Andaman’s Day 4: Havelock Island

Andaman’s: Day 1 - Day 2 - Day 3 - Day 4 - Day 5 - Day 6 - Day 7 - Day 8 - Day 9

Our plan for the day was very simple. Reach the point where the trek to Elephant Beach starts. Cover the two kilometers to Elephant Beach on foot. Return back before dark. There was a small matter of rain that was easing in and out but with our raincoats and helmets we were mostly safe or so we thought. We parked our two-wheeler at a designated parking lot.

Muddy trek to Elephant Beach

The first leg of our trek to Elephant Beach was easy. We reached a bridge all smiling. There was family standing there. They told us the route is muddled due to rain. They were returning. We laughed at them and continued. Within a hundred meters the muddy stretch started. Initially it was alternating between slippery and dry. Soon the slippery became continuous and the mud became ankle deep.

We move on

We were confused now - should we continue or return? A local we met on the way told us he works at the beach and will help us. Our confidence returned. We continued. By the time we were halfway we realised we were in a soup. The descent to the beach had started and the combination of slippery and slope was deadly. We got more and more apprehensive with every step.

Floaters were not ideal for the day

We found a stretch that was stepped with rocks and dry. That helped us cover most of the last leg faster but by the time we reach the sea level we were clear - we are not coming this was back. The last shallow leg had crabs in ankle deep sea water. We hit the beach. It was beautiful and crowded. The crowd was mostly coming through the ferry that operates from Haveock Jetty. When we enquired the fee for return via ferry we were told it’s not possible.

Finally we hit the seafront

Ferries are booked for entire trip which includes return journey. One ferry agreed at an exorbitant price of 10000 and wanted us to go immediately so that he gets back in time for his scheduled return trip. We declined and went for snorkeling. The sea bed was rich with flora and fauna.

Corals and fishes while snorkeling

It was time to take a decision - 10000 or risk of returning the way we came. To our own disbelief, we decided to retrace our steps. The return leg was worse because a good number of people had walked over the muddy track. It was thrilling yet terrible. Somehow we reached back to where our two-wheelers were parked.

We return the way we came

It was an adventure to rememer that could very well have been a nightmare had we not made it without injury. To top it all, my smartphone got wet on the trek and by  the next day it was not working. Thanks to the quick return we had time to go for a more predictable experience at Radhanagar Beach again.

Sunset @ Radhanagar Beach

This time we were at Radhanagar Beach in the evening. The day was less warm and the sun was going to set in an hour right in front of us. It was a magical experience that we would have missed had we not come this way again. We saw the sunset while we were in water and came out only when it looked like it will get dark.