ABOUT PORT BLAIR AND ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS

Floating in splendid isolation, cast of the Indian mainland is the archipelago of 572 emerald islands, islets and rocks known as Andaman & Nicobar Islands. This Union Territory is stretched over an area of more than 700 Km. from north to south with 36 inhabited islands. Once a hill range extending from Burma (Myanmar) to Indonesia, these undulating islands are covered with dense forests and endless variety of exotic flowers and birds. 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 the sea. The sea around the islands offer excellent scope for water sports. The rare flora and fauna, underwater marine life and corals, with crystal clear water and mangrove-lined creeks, offer a dream-view of the rare gifts of nature. The clean and wide roads, free of filth as well as unpolluted fresh air attract any nature-lover, who seek absolute peace and tranquility in the lap of mother nature. Adventure tourism like trekking, island camping, snorkeling, scuba diving etc., are the real attractions. A visit to these islands is a memorable lifetime experience.

Mythologicaly, the name Andaman was presumed to be derived from Hanuman, who was known to the Malays as Handuman. Since Prehistoric times, these islands were the home of aboriginal tribes. The tribes of, the Andaman group of islands are the Great Andamanese, Onges, Jarawas, and Sentinatese, all of Negrito origin, while the tribes of Nicobars are the Nicobarese and Shompens, both of Mongoloid stock. The first settlement by the British took place in 1789, which was later abandoned in 1796. The second settlement was basically a penal settlement, taken up in 1858, after the First War of Independence, followed by the settlement of convicts, Moplas, some criminal tribes from Central and United Provinces, refugees from erstwhile East Pakistan, Burma and Sri Lanka as well as ex-servicemen.

In these islands people of all faiths - Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs etc., and of all languages like Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Punjabi, Nicobari etc., live together in complete peace and harmony. Inter-religion and inter-regional marriages are common. This amazing racial and cultural mix is correctly described as Mini-India.

Forests are the green extend over gold of the islands. The reserved and protected forests extend over 86% area of the territory and the forest cover is more than 92 %. About 50 % of the forests has been set aside as Tribal Reserves, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries, which are inviolate. Luxuriant mangroves, perhaps the richest in the world, occupy nearly II. 5 % of the territory. More than 150 plant and animals species are endemic in nature. Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is rich in corals, varieties of colored fishes, sea turtles etc., besides other marine life. It is a birds paradise - more than 271 varieties of birds inhabit the idyllic landscape, out of which 39 are endemic. Megapode, Swiftlet, Hornbill and Nicobar Pigeon are some of the specialties of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands

GENERAL INFORMATION

LOCATION: Bay of Bengal
92 deg. to 94 deg. Longitude
6 deg. to 14 deg. North Latitude

AREA: Andamans District: 6,408 Sq.Kms.
Nicobars District : 1,841 Sq. Kms.
Total Area: 8,249 Sq. Kms.

CAPITAL: Port Blair

DISTANCE: 1255 Kms. from Calcutta
1190 Kms. from Chennai
1200 Kms. from Vishakhapatnam

ALTITUDE: Varies from sea level to 732 meters

HIGHEST PEAK: Saddle Peak - 732 metros

CLIMATE: Tropical throughout the year with mean minimum temperature at 23 deg. C and maximum at 31 deg.C. Humidity is relatively high - 70 to 90% with a gentle breeze blowing all the time. The weather is generally pleasant with average annual rainfall at 3,000 mm at Port Blair (May to mid-Sept. & Nov. to Jan.)

FOREST COVER: 92 %, Forest area 86%

BEST SEASON: October to May

CLOTHING : Cottons throughout the year

IDD CODE: ++91-3192 (STD 03192)

GETTING THERE:

BY SEA:

Regular passenger ship services are available to Port Blair from Chennai, Kolkatta (Calcutta) and Visakhapatnam and back. There are three to four sailing's every month from Calcutta and Chennai to Port Blair and vice-versa. There is a sailing from Visakhapatnam once in a month. The voyage takes about three days and the ship normally berth at Port Blair for about two days.

The ship is operated by:
Shipping Corporation of India Ltd., Aberdeen Bazaar, Port Blair - 744 101.
Further information on schedules and tariffs can be obtained from : Shipping Corporation of India, at
Kolkatta (Calcutta). 
Please note that we do not handle ship ticket bookings and any e-mails in this regard sent to us, shall not be entertained.