Nestled between the Middle and South Andaman Islands, Baratang Island is a pristine, under-explored destination promising an extraordinary adventure. Lying about 110 km from Port Blair, this island is a natural wonderland, offering an amalgamation of dense forests with stunning geological formations and unique cultural experiences. It has considerably famous limestone caves, bubbling mud volcanoes, and rich biodiversity, which makes the place a paradise for nature lovers and adventure-seeking tourists alike.
Baratang Island is the home of one of the indigenous groups of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands: the Jarawa tribe. For thousands of years, the Jarawas have been living in this part of the islands, continuing a lifestyle virtually unchanged. To date, interaction with the tribe is strictly minimal, if not down to zero, to avoid other negative influences that might change their way of life and/or further spread diseases that may kill them. But for visitors, occasionally there might be some glimpse of their presence as they cross over the tribal reserve. The island also hosts a small community of settlers and reflects the variation brought about by different cultures that may have touched its shores over time.
Reaching the Cellular Jail is not at all difficult:
They are the most important feature of Baratang Island. Actually, these are caves of calcium carbonate deposits, which take millions of years in forming and result in stalactites and stalagmites, which are really breathtaking to see. Visitors will go to the caves by boat from Nilambur Jetty and then a dense forest trek leads to these caves. The journey is breathtaking and the opportunity to witness first-hand the artistry of nature.
Another weird geographical phenomenon of Baratang is its mud volcanoes, which are found here and nowhere else in India. The volcanic formations arise because of the action of underground gases that push mud upwards to form a cone-shaped structure. Though not visually exciting, these craters are small and percolating with mud. It is a source of rare geological interest and offers an excellent perspective on the island's natural evolution.
From Baratang, Parrot Island lies a short boat ride away and is known for its dynamic avifauna. At dusk, thousands of parrots come back to nest in this green, uninhabited island. The sight and sound of the parrots reaching their home for the night with an awesome backdrop of a sunset make an unmemorable experience for the bird watchers.
For those in search of solitude, Baludera Beach is a concealed haven. With its temiz golden sand and tranquil waters, it's the perfect spot for a swim or to laze around. The beach remains pretty untouched by tourism, offering a peaceful retreat away from the crowds.
Reaching Baratang Island requires a combination of road and ferry travel. The most common route to reach Baratang from Port Blair is by road. Distance is approximately 100 kilometers and takes about 3 to 3.5 hours. You can take private vehicles or government buses for the journey. Note that the road to Baratang passes through a tribal reserve where the speed restrictions are in place, related to the safety of both travelers and the indigenous tribes.
In fact, by the time you reach Jirkatang Check Post, take a vehicle ferry at Nilambur Jetty to cross over to Baratang Island. The ferry will accommodate vehicles along with passengers, so the crossing is pretty simple.