Tropical sunshine, clear waters and interesting people are what the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are all about. 

A stunning history, unique flora and fauna and beautiful surroundings are what make this place something worthwhile when planning your tour to India.  With a few unique restrictions in place to protect their environment and everybody’s impact upon it, it is well worth doing your research before embarking on a trip to this area of India.

The Andaman and Nicobar islands have clear blue oceans and intense tropical rainforests that make a heaven for tourists.  There is plenty to do here, with adventure and water sports to suit the avid adventure tourist through to family oriented holidays.

Tourism in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Port Blair is the main settlement and the capital for this area and it offers many options for organizing ones sojourn out into the wider Andaman Islands Area.  The Nicobar Islands are widely off limits to foreigners with the majority of people that travel to these islands being for official research purposes or trade.  All foreign tourists need a permit to visit the Andaman Islands, however these are issued free upon arrival at Port Blair airport and last for 30 days.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands play a memorable part in Indian history and considering the current mix of so many inhabitants there is a laid back tropical feel to the island.  Inhabitants include Bengali, Nicobarese, Burmese, Tamils, and Telugu.

The Various Tribes of the area maintained their isolation over a long period of time and this in turn helped to create distinct language, culture and territorial groups.  When contact was made by outsiders sometime in the 1850s the indigenous tribes included The Great Andamanese, the Jarawa, The Jangil (Rutland Jarawa), The Onge, and the Sentinelese. The last of which was the most isolated of the Andaman tribes.  The Aboriginal tribes of the Nicobars were no less independent with two main tribes the Nicobarese (Nicobari), and the Shompen.  Neither of these tribes is related to the Andamanese Tribes. In the face of hardships brought in by outside forces many of the great Andamanese tribes and the Jangil became extinct.

Over time the tribes have slowly declined in number and there is an estimated population of about 450.  Of these the Jarawa and Sentinelese are the most dedicated to maintaining their independence.

While here in the Andaman’s you will want to check out the many museums, of which there are far too many to list here.  Other attractions include a mini zoo, the cellular jail, aquariums, picnic spots, and The Beautiful National Parks.  Often needed are additional permits for national parks, but this only takes on average an hour, and is well worth the wait.

If visiting some of the other islands you should definitely check out the Victorian English ruins on Ross Island, or the brick jail and gallows on Viper Island (named such because of a sunken ship from the 19^th century with the same name nearby).  Neil Island is a lifetime away from the hustle and bustle of Mainland Indian cities.  Brilliant for diving, jungle treks, bike rides and swimming as such it is best saved for a “time out” day.

The Andaman’s are one of the worlds “must do” diving spots in the world, reason why many people make it a part of their package tours to India. They have been made so through the knowledge of their absolutely clear waters, a massive array of sea-life and of course by their utter isolation.  Both Snorkeling and SCUBA are available in the area.  A trip to Havelock Island is a must if you plan on snorkeling.  Little Andaman is acclaimed for its reliable surf, and game fishing can also be arranged for the Andaman region.

Those who would like to explore more the tropical region of South Asia can travel to Thailand which is very close to Andaman and Nicobar Islands.