GENERAL INFORMATION
Located in the Bay of Bengal, the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is an archipelago of over 572 islands, a majority of which are uninhabited. The islands are surrounded by coral reefs, sandy beaches and clear water.The topography of the islands is Hilly and abounds in evergreen forests. The sandy beaches on the edge of meandering coastline are fringed with coconut – palms that sway to the rhythm of sea. The islands were used by the British in the 19th century, mainly for imprisoning Indian freedom fighters in the 'cellular jail'. This group of 572 islands lies 193 km away from Cape Negrais in Myanmar, 1255 km from Calcutta, and 1190 km from Chennai. The two important groups of islets are Ritchie's Archipelago and Labyrinth Islands. The Nicobar Islands are located to the south of the Andamans, 121 km from the Little Andaman Island. Of the total 572 islands, only 36 islands are inhabited. The Islands are located between the latitudes 6° to 14° North and longitudes 92° to 94° East.

TOURISM IN ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS
Andaman and the Nicobar Islands are a land of incomparable beauty The canopied rain forests of the islands harbor 3,000 species of plants including mangroves, epiphytes (130 ferns, 100 orchids), palms, woody climbers, timbers (teak, mahogany, Andaman paduk) and a wide variety of tropical fruits. Marine fauna is diverse including a wide variety of tropical fish and coral. Considering the diversity and uniqueness of fauna and flora and the fragile nature of the eco-system here, 96 sanctuaries spread over 466.218 sq km and nine National Parks spread over 1153.938 sq km have been notified on these islands. Andaman and Nicobar Islands known as the traveler’s paradise it is a land of various attractions both in summer and winters. Places of tourist intrest in and around the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are:-

Corbyn's Cove : About 4 kms. from Port Blair airport is palm fringed beach ideal for swimming, surfing and sunbathing.

Mount Hariet : Ideally suited for trekking, Mount Harriet, a picnic spot par excellence offers a breathtaking view of Port Blair.

Sippighat Farm : This is a Government agricultural & demonstration farm spread over in area of 80 acres.

Chidiya Tapu : Also known as bird island this is the southern most tip of South Andaman.

Wandoor Beach : Situated on the West coast of South Andaman, it is a beautiful place for diving, swimming and picnicking. The wooden jetty at Wandoor is the boarding place for Red Skin or Jolly Buoy island famous for corals.

Viper Island : This island offers beautiful sandy beaches and lush green forest. Island camping at Radhanagar is real exposure to the unpolluted nature for an environment lover.

HERITAGE
Little is known historically about Andaman and Nicobar but It is believed that Marco Polo was among the first from the West to set foot on one of the islands. Kanhoji Angre, a Maratha admiral had his base on the island in the early 18th century. From there, he attacked passing Portuguese, Dutch and English merchant vessels on their way to or from their various Asian colonies. In 1713, his navy even succeeded in capturing the yacht of the British Governor of Bombay. Despite many efforts by the British and later a joint military force of British and Portuguese naval forces, Kanhoji Angre was never defeated. He died in 1729. The British established their first colony in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in 1789, which was abandoned in 1796. The British finally annexed the islands in the 19th century adding them to their empire. They turned it into a penal colony for Indian freedom fighters. The construction of the infamous Cellular Jail was completed in 1908. Hundreds of anti-British Indians were tortured to death or simply executed here. With the Second World War, Japanese troops occupied the islands and the local tribes initiated guerrilla activities to drive them out. When India achieved independence in 1947, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands were incorporated into the Indian Union The cellular jail and the marine museum are the two most important places in concern of Andaman and nicobar iselands Heritage .A national monument, the Cellular Jail has a museum where exhibits depict prison life in the early 1900,s. the saga of the historic struggle is now brought live in a moving son-et-lumiere. The marine museum exhibits almost 350 species of marine life while the Anthropological Museum displays the tools, implements, art and handicrafts of the tribals in the territory.

CUISINE
From upscale restaurants to the local dhabas of Andaman and Nicobar sea food is very popular basic Indian food is also available, though quite expensive, because many ingredients have to be imported. And in drinks Fresh coconuts are popular and widely available. Alcohol is available in some restaurants and at 'English Beer & Wine Shops' in Port Blair and on Havelock Island.

CLIMATE
The climate in the Andaman and Nicobar is tropical. The native people of these islands are of Negroid and Monogloid stocks. The main tribes are Onge, Andamanese, Shompen, Nicobarese and Jarawa. The number of tribals is fast dwindling. There is humidity in the air all round the year. However, in monsoon as the sea becomes turbulent, it is better to avoid going to Andaman during the rains. In summers the temperature is around 30 to 35*C and in winters around 15 to 20*C.

State Capital :-  Port Blair is the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Island.

Area Covered -  8,249 sq km

Languages - Bengali, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Nicobarese, Telugu

Best Time to Visit - December to early April