Day 2 – From Port Blair to Rangat: Cycling, Forest Roads, Ferries & A Glimpse of the Jarawa World

Some days on a journey are about distance.

Some are about discoveries.

Day 2 of my ride across the Andaman Islands turned out to be a beautiful mix of both.

The plan was simple: cycle from Port Blair to Jirkatang, and then take the convoy road transfer through the protected tribal reserve to Rangat. But as always happens when you travel slowly on a bicycle, the road had its own plans.

And those plans were far more interesting. Starting Early – Watching Andaman Wake Up

I started early from Port Blair and headed toward the ferry point to take the 6:30 AM convoy ferry.

There is something magical about cities early in the morning, but in the Andamans, the mornings feel even more alive. The air is cooler, the roads are quieter, and the island slowly begins its daily rhythm.

At the ferry point, I could already see the morning routine unfolding.

People waiting patiently to board the first ferry from the other side.

Fishermen moving out with their boats.

Small conversations happening over cups of tea.

Cycling through these moments makes you feel less like a tourist and more like a quiet observer of life.

And that’s one of the biggest joys of exploring the Andamans on a bicycle.

Choosing the Interior Roads

While there is a main highway connecting Port Blair to Jirkatang, I wanted to explore something different.

So instead of taking the regular route, I took the ferry to Bamboo Flat and then cycled through the interior roads via Wimberly Gunj and Ferrargunj.

This turned out to be one of the best decisions of the day.

The roads were quiet, surrounded by lush green vegetation, small settlements, and stretches where it felt like the forest was slowly reclaiming the road. Cycling through these country roads felt peaceful, almost meditative.

Tall tropical trees formed a canopy overhead while the sunlight filtered through the leaves.

At times it felt like the forest was welcoming.

And at other times, it reminded me that I was just a guest passing through.

Riding Through Tropical Evergreen Forests

The Andaman Islands are home to tropical evergreen forests, and cycling through them is an experience that cannot be fully captured in photos or videos.

The trees are tall.

The forest is dense.

And the sunlight falls in scattered golden patches.

Every now and then you hear birds calling, leaves rustling, and sometimes the distant sound of the ocean.

This is the kind of environment where you realise how small we are compared to nature.

And also how lucky we are to experience it.

After riding through these beautiful stretches, I eventually joined the Andaman Trunk Road, which finally led me to Jirkatang.

By the time I reached there, I had cycled about 40 kilometres from Port Blair.

The End of the Cycling Stretch – Entering the Jarawa Reserve

Jirkatang marks a very important transition point.

From here onwards, the road passes through the Jarawa Tribal Reserve, and cycling or riding two-wheelers is not allowed.

The only way to cross this stretch is through a government convoy system where vehicles move together under strict regulations.

So this was the moment where my bicycle had to take a short break.

I loaded the cycle onto the bus and prepared for the next part of the journey.

But before boarding the bus, I had to do something equally important.

Find a washroom. A Small Appreciation – Clean Washrooms in Andaman

One thing that truly deserves appreciation in the Andaman Islands is the availability of clean pay-and-use toilets even in remote locations.

And honestly, every rupee you pay is worth it.

They are clean, hygienic, and well maintained — something that travellers deeply appreciate.

After freshening up, I grabbed a simple breakfast of idlis, loaded my bicycle onto the bus, and boarded the convoy vehicle heading north.

A Ride Through the Tribal Reserve

The stretch from Jirkatang to Middle Strait is about 50 kilometres, and it passes through one of the most sensitive ecological and cultural regions of the Andamans.

This is home to the Jarawa tribe, one of the indigenous communities of the islands.

Convoys move through this stretch at fixed timings and vehicles are not allowed to stop.

Photography and interaction with the tribe are also prohibited in order to protect their way of life.

Interestingly, I had always been curious about spotting the Jarawas along the road.

But on this day, something unexpected happened.

I fell asleep.

After cycling in the morning and with the gentle rhythm of the bus moving through the forest, I simply passed out and woke up only when we reached Middle Strait for the ferry crossing.

So much for my anticipation.

Crossing to Middle Andaman

From Middle Strait, we took another ferry that connects South Andaman to Middle Andaman.

After crossing the strait, the journey continued deeper into the islands.

This time, I stayed awake.

And somewhere along the road, I finally saw members of the Jarawa tribe near the forest.

It was a brief moment. But it was also a powerful one.

A Thought About Tribes… and Our Own Lives

When I saw the Jarawas, a thought crossed my mind.

They live in the forest.

They don’t go to offices.

They don’t attend meetings.

They don’t worry about deadlines.

Their lives are deeply connected with nature.

And for a moment I smiled and thought — maybe I belong to a slightly different tribe.

A tribe that travels.

A tribe that cycles.

A tribe that chooses forests over offices whenever possible.

I may not live in the forest like them.

But I definitely don’t enjoy boardrooms as much as I enjoy long roads and open skies.

Maybe in some strange way, I too am part of a wandering tribe.

A Quick Note on the Tribes of Andaman

The Andaman & Nicobar Islands are home to some of the world’s oldest indigenous communities.

There are six major tribes in the islands:

1. Great Andamanese

2. Jarawa

3. Onge

4. Sentinelese

5. Nicobarese

6. Shompen

Among these, the Jarawa, Onge, and Sentinelese are considered some of the most isolated tribes in the world.

The Sentinelese, who live on North Sentinel Island, are particularly known for completely rejecting outside contact.

These communities have lived in these islands for thousands of years, long before modern settlements appeared here.

Which makes the Andamans not just geographically unique — but culturally and historically extraordinary.

The Longest Bridge of Andaman

As the journey continued toward Rangat, we crossed what is now the longest bridge in the Andaman Islands.

The bridge stretches across beautiful mangrove forests, opening into a landscape that looks almost surreal.

Mangroves on both sides.

Water flowing quietly beneath.

And the road stretching into the distance.

Moments like these make you realise how diverse the landscapes of the Andamans really are.

Lunch at Kadamtala – Simple and Perfect Around midday we stopped at Kadamtala for lunch.

And this was the kind of meal that travellers secretly love.

Nothing fancy. Just simple, honest food. Rice, dal, papad, pickle and a few small side dishes.

Clean, affordable, and satisfying. Sometimes the best meals on a journey are the simplest ones.

Conversations on the Bus

The bus ride also turned into a small social experience.

I started chatting with fellow passengers and locals who were curious about my journey.

Many were surprised to learn that I had cycled across the islands alone.

Some asked questions about the bicycle.

Some asked why anyone would cycle such long distances.

And some simply smiled and said, “That must be an adventure.”

And yes… it definitely is.

Arriving in Rangat

After covering about 100 kilometres by road from Jirkatang, I finally arrived at Rangat, one of the quieter towns in Middle Andaman.

Despite being relatively remote, Rangat has a peaceful charm.

And for travellers on the Tour of Andaman, we ensure that even in these remote places, the stay is comfortable and welcoming.

Tonight I’m staying at Hotel Eden Garden, a lovely and comfortable property that makes travellers feel at home even in the middle of the islands.

After a long day of cycling, ferries, forests, conversations, and tribal reserves — this felt like the perfect place to end the day.

Day 2 of Tour of Andaman – What Riders Will Experience

When participants ride the Tour of Andaman, this will be their Day 2 experience.

• Cycling through the quiet countryside of South Andaman

• Crossing ferries between islands

• Passing through tropical evergreen forests

• Travelling across the historic Andaman Trunk Road

• Witnessing mangrove landscapes

• Experiencing the cultural and ecological diversity of the islands

This is not just a cycling tour.

It is an immersion into island life.

And tomorrow, the journey continues deeper into the Andaman Islands towards Diglipur.

From Rangat, the road goes further north.

And knowing these islands, I’m certain the next chapter will have its own surprises waiting.