Chidiya Tapu, Port Blair: Sunset Point, Munda Pahad Beach and How to Get There
Chidiya Tapu sits at the southern tip of South Andaman, about 25 km from Port Blair, and it is where we take almost every guest for their first Andaman sunset. The name means "bird island" in Hindi. The road ends in thick forest that runs right down to the sea, and just past it is Munda Pahad beach, with old driftwood on the sand and the sun going down over open water.
This page covers timings and entry fees, the Biological Park, the Munda Pahad trail, sunset times, how to get there and why you should stay out of the water.
Updated October 2026 by the Blue Bubble Andaman team in Port Blair
Chidiya Tapu at a Glance
| Where | Southern tip of South Andaman, south of Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram) |
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| From Aberdeen Bazaar | About 25 km, 45 to 60 minutes by car |
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| From the airport | About 40 minutes by road |
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| Entry fee | Free for the beach and sunset point. Biological Park around ₹20 to ₹25 for Indian visitors, more for foreign nationals |
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| Timings | Daytime until sunset. The Biological Park closes in the afternoon and is shut on Mondays |
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| Swimming | Not allowed. Saltwater crocodiles live along this coast |
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| Time needed | Half a day, ideally from mid-afternoon until sunset |
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| Good for | Sunset, birdwatching, photography, a forest drive |
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| Facilities | Parking, a few snack stalls near the village, basic washrooms |
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What Chidiya Tapu Is Like
Evening at Chidiya Tapu, the sunset point of South Andaman
Chidiya Tapu is less a single beach and more a small corner of the island. The road from Port Blair narrows after the last villages and runs between forest and mangrove, with the sea showing up on the bends. At the end you reach a small settlement, the gate of the Biological Park, a mini lighthouse on the headland and, a little further on, Munda Pahad beach.
Munda Pahad is the beach people mean when they talk about the Chidiya Tapu sunset. It is a long strip of pale grey sand backed by tall trees, with bleached trunks lying where the 2004 tsunami left them. The beach faces west across open sea, so on a clear evening the sun drops straight into the water. Early mornings belong to the birds, which is how the place got its name.
Go with the right expectations. Chidiya Tapu is not a swimming or water sports beach, and there is very little in the way of shops. People who come for the forest, the birds and a long sunset usually love it. If you want a classic beach day with a swim, save that for Radhanagar Beach on Havelock.
Our tip: Leave Port Blair by 2:30 pm. That gives you time for a slow drive, a walk along the beach and a good spot on the sand before the sun goes down, which can be as early as 4:50 pm in winter. Carry water, as the stalls here are few and close early.
Things To Do at Chidiya Tapu
Most guests come for the evening, but there is enough here to fill a morning too. These are the things worth your time.
Sunset
Watch the Sunset at Munda Pahad Beach
A short drive past the Biological Park gate · Arrive 45 minutes before sunset
This is the main reason to come. Find a log on the sand facing west and wait. On clear days the sky goes orange, then pink, and the trees behind you turn almost black. Cloudy evenings in October and May can still surprise you when the light breaks through in patches.
Birds
Birdwatching in the Forest
Best from 6 to 8 am · Bring binoculars
You do not need to be an expert. Walk slowly along the road between the village and the beach early in the morning and listen. White-bellied sea eagles, kingfishers, Andaman green pigeons and noisy flocks of parakeets are among the easier ones to spot, and serious birders come looking for species found only in the Andamans.
Wildlife
Chidiya Tapu Biological Park
On the road to the beach · Closed on Mondays · About an hour
A forest park opened in 2001 for animals found in the islands, spread over about 40 hectares. You walk between enclosures with saltwater crocodiles, Andaman wild pigs and crab-eating macaques. Some enclosures are empty these days, so it is a good stop with children or a spare morning and easy to skip if you only have the evening.
Trek
The Munda Pahad Trail
About 1 km each way to a cliff viewpoint · Closed at the time of writing
A short forest trail climbs from Munda Pahad beach to a viewpoint on the cliffs, with the sea on three sides. After a 12-year-old boy drowned near the trail in October 2025, the Forest Department closed the route until further orders. Ask us before your trip and we will check the status with the forest office.
Diving
Scuba Diving off Chidiya Tapu
Dive centre in Chidiya Tapu village · Morning dives
Chidiya Tapu is a quieter place to dive than Havelock or North Bay, and you will rarely share a reef with another boat. Sites around the headland work for first-timers on a try-dive, and certified divers can go deeper or visit a wreck. You need a short medical form, but you do not need to know how to swim.
Scenic Drive
The Forest Road from Port Blair
45 to 60 minutes each way · Stops on the headland
The drive is half the trip. South of the city the road runs through forest and past mangrove creeks, with the sea opening up on the bends. Ask your driver to stop at the mini lighthouse and the sunset viewpoint on the headland for a look along the coast before you head down to the beach.
Sunset Times at Chidiya Tapu
The Andamans use Indian Standard Time but sit far to the east, so the sun sets much earlier than most visitors expect. These times are approximate. Plan to be on the beach about 45 minutes before.
| Months | Approx. sunset | What to expect |
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| November to January | 4:50 to 5:10 pm | Clear skies and the most reliable sunsets. Busiest time of year. |
| February to April | 5:15 to 5:40 pm | Warm and mostly clear. Good light and fewer people. |
| May to September | 5:40 to 5:55 pm | Monsoon. The sun is often hidden, but the forest is very green. |
| October | 5:05 to 5:20 pm | Season starts. Some cloudy evenings, some very good ones. |
Best Time To Visit Chidiya Tapu
November to April is the best period. The sky is clearer, the road is dry and you have the best chance of a clean sunset over the sea. December and January bring the most visitors, but Munda Pahad is long enough that you can still find space.
October and May are a gamble, with clouds on some evenings. From June to September the monsoon brings heavy rain, the odd fallen branch on the forest road and sunsets that are often hidden. Birding stays good through the rains, though, and the drive is at its greenest.
Time of day decides the trip. Come at dawn for the birds or in the afternoon for the sunset. Doing both means two drives from Port Blair on the same day, so most people pick one.
How To Reach Chidiya Tapu
Chidiya Tapu is about 25 km south of Aberdeen Bazaar. The road is paved all the way and narrows in the last stretch through the forest. Allow 45 to 60 minutes depending on traffic out of the city.
By Car
The easiest option, and the one we use for our guests. A car for the afternoon lets you stop on the way and leave right after sunset, when there is very little else on the road. If you are travelling with us, Chidiya Tapu is already part of your Port Blair sightseeing plan.
By Rented Scooter
Fine in daylight if you are a confident rider. The ride back is in the dark through forest with no streetlights, so go slowly and watch for animals on the road. Carry your licence.
By Bus
Government buses run from the Port Blair bus stand to Chidiya Tapu a few times a day. They are cheap but slow, and the last bus back can leave before sunset, so check the timing before you rely on it.
From the Airport
Veer Savarkar International Airport is on the southern side of the city, about 40 minutes from Chidiya Tapu. If your flight lands by noon, you can check in at your hotel and still make the sunset.
Safety Tips for Chidiya Tapu
- Do not swim anywhere at Chidiya Tapu or Munda Pahad. Swimming is prohibited because of saltwater crocodiles, which have also been sighted near the jetty by the Biological Park.
- Stay off the rocks at either end of the beach, especially when the tide is coming in.
- Leave soon after sunset. Forest staff ask visitors to clear the beach, and this coast is crocodile habitat after dark.
- Food is not allowed in the Munda Pahad beach area. Eat before you go or at the stalls near the village.
- Mobile signal is weak in the forest. Fix your ride back before you set off and let someone know your plans.
- Carry your litter back, and leave shells and driftwood where you find them.
A Simple Half-Day Plan
- 2:30 pm: Leave your hotel in Aberdeen Bazaar or Junglighat.
- 3:20 pm: Stop at the mini lighthouse and sunset viewpoint on the headland.
- 3:45 pm: Tea or coconut water at the stalls near the village.
- 4:10 pm: Reach Munda Pahad beach and walk the length of the sand.
- Sunset (around 5 pm in winter): Find your spot facing the sea and stay until the colour fades.
- Right after sunset: Drive back to Port Blair, reaching town by about 6:30 pm.
Places Near Chidiya Tapu
Chidiya Tapu takes up an afternoon. These are good to pair with it on the same day or the next.
Swim · Near the city
Port Blair's closest beach, with calm water in season and jet ski rides. Do it in the morning, then head south to Chidiya Tapu for the evening.
Read our Corbyn's Cove Beach guide
Quiet · 25 km south-west
Wandoor Beach
A long, flat beach and the jetty for boats to Jolly Buoy and Red Skin in the Marine National Park. Like Chidiya Tapu, it is a beach for walking, not swimming.
Views · Morning walk
Mount Harriet
Hilltop national park across the harbour with forest trails and the view of North Bay lighthouse. Another good spot for birds if you like an early start.
History · In town
Back in town after sunset? The later light and sound show at Cellular Jail fits well after a Chidiya Tapu evening.
Read our Cellular Jail guide
For every beach and sight around the city, see our Port Blair beaches and attractions guide or the full list of Andaman beaches.
Want a Chidiya Tapu sunset built into your Andaman trip?