How To Reach Baratang Island

Baratang Island is a prominent entry point for the northern and central vicinity of Andaman. With its lesser known destinations, a lot of the serene spots that prevail within its territory have remained hidden from the outside world. However, with developing tourism, a number of visitors have started to explore this stunning island. Baratang has been bestowed with some enthralling features, including resplendent mangroves, eccentric beaches, intricate limestone caves and unique mud volcanoes. 

Owing to its isolated essence, Baratang Island requires visitors to board a local ferry from the neighboring city to reach its coasts. The fastest way to get to the Baratang from the outside world though still remains plying by airways. Once at a nearby airport, there are ample local vehicles such as taxis and buses that can help visitors reach the Nilambur Jetty and hop on to an exciting boat ride to the island. Let us understand how some of the different ways to ply to this island work out for tourists.

The closest airport to Baratang Island is situated in Port Blair city, popularly known as the Veer Savarkar International Airport. Situated at a distance of approximately 104 km from Baratang, this airport operates frequent flights to other metropolitan cities such as Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, and Chennai. Along with its domestic prowess, the Veer Savarkar International Airport also enjoys good connectivity to foreign countries. Prime domestic carriers such as Air India and SpiceJet ply their flights through this route. Once at this airport, tourists can board one of the local or private buses to get to the nearest jetty, which happens to be Nilambur Jetty. A local ferry can then help you reach Baratang Island.

Visitors that are travelling to Baratang Island can also avail the option of first getting to Port Blair, the nearest city, through passenger ships. Although, the ride would be long, it offers some scenic prospects. Tourists commuting from Chennai, Vishakhapatnam and Kolkata have the luxury of exploring this way of commutation. Once at Port Blair, tourists need to use local bus transport or taxis to reach the closest jetty, Nilambur Jetty. From Nilambur Jetty, tourists can board a local ferry that will take them to Baratang Island. The ferry ride is relatively shorter than the bus ride, extending to approximately 15 minutes.

There are several buses plying from Mohanpura Bus Terminus in Port Blair to Baratang Island. There are private AC buses that can also help you get to the Nilambur Jetty in a luxurious manner. In addition, private taxis and cabs can also help you reach the island. The journey is a long one, covering a duration of more than an hour to first reach Jirkatang. Post that, another ride of about an hour’s duration can help you reach Nilambur Jetty. From this jetty, tourists can step onto a ferry ride to reach Baratang Island, with eye-catching vistas on offer during the ride.