Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep)

Overview

Neil — officially Shaheed Dweep since 2018 — is the small, flat, agricultural island just south of Havelock. It has three well-known beaches, a coral rock arch that everyone photographs, a single market street, and a pace of life that makes Havelock feel busy. People come for a night or two to swim, cycle between the beaches, eat fish thali and watch the sunset. If Havelock is the “do things” island, Neil is the “do nothing” island — and that’s the appeal.

The island is a patchwork of paddy, banana and vegetable fields (it grows much of the fresh produce for Havelock and Port Blair), fringed by beaches on three sides. Villages are named after characters from the Ramayana: Bharatpur, Laxmanpur, Sitapur, Ramnagar.

Getting there

Private ferries (Makruzz, Nautika, Green Ocean, Sealink) connect Neil with both Port Blair and Havelock daily; the Havelock–Neil hop is about an hour, Port Blair–Neil around 1.5–2 hours. The government ferry also calls at Neil. Most itineraries do Port Blair → Havelock → Neil → Port Blair, which puts Neil at the relaxed end of the trip. Ferries arrive at Bharatpur Jetty, right beside Bharatpur Beach and a short walk from the market.

Getting around

Everything is within a few kilometres. Bicycles (₹100–200/day) are the classic way to explore; scooters and autos are available at the jetty. Roads are quiet and mostly flat — the ride from the jetty to Laxmanpur takes 15–20 minutes, to Sitapur about 25.

Beaches and things to do

• Bharatpur Beach — beside the jetty; the swimming, snorkelling and glass-bottom-boat beach.
• Laxmanpur Beach — Laxmanpur 1 for sunset on a long white beach; Laxmanpur 2 for the Natural Bridge (Howrah Bridge) rock arch and tide pools at low tide.
• Sitapur Beach — the sunrise beach on the eastern tip; open sea, bigger waves.
• Snorkelling off Bharatpur and around the Natural Bridge at low tide (look, don’t stand).
• Scuba — one or two dive centres run trips to Neil’s reefs, which are quieter than Havelock’s.
• The market — a single street near the jetty with fish stalls, sweet shops and a few restaurants; good for a cheap thali and a look at island life.

Where to stay

Most resorts sit between Bharatpur and Laxmanpur, with a cluster of budget huts near the jetty and a few upmarket options behind Laxmanpur and Sitapur. There is far less choice than Havelock; book ahead in season.

Practical notes

• Cash: there’s an ATM near the market but it’s unreliable; bring enough cash from Port Blair. UPI works when the network does.
• Network: BSNL is best; others are patchy. Expect slow data.
• Tides matter here. The Natural Bridge is only accessible around low tide, and Bharatpur’s swimming zone shrinks at high tide. Ask your hotel for the tide time on arrival and plan the day around it.
• Sun: there’s little shade on the beaches. Carry water and a hat.
• Wildlife: don’t collect shells or coral, and give the sea snakes and moray eels in the tide pools space.

Nearby

Havelock is an hour north; Ross Island and North Bay are Port Blair day trips.