With shimmering turquoise waters fringed by primeval jungle, fantastic diving, and sugar-white, sun-toasted beaches melting under flame-and-purple sunsets, the far-flung Andaman Islands are the perfect Indian escape.
The population is a friendly mix of South and Southeast Asian settlers, as well as Negrito ethnic groups whose arrival here have anthropologists baffled. Adding to the islands’ intrigue is their remoteness, 1370km east of the Indian mainland – but only 200km from Indonesia and 300km from Myanmar.
Of the archipelago’s 572 islands, only 36 are inhabited and a small selection is open to travelers. With splendid beaches and diving, Havelock (Swaraj) is by far the most popular.