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Foreigners
All foreign nationals can stay in the islands for 30
days. This can be extended by another 15 days with
permission. They require a permit to stay from the
immigration authorities. In addition, permits can also
be obtained from: Indian Missions Overseas, Foreigner’s
Registration Offices at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Calcutta
and the immigration authorities at the airports at
Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Chennai.
The places covered by this permit for night halt are:
South Andaman Island, Middle Andaman Island and Little
Andaman Island (except tribal reserve), Neil Island,
Havelock Island, Long Island, Diglipur, Baratang, North
Passage and islands in the Mahatma Gandhi Marine
National Park (excluding islands – Boat Hobday, Twin,
Tarmugli, Malay and Pluto) Night halt in the Park is
with permission only.
For Day Halt
South Cinque Island, Ross Island, Narcondum Island,
Interview Island, Brother Island, Sister Island and
Barren Island ( Barren Island can be visited on board
vessels only).
Indians
Indian nationals need no permit to visit Andamans.
However, permits are required to visit Nicobar Islands
and other tribal areas, which are given in exceptional
cases. Application on a prescribed form may be addressed
to the Deputy Commis |
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Since pre-historic times, these islands have been the
home of aboriginal tribes. But 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, the year after the
First War of Indian Independence, followed by the
settlement of convicts, some criminal tribes from
Central and United Provinces, refugees from erstwhile
East Pakistan and Sri Lanka as well as ex-servicemen |
| Location |
Bay of
Bengal |
| Longitude |
920 to 940 East |
|
Latitude |
60
to 140 North |
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Saddle Peak (North Andaman Island ) = 732 Meters
Mount Thullier (Great Nicobar Island) = 642 Meters |
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Andaman District = 6408 Sq.Km
Nicobar Disctrict = 1841 Sq.Km
Urban Area = 16.64 Sq.Km
Rural Area = 8232.36 Sq.Km |
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Length and Breadth of Nicobar Islands
Total Length = 259 Kms
Maxiimum Width = 58 Kms
Biggest Island in Andaman Group
Middle Andaman Island = 1536 Sq.Km
Biggest Island in Nicobar Group
Great Nicobar Island = 1045 Sq.Km.
Smallest Island in Andaman Group
Ross Island = 0.8 Sq Km.
Smallest Island in Nicobar Group
Pilomillow Island = 1.3 Sq.Km |
|
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Distance by Sea (In Kms.)
Between Port Blair & Chennai = 1190
Between Port Blair & Calcutta = 1255
Between Port Blair & Vishakapatnam = 1200
Distance by Air Kms.
Between Calcutta & Port Blair = 1303
Between Chennai & Port Blair = 1330 |
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Administrative Unit................No.
District...............................2
Sub-Division........................4
Tehsil.................................7
Town..................................1
C.D.Block...........................5
Lok Sabha Seat..................1
Municipal Council................1
Municipal Ward..................18
Panchayat.........................67
Police Station....................15
Panchayat Samiti...............07
Zilla Parishad.....................01
Island/ Village...................Nos.
Revenue Village..................204
Census Village...................547
Inhabited Village.................504
Uninhabited Village...............43
Inhabited Island....................36 |
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Normal Rainfall at Port
Blair.............................................3180
mm
Actual Rainfall at Port Blair during
1999............................2975.0 mm
Rainy days at Port Blair during
1999.................................209
Mean Minimum Temperature at Port Blair during
1999.........22.80 Celcius
Mean Maximum Temperature at Port Blair during
1999........29.80 Celcius
Mean Relative Humidity at Port Blair During
1999.................81% |
|
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Total Population |
1971 |
1981 |
1991 |
2001 |
| |
115113 |
188741 |
280661 |
356265 |
| Male |
70027 |
107261 |
154369 |
192985 |
| Female |
45106 |
81480 |
126292 |
163280 |
|
RURAL POPULATION |
88915 |
139107 |
205706 |
|
| Male |
53195 |
78401 |
111986 |
|
| Female |
35720 |
60706 |
93720 |
|
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URBAN POPULATION |
26218 |
49634 |
74955 |
|
| Male |
16832 |
28860 |
42383 |
|
| Female |
9386 |
20774 |
32572 |
|
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Bengali, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Telgu, Nicobarese |
|
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Hindu (67.52%), Christian (23.94%), Islam (7.60%), Other
(0.94%) |
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October to May |
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Location - Located in
the Bay of Bengal, this group of 572 islands lies
193 km away from Cape Negrais in Myanmar, 1255 km from
Calcutta, and 1190 km from Chennai. The two important
groups of islets are Ritchie's Archipelago and Labyrinth
Islands. The Nicobar Islands are located to the south of
the Andamans, 121 km from the Little Andaman Island. Of
the total 572 islands, only 36 islands are inhabited.
The Islands are located between the latitudes 6° to 14°
North and longitudes 92° to 94° East.
Physical Features
- The Andaman and Nicobar Islands comprise around
572 islands formed by a submarine mountain range, which
separates the Bay of Bengal from the Andaman Sea. The
islands attain maximum altitude at Saddle Peak (730 m),
formed mainly of limestone, sandstone, and clay.
Climate - The
islands have a tropical climate. There is medium to
heavy rain during the monsoon, in the months from May to
mid September and November to mid December. There is no
extreme climate except rains and tropical storms in late
summer often cause heavy damage.
Flora and Fauna
- The canopied rain forests of the islands harbor 3,000
species of plants including mangroves, epiphytes (130
ferns, 100 orchids), palms, woody climbers, timbers
(teak, mahogany, Andaman paduk) and a wide variety of
tropical fruits. Marine fauna is diverse including a
wide variety of tropical fish and coral. Considering the
diversity and uniqueness of fauna and flora and the
fragile nature of the eco-system here, 96 sanctuaries
spread over 466.218 sq km and nine National Parks spread
over 1153.938 sq km have been notified on these
islands. |
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Ethnicity - Due to
consistent emphasis of the government on progress and
its encouragement to the mainlanders to settle there has
resulted in the local tribes becoming a minority group
in their own land.
The indigenous tribes are
distinguished in 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
the tribes are on the verge of extinction. This sad
destiny will most likely hit the Andamanese tribe first
since their number is as low as thirty. The Sentinelese
is the least studied tribe still living in isolation on
the North Sentinel Island. Their number is estimated at
250. Outsiders attempting to make contact with them are
driven away with bows and arrows. They continue to
maintain a unique lifestyle living in harmony with
nature just as they have done for thousands of years.
Arts and Crafts
- The main crafts of the Andaman & 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.
Attire - Being
far removed from the present civilization, the
aboriginal people did not wear any clothes till
recently. The Sentinelese do not wear anything even now
while the Jarawas use only adornments of bark and shell,
like necklaces, arm bands, waist bands etc. The Shompens
are semi nomadic and cover their body below the waist
only. The people of Car Nicobar Island have totally
given up the traditional dress of tassel or coconut leaf
petticoat and now wear modern clothes. The Onges
survived without dress for centuries but have gradually
adapted to the dress code of the mainland. Use of
traditional items of adornment like necklaces made of
shell, waistbands and headbands of bark fiber are now
restricted to ceremonial occasions. |
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The Andaman and Nicobar Islands were shrouded in mystery
for centuries because of their inaccessibility. These
are the paragon of beauty and present a landscape full
with scenic and picturesque extravaganza. These islands
shimmer like emeralds in the Bay of Bengal. The dense
forest which cover these islands and the innumerable
exotic flowers and birds create a highly poetic and
romantic atmosphere. "Here the white beaches on the edge
of a meandering coastline have palm trees that sway to
the rhythm of the Sea. The beat of tribal drums haunt
the stillness and technicolour fish steer their way
through crystal clear water." This addition of
strangeness to beauty which is responsible for creating
the infinite romantic impact may be described in the
following famous lines of Keats.
"Charmed magic casement opening on the foam Of perilous
seas in fair lands forlorn."
The scenic beauty of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, would
create a sense of dissatisfaction and the human mind
would rebel against "the whole mass of the motley facts
of life". He would be guided by an irresistible desire
to this paradise on earth, with invincible faith on the
philosophy of Wordsworth:
"Our cheerful faith, that all which we behold is full of
blessing".
The Andaman & Nicobar are a group of picturesque
Islands, big and small, inhabited and uninhabited, a
total of 572 islands, islets and rocks lying in the
South Eastern Part of the Bay of Bengal.They lie along
an arc in long and narrow broken chain, approximately
North-South over a distance nearly 800 kms. . It is
logical to presume a former land connection form Cape
Negris at South part of Burma to Achin Head (Cape Pedro)
in Andalas (Sumatra). The flora and fauna of these
islands, however, indicate that this land connection if
it existed, should have been prior to the development of
their present life form. |
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(i)
The Great Andamanese
:- They are once the largest in population among the
various tribes inhabiting the Andaman Islands. Their
estimated population in 1789 was 10,000. By 1901, their
number had decreased to 625 and by 1969 their number had
decreased to 19 only. According to the Census of 1971,
only 24 of them survived, but by 1999. their number has
increased to 41. The Administration is doing its best to
protect and preserve these tribes. These tribals have
been rehabilitated in a small island named Strait
Island. The Great Andamanese are foragers. Today, they
eat rice, dal chapati and other modern food articles.
They can cook food with the ingredients of spices. At
times, they still go in for hunting and gathering.
Actually, their traditional food items are fish, dugong,
turtle, turtle eggs, crabs, roots and tubers. They also
eat pork, Andaman water monitor lizard, etc. As aquatic
people, they relish octopus, molluses taken out from
shell marine animals like turban shell, scorpion shell,
sundial, helmet, trochus and screw shell besides various
types of crabs and fish. Some of them cultivate
vegetables. Of late, they have established poultry
farms. They are exposed to highly communicable diseases
besides unhealthy drinking habits which of course are
acquired after contact with the monbund urban dominant
and advanced communities.
ii) ONGE
:- Onges are one of the most primitive tribes in India.
They belong to the Negrito racial stock and they have
been relegated to the reserved pockets both at Dugong
Creek and South Bay of Little Andaman Island. They are
also diminishing in number. They live in a remote corner
of the country in a small pocket. They are the
semi-nomadic tribes and fully dependent on the food
provided by nature. They have now experienced the impact
of outsiders. At the same time efforts at befriending
them have proved to be successful. They have been
provided with pucca hut type houses, food, clothes,
medicines, etc by the Administration. They eat turtle,
fish, roots and jack frutis and etc. They have developed
artistry and craft. The Onges can make canoes. A primary
school has been functioning at the Dugong Creek
settlement of Onges. This tribe has become laid back and
dependent in their ways. Also their rate of reproduction
has become very low.
iii)
JARAWAS :- They are now friendly and
voluntary seek medical assistance. They do not have good
canoes but can make rafts which they build to cross the
streams. The year 1974 was a land mark in the history of
Jarawas. Dropping of gifts was done in February and
March 1974. After establishing this friendly mission
with the Jarawas, the contact party of the
Administration quite often met the Jarawas and gave them
gift items like banana, coconut and other fruits. With
the passage of time, the behavioral pattern of Jarawas
have changed. Till the beginning of 1998, they remained
hostile, but now they are coming out of the jungle quite
often and are becoming friendlier. For nearly a year
there is no incidence of killing of villagers by the
Jarawas. On the other hand, the Jarawas are coming out
from their habitat to mix with the local people. After
giving them gift items like bananas, coconuts, etc,.
they are being sent out to live in their own natural
habitat, with view not to force them to have a taste of
the civilized world. Isolated so long, the Jarawas
otherwise appear to be healthy, with smooth skin, deep
curly hair, long and sturdy hands and legs and sturdy
bones. They are physically fit for hunting, fishing.
Unlike, other tribes mention earlier, the Jarawas are
not welfare dependent people. As nomadic tribes
subsisting on hunting, fishing and gathering activities,
their traditional food articles consist of boar (wild
boar), turtles and their eggs, crabs and other shore
animals, etc. wild pig fruits and honey.
(iv)
SENTENELESE :- The Sentinelese are the
inhabitants of North Sentinel Island. The area is about
60 Sq. Kilometers. They are probably the world’s only
Paleolithic people surviving today without contact with
any other group or community. They are considered as an
off-shoot to the Onge Jarawa tribes which have acquired
a different identity due to their habitation in an
isolated and have lost contact with the main tribes. The
Sentinelese are very hostile and never leave their
Island. Very little is known about these hostile tribes.
(v)
SHOMPENS
:- The habitation of Shompens is the Great Nicobar which
is the largest among the Nicobar group of Islands. Like
the Nicobarese, they belong to the Mongoloid race. The
Shompens have two divisions, the smaller division being
known as Mawa Shompens. They inhabit areas very close to
the coastal region along the river valleys. They are
very shy. They are quite intimate with the Nicobarese
and of the major group of Shompens, the hostile Shompens
are living in Alexendra and Galathia river areas and
also on the east coast of the area in the interior of
the Island. In the past, frequent attacks are believed
to have been made on the Mawa Shompens by the hostile
Shompens. But now, such hostility has been stopped. It
is probably because they have been largely reduced in
number due to various diseases. The Mawa Shompens are
the victims of diseases and physically very weak. With
the establishment of the settlement at Campbell Bay in
Great Nicobar, Shompens have been visiting the settlers
and they are gradually shaking off their shyness and
indifferent attitude towards the civilised people. |
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BY AIR
Port Blair is connected with Chennai and Calcutta by
air. Presently flights are operated by Alliance
Air/Indian Airlines and Jet Airways.
Alliance Air: City Office: Middle Point, Port Blair,
Tel: 233108 Airport: 232983
Jet Airways flights are operating every day on Chennai -
Port Blair - Chennai sector. Jet Airways: City Office:
Junglighat, Port Blair, Tel: 236922/236933 Fax: 236944,
Airport: 235911,235944, Web Site: www.jetairways.com
Foreign tourist charter flights are also permitted to
land at Port Blair subject to the fulfillment of
guidelines of the Director General of Civil Aviation.
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. Further
information on schedules and tariffs can be obtained
from:
1. Shipping Corporation of India Ltd. Apeejay House, 4th
Floor, Dinsa Wacha Road, Mumbai – 400 020 Tel:
2822101/2823316 Fax: (022) 2022438
2. Shipping Corporation of India Ltd., Shipping House,
No. 13, Strand Road, Calcutta – 700 001 Tel: 2482354,
2488013 Fax: (033) 2482035, 2480377
3. Shipping Corporation of India Ltd., Jawahar Building,
Rajaji Salai, Chennai – 600 001 Tel: (044) 5231401, Fax:
(044) 5231218
4. The Deputy Director of Shipping Services, A&N
Administration, 6, Rajaji Salai, Chennai – 600 001 Tel:
(044) 5220841/5226873
5. The Directorate of Shipping Services, A&N
Administration, Phoenix Bay Jetty, Port Blair (For MV
Nancowry and MV Swarajdweep) Tel: (03192) 232528/232742
Fax: (03192) 230480
6. Shipping Corporation of India Ltd., Aberdeen Bazar,
Port Blair – 744 101 Tel: (03192) 233347, 233590 Fax:
(03192) 233778
7. M/s A.V. Bhanojirao and Garuda Pattabhiramayya & Co.,
Post Box No. 17, Vishakapatnam (Agent – Shipping
Corporation of India Ltd.) Tel: (0891) 565597/562661,
Fax: 566507/549224
SHIP
FARE
|
Name of Vessel |
Class of Accommodation |
Fare for Islanders |
Fare per berth
(Tourist/Non Islanders)
(in Rs.) |
|
M.V.Nicobar
M.V.Nancowry
M.V.Swarajdweep |
Deluxe Cabin
A-Class Cabin
B-Class Cabin
Bunk |
3,280.00
2,970.00
2,230.00
590.00 |
5,880.00
4,860.00
3,870.00
1,510.00 |
|
M.V.Harshvardhana |
Deluxe Cabin
1st Class Cabin
4 & 6 Berth Cabin
2nd Class Cabin
Bunk |
3,280.00
2,970.00
2,230.00
1,960.00
590.00 |
5,880.00
4,860.00
3,870.00
2,990.00
1,510.00 |
|
M.V.Akbar |
Deluxe Cabin
1st Class Cabin
AC Dormitory
Ordinary Bunk |
3,280.00
2,860.00
1,490.00
550.00 |
5,880.00
4,150.00
2,530.00
1,310.00 |
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DO
- Contact Tourist Information Centres/Tourist Police
personnel for any assistance required.
- Treat the National Parks as they are sanctum
sanctorum of our precious natural heritage.
- Obtain permits from the Chief Wildlife Warden for
those having interest in photography/ videography/
investigation inside a sanctuary or a Marine
National Park .
- Make use of the service of authorized tourist
guides.
- While driving, follow the traffic rules, keep
left. Carry legal documents like driving licence,
permit, passport etc.
- Consult life guards before entering the sea.
- Swim in safe areas only.
- Learn more about reefs, other marine life and
tropical forest. This will make your visit more
enjoyable.
- Help us to keep the beaches and the environment
clean.
- Dispose off the garbage and plastics at proper
places/dustbins.
- Take care of the coral reef, not just for
yourself, but also for all who follow.
- Give your valuable comments and observations for
ensuring better management of the tourist
places/attractions.
- Take back only photos and sweet memories, leave
only footprints and ripples.
- Encourage efforts to save coral reefs and tropical
forests.
- Obtain a transit pass from the Deputy Conservator
of Forests, Wildlife Division, Port Blair ,to
transport any wild animal/trophy/article etc.
outside the islands.
- Foreign nationals are requested to obtain the
required permit before entering /soon after landing
on the islands.
- Avail the services of authorized scuba dive
centres only.
- Avail the service of Scuba Dive Instructors having
certification of international professional
organizations like PADI, CMAS, NAUI, BSAC or SSI for
safe diving experience.
- Your concern for nature conservation is highly
appreciated. Please inform local authorities/staff
positioned in protected areas if you notice any
undesirable activity.
DON'T
- Foreign nationals may not enter the islands
without permit.
- Do not enter the National Parks without
permission.
- Do not take pictures of the airport, government
dockyard, defence establishments, naval wharf,
Dhanikari Dam and Chatham Saw Mill.
- Do not collect, destroy or remove any living or
dead animal/plant.
- Do not collect dead coral or touch/break live
coral. Please do not stand on the coral reef while
snorkeling/Scuba diving.
- Do not take video or film without permit, wherever
such permits are required.
- Do not take video, film or photographs inside
Tribal Reserve areas or of the indigenous tribes.
- Do not carry sea fans and seashells unless
specific permits are obtained from the Fisheries
Department.
- Do not throw garbage and plastics in public
places, beaches and into the sea.
- Do not swim after consuming liquor.
- Do not swim in unsafe waters during monsoon.
- Nudity on beaches and public places is forbidden.
- Do not Light fire in Protected Areas as it not
only destroys forests but also damages wildlife
habitat.
- Person who commits breach of any of the conditions
of the Wildlife protections shall be punishable by
law.
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