438. Adventures in Andaman Part 4

Got up early as we had two boat rides today, one from Havelock to Neil Island and the next from Neil Island to Port Blair! Had breakfast as soon as the counters were open.  Then waited for the tour operator to come and pick us up.  There were 2 stops for the itinerary today. One was a natural bridge and the other was the Bharatpur beach.  Today looked to be a hectic journey but it was not so😊!

We were dropped at the Havelock jetty point, from where we took the same Nautika boat to Neil Island.  The journey took some 45 minutes.  We were met with another employee of the tour operator here. There was some confusion regarding our visit as they had still not got any confirmation of our visit. The tour agent at Havelock had given me the Neil agent’s mobile number. So, I had called him as soon as we reached Neil Island.  After a few tense minutes, he got the confirmation and we proceeded for the trip.

He took us to a shop where we kept our luggage on rent.  We then went to the Natural bridge formation. The Natural Bridge on Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) is a remarkable rock formation sculpted over centuries by ocean waves and wind erosion. Composed of limestone and dead coral, it forms an arch connecting two rocky terrains, surrounded by mangroves and tide pools teeming with marine life. Locally, it is called the "Howrah Bridge" due to its resemblance to Kolkata’s famous bridge, though it is entirely a natural creation and not man-made.

We had to climb a steep hill which were lined with shops selling artefacts, t-shirts and food.  After crossing this, we then had to cover about 500m of empty land filled with dried mud.  We could see the sea at the end of this stretch.  Once we reached the sea, on the left side was this natural bridge.  We spent some half an hour here taking photographs and exploring the place.  We then turned back.  While coming back, we had some snacks at the shops.  We called the tour guy, who had gone for other work after dropping us, and he came to pick us up. He then dropped us at the Bharatpur beach.  We were told that the return boat to Port Blair was at 4pm and we could spend time here till 3pm or so when he would come and pick us up.

Bharatpur Beach is a must-visit destination for those looking to experience the beauty and adventure of the Andaman Islands. With its clear waters, coral-rich environment, and various activities, it offers a perfect blend of relaxation and excitement.

Since the tide was low, there was no activities being conducted here.  We went inside the sea for about half a kilometer.  The sea was simply superb.  There was a small mud island here, formed by the tide being low. We went and sat there.  The ladies of the trip went further inside and enjoyed the sea!

We came back after some time and had lunch here.  After that, the other 3 members of the trip went for shopping. I declined and sat at a bench there.  Had a cold kulfi there and was there for about an hour and half, just whiling away the time.  After that went to check out how the shopping was going on and proceeding to the jetty point.  The shopping was still continuing. After the shopping was done, had a tea at a local stall there and then called the tour agent to pick us up.  He dropped us at the luggage point and went off. We collected the luggage and walked for about 2-3 minutes towards the jetty point. 

We called Mr Pankaj from there for the Cellular Jail sound and light show.  We had decided that we will do this today, earlier itself.  He said that by the time we arrive at the Port Blair jetty, he will make all the arrangements and there would be a car to pick us up.  We took the jetty and reached Port Blair.  From here the car took us to the Cellular Jail.  Mr Pankaj met us there and he proceeded to take us inside the jail. It seemed that authorities had not been informed of our visit and there was some confusion regarding the seating.  The show was supposed to start at 730pm and all the visitors were going inside.  Finally, after some phone calls, we were allowed inside. 4 chairs were put at the last row for us and we were able to watch the sound and light show.

The Light and Sound Show at Cellular Jail is a mesmerizing event that brings to life the poignant history of India's struggle for independence. This show is a heartfelt tribute to the freedom fighters who endured unimaginable hardships within its walls, also known as Kala Pani, during the British colonial era. Through a unique blend of history, storytelling, and cutting-edge technology, the light and sound show transforms the past into a vivid, immersive experience.

The show takes you back to the times when these empty cells had prisoners residing in them. The show brings out the struggles of life and tortures faced by the prisoners in the most artistic way possible. The show narrates the incidents of history pertaining to the Andaman in chronological order.

Once the show was completed, we headed back to our guest house. Had dinner there and went to bed.  Thus ended our 4^th day at the Andaman.  One more blog left for the final day!

Adios till then😊!