We go on vacations to explore new places, but an ideal holiday is one in which we rediscover ourselves and I was lucky to go on such a holiday recently. We have been planning for a while to find a new place to spend the Pujas and it must be serene, beautiful, and unique. Andaman Nicobar fitted the bill perfectly and we chose it as our destination. Needless to say, it was an excellent decision.

Our tour began with Port Blair, the capital of the most enchanting islands of India. It has a small airport and since photography is prohibited inside it, we couldn't take any photos. Once we came out of the airport, clean roads, blue skies, and a warm breeze greeted us.

Our destination was Symphony Samudra, a resort near Chidiatapu beach. It was a long journey through the city and the winding road kept on playing hide and seek with the sea. The grand structure of the resort awaited at the end of the one-hour journey. It was a spectacular place, spread over a several acres. With small ponds, canals, bridges, trees, birds and gardens, the resort was very beautiful. The wooden architecture of the reception and the lounge caught our fascination.

We stayed there for three nights and had a great experience. It used to rain every day and the canal behind our room gushed merrily with running water. We used to take long walks inside the resort, enjoying the cool breeze, the scenery of rain-drenched trees, and listening to the pitter-patter of raindrops.

The lounge of the resort was my favorite spot. It overlooked the hills and had the swimming pool at one end. Decked with comfy sofas and wooden swings, it was the perfect place to unwind. The restaurant was spacious and overlooked a beautiful garden. The staff were friendly and professional. They looked after us well.

The menu in the restaurant was limited due to the unavailability of basic ingredients that are readily available on the mainland, but the staff did their best to satiate our taste buds by offering unique recipes. Of course, the food was tasty and healthy as well. The restaurant manager Willson Tamang took special care of our foodie needs and made special arrangements to make our stay extra special. The housekeeping staff were very efficient and kept our room, the balcony, and the exceptionally large bathroom always neat and clean.

We usually went out every day in the morning for sightseeing and spent the evenings at the resort. We also visited the nearby Chidiatapu beach and witnessed one of the most beautiful sunsets. The rocky beach didn’t get many tourists but offered some of the best views of the mountains and sea. The botanical garden near the beach was spectacular and we witnessed some of the tallest trees there. Symphony Samudra made our stay in Port Blair comfortable and luxurious.

We continued with our tour of Havelock and Neil Island and visited the resort again for two nights at the end of our trip. It felt like a homecoming, a feeling you seldom get at a resort.