04/04/2020
Andaman Diaries
Point 6: Baratang
A journey to Baratang is the best experience in the Andaman tour. It takes 3 to 3.5 hours to reach Baratang from Port Blair. This adventurous trip can be divided into 5 different parts.
1. Port Blair to Jirkatang: - After a travel of about 45-60 minutes from Port Blair, we left the city behind and passed through scarcely populated areas. The jungle along both sides during your travel is a treat to watch. After reaching the Jirkatang check post, the vehicles took a pit stop and we waited for the 6:30 AM convoy.
2. The rarest journey: - As the convoy began, security personnel for the safety of both travelers and tribes escorted each vehicle. As we passed through the Jarawa Tribe reserve area, we saw several tribal people standing in groups along with a forest officer staring at the vehicles passing by. The tribes are usually unpredictable and so you are not allowed to click photos or offer food to them as they might attack you. It is a punishable offense to do so and you will be charged with a heavy fine.
However, it is a once in a lifetime experience to see how beautifully the tribes and the civilized (forest police) are coexisting in harmony.
3. Nilambur Jetty: After an adventurous ride through the tribal reserve, we reached the Nilamber Jetty. From here, we boarded a ferry to the Baratang Island. In a 20-minute ferry ride, we enjoyed impeccable views of the creek and the dense mangrove forests.
4. The journey to the Limestone caves: A bumpy ride on Dongi (speed-boat) from the Baratang Jetty took us through dense mangroves forest to reach the starting point of the trail. If you are lucky enough then you might also get a glimpse of the mighty near the swamps.
5. Walk to Limestone caves: This 1.2 km walk was pleasant as we passed through the walkways made by cutting through dense forest and large stones. The surrounding of the cave is pleasant and the temperature within the cave is cooler than the outside temperature. The best part is to observe the walls of the Limestone cave taking up beautiful shapes naturally like of a shell or of the Indian God, Ganesha and ’s palm and much more.
And the same journey while coming back to the hotel.
The journey might be exhausting, the experience is justified, despite all the trouble.
Tour Credits: GoParyatak
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