Andaman & Nicobar Islands in india

  By Dhananjai | September 4, 2012 | INDIAN CULTURE

History Andaman’s appearance in history is as ancient as the epic Ramayana and its main characters, Rama, Hanuman, Sita and Ravana. The legendary Monkey God Hanuman is believed to have landed here on the way to Ravana’s kingdom in Sri Lanka, while searching for Lord Rama’s abducted wife, Sita. And that is perhaps the reason for the name “Andaman” which is derived from the Malay word “Handuman” or Hanuman, the Hindu Monkey God. The Andaman & Nicobar Islands were the abode of the Negritos and the Mongoloids respectively, who lived on the islands for centuries. The islands remained isolated from the mainland till the end of the 17th century when people from the outside world first arrived. Nicobar means “the land of the naked” – possibly a reference to its tribal residents. The islands first appeared in the 2nd century maps prepared by the great Roman geographer, Claudius Ptolemus who also referred to them as the “islands of cannibals”. Xuan Zang, a Chinese monk noted their existence in the seventh century, as did Marco Polo who called it “the land of the head hunters”. The Marathas annexed the islands in the late 17th century. In the early 18th century, the islands were the naval bases of Maratha admiral Kanhoji Angre, whose fleet frequently attacked and captured British, Dutch and Portuguese merchant ships. The British finally annexed Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the 19th century who used it as the penitentiary for Indian freedom fighters. The exile was known as ‘kalapani’ (or exile) by the ‘offenders’ sent to the ill-reputed ‘Cellular Jail’, where many of the freedom fighters were executed. It was the Japanese who occupied the islands during the World War II. Whereas some of the local tribes took up guerrilla activities against the Japanese, others welcomed them as liberators from the British colonialism. After India gained independence in 1947, the islands were incorporated into the Indian Union and administered as a Union Territory by the Central Government.

Economy The Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands has a vast forest resource base with 7,171 sq km of the total area of island covered by forests. A large variety of timber is found in the Andaman group of islands. 40% of the forest is divided as Primitive Tribal Reserve open only to Indians with permits. The rest is a Protected Area for the cultivation of timber for export of matchwood, hardwood and plywoods. Paddy is the main food crop and is mostly cultivated in the Andaman group of islands, whereas coconut and areca nut are the main cash crops of the Nicobar group of islands. Different kinds of fruits such as mango, sapota, orange, banana, papaya, pineapple and some root crops are also grown on the islands. The islands have reported the occurrence of diatomaceous earth, gold, limestone, nickel, selenite and sulphur. The Indian Oil and Natural Gas Commission is exploring for oil and gas there. The islands have a number of small scale, village and handicrafts units. The number of export-oriented units is also increasing in the agro-processing sectors. The Andaman and Nicobar Integrated Development Corporation has made its presence felt in civil supplies, tourism, fisheries, industries, and industrial financing activities.

Language There are two distinct inhabitants of the islands – The ‘Indians’ and the ‘Natives’. The former are people from the Indian mainland especially from Punjab, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu as well as immigrants from Myanmar and Sri Lanka. The native or the Aborigine tribes are the main reason why the islands have an aura of wild abandonment about them. The indigenous tribes are distinguished as two groups: the Onge, Sentinelese, Jarawa and Andamanese of Negroid descent living on the Andaman Islands and the Shompen and Nicobarese of Mongoloid descent living in the Nicobar Islands. Most of these tribes are on the verge of extinction because of the combined impact of destruction of the forest habitats and the imposition of an alien and insensitive culture that brought along with it various diseases and vices such as alcohol and tobacco. The two Negrito communities, the Jarawa and the Sentinelese have avoided contact with the outside world and often resorted to violence to do so. Perhaps they realise that their only way of survival is to avoid contact with the outside world. This however appears to be changing in the case of the Jarawa. Whereas the number of Great Andamanese declined because of the various epidemics, the Onge are suffering on account of the destruction of their forests and the imposition of a way of life that is alien and insensitive to them. The Nicobarese are fortunate to have found it easier to assimilate into the contemporary Indian society. English and Hindi are widely spoken, as are Bengali and Malayalam. The ethnic language spoken in Andaman bears no resemblance to any other language spoken in India.

Religion It is on these islands that all religions come together. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians, forget their differences and live in perfect harmony. In fact, they are referred to as a Mini India.

Food No particular cuisine has developed in Andaman and Nicobar Islands because the tribes were hunters who lived on what the forest produced. However, several settlers from all parts of India inhabit the island adding their own particular flavours and foods. The people are essentially rice eaters. The soil is not suitable for the growth of many fruits and vegetables that have to be shipped in from Chennai. Seafood is available in plenty and many restaurants serve fresh seafood.

Culture and Crafts The primitive tribes of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands were the Shompens, Onge, Great Andamanese, Jarawa, Sentinelese and others. Most of these small tribes came into contact with modern civilization and slowly lost most of their cultural identity. The Jarawa and Sentinelese became insular and even resorted to violent means to protect their cultural identity. The Jarawa have slowly given in but the Sentinelese culture based on tribe, family and clan still remains intact. On the other hand, the Nicobarese were larger in numbers and gradually integrated modern civilization into their socio-cultural structure. Their cultural fabric is woven around clan, religion and economy. They are best known for their love for music and dance. The main crafts of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands include shell and exotic woods crafted for the tourists, palm mats, and beautiful natural shells. Due to the fear of over exploitation of the Islands’ natural resources, trade of some products is now banned like mother-of-pearl jewellery, paduk, which is now banned.

Tourist info centres

Director (Tourism), Andaman & Nicobar Administration Port Blair – 741101 Tel: (03192) 230933,230234

How to get there by Air Travellers flying into the Andaman & Nicobar Islands have to first arrive at Port Blair before taking a boat/ferry to any of the other islands. Frequent flights ply to Port Blair from Kolkata and Chennai. For some strange reason, the airport at Port Blair is known as School Line airport. Taxis and auto rickshaws are available for the journey into the main city.

Getting around The Directorate of Shipping Services operates regular inter-island shore and harbour ferry services to cater to the needs of inter-island commuters. There are local buses, bicycles, motorcycles, auto rickshaws, and taxis available for local transport on the islands. One has to be wary of the taxi drivers who don’t use the meter for calculating fares. But it is best to hire your own vehicle, to explore these islands in your way, your pace. Cars, mopeds, motorbikes, bicycles and even private boats are available for hire.

Where to Stay in Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Wondering where to stay in Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
Well there are endless accommodation options in Andaman and Nicobar Islands to cater all types of vacation budgets and tastes. From five-star to budget hotels from premium hotels to lodges and resorts, Andaman and Nicobar Islands offer plenty of hotels and beach side resorts for tourists.
With about 100 kms of coastline, dense forests and rich coral reefs the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are well-visited for their spectacular nature beauty. The check out time from the hotels is usually 7am and many hotels offer discounts in the low season (April – September). 
Further for your convenience we have divided the lodging options of Andaman and Nicobar Islands as per regions and accommodation class to assist you in your search of finding the perfect match as per your need and choice.
Luxury Resorts and Hotel 
If you want to spend your holiday in absolute luxury and budget is not your concern then you can stay at Fortune Resort Bay Island in Port Blair. The resort is positioned adjacent to the emerald blue waters of the Bay of Bengal giving you a stunning look of fresh waters from it’s corridor. The property constructed with the fine blend of red wood and padouk wood has 48 rooms. By the virtue of ascending hilltop the rooms are strategically constructed in such a way that each room lies above its bordering room. The rooms are decorated with local artifacts shell lamps and are clad with reed curtains.
You can enjoy the hotel bar (NICO), restaurant (Mandalay), lounge (Look Out) with video facilities, swimming pools, fishing, table tennis, cycling and snorkeling. Currency exchanger facility is also available within the hotel.
The Peerless Sarovar Portico is the other good option in Port Blair. Set in one corner of the city this place surrounds tranquility and yet is well connected to the major regions of Port Blair. This beach resort offers great views of either its landscape gardens or the sea. You can enjoy the resort’s well stocked bar. You can also check-in for a decent stay at Hotel Sentinel, located in Phoenix Bay at Port Blair.
The Havelock Island which is three hours by boat from Port Blair is well-visited by tourists visiting Port Blair. The Silver Sand Beach Resort inHavelock is ideal to spend luxurious holidays. With modern facilities and splendid interiors the property is close to the lagoon that invites you to experience the depth of the impressive sea world. The resort has 34 luxurious A/C cottages and bungalows, multi-cuisine restaurant and bar, 24 hours hot and cold water, scuba diving center and much more.
Deluxe and Standard Hotels Resorts and Cottages 
If you are looking for mid-range hotels in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and still don’t want to compromise on quality of service and facilities then you can choose any of the following accommodation options.
The three-star standard Megapode Nest Resort, located at Port Blair offers beautiful sea view. This property possesses 28 A/C rooms and four Nicobari cottages. The rooms are equipped with amenities like telephone (STD/ISD services), colour TV, internet, A/C bar and restaurants; and car on hire facility. The hotel accepts Master and Visa credit cards. The national heritage monument of Central Jail (Kalapani) is 5 kms from the hotel. The hotel is 6 kms away from the airport.
Hotel Silver Spring in Port Blair is located at a distance of 2 kms from the airport. The property offers well furnished rooms with all modern amenities and comforts.
The well-known Sinclairs Bay View Hotel offers a spectacular ocean view from every room. The property has beautiful rooms with attached baths hot/cold water, satellite TV channels, telephones and room service. The hotel is 5 kms or 15 minutes drive from airport, 20 minutes drive from Port Blair harbour and 2 kms distance from shopping area.
Other deluxe hotels and resorts are Hotel Mainak, Sun Sea Resort, TSG Emerald View and Hotel Shreesh.
If you are looking for accommodation in Havelock then you may opt to check-in the Sea Shell Beach Resort. The resort has luxurious deluxe sea-facing rooms and open balconies which will allow you to enjoy the uninterrupted sea view. The resort’s active green initiative assigns it to use air-conditioning that is based on the energy-efficient technology, energy-efficient CFL lamps and solar geysers which helps in making minimal impact on the natural surroundings.
The Budget Hotels in Andaman and Nicobar 
If you don’t want to spend much on your accommodation then you can try the following lodging options: The Palm Grove Eco Resort that is situated 4 kms away from the airport. Due to planned eco-friendly construction the resort with non A/C rooms remains pleasant all day long. The tree top huts of palm Grove Eco Resort will give you the feel of Andaman culture. The resort offers special sea-food delicacies.
You can choose to stay from various range and type of rooms like Canopy Top Eco Bungalow, Nicobari Traditional Huts, Tree Top Huts (Non A/C) or Eco Double Rooms (with A/C).
The other budget hotel options are Citi King Palace located in Supply Line, Shompen in Middle Point, N.K.International at Phoenix Bay, Hotel Blair, Holiday Resort and Gem Continental.
If you are visiting the Island for official purpose or on business you can look for Hotel Diviyum Manor, a few minutes away from the airport this hotel is within easy access to the Government, commercial and financial centers of the city. It is also close to various sightseeing and shopping locations. The hotel is equipped with satellite channel and good medical facilities. Hotel Vedhant Residency is also a few minutes away from airport.
The Wild Orchid Resort is situated between the blue waters of Andaman Sea and lush green hills of Havelock. This authentic Andamanese resort has spacious cottages and is located a few meters away from the sea. The resort offers 14 cottages with attached bathrooms. The resort’s restaurant named Red Snapper will serve you Indian, continental and sea food accompanied with ‘Emerald Gecko Bar’ for your cocktails. The resort also includes activities like visit to neighboring Islands, fishing, trekking, snorkeling and Ayurvedic massage services.
Lodges in Andaman and Nicobar 
Nowadays many tourists with limited budgets and fad for travel prefer to stay at low-priced economical lodges.
The eight-room Swagat Lodge located at Aberdeen Bazaar in Port Blair is very popular for its authentic Andamanese and Nicobarese delicacies and excellent service. Likewise you can also find Kavitha and Ram Niwas lodge in same Aberdeen Bazaar.
Andaman Tourist Cottage with 21 rooms in Babu Lane is another decent option for lodging in Port Blair.

Best Time to Visit Andaman & Nicobar Islands

The best time of the year to visit the Andaman & Nicobar Islands is between October and May. It is also the time for the annual tourism festival. The waters are clear and relatively placid after the monsoons making them perfect for snorkelers and swimmers.

Climate The islands have a tropical climate with only minor fluctuations in temperature (23-30°C) and 80% humidity all around the year. There is medium to heavy rain during the monsoons twice a year from the month from May to mid September and November to mid December. Average annual rainfall is about 3000mm at Port Blair.

Things to do in Andaman & Nicobar Islands

If you are wondering what to do in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, you will be amazed at the wide variety of things to do, that this place has to offer. The enigmatic beauty of the Andaman Islands stretches to the lovely beaches, parks, jails, and museums, apart from the islands. Visit the MG Marine National Park for its fascinating beaches, coral reefs, and marine life. Take a trip to the Cellular Jail which stands a silent witness to the tortures and agony faced by the prisoners exiled here during India’s freedom struggle. You will enjoy shopping in Andaman, as the local shops offer wooden handicrafts and amazing memento items.
Andaman & Nicobar Islands offer a lot of activities to keep you on the go and make your stay a thrilling one. Camping, trekking, scuba-diving, and surfing & snorkelling are a reason for every nature and adventure lover to make a visit to these exotic islands!