Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park

History 

The Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is located in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, surrounded by ocean. It was established in the year 1983 by Government of India, and the administration of the Union Territory. The park is located in the southern region of the islands, only 30 km away from the capital city, Port Blair. 

Flora, fauna, land and water-bodies of Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park are protected under Wildlife Act of 1972. Since its opening in 1983, the Park has attracted several tourists from various parts of India. Even foreign wildlife enthusiasts have been regular visitors at the Park. 

A striking uniqueness of the Park is its location, in the Andaman Islands, away from the mainland India. The rich spectrum of flora and fauna species of the Park is integral to its mystic beauty. Reaching the Park through waterways is an adventure itself. Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park holds a special position on the vibrant map of Indian National Parks. 

Useful Information

Total area – 281.5 sq km 

Elevation range – Sea level 

Latitude – 11.53°N 

Longitude – 92.60°E

Nearby hills – Chidiya Tapu 

Avg. annual rainfall – In excess of 2300 mm 

Flora of Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park

The two principal islands of the Park are Labyrinth Islands and Twin Islands. Both of these islands have a rich cover of mangroves, smaller plants, bushes and herbs, which you would witness availing Mahatma Gandhi Marine sightseeing packages. The thick vegetation has an added beauty with marine waters in the backdrop. Open spaces in the Park are dotted by different varieties of creepers and shrubs. 

The soil on which the vegetations grow is rich in humus. The coastal areas of the Park have sand, clay and rich diluvial materials. Tropical evergreen forests of the Park are lush green and dense, becoming thicker during the monsoons. The flora species in the Park are aplenty. 

You could find huge varieties of orchids in the Park, spread in most of its regions. There are also bamboo and cane plants in the long list of flora. The region boasts of several endemic species of plants. A unique tree found in the Park is Andaman bullet wood.

Fauna of Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park

Speaking about the faunal species at Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, its primary characteristic is presence of several fish species. You would enjoy watching Angelfish and Butterfly fish in the coastal precincts when you avail Mahatma Gandhi Marine adventure packages. The coastal waters of the Park have ‘White tip’ sharks, but there is nothing to as they dwell in shallow waters. 

If you love to explore exotic faunas such as Feather Star, Trochus and Sponges, this is the most suitable place for you. Specific areas of the Park have Giant Clam Shell, too. 

The list of fauna found in Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is long, and has an exciting range of avian species in it. For example, you could watch the rare ‘White-bellied’ sea eagle here. There are also parakeets and doves. 

The Park is an abode to numerous reptile species, too, such as vipers, kraits and cobras. 

Land mammals like wild pigs, fruit bats and civets could be commonly spotted availing Mahatma Gandhi Marine wildlife packages on an extensive exploration of the Park. 

Arguably the main attraction of Mahatma Gandhi Marina National Park is the astonishingly beautiful coral reefs it displays at particular regions. In fact, many tourists visit the Park to get glimpses of the lovely coral reefs in the Park. The dazzling colors of the corals such as Acropora and Leptoseries are truly intriguing. Corals like Montipora and Gorgonians are fascinatingly beautiful, too. 

Climate 

The forests of Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park have a climate typical of tropical forests in other parts of the country. In autumn, winter and spring seasons, which span from October to February, days are usually pleasant. You could feel a cool marine breeze blowing softly. At times, the weather could become rough, but it is not common. Temperatures remain in low twenties (in degree Celsius). Nights during the period are mildly cold. 

Summer season in the Park begins from March and extends till end of May. Days are generally hot, sunny and very humid. The moisture level in the air rises significantly. Due to its marine location, summer evenings are more or less cool. You could feel a comforting breeze after sunset exploring the Park availing Mahatma Gandhi Marine holiday packages. 

The monsoon begins from June and lasts till the end of August. Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park receives a huge amount of rainfall each year. The Park remains completely closed in the monsoon months. As a tourist, you are not allowed to visit in June, July and August. It reopens in the month of September. 

From an overall perspective, it is not difficult to get accustomed with the climate of the Park, whether you visit in winter months or in summer season. 

Best Time to Visit Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park

Planning a tour itinerary to a National Park requires taking into account several important aspects. Knowing about the best time to visit is one of the elements that you should consider before visiting the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park. If you really want to enjoy the beauty of the Park, and explore it patiently and in comfort, then the best time to visit is of course in the 4-month bracket between November and February. These are primarily winter and spring months when the weather is very pleasant, and idle for extensive tours. 

Visiting the Park from November to February availing Mahatma Gandhi Marine tour packages also gives you ample opportunities to witness a large variety of marine life for which the Park is so special. You could also visit the Park during the summer months but keep in mind that the weather would be humid during those times, and it might be not so comfortable to explore the beautiful richness of the region. 

Another point to note is avoiding any tour plan in the monsoon season when the Park receives heavy rainfall. The park is not open to the tourists during this time. The period is from June to August. 

How to Reach Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park

Reaching Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park in Wandoor, in Andaman and Nicobar Islands might seem a daunting task, but actually, it isn’t. Practically, when you have the right plans in place, then it is not all a problem to reach the destination. There would no hassles in the itinerary when you know the correct routes to reach the Park availing Mahatma Gandhi Marine family packages, which don’t waste your time. 

By Rail: There is no railway network in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Hence, there is no scope of traveling to the place on train. There are other, developed transportation choices for tourists that you can easily avail. 

By Road: There are connecting roads within the islands of the Park, which lead to various strategic zones of the region that you would enjoy exploring. The capital of the Andaman, Port Blair, is at a distance of only 30 km from the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park. You could avail a public bus with a one-way fare of Rs 10/- to reach the destination. There are also private vehicles on different roadways. There are options to use the waterways by hiring boat services. Rates for the services could be on the higher side. 

By Air: Andaman and Nicobar Islands has an airport at Port Blair. The Port Blair Airport is well-connected to other main airports of the country, such as Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai. It is very easy to reach the place by air. People living in mainland India are able to reach Port Blair within 1 to 2 hours from any part of the country.

Connectivity & Distances

Bus Stand: Wandoor Bus Stand 

Airport: Port Blair

Nearest city/town: Wandoor

Places to Visit Near Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park

There is no dearth of attraction in the vicinity of Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park. If you have an extended tour plan, covering each of the nearby places is very much possible. It would not take much time, too.

Wandoor Beach – It is a popular site near the Park where you can revel during a weekend trip, bathing in sun and enjoying the marvelous views of the sea.

Elephant Beach – This is yet another popular beach close to the Park that is very attractive and suitable for exploring the golden sands. 

Chidiya Tapu – Its literal meaning is Bird Hill. Those among you who are fond of bird-watching can go atop the hill and enjoy witnessing flights of different beautiful avian species in the skyline of the lush green islands.  

Anthropological Museum – Are you fond of visiting museums and knowing a bit more about history? The Anthropological Museum near the Park’s location is a wonderful place where you can go in your Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park itinerary and explore various details regarding the history of local tribes and their culture. 

Samudrika Marine Museum – This museum efficiently chronicles a wide range of marine species that you would enjoy exploring. You would know a lot of things about different types of fishes, aquatic animals and corals. 

Jolly Buoy Island – The Jolly Buoy Island is an interesting place you can visit on your weekend getaway tour to get engaged in a series of aquatic adventure sports through Mahatma Gandhi Marine weekend tour packages. You can participate in activities like snorkeling and scuba diving. 

Cellular Jail – You can visit the Cellular Jail in Andaman, and pay home to the martyrs of the Indian Independence Movement.