Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Lore & Background

Genetic and cultural studies suggest the indigenous Andamanese people may have been isolated from other populations during the Middle Paleolithic era, more than 30,000 years ago. Archaeological evidence of civilization has been dated back to 2,200 years. In the 11th century, the Chola dynasty used the Nicobar islands as a naval base for expeditions into Southeast Asia. The territory hosts the Andaman and Nicobar Command, the only geographical command operated jointly by the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy. The indigenous people speak Andamanese or Nicobarese languages. Hinduism is the majority religion, with a significant Christian minority. North Sentinel Island is home to the Sentinelese, an uncontacted tribe.

Reader's Guide

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands hold strategic and historical significance as a union territory of India. Their location between the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea, with maritime borders with Indonesia, Myanmar, and Thailand, makes them geopolitically important. The islands are notable for their indigenous populations, including the uncontacted Sentinelese, and for their role in Indian history—from Chola naval expeditions to British penal colonies, such as the Cellular Jail, and Japanese occupation during World War II. The territory's unique biodiversity and isolation have preserved distinct cultures and languages. The Andaman and Nicobar Command underscores their military importance, being the only tri-service command of the Indian Armed Forces. The islands also mark the southernmost point of India at Indira Point.

Did You Know?

• The name Nicobar is derived from the Tamil word 'Nakkavaram', meaning 'open/naked land'.
• During World War II, the Azad Hind government renamed certain specific islands as Shaheed-Dweep and Swaraj-dweep.

Tourism as the Economic Engine

The territory is actively promoted as an eco-tourism destination, with a wide menu of water-based and adventure activities already on offer, including scuba diving, sea walking, parasailing, kayaking, game fishing, semi-submarine tours, glass-bottom boat rides, and night cruises. North Bay Island and Havelock Island stand out as the primary hubs for adventure-oriented visitors. Looking ahead, planners are eyeing a broad slate of new investments—sea aquariums, water theme parks, wave-surfing facilities, marine yachts, convention centres, health resorts, and inter-island cruise liners—while additional islands in the archipelago are expected to be opened for tourism-related use. Accommodation infrastructure already exists on the major islands of Port Blair, Havelock, and Neil Island, ensuring that visitors have a base from which to explore.

Forests, Sanctuaries, and Marine Life

Roughly 86 percent of the total land area in Andaman and Nicobar is covered by forest, making the green canopy the single most defining feature of the territory's landscape. Within this vast wooded expanse, the government has carved out 96 wildlife sanctuaries and nine national parks, forming what is described as an integral wing of the islands' natural resources. Among the most notable protected areas is the Narcondum Hornbill Sanctuary, dedicated to safeguarding hornbill populations. The Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park shelters a remarkable diversity of aquatic species in its waters. The Nicobar Pigeon Sanctuary focuses on protecting the endemic pigeon, while the South Sentinel Island Sanctuary is home to giant robber crabs. The North Reef Sanctuary, meanwhile, is principally devoted to nurturing a variety of water birds. Together, these protected zones underscore the territory's commitment to preserving its extraordinary biodiversity, even as tourism grows around them.

Shadows of Colonial Imprisonment

The history of Andaman and Nicobar is inseparable from its role as a place of exile and punishment under British rule. The Cellular Jail in Port Blair, locally known as Kālā Pānī or "Black Water," was the most notorious of these colonial prisons, where the British sent political prisoners far from the mainland. Among those who suffered behind its walls were Batukeshwar Dutt and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, both prominent figures in India's independence struggle. Today the complex stands as a national memorial monument. Further afield, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island—formerly Ross Island—was the seat of British administration, the colony from which the entire Andaman chain was governed. Now managed by the Indian Navy, the island remains open to tourists who reach it by boat from the Rajiv Gandhi water sports complex, though it is closed every Wednesday.

Radhanagar Beach and the Adventure Frontier

Havelock and North Bay Island together form the twin engines of adventure tourism in the archipelago, drawing visitors for snorkeling, scuba diving, and island camping.