- Important pre-arrival information: Visitors from all countries must obtain a tourist visa in advance if planning on visiting India or the Andaman Islands. More details in Formalities.
- Cochin (Kochi) is conveniently placed close to the Red Sea route and as cruising along the coast offers limited attractions, those who are short of time would do better to use Cochin as a base and tour inland from there. India’s first marina opened here on Bolgatty Island, April 2010. An e-visa for Kochi is now possible.
- Bombay (Mumbai) is best if wishing to travel inland; plus some of the customs officials are keen and experienced sailors. Note however increased security here mentioned below 2015.
- The Andaman Islands are an archipelago of some 200 islands lying west of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. Yachts are now welcome to stop here (with an Indian visa and Andamans as the destination) and the islands are becoming a popular area for boats from Phuket, especially those on their way to the Red Sea. A rally for these islands started in 2018 and Participants can get Indian visas in Thailand and Malaysia. See Events for details.
- North Sentinel Island in Eastern India, which lies to the west of the southern part of South Andaman Island, has a 3 mile exclusion zone around it. The Sentinelese people who live on this small island actively and violently reject contact and are considered the most isolated people in the world.
- The east coast is not normally visited by yachts, although Madras (Chennai) is a port of entry.
- There are small workshops capable of simple repairs, but spare parts are almost unobtainable so you should have all essentials on board. There are several boatyards with slipways, but they are not used to dealing with keeled yachts so should only be used if absolutely necessary.
- Following the explosion of a boat as part of an alleged terrorist attack of the Mumbai (Bombay) coast in January 2015, there may well be a clamping down of security. Expect to have your paperwork checked by military or coast guard at anchorages and in ports. See news item here.
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E-Visa normally processed in 72hours not 60days. Took 12 hours for our visas to be granted.
Lakshadweep Islands: Update received from Indian boat owner who was granted a permit to visit these islands for a period of 9 days in February 2015. He reports that the process is difficult and one must push to get an answer from the Island Administrator. See RESTRICTIONS above in the Formalities section for details of how to apply for a permit.
Posted on behalf of Brian Thurlow from Cochin, India:
It is difficult, or nearly impossible for foreign boats to visit the Lakshadweep Islands. We have one Indian owned catamaran in the marina who did the trip last year with at least one European crew. I will contact him for details. He said it was difficult, but not impossible. Waiting for an update.
Does anyone have any info on visiting the Lakshadweep islands?
Was in Kochi (Cochin) at the end of February 2014 on s/y Anima. Stay in International Marina. You must anchor off near Port Control for clearance. Port security comes onboard to check the boat, after that you will go ashore with a security officer for customs and immigration. Be ready to spend a whole day (or more, if you come on Sunday). After clearance, you’ll go to the Harbourmaster office to take permission to go to Marina. Channel to the marina is good markered, but not so good dragged – there was 1.8 minimal depth at MHWS, take care! Marina is empty but still works. Maybe you will meet Bebe – tuk-tuk driver. You can solve almost any problem with his assistance.