This is definitely one of our favorite Islands in all of Andaman and Nicobar! We spent over a week in Neil Island exploring the unique sights, the lush forests and beautiful beaches. There’s so much of greenery, empty roads and pristine blue water all around the island! From what we learnt and saw, we put together this photo blog to show you some interesting sights. In fact, you’ll find everything you need to know to plan a trip to Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands of India in this blog post. In addition, this guide contains details on what to see in Neil, and where to stay, where to eat, getting around in the island and so much more! We’ve also added some recommendations on how to book ferry or ships between Port Blair, Havelock and Neil Island.

What to see in Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep), Andaman

You must spend a minimum of two days and one night on Neil to enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the island! There are four popular locations on Neil island. While they are all beaches, each spot has a unique feature to draw you there! Since it is one of the smaller islands in the Andaman archipelago, most tourists either skip going here or only do a day trip. However, add Neil island to your Andaman itinerary to enjoy an off-beat or relaxed island experience. 🏝️

So check out this list of things to do and places to visit on Neil Island in Andaman!

 1. Visit the Natural Arch Bridge at Laxmanpur

This is the most iconic spot in Neil island and is also called as the Natural Bridge! It is a natural rock formation on the side of a deep ledge, with one side of the arch facing the land and the other side being a giant rock pillar overlooking the sea. It is likely that this was formed over millennia due to the strong tidal waves crashing on the shore everyday! Due to its massive size, it is visible from the shallow beach nearly a half kilometre away. Although it is possible to walk there at anytime, locals suggest walking to the bridge only at low tide for safety. We walked there once during high tide and found it hard to reach. At high-tide it is rather scary as the waves come crashing even on the only rocks you can stand on!

Sea creatures at the Natural Arch Bridge, Laxmanpur

We saw a sea cucumber, green crabs, dark grey herons, blue kingfisher, dead turtle and a three foot long purple fish that had beached. We also found a live coral reef with a family of clown fish living only two feet underwater. As a result, we bsolutely loved this experience! However, take an authorized guide from the beach who will find many more interesting creatures for you to see. They typically charge INR 500 to INR 1000 (under USD 13) to show you around for an hour.

2. Enjoy the perfect sunset at Laxmanpur Beach

The sunset beach at Laxmanpur is famous for its flat geography with small coral rocks all around. On the backdrop, gigantic Mohwa trees line the coastline! It is located on the western tip of the island. At low tide, you can walk onto the rocks and see small fish and crabs in the rock pools left behind. However, it is best to avoid walking into the water at high tide as some rocks are slippery and sharp!

There are free recliners on the beach. Lifeguards are present too. In addition, there are a few shacks and shops selling souvenirs and snacks. At sunset, a shack lays candle-lit tables and pillows are laid on the beach. We highly recommend you give this a shot!

Tip: Stay at hotels in the Laxmanpur for the best location.

3. Visit the cove at Sitapur Beach for sunrise

Sitapur beach is located on the south-eastern tip of Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep). It is the most popular spot for sunrise (when the tide is low) and is called as Sunrise Beach or Sunrise Point by locals! The beach is in a cove circling beautifully in the midst of thick forest cover. The entry point is on the Sitapur main road and you only walk a few meters to the water! There are no activities here, but off-shore boat diving is possible. The cafes here are only open for breakfast or dinner. As a result, the place is very quiet most of the time.

TSG operates a 5 star hotel right on the beach. On the other hand, there are two cheaper hotels next door. However, these are open seasonally only.

4. Snorkeling and scuba diving at Bharatpur beach

Bharatpur Beach is very popular for its beach activities like snorkeling, diving, parasailing, banana boat, etc. This is also where the Neil Island jetty is located to take the inter-island ferries to Havelock and Port Blair. The beach has a few shacks and restaurants selling thali (meals) and fast food. Most water activities are conducted here or guests are taken on a speed boat out to the sea for scuba diving and snorkeling. If you book any activities at your hotel, homestay or at the small agencies in town, they will likely bring you to the vendors here. So if you want to get a good deal on your activities, go directly to Bharatpur beach and negotiate with the shops there.

Pricing for most activities is similar to what is charged on Havelock Island. On the other hand, if you can swim well, then you can even go snorkeling for free from the Bharatpur beach. It is shallow for many meters and you eventually reach schools of fishes at the nearby reef.

5. Experience the local lifestyle at Neil Kendra

The cultural and geographical centre of Neil island is called as Neil Kendra! It houses most government offices, the lone petrol bunk (gas station), the bus stop, small restaurants, bike rentals, grocery market and small shops. There is a super market which sells at MRP too. However, nearly all other shops on the island do not sell at MRP.

If you are free in the evening, visit Neil Kendra to just walk around and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. There is a Rama temple behind the market and small tea and sweet stalls line the path to it. In addition, Neil Kendra is home to a couple of small restaurants too, but they cater to the locals more than to tourists.

6. Rent a bicycle on the Island

Island life 101: ride a bicycle under the lush green canopies! You can rent a bicycle for less than INR 200 per day from nearly any rental store on the island. Your hotel or resort can arrange one for you, but its likely you will be paying INR 50 to INR 100 more than the going rate. If you’re staying longer than a week, you can get the cycles for as little as INR 150/day.

Since most of the island is flat, cycling here is very easy. We cycled from the western tip to the eastern tip (5 kms from Laxmanpur to Sitapur) and even across (Bharatpur in the north to Natural bridge in the south) with ease. 

Tip: Want a cheap bike rental? Go to Andaman Restaurant in Laxmanpur and rent your bike or scooter from the uncle there for at least 20% less than the island rate.

All you need to know to travel to Neil Island / Shaheed Dweep in Andaman

This section has details on accommodation, eating out, local transport, bike rentals and the best time to visit Neil Island or Shaheed Dweep. Prices are over 50% higher than mainland India. This is on account of the remote location of the island and since most consumables (including food) are imported from mainland India, or at least, from Port Blair. For a two day visit, expect to spend around INR 7,500 (USD 100) for a mid-range experience, while around INR 4,000 (USD 60) for a truly budget experience.

Food/eating out in Neil Island, Andaman

There are not many restaurants on Neil island. However, nearly all the restaurants serve similar food, at similar price points. Seafood is indeed the main cuisine! If you are in the Laxmanpur village area, you’ll see many Dhaba-style restaurants (some are pure-veg too). At Neil Kendra, you’ll find more authentic local style restaurants. Thalis/non-veg (Halder) and South Indian food (Gokul) are decent. Seashell has the best restaurant on the island (and prices are up there too). Want something homely? Then eat at Sunset cafe – the food is good and the owner very chirpy!

Most of these cafes look very shabby, but food is freshly cooked. Eating out on Neil is safe because smaller restaurants do not store old ingredients (no/small refrigerators).

You can eat chaats at Laxmanpur Beach I without hesitation – very nicely prepared and affordable too! 😛

Must eat: Enjoy the candlelight-snacks-on-the-beach experience at Kajal Fast Food at sunset  on Laxmanpur beach.

Getting around/transport in Neil Island, Andaman

There is only one main road in Neil Island which is 5 kms long. This begins at Laxmanpur beach (west) and ends at Sitapur beach (east). Mid-way, at the Neil Kendra market, the road deviates towards the Jetty (north) and Natural Arch bridge (south). There is one public bus (without AC) plying on this road and tickets are very affordable! But the schedule makes it unreliable. Autos from the jetty to any hotel on the island charge INR 100 and upwards. Autos charge INR 400 to Sitapur beach. Taxis cost INR 800 for similar journeys. You can also rent a scooter for INR 500 per day. Alternatively, bicycles cost INR 200 per day (or INR 150, if you rent from Andaman Restaurant in Laxmanpur).

How to get to Neil Island / Shaheed Dweep in Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Neil Island or Shaheed Dweep is connected to Port Blair, the capital of Andaman & Nicobar Islands by sea-route. There are multiple government and private ferries operating daily trips between Port Blair and Neil Island starting at INR 600 per person for tourists. Private ferries like Makruzz, Green Ocean, Nautica can be booked well in advance for INR 1,500 and upwards per person. Government ferry tickets can be purchased only in person at the Phoenix Bay Jetty (up to two days in advance). Alternatively, you could buy tickets at Phoenix Bay Jetty on the morning of the journey too. All ferries/ships take around 2 hours to cover the journey from Port Blair and Neil. On the other hand, Havelock island is 1.5 hours away. From Neil Island, you can sail back to Port Blair or to Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) by buying tickets at Bharatpur Jetty. For emergency connectivity, there is a helipad too.

Want to see more of Andaman & Nicobar Islands? We’ve got some more blog posts for you, from some really picturesque places! And if you enjoyed reading this post, or found the travel guide to be helpful, please share it with your friends!

Useful links

Here are some useful resources to plan and book your next trip. These are the same websites and apps that we use for our own bookings! We may earn a small commission if you make your booking using the below link, at no extra cost to you. 🤓