How To Reach Andaman From Pune

Not directly. Government passenger ships to Port Blair sail only from Chennai, Kolkata and Visakhapatnam, and the crossing takes about 3 to 4 days. From Pune you would first reach one of those ports and then sail, which is why almost everyone flies instead. 

The lowest air fares are on longer two-stop or overnight connections, from about Rs 7,000 one-way when booked 3 to 6 weeks ahead. A train or bus to Chennai or Kolkata followed by a government ship is cheaper still, but it costs two to three days each way. 

Expect roughly Rs 8,000 to Rs 13,000 one-way off-peak and Rs 13,000 to Rs 20,000 or more in peak season around December, January and long weekends. Booking three to six weeks ahead and avoiding peak dates keeps fares near the lower band. 

October to mid-May is the reliable window, with December and January the busy peak. The June to September monsoon brings rough seas that disrupt ferries and water activities, so shoulder months like October, November and February give good weather and calmer prices.

Indian citizens need no permit for the main islands of Port Blair, Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) and Neil (Shaheed Dweep); just carry a government photo ID. Foreign nationals are registered on arrival, and a few tribal or outlying areas such as Baratang need a local permit issued on-site. 

Take a private catamaran such as Makruzz, Nautika or Green Ocean, or a government ferry. Port Blair to Havelock takes about 1.5 to 2 hours and Port Blair to Neil about 1 to 1.5 hours. Book ferries in advance during the December to January peak.

Yes. Book flights early, travel in the shoulder season, choose connecting flights over the quickest routing and use government ferries between islands. Overland travel to a mainland port followed by a ship is the cheapest of all if you can spare the extra days.

Yes. The main islands need no permit for Indian citizens, English and Hindi are widely spoken, and the Port Blair to Havelock to Neil circuit is well served by ferries. A one-stop flight and a ready-made package make the trip straightforward for first-timers. 

Not the whole way. No bus reaches the islands, which lie about 1,200 km offshore in the Bay of Bengal. You can take an overnight bus from Pune to a mainland hub such as Bengaluru, around 14 to 16 hours, and then fly to Port Blair. This only pays off if you have time to spare, so most Pune travellers still fly the full route.

The lowest air fares sit on longer two-stop or overnight connections, from about Rs 7,000 one-way booked three to six weeks ahead. Cheaper still is going overland, a train or bus to Chennai or Bengaluru and then a government ship to Port Blair, though that adds two to three days each way. Travelling in the October to mid-May shoulder season keeps prices down.

There is no rail line to the islands, so the train covers only the mainland leg. From Pune you can reach Chennai in about 22 to 26 hours or Bengaluru in roughly 18 to 20 hours, then continue by flight to Port Blair or by government ship from Chennai. The rail-plus-ship route is the budget option, but it is slow and ships sail only a few times a month.