Visitor Information
- Famous For: Eco-Tourism, Experience seekers, Boating, Relaxing
- Entrance Fee: No available entry fee. Boating fees are applicable separately in accordance to the number of people availing the service. It costs INR 100 to travel to and from the Limestone Caves.
- Visiting Time: Open throughout the day around the year; however, it is advisable to avoid the Limestone Caves at night as there can be chances of unwanted mischief.
- Visit Duration: Approximately two to three hours. The duration of the journey may however vary with the availability of boats and crowd gathering. If you want to explore little further, it might take longer than the usual time.
The Limestone Caves is one of the most visited destinations in Baratang Island. The journey to these beautiful caves is truly one for the experience seekers. One has to make their way through the undisturbed tribal reserves. Located at a distance of 90 km from Port Blair, the blooming capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Kalapathar Limestone Caves are naturally occurring caves made out of limestone structures. Travelers are welcomed to the sight of sun-basking crocodiles resting in the extensive mangroves. Baratang tourism states the Kalapathar Limestone Caves as one of the major tourist attractions that garner more than thousand tourists every year. The place was however one of the worst hit due to the Tsunami (a natural disaster that struck several parts of India).
Traveler Tips
- Try to visit in the daytime as the caves are dimly lit being natural caves and are best avoided at night.
- Try to go in groups as venturing alone into the caves may not be a bright idea.
- If one wants to enjoy solitude amidst the calmness of the ocean, the Kalapathar Limestone Caves have a private beach which is almost uninhabited. So, you can sit here, relax and enjoy the breathtaking site that falls upon you.
- Avoid littering the caves for obvious reasons.
- Do not put your hands into the water while on the boat journey towards the caves.
- Book the tourists huts and cottages beforehand to avoid chaos and hassles.
- Ensure the children are seated properly in the boats or else it may topple.
- Before setting out on a journey to the Caves ensure you have water and the other required necessities upon you.
Things to Do
- Sightseeing inside the caves and enjoying the entire span of the journey from Port Blair to the Limestone Caves is enticing and experience seeking, to say the least. One will be treated through the tribal reserves, beautiful in its own rights. The boating experience through the mangroves on sea water is also exciting.
- The structure and build of the caves is a matter of fascination to geology lovers and as they get to closely examine the same.
Availability of Guides
At Kalapathar Limestone Caves, one can avail a local guide who guide the tourists across the entire expanse to avoid mishaps that may occur. The Caves and its surrounding areas have certain protocols which need to be followed and the guides help the travelers with the same. There are no mentions of availability of special guides for tourists.
Best Time to Visit
December to March is declared as the peak season for this tourist destination. During this time, when the climate is moderately pleasant, the tourists pour in and one can see a huge number of tourists flocking to the Kalapathar Limestone Caves. The monsoon season sees lesser tourists owing to the fear of high tidal waves. Thus, July-September is usually the off-season. However, if one loves the stormy view of seas, the monsoon is the best time to visit the Caves.
How to Reach
The best way to reach the Kalapathar Limestone Caves is via Port Blair. The journey to the Caves is divided into phases. One can travel via buses from Port Blair to Baratang Islands. This bus journey has two stops. First one has to travel via bus to Jirkatang from Port Blair. The next stop is at Baratang Island from Jirkatang. Then one has to avail a boat at the Nilambur Jetty at Baratang Islands to reach the Limestone Caves.
Interesting Facts and Trivia about the Kalapathar Limestone Caves
- The Kalapathar Limestone Caves have private and government guest houses and huts around it for tired travelers.
- The Caves have a single entry and exit point making it difficult for a lot of people to enter at the same time.
- There are refreshment huts near the Kalapathar Limestone Caves which provide snacks, coconut juices, cucumbers among other things to the travelers.
- The journey to the Caves takes one through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve.
Nearby Attractions
- Mud Volcano
- Parrot Island
- Hut Bay town
- Baludera Beach
- Ross Island
- North Bay Island Andaman
- Wandoor Beach
- Cellular Jail
Nearby Restaurants
- R. Restaurant
- Jetty Hotel
- Nandini Restaurant
- Island Restaurant
- Gharami Restaurant
- Icy Spicy
- Gagan Restaurant
Baratang Islands is one of the under-rated tourism destinations in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This archipelago houses the Kalapathar Limestone Caves, which should be a must-visit upon your tour in the region. It can most definitely prove to be the calming respite you were seeking from the daily monotony.
