Andaman and Nicobar Islands : Travel Guide

Map Of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

History Of Origin :



In the year 1789, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands were first discovered by the British Empire. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a collection of nearly 600 separate small islands in the Bay of Bengal.The islands were inhabited by nearly 6 tribal groups then. The Nicobar Islands were thickly populated by the Nicobari tribes especially in Car Nicobar, Nancowrie, Camorta and Katchal islands. The other groups of tribes are the Shompan tribes who lived in Campbell Bay at Great Nicobar.
However the Britishers left the island by 1796 due to natural calamities. The Britishers established their colony in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for the second time in 1858.During this colonization the British Officials and soldiers settled in large groups. The islands were used as a penal colony by the British rulers to imprison rebels and freedom fighters, in addition to hardened criminals. Most of the inhabitants of these islands are in fact migrants from the mainland, some of them being descended from the prisoners.

Geography :


The Andaman and Nicobar Islands stretch out almost 500 km in length, with the Andamans in the north and the Nicobars in the south. The main island, aptly known as Great Andaman, is divided into 3 portions - North Andaman, Middle Andaman and South Andaman. Port Blair, the capital, is located on South Andaman.





Port Blair

Port Blair is the largest town and a municipal council in Andaman district in the Andaman Islands and the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory of India. It lies on the east coast of South Andaman Island and is the main entry point to the islands. It is home to several museums and a major base for the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard. It is also the headquarters of the Tri Services Command.



Climate

Good time to explore the deep sea beauty in Andaman and Nicobar is from October to May.

Mid-January until mid-May sees the best weather, and often the best diving conditions. In general the climate is tropical in nature.

Languages
Most common language used is Hindi whereas English and Hindi are used for official correspondence. Other commonly spoken languages are Bengali Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam etc.

Modes Of Communication
All modern ways of communication like Telephone and Mobile services, Broadband internet facilities are available.
>> ISD Code :- +91-3192
>> STD Code :- 03192

Emergency Contacts –
>> Andaman Nicobar Airport :- 03192-233390/232983
>> Andaman Nicobar Railway Reservation Office :- 03192-233042
>> Police Control Room :- 03192-232100

Travel and Transport (How to reach Andaman)

BY AIR
Port Blair is connected with Chennai and Calcutta by air. Presently flights are operated by Alliance Air/Indian Airlines and Jet Airways.
BY SEA
Regular passenger ship services are available to Port Blair from Chennai, Calcutta and Vishakhapatnam and back. There are three to four sailings every month from Calcutta and Chennai to Port Blair and vice-versa. There is one sailing from Vishakhapatnam in a month. The voyage takes about 50 to 60 hours and the ship normally berths at Port Blair for about two to four days.