Baratang Island, is gifted with many natural wonders. It is one of the perfect places to visit for an adventure junkie with lots of love for nature. It has many things mashed in together like mangrove forests, limestone caves, mud volcanoes, beautiful creeks and pristine beaches. There is just so much to explore that you will not have enough time and energy to do so. It is one of lesser visited tourist spots because of its accessibility hindrances. The island gives you the opportunity to travel the offbeat path and discover the wild virgin beauty of nature.
This place is worth visiting, and should definitely be on the top of your list. So, let’s see the different places that you can check out at Baratang.
1. Limestone Caves
Visitor Information
- Famous for: Natural occurring, Limestones, Caves.
- Tickets: Boat ride charge to reach here.
- Opening Timings: Open all days from 8am to 5pm and prior permission required from the forest department.
- Duration: 2 hours.
About Limestone Caves
A little dark when you enter but as you shine your flashlight at it, you will stand in awe. You will be wonderstruck when you see the amazing natural limestone formations. The entire cave has been formed by centuries of constant erosion by CO2 dissolved water. It is really amazing to see all these limestone structures dangling off the roof and growing from the ground up. Nature has done a fine job here as the limestone has slowly formed into some intricate and interesting shapes. The formations keep changing over the years as more erosion takes place. It is advised to wear a good set of shoes for comfort as the caves are not an easy place to reach and require a lot of legwork. So, if you are one of those lazing on the beach type people then probably you should skip this one.
Things to Do at Limestones Caves:
- Trekking.
- Enjoy the path here through Mangrove Forests.
2. Mud Volcano
Visitor Information
- Famous for: Nature, Volcanoes, Geology.
- Tickets: No entry fee.
- Opening Timings: Open all days.
- Duration: 45mins.
About Mud Volcano
When you hear volcano, all that one can imagine is lava spewing out from the crater and lots of raging fire. Well this is one of its calmer and quieter versions. Mud volcano are basically formed by the ejection of geo-excreted gases and liquids. A major portion of the gases released is methane, but gases like carbon dioxide and nitrogen are also released. Mostly these mud volcanoes spew out everything in a semi-solid state. At first sight it might look very gooey and not worth your time. But look again, it is one of mother Earth’s natural wonders. Very few places in the world can boast of the mud volcano. In fact, the one at Baratang is the only known mud volcano in the entire South-Asia region. So, don’t just cast it away. It is one of the most amazing natural wonders in India.
Things to Do near Mud Volcano:
- Hiking.
- Jet Ski.
3. Parrot Island
- Famous for: Birds, Nature, Parrots.
- Tickets: No entry fee.
- Opening Timings: Open all days till sunset.
- Duration: 45 mins.
About Parrot Island
Baratang Island is a paradise for bird watchers. It has many different kinds of birds flocking together. They truly render you speechless when you see their sheer brilliance and numbers. It just seems to be a place not from anywhere here. The most beautiful sight at Parrot Island is during dusk. When the sun is about to set, you can see flocks of parrots and parakeets just crowding in the orange skies. It is a humbling view when you see the sky filling up with the birds, squawking in unison and is a very beautiful thing to watch. This sight should not be missed if you are planning an overnight stay. It almost seems unreal when you get a glimpse of it! The hue of blue and green against the stark crimson background is a magical moment to witness. Believe me you definitely want to stay for this.
Things to Do at Parrot Island:
- Boat rides.
- Birdwatching.
- See the Mangrove forests here.
4. Baludera Beach
- Famous for: Beaches, Serenity, Nature.
- Tickets: No entry fee.
- Opening Timings: Open all days.
- Duration: 2.5 hours.
About Baludera Beach
Baludera Beach is an isolated beach and is definately one of the most beautiful beaches in Andaman. It’s isolation has preserved its pristine beauty and it is perfect for anyone who wants to escape the maddening crowds of tourists. It has a low tide and therefore is comparatively more safer, though precautions while swimming still should be taken.
Things to Do at Baludera Beach:
- Beachcombing.
- Elephant rides.
- Stay at the resorts nearby.
Baratang Island has a lot to offer and is one of the most beautiful vacation spots in the Andamans. You will definitely enjoy every single moment that you spend there. So, the next time you plan on visiting Andamans, make it a point to visit this nature’s plethora.
