Facts about Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Andaman and Nicobar Islands have long been famous among travellers for its beautiful beaches, underwater wonders, and remote, primitive locations, and is still an ideal place to escape everything. There are about 572 islands in the archipelago, of which only 36 are open to tourists. The island's population is an interesting combination of South Indian and Southeast Asian settlers, and some island's Negrito ethnic groups and anthropologists are still confused when they arrive here.

 

1. The names "Andaman" and "Nikobal" are derived from the Malay language 

The name Andaman is believed to be derived from Hanuman, known to the Malays as Handuman. The name Nicobar seems to be the fall of the South Indian term "Nakkavalam" (bare land), as described in the great inscription of Thanjavur in 1050 AD. The most widely spoken language on the island is Bengali, followed by Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. Andamanese Creole Hindi is also widely used as a trading language for the Andaman Islands. 

 

2. Katchal Island Receiving Millennium First Sunrise 

Katchal Island, a small island near Nikobal, is the first inhabited place on earth to receive the Millennium First Sunrise rays until the Royal Greenwich Institute declares it. It was virtually unknown. With the first postal issue in 2000, India Post issued a commemorative stamp depicting the first sunrise of the Millennium on Katchal. 

 

3. World's Largest Sea Turtles Nest Here 

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have India's best nesting beaches for the three species of hawksbill turtles, Green Turtle , the world's largest sea turtles and leatherback turtles (Dermocheleys coriacea). .. Nested leatherback turtles in Nikobal are one of the few colonies in the Indo-Pacific with over 1,000, and are therefore of global importance.

 

4. North Sentinel Island is home to one of the most isolated Paleolithic tribes in the world. 

North Sentinel Island has one of the most isolated populations in the world. The Sentinelese are estimated to be about 300, refusing all contact with the modern world and shooting arrows at those within range. They are believed to have descended directly from Africa's first population and probably lived in the Andaman Islands for up to 60,000 years.

 

5. A gentle manate, the dugong is a state animal of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 

A large, plump marine vegetarian with a short, paddle-like front flipper, the calm dugong quietly eats seaweed in the warm coastal waters of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. .. These slow-moving creatures, also known as "angels of the sea," are found in parts of the Ritchie Islands, North Reef, Little Andaman, and the Nicobar Islands.

 

6. Pandanus or Nicobar Breadfruit is a rare fruit found in Nicobar 

and is widely distributed. Pandanas are dense wedge-shaped fruits with a very hard, woody and fibrous body with some fine edible seeds embedded in them. Each section has a fleshy base containing flavorful pulp, which once cooked becomes a staple of Nikobal. The stalk branches of pandanus, an economically important plant on the island, are used for buildings, the leaves are used for weaving mats, and the hard outer surface of the fruit is used as a bath brush.

 

7. Commercial fishing in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is prohibited. 

Commercial fishing has been banned around the Andaman Islands for over 40 years. In these areas, fish are now thought to be dead at old age. The turquoise waters surrounding Emerald Isle are home to dolphins, whales, dagon, sea turtles, sailfish, marlin, and other marine life.

 

8. Barren Island, India's only active volcano, is located in Andaman 

Barren Island is the only active volcano not only in India but throughout South Asia. Located about 135 km northeast of Port Blair, this small 3 km wide island has a 1.6 km wide crater partially filled with cinder cones that have been responsible for the eruption since its first record in 1787.

 

9. The world's largest living arthropod, Birgus latro or robber crab, lives here 

Also known as the coconut crab, robber crab (Birgus latro) is the world's largest terrestrial arthropod. They generally live on land, but at night they climb coconut palms, pierce soft coconuts and eat soft grains. In South Asia, most of these giant crabs are found in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. They can be found on several islands in South Sentinel Island and the Nicobar Islands. 

 

10. The very narrow limestone Alfred cave, bird of swiftlet to make a nest of edible inhabit. 

di Gris pool, change the form for each monsoon for chemical processes. These very narrow nest hole, there is a nest of the swiftlet, create a nest of unique edible. This little brown bird uses his saliva to attach a sticky house as a small cup to the wall of a cave in the most inaccessible place. You can also see limestone caves with stalactites in Baratan. 

 

11. The 20 rupee note depicts a scene from Andaman and Nicobar islands 

Ever noticed the scenery on a 20 Rupee note? The image of a picturesque bay lined with lush greenery captured on the red coloured note is the North Bay Island and the same view can be see on the way to Mount Harriet. Mount Harriet is the second highest peak in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago.  

 

12. A penal settlement, including the dreaded Kala Pani Jail (Cellular Jail), was established here by the British after the revolt of 1857 Andaman and Nicobar Islands were so remote that they became the dreaded Kala Pani penal colony for Indian freedom fighters under the British. The cell prison was built to isolate prisoners from the outside world.