| Swaraj Dweep | |
|---|---|
 A view of a beach in Havelock Island | |
  Havelock Island Location of Havelock Island | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Bay of Bengal |
| Coordinates | 11°58′N 93°00′E / 11.96°N 93.00°E |
| Archipelago | Andaman Islands |
| Adjacent bodies of water | Indian Ocean |
| Total islands | 1 |
| Major islands |
|
| Area | 92.2 km2 (35.6 sq mi) |
| Length | 18 km (11.2 mi) |
| Width | 8 km (5 mi) |
| Coastline | 58.5 km (36.35 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 167 m (548 ft) |
| Highest point | Yulutang |
| Administration | |
| District | South Andaman |
| Island group | Andaman Islands |
| Island sub-group | Ritchie's Archipelago |
| Tehsil | Ritchie's Archipelago Tehsil |
| Largest settlement | Govinda Nagar |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 6,351[citation needed] (2011) |
| Pop. density | 68.5/km2 (177.4/sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | Bengali |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
| PIN | 744211[1] |
| Telephone code | 031928[2] |
| Official website | www |
| Literacy | 84.4% |
| Avg. summer temperature | 30.2 °C (86.4 °F) |
| Avg. winter temperature | 23.0 °C (73.4 °F) |
| Sex ratio | 1.2♂/♀ |
| Census code | 35.639.0004 |
| Official languages | Bengali, Hindi, English |
Havelock Island, officially known as Swaraj Dweep (transl. Independence Island),[3] is one of the largest islands in Ritchie's Archipelago, to the east of Great Andaman within the Andaman Islands. It belongs to the South Andaman administrative district, part of the Indian union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.[4] The island is 41 km (25 mi) northeast of the capital city, Port Blair.
Etymology[edit | edit source]
Havelock Island was previously named after a British general, Sir Henry Havelock, who served in India.[5]
In December 2018, it was renamed, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as Swaraj Dweep as a tribute to Subhas Chandra Bose. Bose had hoisted the Indian flag at Port Blair on 30 December 1943 and proclaimed the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as liberated from British rule. He had subsequently named Neil Island as Shaheed Dweep and Ross Island was renamed as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep as well.[6]
History[edit | edit source]
Havelock Island is one of the few places that the administration of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands union territory of India has permitted and encouraged development of tourism, with a focus on promoting eco-tourism.
Havelock Island avoided much of the devastation by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and its resulting tsunami and there were no documented casualties.
There is a lighthouse at the northern point of the island, near Govinda Nagar, established in the year 2005. [7]
Geography[edit | edit source]
The island belongs to the Ritchie's Archipelago and is located between Peel Island and Neil Island.
Administration[edit | edit source]
Politically, Havelock Island is part of Port Blair taluk.[8]
Demographics[edit | edit source]
The island's population of 6,351 (as of 2011)[citation needed] consists of mainly Bengali settlers. Many of these settlers have East Bengali origin as these people were given settlement by the Indian government after the Partition of India in 1947.
The six villages are:
- Govinda Nagar 2,940
- Vejoy Nagar (inc. Kalapathar) 1,099
- Shyam Nagar 856
- Krishna Nagar 719
- Radha Nagar 637
- Road between Shyam Nagar and Krishna Nagar 100[9]
Beaches[edit | edit source]
Radhanagar Beach on the western coast, also known as Number 7 Beach, is one of the most popular beaches on Havelock Island and was named "Best Beach in Asia" by Time in 2004.[10] Radhanagar beach also bagged the prestigious blue flag certification in 2020.[11] A Blue Flag beach is an eco-tourism model endeavouring to provide the tourists or beachgoers clean and hygienic bathing water, facilities, safe and healthy environment. Other notable beaches include Elephant Beach on the northwest coast and Vijay Nagar Beach (No. 5), Beach No. 3 and Beach No. 1 on the east coast. Kalapathar is another famous beach.[12]
To reach Elephant beach one needs to take a boat from Havelock Island jetty. Another way to reach Elephant beach is via trekking. The major 3 beaches at Havelock Island are namely Radhanagar Beach, Elephant Beach and Kalapathar beach.[13][14]
Transportation[edit | edit source]
The island can be reached from Port Blair by government-operated ferries and private cruises.[15] There are also helicopter services.[16] There are 2-3 government operating ferries in a day.
A local bus connects the jetty and villages on an hourly circuit.[17] Private ferries that sail to Havelock Island are Makruzz, Green Ocean, Nautika, Nautika Lite and ITT Majestic these cruises have different sailing time and schedule[18] from Port Blair to Havelock Island and from Neil Island to Havelock Island. The ferry sailing to Havelock Island is subject to weather conditions.[19]
Travelers typically take the ferry service from Port Blair to Havelock Island, Havelock Island to Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) and Neil Island to Port Blair[20]
Gallery[edit | edit source]
-
Mangrove trees, East side -
Trees on the beach, East side -
Canopy of tropical rainforest -
Sunset on the beach -
Radha Nagar Beach, Havelock Island -
Radha Nagar Beach sunset view -
Elephant Beach, Havelock Island -
Kalapathar Beach -
Prominent horticulture produce of Havelock -
Coral reef Elephant Beach -
Coral reef Elephant Beach -
Havelock Light House
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "A&N Islands - Pincodes". 22 September 2016. Archived from the original on 23 March 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
- ↑ "STD Codes of Andaman and Nicobar". allcodesindia.in. Archived from the original on 17 October 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ↑ "'Bose, Shaheed and Swaraj,' PM gives new names to 3 Andaman islands". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 30 December 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
- ↑ "Village Code Directory: Andaman & Nicobar Islands" (PDF). Census of India. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
- ↑ Llewellyn-Jones, Rosie (2007). The Great Uprising in India, 1857-58: Untold Stories, Indian and British. Boydell & Brewer. p. 168. ISBN 978-1-84383-304-8.
- ↑ Ananya Bhardwaj (25 December 2018). "Andaman's most-visited islands to be renamed during PM Modi visit". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
- ↑ "Narcondam Island". Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
[1] - ↑ "DEMOGRAPHIC – A&N ISLANDS" (PDF). andssw1.and.nic.in. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ↑ Map
- ↑ "TIMEasia Magazine: Best of Asia - Best Beaches You Can Get to". Archived from the original on 23 January 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
- ↑ Kumar, Ravi Prakash (15 October 2020). "8 Indian beaches get prestigious Blue Flag certification. Check list here". mint. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ↑ beaches map
- CNN - ↑ "Havelock Island Tourism - Detailed Travel Guide 2021 with Photos". www.experienceandamans.com. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- ↑ Sarkar, Ajay. "Top Must Do Attractions in Havelock Island". Blue Andaman Tour.
- ↑ A & N Administration. "Ferry Program for Neil, Havelock & Rangat". Archived from the original on 20 May 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
- ↑ A & N Administration. "Helicopter Inter Island Schedule". Archived from the original on 20 May 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
- ↑ bus
- ↑ Travel, RSR Tours & (9 April 2023). "Private Ferry Schedule in Andaman Islands". RSR Tours and Travel. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ↑ "Ferry and Cruise Booking and Timing in Andaman in 2021". www.experienceandamans.com. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- ↑ "Port Blair to Havelock Ferry".
External links[edit | edit source]
- Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) at Andaman & Nicobar Tourism website