The Andaman & Nicobar Islands is one of the main union territory of India. This union territory of Andaman and
Nicobar islands name is often abbreviated to A & N Islands, or ANI. It is located in the bay of Bengal.. It comprises two
island groups - the Andaman Islands and the Nicobar Islands - which separate the Andaman Sea to the east from the
Indian Ocean. The Andaman Islands are the emerged part of a mountain chain and lie on a ridge, which extends
southward from the Irrawaddy delta area of Burma.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands are high islands forming the southward extension of this mountain chain. Floating in
splendid isolation, east of the Indian mainland, is the archipelago of 572 emerald islands, islets and rocks known as the
Andaman & Nicobar Islands. This Union Territory is spread over a distance nearly 800 Kms. from North to South with
38 inhabited islands. A hill range extending from Burma (Myanmar) to Indonesia, these undulating islands are covered
with dense forests and an endless variety of exotic flora & fauna.
These two groups are separated by the 10° N parallel, the Andamans lying to the north of this latitude, and the
Nicobars to the south. The capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is the Andamanese island town of Port Blair.The
Andaman and Nicobar island's population as per the most recent (2001) Census of India was 356,152. Added together,
the total land area of the territory is approximately 8,249 kmē
Andaman & Nicobar Islands have also recently been recognized as a world-class eco-tourist destination to discover
the under-water treasures of marine life. Andaman & Nicobar Islands has many sandy crystal clear beaches and it's an
eco-friendly tourist destination with all sorts of comforts ranging from five star accommodations to cheap youth
hostels.
Andaman & Nicobar Island offers beautiful island vacations and beach tours. Each island in Andaman's has its own
uniqueness and beauty. The beaches in Andaman's are very clean &crystal clear. In no place, we can find both island
vacations and beach tours in a same place.
Andaman Islands Origin
The Andaman and Nicobar islands have been inhabited for several thousand years, at the very least. The earliest
archaeological evidence yet documented goes back some 2,200 years; however, the indications from genetic, cultural
and linguistic isolation studies point to habitation going back 30,000 to 60,000 years, well into the Middle Paleolithic.
Mythologically, the name Andaman is presumed to be derived from hanuman, the monkey god, who was known to
the malayalis as 'handuman'. Since pre-historic times, these islands were the home of aboriginal tribes. The tribes of
the Andaman group of islands were the great Andamanese, Onges, Jarawas and Sentinalese, all of Negro origin, while
the tribes of Nicobars, the Nicobarese and Shompens, both of mongoloid stock.
In the Andaman Islands, the various Andamanese peoples maintained their separated existence through the vast
majority of this time, diversifying into distinct linguistic, cultural and territorial groups. By the 1850s when they first
came into sustained contact by outside groups, the indigenous peoples of the Andamans were:
· The Great Andamanese, who collectively represented at least 10 distinct sub groups and languages;
· The Jarawa;
· The Jangil (or Rutland Jarawa);
· The Onge;
· The Sentinelese (most isolated of all the groups).
In total, these peoples numbered somewhere around 7,000 at the time of these first encounters. As the numbers of
settlers from the mainland increased (at first mostly prisoners and involuntary indentured labourers, later purposely
Recruited farmers), these indigenous peoples lost territory and numbers in the face of land encroachment and the effects
of various epidemic diseases.
The islands provided a temporary maritime base for ships of the Marathas in the 17th century. The legendary privateer,
admiral Kanhoji Angre harassed colonial shipping routes with a base in the islands. The first settlement by the british
took place in 1789, wich was later abandoned in 1796. The second settlement was basically a penal settlement, taken up
in 1858, after the first world war of independence, followed by the settlement of convicts, 'moplas' some tribes from
central and united provinces, refugees from erstwhile east Pakistan, burma and srilanka as well as ex-servicemen.
Generally, Andaman is used as a prison during british period The surrounding seas are equally rich in marine biodiversity.
They harbour more than 1,200 species of fish, 350 species of echinoderms, 1000 species of mollusks and
many more other forms of life, among vertebrates dugong, dolphin and whale are common. Mahatma Gandhi Marine
Natinal Park is rich in corals, varities of colourful fishes, sea turtles, etc., besides other marine life, andaman is also a
bird's paradise. Sandy beaches of these islands are famous for turtles nesting. Important species of turtles that are
present on these islands include leather back turtle, green sea turtle, hawksbill turtle and olive ridly turtle. Water
monitor lizard, salt-water crocodiles, reticulate python, etc are also seen here. Corals and coral reefs are the most
fascinating part of marine eco-system here.
The emerald islands-Andaman and Nicobar Islands
This union territory stretches over a length of more than 700kms from north to south with 36 inhabited islands. Once a
hill range extending from burma to Indonesia, these undulating variety of exotic flora and fauna,beautiful rain
forests,clean roads as well as unpolluted fresh air may attract any nature lover,who seeks absolute peace and tranquility.
Busty adventure tourism like trekking, island camping, snorkeling, diving, etc are also major attractions here.
Forests are the green gold of these islands. The reserved and protected forests extend over 86% area of the territory and
the forest cover is more than 92%. About 50% of the forests have been set aside as tribal reserves, Natural parks and
wildlife sanctuaries, which are inviolate. The union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands consisting of about 293
islands [39 of which are inhabited] is situated in the Bay of Bengal.
Total area 8248 sq.kms.
Andaman 6408 sq.kms.
Nicobar 1841sq.kms.
Altitude varies from sea level to 732 meters [highest point saddle peak]
Temperature minimum 23 deg,max 30 deg
Rainfall 3000mms.[may to sept,nov to jan]
Relative humidity 70% to 90%
Forest cover 86%
Best season Oct to April
Clothing cotton throughout the year
Languages spoken Hindi, English, Tamil, Nicobari, Telugu,Malayalam.this feauture
shows the distinctive and secular aspect of andaman and nicobar islands
