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Barren Island Wildlife Sanctuary is popular due to its rustic charm and unique ecosystem, which is developed by the volcanic activities here. It is the only active volcano in South Asia. This place is an uninhabited area whose underwater landscapes include caves and huge drops that go up to 100 metres. It has an incredibly diverse marine life and offers ideal spots to indulge in underwater explorations. This wildlife sanctuary is home to sea birds and unique animals like flying foxes, rats, goat species, and more, that can be easily spotted by tourists.
Things To Do In Barren Island Wildlife Sanctuary
1. Scuba Diving and Snorkelling
Photo: Clotho / Wikimedia Commons
Barren Island Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the best Andaman national parks. Here, you can indulge in an array of water activities including scuba diving and snorkelling. Many ideal diving spots near this sanctuary have crystal-clear waters and an abundance of marine life. Experienced divers can dive deep into the azure waters to spot sharks and explore the hidden treasures of this island. The fascinating underwater world has vibrant coral gardens and a variety of fishes including tuna, snappers, barracudas, and more. If you are lucky, you can also spot the majestic manta rays while snorkelling or diving.
Suggested Read: Scuba Diving In Andaman Islands
2. Fishing
The sparkling water of this place is rich in minerals. These mineral-rich blue lagoons are home to a variety of fish species. The tourist guides can take you to the ideal spots where a lot of fish can be spotted. You can spot a myriad of fishes or even catch one of them including the black marlins, blue marlins, Tuna fish — both yellow and dogtooth varieties, Sailfish and Dorado. Fishing is an exciting activity to do in the waters surrounding this wildlife sanctuary.
3. Wildlife Spotting
Photo: shankar s. / Wikimedia Commons
The dense forests of this sanctuary are suffused with exotic flora and fauna. The boat is taken close to the sanctuary from where the tourists can easily spot the animals like wild goats, bats, rodents, and birds. Marine life is abundant here. You can spot giant clams, sharks, manta rays, sea kraits, schooling fish, and a variety of whales and dolphins. You can watch open-sea birds like white-bellied sea eagles, black-naped terns, parakeets, pigeons, fruit bats, and more. Keep your cameras handy to capture these majestic creatures. This sanctuary is one of the top national parks in Andamans.
Suggested Read: Wildlife Sanctuaries In Andaman And Nicobar
Location Of Barren Island Wildlife Sanctuary
Photo: Aaron Burden / Unsplash
The sanctuary is located on the circular Barren Island, which is 130 km away from Port Blair and 70 km to the east of the Andaman Islands. It is a part of the volcanic belt between the Indian and Burmese tectonic plates.
How To Reach Barren Island Wildlife Sanctuary
Photo: Methenayak / Wikimedia Commons
The best way to reach this place is via charter boats from Port Blair or Havelock Island. There are private and government-run ferries that can take you to this place. The ferry services from Phoenix Bay Jetty (Port Blair) run thrice a week — Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Suggested Read: Things To Do In Andaman
Best Time To Visit Barren Island Wildlife Sanctuary
Photo: Ries Bosch / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
The best time to visit this sanctuary is from October to April. The weather is pleasant around these months and is also ideal for tourists to explore this place and indulge in underwater activities.
Where To Stay
Photo: katie manning / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
Tourists can have a comfortable stay at Havelock Island or Port Blair, after a day’s trip to this wildlife sanctuary. Some of the best accommodations here are – Welcomhotel by ITC, Sinclairs Bayview, Lemon Tree Hotel, Island Cliff, Green Valley Resort, Orient Legend Resort, and many more. They offer great hospitality, hygiene, and comfort to tourists.
Suggested Read: Little Andaman Island
Where To Eat
Photo: wu yi / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
Some of the amazing itineraries here include New Lighthouse Restaurant, Seafood Delights Andaman, Ruchi Restaurant, Excel Restaurant, Bonova Cafe and Pub, Full Moon Cafe, and more. They offer multi-cuisines as well as local food.
Other Factors To Consider
Photo: Brett Jordan / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only
Average Cost Of The Trip
Tourists may have to spend ₹1,30,000 to ₹1,50,000 to visit this place. There are full-fledged packages available that include taking the tourists to the spot and getting them back. Water activities are also included in this package. The permit cost is separate but is not very high.
Tips For Travelers
- Wear a hat and sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun’s rays.
- Do not board the ferry without obtaining a permit.
- Wear comfortable clothes and footwear.
- Carry extra clothes if you wish to indulge in water activities.
- Carry a good camera to capture the exotic wildlife of this place.
Suggested Read: Adventure Sports In Andaman
Barren Island Wildlife Sanctuary is well-known for its unique biodiversity and underwater coral gardens. It is an uninhabited place that is clean and untouched. Nature plays its charm in this place and tourists can witness this beauty from a boat or ferry. The volcanic impact of this place has impacted the formation of underwater ridges and coral formations. If you want to see nature at its best then plan a trip with TripXL and visit this amazing wildlife sanctuary to have a tryst with nature.
Cover Photo: Natalie11345 / Shutterstock
