Mayabunder is the headquarters of North and Middle Andaman District. A small town located in the northern part of Middle Andaman, it can be a preferred place for those looking for an exciting adventure as well as exploration. In this article, we present you the detailed information on Mayabunder as a destination of attraction.
This undercover destination is located 242 kilometers by road and 136 kilometers by ferry from Port Blair. It falls between Diglipur and Rangat. Its villages are scarcely populated with people majorly speaking Bengali, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. Mayabunder is mostly visited by those tourists who are looking for something rare. Still not commercialised completely, the place is still growing as a tourist destination. Thus, it has limited infrastructures and less frequent connectivity with Port Blair. The town is less explored due to less information about the place and lesser-known ways of its accessibility. It is only visited by travellers, not tourists. We hope you understand that!
Through this article, we will help you in exploring every corner possible of this unexplored destination so that you can get to know what you should expect from this untouched gem of Andaman Island.
Home to a few beautiful and scenic beaches, Mayabunder is also known for seasonal turtle nesting grounds and mangrove-lined tidal creeks. It is also the second biggest harbor after Port Blair where the mainland passenger ships takea halt. If you want to visit some of the Virgin Islands nearby like Avis Island, Coco Island and Interview Island, then this place is the starting point.
A trip to explore the natural marvels of Mayabunder means a trip to the outskirts of Andaman Island- near to the organic life and far from the busy and crowded life. The place is extremely soothing and pleasant. There is no connectivity to the internet, which is a blessing in disguise! Here, you will be completely detached from the contemporary world. You will be able to focus on making the most of your beach time. All you would do is relax, capture the moments inside your eyes and of course, thank yourself to explore this paradise before moving ahead.
Other places promising splendid beauty in Mayabunder include Ray Hills, Austin X and Interview Island.
Apart from observing seasonal turtle nesting, you can go for boat rides, viewing elephants and trekking in this town.
Being a very remote destination just like any other island in the North and Middle Andaman Island, you should not look for any luxurious stay. Still growing to gain popularity, Mayabunder has minimum tourist flow at present. The limited number of accommodations available here has limited amenities. So you should not expect services like television in rooms, room service, wifi connection, etc. while staying here. The hotel properties in Mayabunder are very basic, hygienic, and a few provide sea view. Some of the best places to stay here are mentioned below:
Make sure you have pre-bookings in Mayabunder. Otherwise, there may be on-spot issues in searching and getting a good place to stay in. Therefore, making reservations from a local tour operating company is highly recommended. Andaman Island Travels is the most reliable name on the whole island as it is committed to customise holiday packages as per its clients’ requirements. Save yourself from the hassle of booking every little thing and trust its experienced staff to design your vacation offering you more than what you can imagine!
The local folks of Mayabunder run small food stalls, dhabas or canteens. The eateries are nearby the tourist spots and the main market area. The best restaurants are as follows:
The origin to start your journey to Mayabunder via any mode of transport is the capital of Andaman Island- Port Blair. Reaching there is quite easy. You can opt for any mode as per your comfort and budget.
The best time to visit is from October to March. The temperature is comparatively cool during this time.
So, what do you think? Do you want to include this untouched gem in your Andaman Island travel itinerary? If yes, then we would suggest you to make all your reservations through Andaman Island Travels as its experts will sketch the perfect vacation based on your interests.
It is 242 kilometres by road and 136 kilometres by ferry from the capital city, Port Blair. The journey would take about 10 hours. You can catch a government bus from Port Blair, which is the most reliable and economical option. On the other hand, private cabs could save you the hassle. Weekly ferry run by the Government is a direct but uncertain means.
It would help if you chose a feasible time from October to March to find the weather rather pleasant. The monsoons are far from ideal, owing to heavy rainfall and turbulent waves.
Ray Hills, a prestigious eco-village; the Karmatang Beach, a nesting ground for turtles; the Avis Island, an uninhabited place known for its coconut plantation; the Interview Island, known for its numerous freshwater sources and the Austin X Island, a small fishing village known for its mangrove creeks and orange plantations are the focal points of the island.
Overall, a day or two should suffice. Best still you could go island-hopping and basking in the sun thanks to the captivating beaches. It could also serve as a pit stop on your way to Diglipur or Ross and Smith Islands. Moreover, the option to backpack and experience the quiet at your own pace is always on the table.
A Restricted Area Permit (RAP) is no more a requirement for outsiders, in light of the Indian Government's recent decision to better the tourism.
However, you will have to ensure that you do not click pictures, offer food or try to communicate on spotting the Jarawa tribe en route. Such conduct is lawfully punishable.
You have options such as the District Hospital, the Government Hospital and the Primary Healthcare Center. They are government-run medical care units, so all services here can be availed free of charge. If you need better and advanced healthcare, your next stop would be Port Blair. G.B. Pant Hospital, Port Blair is the reputed hospital associated with being affordable and working for consistent improvements in medical services.
There is low to zero connectivity to both the telecom services and internet. There might arise a sense of being detached from the outside world, but it surely would pass once you start exploring the sites and relaxing on the beaches. For emergencies, you could use a BSNL SIM card which is still better than the rest. Not much mobile data usage would happen, but you wouldn't miss it while you're busy thanking yourself for stopping by and appreciating the place.
Yes, you will find ATMs run by State Bank of India and ICICI Bank on the island. It's not common for the hotels and vendors to accept card payment. You would mostly be paying in cash. In any case, we recommend you to keep enough cash with you.
