Taj opens in the Andamans

TAJ EXOTICA Resort & Spa has opened in the Andaman Islands, a destination billing itself as India’s newest beach destination.

Located on the crescent-shaped Radhanagar Beach in the Havelock Islands, the resort’s 72 villas are scattered among 46 acres of forest and mangroves and built in the style of the indigenous Jarawa tribe’s pitch-roof stilted huts.

Facilities include three restaurants – with ‘ Shoreline’ featuring coastal curries – and a 50-metre infinity pool. Guest activities include snorkelling, scuba diving and night kayaking through the mangroves.

In line with its responsible tourism ethos, Taj has set up an onsite bottling plant eliminating the use of plastic bottles, a waste disposal system converting wet waste to gas and compost and a sanitation treatment plant to limit its carbon footprint.

The Andamans have been tipped to become one of this year’s top travel destinations. Relatively undiscovered Havelock Island is reached by air and a 150-minute ferry ride followed by a 30-minute drive. An expanded network of flights from Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad make it accessible from key cities across India. tajhotels.com