The Andaman and Nicobar islands are a group of islands situated at the juncture of the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal. It is one of the dream destinations of people who love to witness nature at its best. Being a part of the Indian subcontinent, Andaman has a huge number of Indians inhabiting this place. Also, the other people residing on these islands are often referred to as the “Natives”. Andaman and Nicobar islands have some of the most exotic beaches that lure you and give you life experiences. Tourism on these islands have extended since the last few decades, and several touring options available here attract a huge number of tourists all across the world. Let us now take a look at some of the interesting facts about the Andaman and Nicobar islands.
History of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
According to Hindu mythology, Andaman island has a profound significance. It is said that the legendary Monkey God Hanuman landed on the island while searching for a way to Sri Lanka in search of Rama’s abducted wife, Sita. According to various sources, Andaman is named after the Malay name of Hindu Monkey God – Handuman or Hanuman. Unlike Andaman, Nicobar has no link with Hindu mythology. Nicobar means ‘the land of the naked’, which could be an orientation of the tribal people residing on these islands.
A Roman geographer, Claudius Ptolemus prepared a map that showed the appearance of the Islands for the first time. He entitled the Islands as “Islands of Cannibals”, whereas one of the monks from China called them “The Land of Head Hunters”. During the 17th and the 18th century, Andaman and Nicobar Islands were frequently visited by the Marathas. Kanhoji Angre, along with his armada, attacked various Portuguese, British and Dutch merchant ships and captured all their valuables.
During the 19th century, Andaman and Nicobar Islands were annexed by the British who made it their colony. They used it as the penitentiary for the freedom fighters of India. Since that time, the islands are famously known as “Kala Pani”.
Places to visit in Andaman and Nicobar
Port Blair:
Port Blair is the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and is the largest town and the headquarter of the Port Blair district. This city has some of the best and worth visiting museums along with exotic beaches. The city is named in the honor of Lieutenant Archibald Blair of the East India Company. Port Blair today is the major city to reach these islands and has the only airport that connects to several major cities in India. Some of the major attractions in and around Port Blair include Rangat Island, Jolly Buoy Island, Red Skin Island, Chatham, Zsi Museum, Sippighat Farm, Chidiya Tapu, Gandhi Park, Carbyn’s Cove, Wandoor, etc.
Havelock Island:
This is the largest and one of the most beautiful islands situated in Andaman. The area of Havelock island is 113.93 km sq. and includes numerous beaches such as Elephanta Beach, Radhanagar Beach, etc. This Island is named after Henry Havelock, who was a general in India during British rule. The Havelock beach and Radhanagar beach are two of the most actively visited beaches and a huge number of tourists fly here every year just to experience their splendid environment. To have the most serene view of the setting sun, it is necessary to visit the Radhanagar beach. The Elephanta beach here offers a unique elephant beach ride and is awesome in its own way. You can also visit the inhabited area on this island to view some of the most beautiful floral species there.
Cellular Jail:
Cellular jail is situated in Port Blair and was established around 100 years ago in order to accommodate the freedom fighters of India. Some of the famous freedom fighters such as Batukeshwar Dutt, Yogendra Shukla, Sohan Singh, Maulana Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, and many others were imprisoned here because of their active involvement in the freedom fight. The architecture of the cellular jail is complex and initially, it was a puce coloured building. The bricks used to construct the building were brought from Burma and the prisoners were installed for the construction of this building. This is one of the highly visited places in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. If you visit the cellular jail, it is very important to witness the light and music show that is shown in the jail itself, every evening.
Ross Island:
Ross Island is one of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and is situated in the east of Port Blair. It was the headquarters of the British when the freedom fighters from India were taken there. The whole place has a historic feel and one can witness the ruins of churches, swimming pools, and the residence of the Chief Commissioner who used to stay there before a massive earthquake struck this place in around 1941. The headquarters after the earthquake were shifted to Port Blair. Nowadays, the island is famous for water sports and hundreds of people visit the place to enjoy its breathtaking, adventurous water sports. If you are an enthusiast and want to go scuba-diving or snorkelling, Ross Island is your best choice.
Anthropological Museum: This museum is situated in Port Blair and was started in the year 1975-76 near the Directorate of Tourism in Port Blair. It is an ethnographic museum and shows the four Negrito Tribes – the Sentineles, Jarawas, Onges and Great Andamanese. It also shows the tribes of Nicobar – Nicobarese and the Shompens. One gets to see the discrete tribal life of several tribes found here. Their unique traditions, cultures, folk dances, and lifestyle are worth watching. Also, several tools and weapons used by the tribes are exhibited here. This museum also has a library that possesses some of the best books on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Thus, if one wants to find some detailed information about these islands, the Anthropological Museum is the perfect destination. One thing to keep in mind when visiting the museum is the strict timings.
Samudrika Museum:
Another museum that attracts the people visiting Andaman and Nicobar is the Naval Marine Museum or the Samudrika. It is situated opposite Andaman Teal House, Delanipur in Port Blair. This museum shows various aspects of the oceanic environment and a collection of shells and corals. Some of the best kinds of corals and lots of shells can be seen in the museum. This museum was set up to spread awareness amongst the locals as well as the tourists about the oceanic environment and marine life. Divided into five different sections, the Samudrika museum takes us through the history of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, its geographic information, information about various tribes found here, archaeological findings from these islands, and the marine life found here. This museum is definitely a worth visiting destination and is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Different Things to Do in Andaman and Nicobar
If you are sceptical of what to do when you reach Andaman and Nicobar, there are a huge variety of things that the place offers. There are a lot of parks, museums, beaches and jails situated there. To witness the corals and reefs, visit the MG Marine National Park. Take a trip to the Cellular Jail, which is a historic place and a witness to all the tortures that the Indians suffered during their freedom struggle. There are a lot of places where you can go shopping and buy authentic wooden handicrafts and mementoes.
How to Reach Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
Andaman and Nicobar Islands are some of the most commonly visited Islands of India. To reach there, travellers need to reach Port Blair before going to other Islands of Andaman. People can easily take a flight to Port Blair from Chennai or Kolkata, as there are a lot of flights that ply to Port Blair. The Port Blair airport is known as the Veer Savarkar International Airport. To travel inside the city, taxis, cabs and auto-rickshaws are easily available.
Best Time to Visit Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The best time to visit the mesmerizing place is between October and May, as it is the time of the annual tourism festival that is conducted in the Islands. The place is wonderful for all the people who love travelling in beautiful locations.
The information given above will help you in understanding the various must-visit locations on the Andaman and Nicobar islands. The above information will guide you in planning your trip to this destination and experiencing nature at its best.
