Andaman & Nicobar Islands: Emerald Islands, blessed with natural beauty where is 86% forest cover, world class beaches, undulating creeks, crystal clear water and unpolluted environment command the first place to visit for tourists. This cluster of islands includes more than 572 islets and islands with 37 inhabited islands. The topography of the islands is hilly with exotic flora and fauna. The sandy beaches, fringed with coconut palms, and the sea around the islands offer excellent scope for Adventure Water Sports and game-fishing. These green islands attract many nature-lovers, and bird- watchers from all over the world. Adventure tourism like trekking, island camping, snorkeling, scuba diving etc, are the major attractions here.
Since pre-historic times, these islands were the home of aboriginal tribes. The tribes of the Andaman group of islands are the Great Andamanes, Onges, Jarawas and Sentinelese, all of Negrito origin, while the tribes of Nicobars are the Nicobarese and Shompens, both of Mongoloid stock. The settlement which was basically a penal settlement, was taken up in i88, after the first War of Independence, followed by the settlement of convicts including Moplas, some tribes from Central and United Provinces, refugees from erstwhile East Pakistan, Burma and Sri Lanka as well as ex-servicemen. The Islands no more carry the sobriquet of' Kala pani' and have become one of the most sought after destinations in the world.
The main city is well connected with Chennai and Kolkata by Air. The Foreign tourist charter flights are also permitted to land at Port Blair subject to permission of the Director General of Civil Aviation, Govt of India. The city also connected by regular passenger ship from Chennai, Kolkata & Vishakhapatnam. The Islands are also interconnected with sea plane and Helicopter operated by Pawan Hans. Foreign Nationals require a permit to stay in the Islands, which can easily be obtained on arrival at Port Blair from the Immigration authorities for 30 days, extendable for another 15 days with permission. However, Indian Nationals need no need to permit to visit Andamans. The Indian as well as foreign nationals are prohibited to visit Tribal Areas ofAndaman and Nicobar Districts.Tourist attractions in Port Blair are as follows:
• Historical Attractions are cellular Jail- A National memorial, Son-et-lumiere (Light & Sound Show) at Cellular Jail, Ross Island erstwhile Capital of Britishers in Andamans & Viper Island.
• It has numbers of museums such as Anthropological Museum, Fisheries Museum (Aquarium) Samudrika (Naval Marine Museum) & Zoological Survey of India Museum.
• The city and surroundings have Carbyn's Cove Beach, North Bay Coral Island Beach, Munda Pahar Beach at Chidiyatappu, Wandoor Beach and Collinpur Beach.
• Beside, city also having Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex, Chatham Saw Mill (One of the oldest saw mill in the Asia), Mount Harriet (Summer Head Quarters of the Chief
Commissioner during British rule), Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park (Jolly Buoy& Red Skin Island).
There are manybreathtaking and fascinating islands in andaman and ncobar, such as:
This beautiful island with lush green forests and silver sandy beaches is connected by Govt as well as private boats daily from Port Blair & Havelock, which provides an ideal holiday for eco-friendly tourists. One can feel the serenity of village life here. The beaches at Laxmanpur, Bharatpur and Sitapur and Natural Bridge formation on the sea-shore are fascinating. It offers snorkeling and scuba diving as aqua activities.
Havelock IslaHavelooknd having beautiful sandy beaches fringed with green canopy of the rain-fed forests beckons everyone to enjoy the frolic and fun at the azure sea. Vijay Nagar beach, 5 Kms away from the Jetty on the eastern side and elephant beach, 10 Kms from the Jetty, including trekking through the forest on the north western part of the island are other breathtaking beaches.
• The most beautiful and popular beaches in Havelock are Radha Nagar Beach, Vijay Nagar Beach, Elephanta Beach & Kala Patthar Beach.
• Havelock is connected by Govt/Private Boat service from Port Blair, Neil Island & Long Island.
Long Island is offers an exquisite sandy beach at Lalaji Bay with unpolluted environment and evergreen forests. The sea around the island is frequented by Dolphins. Lalaji Bay beach six kilometers away from the Jetty is accessible by 15 minutes journey by engine din, the dense forests. Connected with Port Blair by boat four t connected with Rangat.
Baratang is located between South and Middle Andaman has beautiful beaches, mangrove creeks, mud-volcanoes and limestone caves. Andaman Trunk Road to Rangat and Mayabunder goes through this island. The main attractions of Baratang are Limestone cave, Mud-Volcano and beautiful beaches. The Parrot Island nearby during sunset times to sea hoards of parrots flocking which gives picturesque memory to take back by the tourists.
Rangat is exposed to the quiet village life at Middle Andaman Island. You can also breathe unpolluted air, a rare availability for the metropolitan city dweller. Amkunj Beach, 15 Kms. away from Rangat Bazar/ jetty towards Mayabunder and Curtbert Bay beach, 20 Kms. away from the Rangat Bazar jetty towards Mayabander are the beaches near Rangat. Curtbert Bay is a Turtle- Ne nesting of turtle during December-February period, unbelievable number of turtle tourist can see here in early in the morning or late in the evening.
mayabunder Maya Bander is situated in the Northern part of Middle Andaman Islands, Mayabunder offers excellent scenic beauty, mangrove creeks and beautiful beaches. Beaches at Avis Island (30 minutes boat journey from Mayabunder), and Karmatang (13 Kms) are fascinating beaches. Recently it has been commissioned as an Indian coast guard station.
Diglipur is small city of North Andaman Island, Diglipur provides rare experience for eco-friendly tourists. The place is famous for its oranges, rice, forest wealth and marine life. Saddle Peak (732 Mtrs) is the highest point in the Andaman Islands. Kalpong the only river in Andamans flows from here. The only Hydro-electric project of the islands is on this river. Trekking to Saddle Peak through the evergreen forest, Kalipur, Lamiya Bay and Ram Nagar beaches and the sandbar joining Ross and Smith islands are a fascinating experience.
Ram Nagar Beach, Kalipur and the Sandbar joining fRoss and Smith islands are famous for Turtle Nesting during December-February season. One can enjoy unhurried holidays here. The Craggy Island across Kalipur beach is a little island known for fishes and corals. Ross & Smith Islands are twin islands bridged by pristine white sandy beach that has a swimming pool lagoon on one side and a snorkeling paradise on the other. A chain of mud volcanoes could be witnessed in the green jungle of Shyam nagar at Diglipur. A trek through the primary jungle leads to Alfred caves-a cluster of amazing 41 caves. It is a den for swiftlets and fruit eating bats.
The only active volcano in India is located in Barren Island. The volcano erupted once in 1991 and again in 1994-95, after remaining dormant for about 177 years. This island is about three kilometers in diameter and has a big crater of the volcano, about half a kilometer away from the shore. The island can be visited by chartering boats/seaplane and with the permission of Forest Department. Foreign nationals are restricted to be onboard the vessel only and landing ashore is not allowed.
A sanctuary with rare corals and under-water marine life, Cinque Island has fine sandy-beach and sand—bar connecting North and South Cinque Islands and tropical rain-forest. There is no scheduled ferry service to Cinque Island. Chartered boats of permitted category are allowed from Port Blair and Wandoor. To visit Cinque, tourist has to take permission from the Forest Department.
Little Andaman island located south to south Andaman, has varied attractions in store for the tourists. There are two water falls in the
islands, both in the midst of the ever green rain forest. White Surf Water Falls is 6.5 kms from 1-lutbay Jetty. One can enjoy Elephant Safari through the forests. The other water fall — Whisper Wave is 20 kms away from the Jetty. Journey to Whisper Wave includes four kilometers of trekking through the forest. Butler Bay, a beautiful beach is 14 Kms. from Hutbay Jetty and the beach is ideal for basking, snorkeling and surfing. Boating through creek near the beach is exciting. Netaji Nagar beach ii Kms from Hutbay Jetty and Harminder Bay beach are other beautiful beaches in the island. One can witness elephant lumbering operation and elephant calves training inside the forest. Little Andaman is also famous for its Red-oil palm plantation, which spreads over an area of sixteen hundred hectares.
This District territory of the UT Andaman and Nicobar Islands comprises of 28 Islands with an area of 1841 Sqr. Kms. The Nicobar groups of islands are separated from Andamans by the Ten Degree Channel. The Nicobars are abounding in coconut palms, casuarinas and pandanus. Great and Little Nicobar have Crab eating macaques with long tail. Nicobar pigeons are in plenty. Nicobar group is out of bounds for foreigners at present. Foreign tourists are not allowed here and Indians are given permission in exceptional case on application for Tribal Pass.
This place is 540 kms by sea from Port Blair. The Great Nicobar Island has an area of 400 Sqr. miles. This southern-most island is only 90 miles away from Sumatra. The southernmost tip of India, 'Indira Point' is in Great Nicobar Island. Megapode, a rare bird, is found in Great Nicobar. Great and Little Nicobar have the Giant Robber Crab. Campbell bay is the head quarter of Great Nicobar Island. The only Bio-sphere Reserve in A&N Islands —the Great Nicobar Bio-sphere Reserve is close to Campbell Bay. No tourists are allowed to Great Nicobar Island.
Campbell Bay is located on the island of Great Nicobar, the largest of the Nicobar Islands in the eastern Indian . National Park is a part of Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve. This national park is spread over 426 km2 in the northern part of Great Nicobar. The park reserve's flora includes tropical evergreen forest, tree fern, and orchids and fauna includes Crab-eating macaque, giant robber crab, megapode, and Nicobar pigeon. This comes along the basin side of Glatiya river. It is also "forward operating base" of the Indian Naval Air Arm at the very southernmost tip of the Andaman Nicobar Islands.
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