South Sentinel Island

South Sentinel Island, a popular part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is 1600 m in length and approximately 950 m in width. As compared to North Sentinel Island, it is smaller, yet many people visit this place owing to its picturesque location and tranquil atmosphere.

The island is located 26.5 kilometre to the northwest of Andaman Island. The island is considered to be forested coral reef. Infact as per a journal, it is known that this island raises itself every year where the corals surround it, making it appear very beautiful. This island is inhabited however people who love diving, visit this island and put their temporary settlements here. The island is remote and novel while has an unmanned lighthouse with no much proper facilities.

Ferry

Ferry services are available from Andaman and Nicobar Islands. These ferries are run and operated by Government of Andaman and Nicobar Island. They are very punctual and run on their set timings. The ferries start at 9 am and 4:30 pm while reach the island at 11:30 am and 6:30 pm respectively. The travel time is 2:30 hours. One needs to be patient and adventurous to take up the ferry trip.

Accommodation

South Sentinel Island doesn’t have proper accommodation facilities. However there are numerous staying options nearby at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. There are different kinds of accommodation facilities which one can find in Andaman Islands. From resorts to standard hotels, these facilities offer different kinds of amenities which help you take back lifetime experience.

There are bunch of hotels – premium, budgeted and luxury ones from which you can pick any. Besides these hotels, there are government and private lodges too. Popular hotels around South Sentinel Island are:

• Blue Sea Hotel
• Blue Planet
• Andaman Residency
• Holiday Inn Bay Resort
• Dew Dale Resort
• Eco Villa Palm Beach Resort
• Da Bay Inn

All of these hotels offer splendid view of the island and the sea. 

  Events / Festivals in South Sentinel Island

South Sentinel Island is un-inhabited and therefore has no fair or festival being held there. However if you are visiting this island, then you can visit the Andaman Islands and be an active participant to destination’s festivals and occasions. People here have a different way to celebrate their events. These festivals bring the people more close to each other.

Some festivals celebrated here are Janamashtmi, Christmas, Dipawali, Durga Puja and Holi, besides Pongal and Onam. The most popular is the Island Tourism Festival which is a mega event here. Children from different schools are seen participating in this event.

Places to Visit in South Sentinel Island

South Sentinel Island is a lonely island which doesn’t have much to explore. However there is a wildlife sanctuary which people must visit, if they are on trip to this island. Some other nearby attractions include:

• Ross and Smith Islands
• Cellular Jail
• Jolly Buoy Island
• Anthropological Museum
• North Bay Island
• Samudrika Marine Museum

There are numerous beaches which are unsoiled and untouched. One must visit these beaches to experience tranquillity and peace.

Climate of South Sentinel Island

The climate of South Sentinel Island is tropical one. The weather is humid with no winter season at all. Approximately 180 days of 365 days, the place experiences rainfall. The monsoon first touches the soil of Andaman and its islets before coming to India.

• Summer Season – January to April
• Monsson – May to December
• Humidity Level – 70 to 90 percent
• Yearly Rainfall – 3000 mm

The weather here is warm and pleasant due to sea breeze.

Best Time to Visit South Sentinel Island

The perfect time to visit South Sentinel Island is from November to April when the climate is ideal and pleasant for the tourists to visit and explore the island.

How to Reach South Sentinel Island

The South Sentinel Island is accessible in two ways only – either by sea or by air. The flights are much faster and convenient when compared to ships. The ships are economical and take 3-4 days to reach the islands. There are no luxury facilities offered on the ship however the basic ones are always offered.  

The ships are available from Visakhapatnam, Kolkata and Port Blair. The booking for your seat in ship can be done online.

Veer Savarkar International Airport based in Port Blair is the only airport here. All the flights here operate before noon, since post this the visibility is an issue. Flights can be taken from Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Chennai and New Delhi. You can also use foreign charter post taking required permission. The flight takes 2.5 hours to reach the destination.