ABOUT ANDAMAN ISLANDS
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, located in the east of the Indian mainland geographically, float in splendid isolation in the Bay of Bengal. Once a hill range extending from Myanmar to Indonesia, these picturesque undulating islands, islets numbering around 556, are covered with dense damp and evergreen forests and endless varieties of exotic flora and fauna. Most of these islands are in the Andaman Group, 24 of which are inhabited. In the Nicobar group 13 islands are inhabited. The Andaman and Nicobars are separated by the Ten Degree Channel which is 150 Kms. wide.
These islands also boast of freedom fighting days, historically significant landmarks viz. Cellular Jail, Ross Island, Viper Island, Hopetown and Mount Harriet. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been declared as two of the 218 endemic bird area of the world. As many as 270 species and sub-species of birds have been reported existing in these islands, 106 of them being endemic. The Andaman Wood Pigeon, Andaman Padauk and Dugong are declared as State Bird, State Tree and State Animal respectively. There are about 96 Wildlife Sanctuaries, nine National Parks and one Biosphere Reserve in the islands. Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is the best known sanctuary. These islands are blessed with the bounties of both south-west and north-east monsoons.
Administratively, the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has three revenue Districts. Port Blair- the capital and gateway to the islands lies in South Andaman island and falls under South Andaman District. The latest North & Middle Andaman District with Mayabunder as headquarters lies separated from South Andaman District by a creek. Car Nicobar is the District Head quarter of Nicobar District. As per 2011 Census, the total population of Andaman & Nicobar stands 3,79,944 and the literacy rate is 86.27%.
FACTS & STATISTICS
| Location: | Bay of Bengal 92' to 94' East Longitude 6' to 14' North Latitude |
| Total Area: | 8249 sq.km. (Andaman-6408 sq.kms – Nicobar-1841 sq.km.) |
| Total Islands: | 572 |
| Inhabited Islands: | 36 |
| Capital: | Port Blair |
| Districts: | 3 (South Andaman – Nicobars – North and Middle Andaman) |
| Altitude: | Varies from Sea level to 732 metres Highest Point |
| Andaman Islands: | Saddle Peak (North Andaman Island : 732 Metres) |
| Nicobar Islands: | Mount Thullier (Great Nicobar Island : 642 Metres) |
| Forest Cover: | 92% |
| Climate: | Tropical and Humid. Humidity – 70% and 90% Temperature – Minimum 23°C and Maximum 30°C. |
| Ideal Tourist Season: | October to May |
| For Monsoon Holidays: | June to September |
| Relative Humidity: | 70% to 90% |
| Total Population: | 379944 (Census 2011) |
| Literacy Rate: | 86.24% |
| Languages Spoken: | Hindi – Bengali – Malayalam – Tamil – Telugu – Punjabi – Nicobarese – English |
