) when the city lights up.

 

The significant sites in the park offering insights into Azerbaijan's history and culture include Martyrs' Lane (Şəhidlər Xiyabanı) - Memorial dedicated to those who lost their lives during the Black January massacre in 1990, the Shahidlar Mosque(Martyrs' Mosque), and the National Flag Square featuring one of the world's tallest flagpoles, proudly displaying the Azerbaijani flag outside the Alley of Martyrs. 

 

We ended the day on a high by savoring the baklawas and spinach rotis at Elxanoglu at Nizami street. 

 

Day 3 – Day Trip to Shahdag ( approx. 3 hour drive from Baku)

Shahdag, located in the Greater Caucasus Mountains of Azerbaijan offers a blend of outdoor adventure, scenic beauty, cultural experiences and relaxation, making it an ideal destination for both active travellers and those seeking a peaceful mountain retreat. Activities like skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling in winters or hiking and exploring nature trails with blooming wildflowers, adventure sports like zip-lining, ATV tours in other seasons, Shahdag promises unforgettable moments amidst Azerbaijan's natural splendour making it a must 1 night stay in winters and a day trip otherwise. 

 

On our route, we took a quick photo stop at the Candycane Mountains. First thing first at Shahdag, we did the very famous roller coaster amidst grassfields which is incredible and truly worth the hype. Oh! How much I wish, I had some accessory to keep my mobile safe and record this exhilarating experience. 

 

Being a group of 6, we thoroughly enjoyed playing paintball in military costumes, helmets and powerful guns under the beautiful sky in the company of rain and super cool breeze. Please note that the paintball shots hit pretty hard and this activity needs over an hour for changing and walking to and fro from the open-air battlefield. 

 

We then rushed to the cable car ride. Since it had been drizzling throughout, there are no photos to justify the serene views of the landscape that falls nothing short of Switzerland. Here, you can get down at the other end, take photos, enjoy tea and ride back from the cable car.

 

Please note that you can go inside the Mountain ski resort only after you get down from the 1st coaster and have not punched the ticket for 2nd coaster. Also the temperature at Shahdag is way cooler than Baku and carrying along a light jacket even in June is advised. 

 

Before calling it a night, we hogged over the delicious food at Shahi Darbar restaurant at Nizami street.


Day 4 – After being happily drained from the previous day, we left for Shikhov Beach (Şıxov Beach) at around 4 pm. This beach offering various water sports activities is one of the closest to the city center and is popular among locals and tourists. 

 

With clear and non-sticky water with negligible waves hitting the shore, it is ideal for swimming. Since we are a lazy bunch and needed a day off to relax and unwind, we enjoyed soaking the sunshine, sipping our drinks from the Malibu beach café and on and off dips in the water; however if you are in a rush, you can afford to miss this. 

 

Later, we stopped at Baku Boulevard (located just opposite the maiden tower), munched popping corn while walking by the Caspian Sea at seaside national park (Dənizkənari Milli Park). With plethora of open-air rides, this place is super fun for kids. 

 

To close the day, we ate till our hearts were full at Pizza Inn at Nizami street. 

 

Day 5 Yanardag (fire mountain), Ateshgah fire temple

 

Visiting Fire Mountain was a unique experience due to its continuous natural gas-fueled flames that have been burning for centuries. Around a 40 minute drive from Baku, it was relatively warmer and offered a unique combination of natural beauty, historical significance and cultural depth of fire-worshipping traditions, making it an enriching addition to the itinerary. 

After a 30 minute drive, we visited Ateshgah Fire Temple - an ancient Hindu, Sikh and Zoroastrian religious site originally built in the 17th-18th centuries atop natural gas vents that emit flames due to the combustion of natural gas. 

 

As we returned to Baku, we satiated our tummies at Dominos. Since it was almost time to get back to the grind in India, we opted for a relaxing package (massage, steam and Hamam) at Liana Deluxe Spa, packed our bags and returned to India with tons of happy memories. 

 

We were on a time crunch, but if you are not, add on a night stay at Gabala which is a 4.5 hour drive from Baku. On the route, make a stop at Alpaca farms located in Shamakhi 120KM away from Baku which is most ideal to visit in spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) and with preferably prior reservation to participate in farm activities with the cutest animals on the planet. The tickets are relatively highly priced but totally recommended if you are travelling with children. 

 

Other things on the list could be the lavender fields (that generally bloom from late june to early august), the Yeddi Gozel Waterfall (known as the Seven Beauties Waterfall generally best seen during the spring and summer), rainbow slide and boating at Nohur lake; cable car ride, outdoor adventure activities (skiing, riding ATVs, zip-lining, etc.) in summer as well as winters, thrilling swing at Tufandag Mountain Resort. If time permits and travelling with kids, Gabala Land with amusement rides, arcade games, 5D ciema and themed areas can be a good option to explore. 

 

Art and history lovers often include Sheki in their trip and visit its stunning Sheki Khan's Palace, Sheki Caravanseari, Sheki fortress and relish the local Halva. With a blend of history, architecture, and natural beauty, Sheki offers a memorable cultural journey into Azerbaijan's diverse traditions and landscapes. But yet again, that’s not our interest, so we happily skipped it.

 

With time on your platter, it is highly recommended to add Georgia to your Baku trip. This however needs to be planned well in advance as visa generally takes 10 days and gets rejected often for many Indian tourists.

 

My free first-hand advice - 

- As very limited people speak english, language is a huge barrier and consider google translator as your best friend

- Stay at/close to Nizami Street –the most famous and centrally located vibrant avenue of Baku

- Azerbaijan offers strikingly different views in winters and otherwise. Plan your vacay according to your preference

- Although it is a food paradise, vegetarian options are quite scarce and we were elated to have our theplas and khakhras with us. There are various Indian restaurants at Nizami street- Namaste, Delhi Darbar, Bombay Zaeka. We ate twice at Shahi Darbar and it was fabulous

- Explore Azerbaijani cuisine, which includes delicious dishes such as kebabs, pilaf (plov), and various pastries. Don't miss trying local specialties like dolma and baklava

- E-visa for Baku generally comes within 4 days and valid for three months

- The currency Azerbaijani Manat (AZN) is equivalent to INR 50

- Various tourist places close by 6pm, so check the timings and plan your day accordingly 

-- Link of our airbnb - the apartment was perfectly located on Nizami street with all the amenities. Although It is located on the first floor with no lift, had few glitches of air conditioning on the first two days, it can be checked out on Airbnb

- Converse with locals/airbnb host/driver in written over whatsapp given the proof of dialogue and avoidance of mis-communication over language

- Baku is 1.5 hour behind Indian Standard time        

- Enjoy a hassle-free trip with a pre-booked taxi on 24/7 disposal. We availed the services of Ismail (mobile no. - +994 777563435). He speaks limited english and was fabulous. We gave him the list of places we wanted to visit and he planned everything through. If not, Bolt is a great taxi app to roam within Baku.

-the above itinerary and recommendations are based solely on my experience and reader’s discretion and verification before making any booking based on the same is advised

 

Having travelled to several countries, I personally loved the vibe, diverse sightseeing opportunities and memorable experiences, Azerbaijan has to offer. I totally recommend this fusion of London, Switzerland, Madrid and more!! 

Happy Holidays,

Shruti 

Friday 22 December 2023

Thank You 2023 !

Just like every other year, I am here reflecting on my canvas of experiences. 

2023: Where to begin? Another year navigating a rollercoaster of growth and challenges, highs and lows, anxiety and exhilaration !!

Feather in my cap - The biggest highlight was being featured as a multitasking mompreneur by the Entrepreneur Women Organisation. I am beyond grateful to Mrs. Alka Agarwal for this coverage as it has been very motivating to share the stage with incredible women who excel in various walks of life.

Being called to judge a fancy dress competition at Jayshree Periwal Global School (JPGS) was an unforgettable experience.

Education - From conquering bachelor's in Law to securing admission in masters of French by clinching the second spot in the entrance merit list, it's been a wild academic journey.

Talking about my beloved daughter, she continued to amaze me every day with her excellent performance at school.
Passion for writing - My therapy to happiness is putting my heart out in words and I am ecstatic for having the right opportunities to showcase my interest. From writing and giving my voice to the welcome audio for Jito connect visitors,securing place in the first two pages of the nationally distributed book "Kavya srijan", curating a poem to encourage blood donation to receiving accolades for presenting my creation at JSG talent hunt program, I have enjoyed it all !

Love for French - No matter what I do or will be, french has always been my love that I can't be without! This year I finally worked on my pending pursuit of curating self explanatory tutorials and making it accessible to everyone. Teaching every evening and getting back to learning at Masters in French every morning has put me in a content place.

Entrepreneurial journey - Inspired to happily engage my daughter Mishika, my sister-in-law Ruchi and I took the bold move of diving headfirst into the entrepreneurial world with "The Crafty Cubes". Starting everything from scratch, curating our first DIY Diwali Box, putting up an exhibition, customising return favours, this incredible journey has just begun !!

JITO- Continued my journey as a treasurer of Jito Jaipur Ladies Wing, convened and moderated the Shark program, enjoyed working in ambitious projects that garnered limca and guiness world record- Shakti 2.0 and Ahimsa run respectively. Be it participating in contests, engaging in tree plantation drive, zayka and the massive jito connect, Jito has been my channel to learn, share and grow !

Lions Club- With my father in law (MCC Lion Roshan Sethi Advocate) being one of the eleven multiple council chairpersons in India, I feel blessed to have the opportunity to address at an event with an audience of approx 1000 pax, interact with great achievers, handle an entertainment program and even have an event in my name.

Encounters with Excellence: The year provided the privileges of meeting inspiring individuals, including the then CM Ashok Ji Gehlot, Anil Singhvi, Sanjay Agarwal, Vidya Balan, Motilal Oswal and so many more who fueled my spirit with their insights and perspectives.

Law and position - With my husband contesting for the post of general secretary in Rajasthan High Court election, this year had great significance in our lives. I as a wife am glad to have supported him in his tireless campaigning. 

The year wrapped up with a much deserved holiday to recharge and reflect upon everything 2023 has bestowed on us. Striving hard to justify my multiple roles, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. There were days when the thought of a stable lucrative job seemed tempting, and others when I contemplated taking a break from it all. Sometimes I was tired of being a parent and there were times that I wouldn't wish for anything else. The support of my friends and families has fueled my journey, and I am still navigating my path. 

My mantra has been to channelise my energy in what excites me, to learn and share knowledge in any small way I can! I anticipate 2024 with aspirations for determination to manage my time and finance effectively and embark on overdue fitness goals. Here's to embracing uncertainties and continuing this journey of self-discovery!

Loads of love and gratitude,
Shruti Sethi

Thursday 5 January 2023

2022 - The year that went by too quickly!

Every New Year’s Eve, I like to sit down and ponder about the year that went by! It makes me feel wholesome and helps to recollect and relive all the good things that happened!

2022 was yet again an eventful year that went by too quickly. Two weddings in immediate family, formal content writing being the forerunner, clearing 2nd year of law, being re-appointed as a treasurer at Jito, teaching French, managing household chores as a homemaker and creating a conducive learning and playful environment for my daughter, this year had it all!. 
At Jito programs
Thanks to JITO (Jain International Trade Organisation), this year was quite meaningful. From moderating B2B meets, being felicitated for excellent contribution in membership drive, exposure to interact with the biggest names of Jain community like “Mr. Abhaya Srisrimal Jain – Chairman, Lifecell”, “Mr. Anil Singhvi- Editor, Zee Business”, “Mr. Sandeep Jain popularly associated with Jain Saab ke Gems”, being appointed as convenor of ladies wing for JIIF (Jito Incubation and Innovation Foundation), getting a platform to showcase and enhance my potential, bonding and growing together with other like-minded women, Jito has been a life-changer. 

Lions Club !
For us as a family, 2022 was truly special with father-in-law becoming the district governor of Lions Club. The district installation program in Mishika's name, receiving huge acknowlegement and respect and getting the opportunity to meet several influential personalities, co-editing the district directory and learning the nuances of the functionality of an international club, it has indeed been a great experience. 

I aligned my interest of photography and unbound love for my angel onto her Instagram account “Tales of Mishika”. Therein I post about how to productively engage a child, inculcate the habit of reading, montessori way of learning and cute candid moments of the little influencer. It is my way of creating a memoir of her for her and helping out other moms from my experience https://instagram.com/talesofmishika

I am truly grateful and thankful to Jaipur Moms for acknowledging the milestones of Mishika and awarding her with a trophy at the tender age of 20 months. (A for apple, B for Ball... P for a Proud Mommy !!)
After becoming a parent, my biggest strength and weakness has been my child. This year when Mishika with 104 degree temperature had her first dreadful seizures right in my arms followed by four tough long days in ICU, it felt as if my world had collapsed. With recurring cold and cough every month, I literally have been on my toes ever since. 

After many years of writing just out of passion, last year was about acknowledgment and opportunities. I joined the editorial team of Jain Social Group Gem City and was even approached for a session on parenting. ( Do check my blog post on “Perfect Parenting…. Fact or Fiction?”)

Given my and husband’s mutual love for travelling and not being able to travel since 2.5 years, 2022 was a bliss with three vacations with our little munchkin to South India, Andamans and Vaishno Devi- Mcleodganj.
Stunning South !


Beautiful Andaman !






















Vaishnodevi-Mcleodganj-Naddi @ New Year
The forests, beaches and witnessing the first sunrise of 2023 amidst snow capped mountains was definitely breathtaking.

2022 was about huge realisations like there will be people who will constantly support you no matter what and there will always be people who are envious of your achievements, judgemental of your parenting choices, complaining about not knowing your priorities, etc. It is on us to know how to let go off the negativity and open up when the opportunity knocks on the door. 
With family and friends !

On the emotional front, it has been a rollercoaster ride. I received so much love and accolades, established strong connections, made new friends and found a huge support system in my family. There were infinite moments of euphoria and there have been times when I lost my mind (composure, to be subtle!)As a person, I feel confident, matured and have a purpose to life. 

But as it is said "Kuch naa kuch toh chootega hee". My big complaint with myself was not being sincere towards body fitness. Starting 2022 with lack of time with the constant struggle to manage everything alongside a super active baby and then eventually getting comfortable in my skin, my weight reached its life time high. So starting now, I promise myself to work strenously towards being fit and healthy. 

Since this year I happened to record very few poems and write only a couple of blog posts, to my surprise many people expressed how much they missed reading and listening to my craft. I am indeed flattered and motivated to now be more frequent in pouring my heart out via words. 
Do check this out -

With utmost gratitude to everyone for supporting me in this journey and trust in the magic of new beginnings, I look forward to 2023 !!

With love,
Shruti Sethi

Tuesday 4 October 2022

The beautiful Andaman !

Andaman and Nicobar islands form a small dotted cluster in Bay of Bengal and are home to pristine white sand beaches, clear water, ancient tribes and tropical rainforests.

Let me show you the b'ful Andaman!
Whereas Nicobar islands are not open to tourists, Andaman has limited connectivity of 4-5 direct flights from India. With selective tourist spots spread over three main islands, Andaman offers a pretty standard itinerary with not much scope to explore beyond it due to either dense forest or deep sea.

Here's how we spent our 8D 7N !!

3N Port Blair (2 in the beginning and 1 in the end for airport transfer), 2N Havelock Island, 2N Neil Island

Cellular Jail
Port Blair-This capital city is the only entry point for visiting the islands and is home to iconic Cellular Jail, several museums and day trips to other islands.

Day 1- Like a typical tourist, we began the trip with the infamous Cellular Jail (kala pani) constructed by Britishers to exile Indian political prisoners. Its different sections reflecting the atrocities stirred a sea of emotions inside us.

We then proceeded to Marina Park in and around which are various beautiful photo spots like "I love Port Blair, map of India, statue of Gandhi Ji and flag point". Quick hopping in and out for the car for these photos was really interesting especially for our baby girl.


We visited Anthropoligical museum, aquarium and Samudrika - naval marine museum to get an insight into the history about indigenous tribes and marine life of Andaman.

In the evening, we planned to see the Light and Sound show (Hindi/english) at Cellular Jail but since it was closed for maintenance, we drove towards Marina Park where we enjoyed munching at the food trucks parked at the gorgeous stretch of road by the ocean that reminded us of Marine Drive, minus the crowd.

This may sound a lot but everything is close-by and can be covered in a day subject to your arrival time. If not, it can be divided on the next or last day.

Ross Island
Day 2
- We took a boat to visit the small and fairly interesting Ross Island with a halt of 1 hour. Here we had a close interaction with deer and took an electric cart to see the remains of British settlement and Japanese bunkers literally wrapped by roots of trees. After a small walk, we reached the lighthouse and the statue which honours the people who served the country and captured it in our phones. 

North Bay - Submarine 
We later took a ferry to
NorthBay of which's photo can be seen at the back of Rs.20 note. There are plethora of water activities to do but we just chose the three floored semi submarine which happens exclusively in Northern Bay of Andaman. The underwater view of marine life isn't that great but thanks to the nice cruise it is definitely an hour well spent. Those who don't want to take the submarine can skip Northern Bay as all other activities can be later enjoyed at other beaches. 

Chidiya tapu beach
To witness the splendid sunset, we headed to the beautiful Chidiya tapu beach (known as Mandu Pahar Beach) located 17km away from Port Blair. Enroute we made a quick stop at 1st flag hoisting point of India and spent 15 minutes at the lively Carbyn Cove where Tourism Day was being celebrated.

Since we started at 8am, we managed to fit in everything and reach at the Chidiya tapu beach before the gates closed at 5.30. It is not included in a standard itinerary but given the beach was as beautiful as the journey till there, it must be!

To unwind ourself, we took a dip in the swimming pool at our hotel "Symphony Samudra" which was hardly 1km from the sunset point.

Subject to your interest and time in hand, you may take a day trip (from 3am to 5pm) to Baratang Island which is famous for its natural wonders- limestone caves, dense mangrove creeks and mud volcanoes. Here you may have a chance to glance of the tribals (photography is a non-bailable offence). Since we were travelling with an infant, we chose to skip this one.

You can check out these good places to eat at Port Blair- Amaya at Hotel Sea Shell, Sinclairs Bayview Restaurant and Annapurna.

Makruzz
Day 3- We took the Makruzz jetty to Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) - the most visited island in the Andaman Archipelago due to its pristine beaches and dive sites.

First things first, we visited Radhanagar beach renowned as Asia's best and world's 7th best beach. Its white sand, clear water, beautiful sunset, swimming friendly one long stretch of beach with no hotels or shacks directly on it makes it ideal to spend quality time.

Later that night, we had a lovely dinner at "Something Different" which provides a pick- drop facility from the hotel. It had a nice playful vibe, delicious food and trampoline to keep kids entertained. I absolutely recommend their pizza and almond pudding.

Day 4- We started with scuba diving at dive master which included 15 min training and 30 min of underwater where we saw corals and fishes and relived the moment from movie "Zindagi na milegi dobara". The plus point is that one doesn't even need to know swimming for it. If you feel confident, I would suggest to take dive from the boat option rather than shore for better view.

We went next to the Havelock Island Jetty and took a 10 person sharing speed boat which gives a fixed 3 hour time at Elephant beach that is widely popular for aquatic adventures like sea walk, parasailing, banana ride, jet ski, snorkeling, glass boat etc.


If time permits, you can also enjoy for a while at Kalapathar beach which is popular for clear blue water and black boulders.

After a long exhausting beach day, a cold shower and a cup of hot tea, we later went to Havelock Island beach resort for dinner which had great ambience but extremely poor service. Alternatively based on reviews, I would recommend eating at Barefoot, Amaya and other cafes namely Full moon cafe,bonova cafe, cafe salt water and Anju Coco restaurant.

From the port of Neil Island
Day 5 - We boarded an one hour Makruzz jetty for Neil island (Shaheed Dweep).This exquisite island is famous for its serenity, unparalleled biodiversity, endless blue water, white sand beaches, abundant coral reefs and dense tropical forests.

Natural Bridge
We then went to the natural bridge (Laxmanpur beach no.2) which is a naturally built coral bridge built over thousands of years. We reached there at 4 pm- the ideal time in terms of sunlight and low tide to witness this natural wonder by a 45 min-1hour walking tour with the help of a guide. Opportunity to witness the clear water, endless corals, marine life like sea snake, eel, sea cucumber, oysters, urchins,etc. in natural water makes it the most popular tourist attraction of Neil Island. I personally loved being here and found it to be the most beautiful place of Andaman.

Laxmanpur Beach No.1
Then we went to Laxmanpur beach no.1 where we watched the sky change into all shades of blue, yellow and orange while bidding good bye to the sun. This is the only beach that has small local kiosks selling refreshments with table-chairs to sit at the beach and enjoy waves hitting the shore.

Restaurant Dugong
The day ended pretty well with dinner at Dugong- the restaurant at Hotel Sea Shell. Despite having only handful vegetarian options, the live music, great taste and a lovely ambience totally made it a great place to dine.

Day 6

Bharatpur Beach
-We spent 1 hour at Bharatpur beach where we made sand castles, did jet ski and bought local souvenirs.

After five hectic days, we chose to spend the remaining day at leisure by ordering in food for Shakahari restaurant, enjoying the hotel's swimming pool and sleeping in well.

When in Neil Island, people often visit Sitapur Beach famous for its turquoise blue waters and breathtakingly beautiful sunrise. Since it requires getting up at 3am, we decided to skip this one.

Wandoor Beach
Day 7 - We took the Makruzz jetty for Port Blair, grabbed lunch at Annapurna restaurant, checked-in and headed for the famous Wandoor beach by 3.45 pm as it is a 45 min drive from the city. This is a quiet and picturesque beach, however, you can’t enter the water because it is crocodile infested. We enjoyed sitting under the groves and taking plenty of photos. If you wish to stay longer, I recommend going to Sea princess beach view resort which is a five minute drive and offers great sea view as you sip and munch. 
Bay Island
We ended the day with a sumptuous dinner at Welcomhotel Bay Island. Based on reviews, you may also eat at Vibes and Dives, Kiran Restaurant, etc.

My first-hand advice-

• Carry your covid certificate as they are mandatory at arrival in Andaman

• Most of the monuments in Port Blair are closed on Monday

• The sun sets by 5:30 and it gets pitch dark instantly, so plan all your days accordingly

• Hotels don't have wifi, cellular network is very limited, make necessary bookings and downloads before-hand

• Check in and out timings significantly vary at each island

• Given the unpredictable weather, carry an umbrella, glares and cap

• While visiting beaches, carry an extra pair of clothes and packed food as there are nil/very few options at the beach

• Pre-book the jetties due to low frequency Makruzz/Nautika and arrive at the port at least 40 minutes prior to departure for a comfortable check-in

• Best time to travel is october to march

• Baby food for infant below 2 years can be availed complimentary

• There are neither app based taxis nor a 24 hr taxi at disposal, hence, it is important to preplan and pre-book the taxi for pick and drop either by agent/hotel. The ones we booked and recommend are-

Aakash at Havelock-

Shekhar at Neil Island- 95319 58125, 99332 48223

The rates are same for all taxis as it is decided by the driver association

• Only 2 litres mineral water bottle is available in the market, so it would be convenient to carry your 1 litre regular bottle to keep it handy

Andaman is definitely not an alternate to Goa as if you seek to sit by the beach at pretty shacks serving good delicacies and dance your night away, you can strike it off your bucket list.

Andaman is like Maldives of India. It is clean, picturesque and ideal to travel with family. If you are looking for natural beauty and serenity, fond of beaches and water activities, comfortable with a holiday wherein you start early, finish everything off by 5.30pm and relax at the hotel thereafter, you will return with post-card perfect pictures and happy memories.

Happy holidays,

Shruti