Stargazing on Havelock: The Best Show on the Island Starts After Dark
Most people come to Havelock for the water. Then the sun goes down, someone looks up from the deck… and goes very quiet.
A sky with nothing in the way
Here in the forest near Kalapathar, there are no city lights, no highway glow, no neon. Just the trees, the hum of the insects, and a sky so full of stars it almost looks crowded. On a clear night, the Milky Way spills across it like someone knocked over a jar of sugar.
It's the kind of sky most of us haven't seen since childhood, if we've seen it at all.
By day, the forest and the pond. By night, the stars reflect in the water.
When to look up
The best stargazing on the island runs from November to April, when the skies are clear and dry. Plan around the moon: the week either side of a new moon gives you the darkest skies. Give your eyes about twenty minutes away from any screen, and you'll be amazed how much more appears.
In December, keep an eye out for the Geminid meteor shower. If you're lucky, you'll catch shooting stars streaking over the canopy.
Where to watch
You don't need to go anywhere. Our decks are the best seat on the island for the Milky Way: just settle in after dinner, turn the lights down, and let the sky come to you. If you'd like a wider horizon, take a torch and walk two minutes down to Kalapathar Beach, where the sky opens up over the sea.
Your front-row seat: the deck, the cushions, and the sky.
What to bring
Not much. A mat or a sarong to lie on, a torch with a red light if you have one, mosquito repellent, and a light layer for the sea breeze. Binoculars are a bonus. They work just as well on stars as they do on birds.
The islands are looking up too
The Andaman administration has begun training local astro guides to share the night sky with visitors. It's a lovely reminder that the islands' darkness is something worth protecting, just like its reefs and forests.
Who this is for
For anyone who's forgotten what a real night sky looks like. Come for the beaches and stay for the stars. We'll leave the deck lights low for you.
