Mahatma Gandhi marine national Park, Andaman island

  Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park (Wandoor National Park)

Islands, rocks, mangrove forest, lagoons, sandy beaches and creeks! Welcome to the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park in Andaman. National parks are not just about the tigers, lions, elephants and other  four footed animals . This park was set up to conserve the beautiful marine life including corals, fishes , salt water crocodiles and nesting sea turtles. It is one of the six marine national parks of India.

This national park comprises of 2 major island groups, namely the Labyrinth Islands and the Twin Islands. The park is made up of 15 islands and is a hotspot for marine life. Actually , let me not call it a hotspot, since post Covid-19, this word means something else to the world. Coming back to my point, if you want to see these exotic marine creatures, Mahatma Gandhi Marine national park should be in your list.

Apart from the marine life, more than 270 species of birds call this place home . Take out your binoculars and notebooks to see and make a note of birds like white bellied sea eagle, Andaman teal, parakeets, heron, swift  etc.  This national park is a no plastic , no garbage zone, too little asked for such an exotic experience ! If you are planning to travel to Andaman , this national park has to be a part of your itinerary.

Let’s look at the top things to do in Mahatma Gandhi marine national park

Explore the marine life

The national park boasts of a rich marine life which includes variety of coral reefs, colourful fishes, molluscs, shells, starfish, turtles, salt-water crocodile and more. So get on a glass bottom boat and soak in the beauty.

Visit the turtle breeding centre

It is quite a sight to watch the turtle hatchlings walking slowly to the water. The turtle are an endangered species in India. This breeding centre was set up to improve their numbers and also help the injured turtles to recover soon. A lot of turtles get trapped in the fishing nets and get injured.

Enjoy a boat ride

Wear your life jackets and get on a banana boat. These boats are attached to a speed boat to gather speed and it is a good experience.

Birding at Jolly Buoy island

Head to the Jolly Buoy Island and meet the local and migratory birds.

Snorkelling

Get close to the beautiful fishes and coral reefs in the underwater world. The snorkelling gears are available on rent and the guide will train you before you jump into the sea.

Scuba Diving

This place is a good option for scuba diving. Since there aren’t any predatory fishes near the beaches and coral reefs, it is happens to be very safe.  if you are trying it for the first time you will be trained, certified and accompanied by a guide for scuba diving.

Best time to visit Mahatma Gandhi marine national park

October to March is a good time to explore the national park. The weather is also very pleasant during this time.  The park timings are from 9 AM to 3 PM. Try to avoid the monsoon season, that is fFrom June to August.  All the tourist activities are closed during monsoons.

How to reach Mahatma Gandhi marine national park?

The national park is a half an hour drive, approximately 29 kilometres, from Port Blair city. You can fly into Port Blair airport via  Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata.

For more such wildlife experiences, please read about some of the wildlife experiences in India .

In case you are keen on traveling to Mahatma Gandhi marine national park, you could take a look at the Andaman itinerary. You can cover the national park as a part of this itinerary. Write to us and we will be happy to customize your Andaman experience with a trip to this marine national park .

In case you are a nature lover, check out the natural wonders of India.

India is not just about wildlife. There are many more facets to this ancient land – culture, mystery, history, nature, mystery and so on. Read more about how the different facets of India travel are celebrated.