Destinations / Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)

Andaman island of white-sand beaches, coral reefs and scuba diving, reached by ferry from Port Blair.

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Havelock, officially Swaraj Dweep since December 2018, is the best-known beach island in the Andamans, covering about 113 sq km. People come for Radhanagar Beach, snorkelling and water sports at Elephant Beach, and beginner-friendly scuba diving. It suits couples, families and first-time divers who are happy to plan around ferry timings.

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Photos from Wikimedia Commons. Select a photo for its author and licence.

Best time to go

When	What to expect
November to February	Peak tourist season with pleasant weather and calm seas. Ferries and rooms fill up, so book ahead.
March to May	Warm days and calm seas, described by the tourism department as good for diving. Temperatures stay between about 23 and 31 C all year.
June to October	Monsoon with moderate to heavy rain. Boat trips and water sports stop in rough weather and ferries can be disrupted.

Sights and activities

Radhanagar Beach

A wide white-sand beach about 2 km long on the west coast, known for swimming and sunsets. It has lockers, showers, security staff and a marked safe swimming limit, and it is a no-plastic zone.

Distance: About 9.5 km by road from Govind Nagar, the jetty area.
Timings: Visitors are asked to leave after sunset
Time needed: 2 to 3 hours

Map Wrong fee or timing?

Elephant Beach

The island's main spot for snorkelling and water sports such as jet ski, banana ride and sea walk. It is reached by a shared speedboat of about 20 to 30 minutes from Havelock jetty, or by a forest trail of about 1.8 to 2 km.

Distance: 20 to 30 minutes by boat from Havelock jetty.
Entry: No entry fee found; the shared boat costs about 1000 to 1250 rupees per person and activities are charged separately
Timings: Boats leave in the morning as they fill; trips stop in bad weather and the monsoon
Time needed: 3 to 4 hours

Map Wrong fee or timing?

Kalapathar Beach

A quiet east-coast beach with white sand, black rocks and forest behind it. It is best for an early-morning walk and photographs.

Distance: On the east coast; The road from the jetty area passes Vijaynagar Beach.
Time needed: 1 hour

Map Wrong fee or timing?

Vijaynagar Beach

A long, calm stretch on the east coast lined with resorts. People come to walk, watch birds and see the sunrise.

Distance: On the east coast, between the jetty area and Kalapathar.
Time needed: 1 hour

Map Wrong fee or timing?

Govind Nagar Beach

The beach beside the jetty and main market area, with many dive centres, cafes and places to stay nearby.

Distance: At the jetty area.
Time needed: 1 hour

Map Wrong fee or timing?

Scuba diving sites

Dive centres take beginners and certified divers to reefs around the island; named sites include The Wall, Aquarium and Barracuda City. Non-certified divers are kept to about 12 metres depth.

Distance: By boat or from the shore, arranged by dive centres near the jetty and Vijaynagar.
Entry: About 3500 rupees for a beginner shore dive and about 4500 to 6500 rupees for a boat dive
Timings: Mostly morning dives; fixed by the dive centre
Time needed: 3 to 4 hours

Map Wrong fee or timing?

Getting there

By bus: There is no road link. From Port Blair, government ferries leave Phoenix Bay Jetty (about 2.5 to 3 hours) and private ferries such as Makruzz, Nautika, Green Ocean and ITT Majestic take about 1.5 to 2.5 hours. A Pawan Hans helicopter (20 to 25 minutes) also flies with limited seats.
By train: There is no railway on the Andaman Islands.
By air: Veer Savarkar International Airport at Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram). Phoenix Bay Jetty is about 3 km from the airport, and Havelock is a ferry ride on from there.
Where to base yourself: Stay around Govind Nagar near the jetty or at Vijaynagar for most hotels and restaurants, or near Radhanagar Beach for a quieter base.

Getting around

Rented scooters are the usual way around and cost about 400 to 600 rupees a day; a valid driving licence is needed.
Auto-rickshaws charge about 50 to 200 rupees for short rides and about 700 to 1000 rupees for a trip to Radhanagar Beach.
Taxis for sightseeing start from about 2000 rupees.
Bicycles can be hired for about 100 to 150 rupees a day.
Buses link the main beaches

Often combined with

Places people usually visit on the same trip, and how long it takes to get between them.

Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep): Ferry, about 1 hour. See the Andaman: Port Blair, Havelock and Neil trip
Port Blair: Ferry, about 1.5 to 2.5 hours. See the Andaman: Port Blair, Havelock and Neil trip

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Where to stay

Budget level	Type	Price per night
Budget	Basic guesthouses, huts and hostels	₹1,000 to ₹3,000
Mid-range	Hotels and beachside cottages	₹3,000 to ₹8,000
Luxury	Beach resorts and villas	₹15,000 to ₹30,000

Food

Restaurants and cafes cluster near the jetty, Govind Nagar, Vijaynagar and Radhanagar. A thali costs about 150 to 200 rupees, an average meal is about 350 rupees a person, and a resort meal runs to about 1400 rupees. Beach shacks mostly take cash only.

Try these

Fish curry (fresh fish in a spiced gravy, often coconut-based)
Grilled seafood (fish, prawns and crab cooked to order)
Thali (a set plate of rice, curries and sides)
Tropical fruit and fresh coconut

Thali places and multi-cuisine restaurants serve vegetarian food.

Daily costs

Budget level	Stay per room	Food per person	Local transport
Budget	₹1,500	₹500	₹500 per vehicle
Mid-range	₹5,000	₹1,000	₹1,000 per vehicle
Luxury	₹20,000	₹2,500	₹2,000 per vehicle

Per day. Travel to and from your city is added in the planner above.

Permits and documents

Indian visitors need only an original government photo ID, which is also checked for ferry tickets. Foreign nationals must carry a passport and a valid Indian visa or e-visa. One travel site says a permit issued at Port Blair is also needed, so foreign visitors should check the current rule on arrival.

Safety

By day: A relaxed tourist island. Swim only inside marked limits, and note that boat trips and water sports stop in rough weather.
At night: Beaches are unlit and visitors are expected to leave them after sunset. Roads are dark, so ride slowly.
Solo women: No specific problems were reported on the pages checked. Normal care applies, especially on empty beaches and after dark.
Roads: The island has a small road network. The main ride is about 9.5 km between the jetty area and Radhanagar. Plan every day around ferry timings and keep at least two hours between a flight and a ferry.
Emergency numbers: 100 (police), 101 (fire), 108 (ambulance), 1363 (tourist helpline), 1554 (Coast Guard), 03192-282405 (Havelock police)

Practical

Mobile network: BSNL and Airtel work but are patchy; Jio and Vodafone are less reliable and mobile data is slow.
ATMs and cash: A few ATMs, mostly State Bank of India, which can run out of cash. Carry enough cash from Port Blair.
Fuel: Ask the scooter rental shop where to refuel.
Medical: A Primary Health Centre at Village No. 3 handles basic care. Serious cases go to G.B. Pant Hospital in Port Blair (03192-233473).

Coverage maps: Jio · Airtel · Vi · BSNL. Report a problem

Accessibility

Seniors: Manageable with a taxi or auto and a private ferry with reserved seats. Radhanagar and Kalapathar are reached by road. Avoid the forest trail to Elephant Beach.
Children: Radhanagar has shallow water, a marked swimming limit and security staff. Elephant Beach offers glass-bottom boat rides for those who do not snorkel.
Wheelchair users: Ferry boarding, speedboats and soft sand are likely to be difficult, so check with the ferry operator and hotel first.

Unless a sight is described as accessible, assume it is not step-free.

Culture and responsible travel

Single-use plastic is banned on the islands and Radhanagar is a no-plastic zone.
Do not collect or touch coral, shells or any marine life.
Do not litter on beaches or in the forest, and follow instructions from lifeguards and local authorities.
The island was renamed Swaraj Dweep on 30 December 2018, and ferry tickets and signs use that name.
Carry your original photo ID at all times for ferries and hotel check-in.

What to pack

Photo ID (Aadhaar, passport or driving licence); hotels and permits ask for it
Printed copies of your permit, with a few passport-size photos
Sunscreen, a hat, swimwear and sandals
Some cash in small notes for autos, stalls and tips
Your regular medicines, plus basics for stomach upsets, headaches and cuts

Multi-stop trips that include Havelock Island

Andaman: Port Blair, Havelock and Neil, 5 nights

At a glance

Union territory: Andaman and Nicobar Islands
District: South Andaman
Altitude: Sea level
Gateway: Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram)
Best time: Oct-May
Ideal trip: 3 days
Difficulty: Easy. Reached by road, and the sights need little walking.

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About this page

Checked against online sources in October 2026. Not field-verified. ATMs, fuel and hospitals from OpenStreetMap, October 2026.

Could not be confirmed online:

The altitude figure is not confirmed.
District: South Andaman is taken from the district website's listing in search results; the page itself could not be opened.
Entry fees and opening hours for Radhanagar, Kalapathar, Vijaynagar and Govind Nagar beaches were not stated on any page opened.
Road distances from the jetty to Kalapathar and Vijaynagar beaches.
Local bus fares and timings on the island.
Taxi fare from Port Blair airport to the ferry jetty, and the helicopter fare.
Government ferry fare is given as 'from 450 rupees' for tourists by a travel site, not by the shipping department; the exact fare depends on class.
Private ferry fares vary by date and class (about 1050 to 3500 rupees plus a 50 rupee port fee); 1500 is a typical figure from one travel site.
Flight fares are listing prices seen in October 2026 and change daily; the luxury figures are the highest listed fares, not business class.
Passenger ships from Chennai, Kolkata and Visakhapatnam may run, but no current schedule or fare was found.
Sources disagree on the distance from Port Blair (39 km on the tourism site, 57 to 73 km on travel sites).
Whether foreign nationals need a separate permit: the government tourism page lists only passport and visa, while one travel site mentions a permit.
Fuel station on the island and wheelchair access were not confirmed.
Daily cost figures are estimates built from the room, meal, scooter, auto and taxi prices found; the entry-fee figure is the Elephant Beach boat ticket.
Scuba and Elephant Beach boat prices come from travel and booking sites and change by season and operator.

Cover photo: Wikimedia Commons

Sources: Andaman and Nicobar Tourism - Swaraj Dweep, Andaman and Nicobar Tourism - How to reach, Andaman and Nicobar Tourism - Travel care, Go2Andaman - Government ferry guide, Go2Andaman - Havelock Island, Go2Andaman - Radhanagar Beach, BookYourFerry - How to reach Havelock, Experience Andamans - Havelock, Tropical Andamans - Havelock Island guide, Holidify - Havelock Island, Tripadvisor - Elephant Beach, SetMyTrip - Swaraj Dweep places to visit, Andaman Ocean Tourism - Havelock Island, SOTC - Andaman trip cost, ixigo - Chennai to Port Blair flights, ixigo - Kolkata to Port Blair flights, ixigo - Bengaluru to Port Blair flights