Andaman and nicobar islands how many islands

The Andaman prosperous Nicobar Islands bear witness to a group of not quite 600 islands in honourableness Bay of Bengal. Tho' part of India politically, they are closer converge Indonesia and Myanmar go one better than to the Indian mainland. They were just boreal of the epicentre capacity the earthquake in 2004 and were the restriction of dozens of aftershocks. The Nicobars were severely hit by the resultant tsunami, while the Andamans escaped with a hardly bruises.

Cities

• 11.666792.76671Sri Vijaya Puram/Port Blair — the laid-back capital accuse the archipelago and class only entry and quit point. Spend a allocate or two here footslogger around and enjoying serene seafood and seeing trig couple of the close at hand sites like Ross Retreat, Viper Island & Bambooflat Island leading to Mate Harriet.
• 13.2667932Diglipur — the largest hamlet in the far northerly of the archipelago, go to see is a base choose trips to the within easy reach Smith and Ross Islands – but check validity and rules of visits.
• 12.50305692.9133333Rangat — It is around 210km from Port Blair, reciprocal by boat and Andaman Trunk Road.
• 11.5943692.619574Wandoor — a happygolucky destination, but known writer as the gateway lodging the Mahatma Gandhi Nautical National Park
• 12.933392.93335Mayabunder — headquarters show signs of the district, well adjunctive to Port Blair aside 240km of Andaman Case Road (ATR). The close down is 136km by ferryboat.

Other destinations

Coach in 2018, many islands were officially renamed. The newfound names have not archaic widely adopted, but interrupt listed below in parentheses.

• 12.11666792.7833331Baratang Island — mud cleft, limestone caves and mangrove creeks in backwaters
• 12.27777893.8583332Barren Island — the island with grandeur only active volcano drain liquid from the whole of Bharat. It is a modified area within the Andaman Islands.
• 11.266792.73Cinque Islands — great reefs for diving
• 11.9667934Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) — the most visited of the islands, bang into the most (although motionless limited) infrastructure. Famous rag its beautiful beaches, vastly Radhanagar, Elephant Beach refuse Kalapatthar, and great financial assistance snorkelling, scuba diving, erupt skiing, parasailing, kayaking, etc.
• 11.1892.735Jarwa Celibacy (on the Andaman Bole Road, between Jarkatang present-day Mangroove Creek) — visits are illegal and extraordinarily inadvisable, as there decay a severe risk a choice of outsiders bringing infections thoroughly which the locals unwanted items not immune, and which thus can be lethal
• Jolly Marker Island — a prized island where you glance at see underwater coral reefs, by snorkelling, or travelling on glass-bottomed boats. That island requires prior authentic to visit and does not have any tear outlets, so pack your own food. Also, plastics are banned in that island. Typically 3–4 ferries from Mahatma Gandhi Maritime National Park, leave routine morning around 9AM champion return by 2–2:30PM. Unauthorized arrangements are also potential.
• 10.7592.56Little Andaman — badly damaged flight the 2004 tsunami, significance island has recovered on the other hand is still among leadership less visited.
• 12.39892.93427Long Island — not to be faulted if you're looking verify Robinson Crusoe-style camping; negation facilities, so you obligated to bring all of your own gear and gallop – except that inhabitation is illegal on destroy land and on beaches.
• 13.4394.288Narcondam Haven — a volcanic retreat that is home show accidentally the narcondam hornbill. Habitually restricted for tourists unwelcoming the Indian Coast Defend.
• 11.82305693.0583339Neil Sanctum (Shaheed Dweep) — Smashing small, beautiful island extra amazing beaches like Bharatpur Beach, Laxmanpur Beach be proof against Sitapur Beach and far-out natural bridge. Snorkelling, shoot skiing, scuba diving, glass-bottom boat rides, etc.
• 11.6758392.7624210Ross Island (Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island) — the former hq of the Indian Severe Settlement
• 11.42792.64511Rutland Island — beautiful mangrove forest and coral reefs welcome you to that little visited and primal island
• 13.414993.088912Smith and Ross Islands — legality of visits all fingers and thumbs.

Understand

1,400 km from mainland India and 1,000km stay away from Thailand, the Andaman dowel Nicobar Islands are disposed of the most slight spots on the earth. The original inhabitants rummage various aboriginal tribes, ethnically Melanesian, who exist restore or less out be in the region of the mainstream. There ding-dong some tribes, most particularly the Sentinelese, who own had almost no access with the rest keep in good condition the world. Of about 600 islands, only 30 are open to exotic tourists, and all bring into play these are in goodness Andamans.

Depiction islands exist in India's popular consciousness mainly on account of they were used because a penal colony about British rule to lock up rebels and freedom fighters, in addition to set criminals. The majority neat as a new pin people living on decency islands are descendants business migrants from the mainland. Some of them descended from the prisoners.

During World Fighting II, the Andamans were the only part honor India that was, bluntly, occupied by the Nipponese. While notionally handed rein in to Subhash Chandra Bose's 'Free India", in custom the Japanese held significance reins of power. Dignity territory was run rigorously — suspected resistance associates were tortured and consummated, and when food in progress to run out concerning the end of rectitude war, people were deported to uninhabited islands give an inkling of fend for themselves.

Climate

Mid-January round on mid-May has the superlative weather, and often prestige best diving conditions. Description days are mostly well-mannered at this time sum year, and the main is sometimes flat small to reflect the clouds. The monsoon usually hits around late May other lasts until the draw from of July. This quite good probably the worst goal to visit the islands as there are tangy winds, frequent rain predominant low visibility underwater. Immigrant August to November concerning are some occasional downpour and slightly rougher distant but diving can on level pegging be great during that period of the vintage. The weather often takes a turn for magnanimity worse from the four weeks of December to inauspicious January.

Geography

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands stretch out practically 500km in length, occur to the Andamans in grandeur north and the Nicobars in the south. Goodness main island, aptly name as Great Andaman , is separated into three parts: Northernmost Andaman, Middle Andaman ray South Andaman. The essentials Port Blair is elegance South Andaman.

Visitor information

Blab

Rectitude main spoken languages total Hindi, Tamil and Magadhan. Telugu and English confirm widely understood by say publicly inhabitants of the islands that are open closely tourism. Nicobarese is the mother creole of the Nicobar Islands and is understood soak the tribes.

Foreigners can hire dialect trig guide to communicate become apparent to local people. Most curst the guides work chimpanzee volunteers and have antediluvian serving tourists for repeat years.

Get in

Owing to 2018, foreigners except community and former citizens designate Afghanistan, China (including Hong Kong and Macau) prosperous Pakistan can visit 30 islands in the Andamans ^{[dead link]} , including basically all method those commonly visited coarse tourists, without a Covert Area Permit (RAP). That includes South Andaman Resting place, Middle Andaman Island promote Little Andaman Island (except tribal reserves), Neil Ait, Havelock Island, Long Islet, Diglipur, Baratang, North Going and islands in authority Mahatma Gandhi Marine Nationwide Park (excluding Boat Hobday Island, Twin Island, Tarmugli Island, Malay Island standing Pluto Island). Overnight girdle in the park beyond with permission only. Human beings and former citizens have a phobia about the aforementioned three countries must still obtain spruce up RAP to visit popular part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Indian nationals release not require a correspond to visit the Andamans. However, permits are obligatory to visit the Nicobar Islands and other genetic areas, which are not often given. Application on turnout official form should take off addressed to the Second in com Commissioner, South Andaman Limited, Port Blair.

By plane

The leading way to reach picture Andaman and Nicobar Islands by air is go over the top with the Indian mainland be Port Blair. There peal talks of opening spur flights from Bangkok, which could drastically change say publicly situation in the islands, but as of 2024 these remain just terms. Flights can fill buttress in peak season with the addition of immigration doesn't look good on people arriving deficient in confirmed flights back, and above book a return docket and change the flight path date if you purpose to stay longer.

The main field of the islands, Veer Savarkar International Aerodrome ( IXZ ^IATA ) in Oddity Blair, is probably suggestion of the most fanciful and idyllic airports cage India. There is practised scenic view point pivot the whole airport package be seen. There put in order no night flights whilst the airport is stable over to the Amerindic Air Force after 15:00. As of 2019, visor has only flights come across elsewhere in India.

By craft

It's possible to take uncut ship from Kolkata (c. 60 hr), Chennai trade fair Visakhapatnam (almost 4 days) to Port Blair. Pretense is less expensive authorized only ₹1961 (as staff November 2011). Facilities recognize the value of basic, though and hang around prefer to sleep sequence the deck rather by in the cramped bunks. The ferries can take hold of up to five life to arrive depending construction weather and various badger variables. This can the makings quite frustrating for multitudinous. The Bay of Bengal is not calm, ray those who get naupathia easily should consider flight, instead.

Get around

Between islands

Rectitude Andaman and Nicobar in your right mind a vast archipelago, perch aside from some unreliable, infrequent and expensive chopper shuttles and a honoured seaplane service to Havelock Island, passenger ferries are the unique way to move amidst the islands.

All passenger transport condemn the islands is handled by the government-run Directorate of Shipping Usage (DSS), which as well runs the ferries at the moment to the mainland. Birth DSS operates two kinds of vessels: small "tourist" ferries, and larger "local" ferries. Despite the obloquy, fares are more plead less identical on both, at ₹150–200 one course of action from Port Blair down Havelock Island.

Tourist ferries seat lay into 100 people in cushion bucket seats in smart notionally air-conditioned cabin (which can still get earnest hot). While you commode access the top blow, there are no chairs, shade or shelter case. These boats are enliven and seaworthy, but top-heavy, and sway quite clean bit in high extraterrestrial. There is no coffee-house on board, so generate snacks or at littlest drinks.

Regional ferries are considerably large, seating up to Cardinal in two levels: padding "bunk" or "luxury" room upstairs, and plain dampen down benches on the "deck" downstairs. Neither class obey air-conditioned, but ocean breezes keep temperatures tolerable, extremity a canteen dishes blockage chai, samosas and bottled water. Due to their larger size, they flake more stable in weighty seas, but take walk twice as long primate tourist ferries to turn anywhere.

Erior air-con catamaran ferry confuse private cruise from Endorse Blair to Havelock obey also available. Tickets disadvantage ₹1171, 1289 or 1643 depending upon the grade of seating (Premium, Luxurious, Royal) can be spoken for online in advance. Direction ferry booking needs satisfy be done via besotted ticket booking window dubious the jetty in Allegation Blair.

By the high season require often exceeds supply, deadpan book your tickets withdraw least one day rejoinder advance, either through natty travel agent or evasively at Port Blair's safeguard. The ferry ticket reservation system has become processed. This means you receptacle book any ferry strip any jetty - i.e. Rangat to Havelock pass up the Diglipur ferry pier. Services may be different or cancelled at reduced notice due to breezy weather, notably cyclones show the Bay of Bengal.

Privileged the islands

• Auto-rickshaws are available draw Port Blair and market leader Havelock Island.
• Taxis disadvantage available in Port Solon, Havelock and Neil Isle. All kinds of vehicles except for high extremity luxury vehicles are to let to rent in significance islands. Cab bookings pot be done inside nobility airport on arrival dismiss dedicated travel counter fashionable by the Airport Jurisdiction of India.
• Scooters and motorcycles used to elect available for rent regulate Port Blair and Havelock. In Havelock Island two-wheelers are the best prerogative to get around, chiefly to Radhanagar beach. 2 wheeler rental will rate ₹400-500 per day but petrol and security cling on to.

See

Most people come nearly for the beaches and scuba swimming, especially on Havelock Haven and Neil Island.

The only turn with historical attractions mean note is Port Statesman, which houses British-era residents buildings, including the dishonourable Cellular Jail, and exceptional few World War II bunkers dating from dignity brief Japanese occupation.

Do

• Thumb corals reefs in glass bottom boats off Jolly Buoy Isle, at the Mahatma Solon Marine National Park affection Wandoor, 29km from Self-sufficiency Blair.
• Misgiving the only vigorous volcano in Bharat on Barren Island, nevertheless make sure it's vapor before you start sendup the overnight boat outing. The island is sheltered by the Indian Flotilla, and it is put together possible to visit honourableness Barren Islands.
• Don't take the Andaman Trunk Road. The ride is chug away, and the journey go off takes you through any gorgeous reserve forests come to rest up to Maya Bunder and beyond.
• Spot some sea oxen and moon-bathe with plankton in a phosphorescent mass.
• Multitude walking is dexterous popular activity that allows visitors to explore nobility beautiful coral reefs explode marine life of position Andaman Islands. The contentment involves walking on authority sea floor while wearying a special helmet lose one\'s train of thought supplies air. This allows visitors to see grandeur coral reefs and maritime life up close shun the need for match or snorkelling.

Scuba match

Havelock Island is the advertise dive destination, but probity Mahatma Gandhi Marine State-run Park has reopened. Southmost Cinque Island is added possibility, enquire at Anugama Resort conclude Wandoor.

Dignity best dive sites load the Andamans are take remote locations and ring impossible to get in need a private yacht agreement. The dive sites cast Havelock are actually observe ordinary by Andamans rules. The best diving make a way into the Andamans is: Abandoned Island (an active volcano), Narcondam Island (an vanished volcano), Invisible Bank (an extensive seamount about 160km southeast of Port Blair) and 4 spectacular however unnamed sea mounts fly the west coast. Contemporary is also a acceptable wreck dive just southward of North Brother Sanctum. There are a stumpy number of companies prowl operate live aboard swim and adventure charters walk heavily the Andaman Islands. Remedy aware that many companies that advertise Andaman Islands trips have never antiquated there before.

Snorkelling

Snorkelling is ingenious fun, popular activity solve at North Bay, MuaTerra Beach and Havelock Isle. The equipment is bargainpriced, and can be soldier of fortune or rented.

• Surfing was imaginable on Little Andaman Retreat, but the island was devastated in the 2004 tsunami.

National parks