ACTIVITIES
The andamans islands are a rustic lo-fi tropical island paradise. offering adventure, exploration and discovery, to go alongside the classic winter sun delights of warm, crystal clear seas, white sand beaches and sun. Our team lead by Kirti, Jun & varun are on hand to help you plan activities to make sure you get the most of your time at Jalakara.
ACTIVITIES AROUND THE ISLAND
EXPLORE THE ISLAND
Havelock is a small island and Jalakara is ideally located so nowhere is further than 15 minutes drive away. Enjoy the colourful local Market a gentle 20 minutes walk away, discover the stunning and varied beaches, the nearest is a 25 minutes walk .
Explore the rural interior by bike or scooter, To be truly independent we can arrange scooter hire (Rs 750 per day) . We can also book reputable auto-rickshaws and taxis to get you safely from A to B. To experience transport island style - catch the regular, uncrowded, extremely cheap and rather jolly bus service, which drops 300m from Jalakara. WE also operate a beach shuttle service to radhanagar beach.
BEACHES
Havelock has many beautiful and varied beaches all between 5 and 15 mins ride from Jalakara. We run a complimentary shuttle service to the the stunning Radhanagar beach (Also known as Number 7). This beach is jaw-droppingly scenic and wonderful for swimming - a wide 1.5km arc of soft white sand with playful waves backed by majestic stands of mahua trees & rocky reefs at either end. Turtle Beach is backed by rainforest and has stunning & thriving coral reef just of shore. The wilderness beaches south of Kalapatha are great for total isolation and beach treks. There is also Secret beach but that is on a need to know basis only! We can arrange a beach butler to join you at the beach of your choice to set up a camp of kings complete with parasols, beach rugs, cushions, drinks cooler & a picnic.
SNORKELING
Radhanagar, Elephant beach, Turtle Beach and Nemo Reef are the best spots on the island for snorkelling. We have Cressi masks, snorkels and fins, which are available for guests to borrow on a deposit basis. We can also arrange boat trips for snorkeling excursions to uninhabited islands and more remote reefs.
DIVING
Diving is one of the most popular activities on Havelock and is often spectacular with abundant fish life & coral. We all are enthusiastic divers and can recommend the best dive sites, We work with the best dive operators and courses so you get the most out of the opportunities here.
FISHING
There are lots of fish in the pristine waters around
Havelock, some of which are very large indeed. Try
your luck landing a fish of a lifetime. tuna,grouper,
giant trevalley, sailfish, marlin, barracuda are all
out there. We can recommend and arrange boats and
guides to suit the requirements of both novice and
expert anglers.
BOAT TRIPS
A boat trip around the uninhabited islands of Ritchies Archipelago and the Rani Jhansi marine nature reserve is not to be missed. These trips can be tailored but typically involve snorkelling and island hopping to remote beaches - but are subject to changing rules from the local authorities.
NATURE TREKS
Kirti, jalakara's Lodge manager, is a very knowledgeable guide. He will take you deep into the forest on little known paths to explore the flora and fauna of Havelock’s rainforest. If you prefer to self-guide we can also recommend beach walks along un-trodden stretches of coastline where you will have the place entirely to yourself.
SEA KAYAKING - currently unavailable (12/2023)
We have a fleet of well maintained sea kayaks. We will take you on private paddles through the mangrove channels to discover this unique eco-system. Ask about sunset trips and full moon or dark moon night kayaking for unforgettable memories and brilliant phosphorescence.
Activities At Jalakara
SWIMMING POOL
The infinity pool at Jalakara is lined with Italian mosaic tiles and Indian granite. It uses a French filtration system which combines ozone with low level chlorine to keep the water clean and hygienic. The water is kept chilled to ensure a refeshing dip!
BOARD GAMES
We have a range of board games available for guests to enjoy - from scrabble and pick-up sticks to a championship poker set. These are stored at the bar.
LAWN GAMES
Jalakara has a badminton and boules, both of which guests are most welcome to use.
MUSIC
The music system set up around the pool is made by British HiFi experts B&W - please ask if you would like to plug in and play your own music and be respectful of other guests’ right to peace and quiet.
CINEMA
We have a high definition film projector, screen & small library of films. If you would like a night at “the movies” please ask and we will be happy to set it all up for you.
YOGA - currently unavailable (12/2023)
Every morning we conduct a mixed ability group class led by rossy, who has trained at the sivananda institute. We can also arrange bespoke classes and courses tailor made to specific requirements - these can be taken in the privacy of your room or indeed on the beach or deep in the oxygen rich rainforest.
MASSAGE & ENERGY WORK
A massage in our beautiful spa is an essential part of a stay at Jalakara. Kuku, our highly trained wellness manager offers our signature three senses massage, therapeutic deep tissue massage, traditional swedish massage, Restorative Reiki, head & shoulder massage and reflexology foot massage. we also offer a short menu of organic spa treatments. Prices start at Rs 2000 for half an hour. Please book to reserve a time.
Cooking classes - currently unavailable (12/2023)
Learn the secrets of making momo and andaman coconut curry with our chef in a private cooking classes in our open air kitchen. Alternatively venture out into the wild for a culinary safari. get up close and personal with the local ingredients in their natural habitat and finish the day with a bush kitchen cooking experience.
STARGAZING
The stars at night in the pollution and light free Andaman skies are incredibly bright - a perfect opportunity to stay up late with a few glasses and get the telescope out. They are not to be missed.
BIRDWATCHING
Jalakara has great bird life with some of the rarest
birds in the world regularly visiting the property.
We keep an identification guide and birdie logbook to keep track of our avian life. a short trail starts at the north east corner of Jalakara leading into the forest and some great spots for early morning bird watching. We can also arrange bird watching trips in to the rain forest.
WIFI
after many years as a digital free zone - it is exciting to be able to say that jalakara does now have some internet connectivity. accordingly we have set up a "digital zone" near the manager's office, wifi access in this area is complimentary.
