Havelock Island


Havelock Island, officially known as Swaraj Dweep, 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. The island is northeast of the capital city, Port Blair.

Etymology

Havelock Island was previously named after a British general, Sir Henry Havelock, who served in India.
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.

History

Swaraj Dweep 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.
Swaraj Dweep 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.

Geography

The island belongs to the Ritchie's Archipelago and is located between Peel Island and Neil Island.

Administration

Politically, Swaraj Dweep is part of Port Blair taluk.

Demographics

The island's population of 6,351 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 1,099
  • Shyam Nagar 856
  • Krishna Nagar 719
  • Radha Nagar 637
  • Road between Shyam Nagar and Krishna Nagar 100

    Beaches

Radhanagar Beach on the western coast, also known as Number 7 Beach, is one of the most popular beaches on Swaraj Dweep and was named "Best Beach in Asia" by Time in 2004. Radhanagar beach also bagged the prestigious blue flag certification in 2020. 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, Beach No. 3 and Beach No. 1 on the east coast. Kalapathar is another famous beach.
To reach Elephant beach one needs to take a boat from Swaraj Dweep jetty. Another way to reach Elephant beach is via trekking. The major 3 beaches at Swaraj Dweep are namely Radhanagar Beach, Elephant Beach and Kalapathar beach.

Transportation

The island can be reached from Port Blair by government-operated ferries and private cruises. There are also helicopter services. There are 2-3 government operating ferries in a day.
A local bus connects the jetty and villages on an hourly circuit. Private ferries that sail to Swaraj Dweep are Makruzz, Green Ocean, Nautika, Nautika Lite and ITT Majestic these cruises have different sailing time and schedule from Port Blair to Swaraj Dweep and from Neil Island to Swaraj Dweep. The ferry sailing to Swaraj Dweep is subject to weather conditions.
Travelers typically take the ferry service from Port Blair to Swaraj Dweep, Swaraj Dweep to Neil Island and Neil Island to Port Blair