Page 759 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

TR A VEL INFORM A TION  757

DIRECTORY
Government of India
Tourism Offices
Chennai
154 Anna Salai.
Tel (044) 2846 1459.
∑ indiatourism.chn@nic.in
Delhi
88 Janpath. Tel (011) 2332 0005.
∑ goitodelhi@nic.in
Passenger ferry near the Gateway of India, Mumbai Kolkata
4 Shakespeare Sarani.
an option, it is better to take and another SCI ship sails to Tel (033) 2282 1475.
a deluxe coach that is not a Port Blair once a month from ∑ indtour6100@dataone.in
“video coach”. If opting for Visakhapatnam. Within the Mumbai
a deluxe or a/c deluxe bus, Andamans, there are four 123 M Karve Rd.
you can book your ticket in passenger-cum-cargo ferries Tel (022) 2203 3144.
advance and you can also for transport from Port Blair ∑ indiatourism-mum@nic.in
reserve your seat. to the other islands.
The charges for bus Ships also ply between Bus Stations
and coach package Kochi and Lakshadweep. APSRTC
tours often include S.P.O.R.T.S., the Society Tel (040) 3010 2828.
airport transfers, for Promotion of Nature ∑ apsrtconline.in
road taxes, overnight Tourism and Sports, the
stays, guides and Logo of the Rajasthan official tourist agency Chennai
any monument or State Road Transport of the Lakshadweep Metropolitan Transport
museum entry fees Corporation Islands, operates four Corporation Tel (044) 2345 5860.
en route. ships, the MV Coral, MV State Express Bus Stand Parry’s
Circle. State Express Transport
Amindivi, MV Minicoy and the MV Corporation Tel 1800 419 4287
Tipu Sultan, between Kochi and
Ferries and Boats Lakshadweep. The Goa Tourism ∑ tnstc.in.
Ferry connections link some Development Corporation Delhi
of India’s more exotic island (see p737) operates river cruises ISBT, Ring Rd. Tel (011) 2386 8694.
destinations, as well as cities within the state, whereas in Kolkata
along the coasts. They are Kerala, half- or full-day backwater Esplanade Terminus, Calcutta
available from Kolkata to cruises are organized by the State Transport Corporation
Chennai and Mumbai to Goa. Kollam (Quilon) District Tourism Tel (033) 2236 1916.
There is also a catamaran Promotion Council (see p638–9). ∑ cstc.org.in
service between Mumbai and The Kerala Tourism Development North Bengal State Transport
Goa, although it is suspended Corporation in Kochi also Corporation Tel (033) 2243 0736.
during the monsoon season organizes cruises through the ∑ nbstc.in
from July to September. state’s beautiful back waters, on Mumbai
Passenger liners also operate vessels ranging from luxury MTDC, Madame Cama Rd.
from both Chennai and Kolkata houseboats in traditional Tel (022) 2204 4040.
to the Andaman Islands, as well kettuvallams (rice boats) to ∑ maharashtratourism.gov.in
as from Kochi to Lakshadweep. modern 12-seater safari boats. Sarai Kale Khan
Many luxury cruise fares include In Goa and Kerala, travelling Tel (011) 2435 8343.
meals on board, ferrying charges by boat is often quicker than
between the ship and islands, going by car. Ferries connect Ship/Boat Tours
sightseeing, lagoon cruising the mainland to nearby islands,
and land accommodation. such as Ernakulam to Willingdon Shipping Corporation of India
These are very popular, so it is Island. In Lakshadweep and the 245, Madame Cama Road,
advis able to book at least two Andamans, they offer the only Mumbai. Tel (022) 2202 6666.
months in advance. link for people travelling between Shipping Corporation
Five passenger liners, the MV the islands. In the northeastern of India
Nancowry, MV Nicobar, MV Swaraj states, ferry rides on the River Tel (044) 2287 2638, Chennai.
Dweep, MV Harshavardhana and Brahmaputra are available at
MV Akbar, run by the Shipping Guwahati. In Varanasi, boats can Sports
Corporation of India (SCI), be hired at the ghats on the River Lakshadweep Tourism, Indira
operate between Chennai and Ganges. Mumbai has taxi boats Gandhi Rd, Willingdon Island,
Port Blair in the Andaman plying between the Gateway of Kochi. Tel (0484) 266 6789.
Islands, once every ten days, India and Elephanta Island.

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