Andaman & Nicobar Islands
General Information:
Area : 8,248 sq. km.
Capital : Port Blair
Altitude : Varies from sea level to 732 meters.
Languages : Nicobarese, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi & English.
Monsoon : July to August.
Temperature : Max. 30° C & Min. 23° C.
Rainfall : 300 cm.
Clothing : Cotton round the year.
Best Season : September to June.
Forest cover : 92%
Introduction
Beach
Floating in splendid isolation in the Bay of Bengal is the archipelago of over 572 Islands, known as Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Stretched over an area of more than 700 km, with 36 inhibited Islands. North to South these undulating Islands are covered with dense forests and endless variety of indigenous and exotic flowers and birds. These, along with silvery-sandy beaches on the edge of meandering coastlines, and the excellent scope of water sports, diving, carefree relaxation etc, make the Islands a unique tourist destination.
Andaman waters offer a fascinating world of underwater marine life. All these can be explored through SCUBA diving. Andaman is certainly the right choice for a tourist next holiday and the best destination for honeymooners, business executives on incentives or small conference groups, senior officers of banks and also corporate houses. One can enjoy the under water marine life and view the rarest varieties of corals by snorkeling near the Andaman Water Sports Complex, Corbyn’s Cove, Mahatma Gandhi National Park, Havelock Island, Neil Island and other Island places.
One can go trekking through the nature trail from Mt. Harriet to Madhuban and enjoy the rare forest life watching wonderful flora and fauna. One can visit some notable museums at Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. These are Anthropological Museum depicting the life of the Paleolithic Islanders, Fisheries Museum that exhibits species of marine life peculiar to the Islands, Samudrika which is set up to create awareness on oceanic environment and ZSI Museum which exhibits a good variety of Sponges, Corals, Butterflies centipedes etc, and Forest Museum which offers an insight into forestry activities.
Other places of interest in Port Blair are Amusement Park, Children’s Traffic Park, Mini Zoo, Rajiv Gandhi Velodrome, and Physical Fitness Center etc. All foreign nationals require a permit to stay in the Islands for 30 days, which can easily be obtained on arrival at Port Blair either by air or sea from the immigration authorities.
Entry Formalities:
Foreigners: Foreigners require a permit to stay in the Islands, which can now easily be obtained on arrival at Port Blair (either by air or sea) from the immigration authorities for 30 days. in addition, permits can also be obtained from:
a) Indian Mission Overseas,
b) Foreigners Registration Offices at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata.
c) The Immigration authorities at the airports at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.
The Places covered by this permit for night halt:
1. South Andaman Island (except Jarawa Tribal Reserve).
2. Middle Andaman Island (except Jarawa Tribal Reserve).
3. Little Andaman Island.
4. Neil Island
5. Havelock Island
6. Long Island
7. Diglipur (North Andaman)
8. Baratang
9. Islands in the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park (excluding Islands – Boat, Hob-day, Twin, Tarmugli, Malay and Pluto) (Night halt with permission).
10. North Passage.
For Day Halt:
1. Ross Island
2. Narcondum Island
3. Interview Island
4. Brother Island
5. Sister Island
6. Barren Island – can be visited on board vessels only.
Indians:
Indian Nationals need no permits to visit the Andamans. However, visiting tribal areas of Andaman and Nicobar District is prohibited and permits can be granted by the Deputy Commissioner Andamans District Port Blair in special cases, on receipt of application in prescribed form.
Getting There:
Air: Port Blair is connected with Chennai and Kolkata by air.
Sea: Passenger ship services are available to Port Blair from Chennai, Kolkata and Vishakhapattanam.
Tourist Attractions:
Cellular Jail: Cellular Jail, located at Port Blair is closely associated with the great Indian Freedom Struggle and now a place of pilgrimage. The saga of this heroic freedom struggle is now brought alive in a moving Son-at-Lumiere.
Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park: This Marine Park, located 29 km from Port Blair, comprising of open sea, creeks and 13 small and large Islands, is one of the best found anywhere in the world. The park provides viewing of rare corals and underwater marine life through glass bottom boats, scuba diving, snorkeling etc. and also an awe-inspiring habitat for marine animals. Boat trips to Coral Islands like Jolly Buoy, Red Skin, Cinque Island are memorable experiences.
Andaman Water Sports Complex: This unique sports complex in India in its own kind, there is facilities for safe water sports, and adventure water sports. This is also a Saline Water Swimming Pool, Nature-walk etc.
Gandhi Park: This beautiful park at Port Blair has facilities like Children Park. Amusement Park, Entertainment Park, Water Sports, Nature trail, Lake, Garden etc. and a Japanese temple as well as bunker.
Corbyn’s Cove: Located short distance from the town, its coconut palm fringed beach is ideal for swimming, surfing and sun basking.
Madhuban: Trekking area with exotic flora and fauna, endemic birds, animals, butterflies and elephant lumbering.
The Historic Ross Island: It has important ruins like Church Cemetery, Swimming Pool and Chief Commissioner’s residence.
The Historic Viper Island: Viper Island housed a prison before the Cellular Jail was constructed.
Sippighat Farm: Sippighat Farm is located 14 km from Port Blair, which is a government farm for cultivation of spices.
Chidiya Tapu: Chidiya Tapu is located 25 km from Port Blair known as Bird Island. The lush green mangroves and the beach make it an ideal picnic site.
Cinque Island: Cinque Island is situated 26 km from Port Blair. This Island is declared as a sanctuary. This is an enchanting island with rare corals and under-water marine life.
Neil Island: Neil Island is located 32 km from Port Blair. With its lush green forest and sandy beaches it offers an ideal eco-friendly holidays for tourists.
Havelock Island: Havelock Island is situated 38 km from Port Blair. This Island offers beautiful sandy beaches and lush green forest.
Mount Harriet: Mount Harriet is situated 55 km by road / 15 km by Ferry / Road from Port Blair. An ideal place for trekking, it is 365 mts. high, here one can find rare flora and fauna, endemic birds, animals and butterflies.
Long Island: Long Island is located 82 km from Port Blair. Offers an excellent sandy beach at Lalaji Bay.
Little Andaman: About 100 km South to Port Blair, Little Andaman is another tourist destination where Andaman Forest & Plantation Development Corporation provides excellent hospitality in its Eco-friendly resort.
Rangat: Rangat is located 170 km by Road and 90 km by Sea from Port Blair. Rangat provides a real attraction for an ecologically conscious tourist, who can enjoy the virgin nature and breathe unpolluted air.
Diglipur: Diglipur is located 180 km by Sea from Port Blair. It provides a rare Eco-friendly experience of sea, sun and fun for tourists.
Mayabunder: Mayabunder is located 240 km by Road and 136 km by Sea from Port Blair. It has an excellent scenic beauty and good beaches.
