About Andaman and Nicobar Islands Map
This Andaman and Nicobar Islands map shows all the districts in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Union Territory. It highlights the three districts – North and Middle Andaman, South Andaman and Nicobar. It also highlights the capital of Union Territory, Port Blair and the headquarters of all the districts. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands map also highlights the surrounding water bodies and sea channels, such as Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea, Coco Channel, Duncan Passage, Ten Degree Channel, Sombrero Channel and Great Channel. The location of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is shown in a location map of Andaman and Nicobar Islands within India. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands district map is also has a compass on it.
List of Districts in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
| S. N. | District Name | Headquarters | Population | Area in sq.km | Density per sq.km |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nicobar | Malacca | 36,819 | 1,841 | 20 |
| 2 | North and Middle Andaman | Mayabunder | 105,539 | 3,227 | 32 |
| 3 | South Andaman | Sri Vijaya Puram | 237,586 | 3,181 | 80 |
About Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a Union Territory of India, is a group of hundreds of islands, islets and rocky outcrops in the Bay of Bengal. Of these only a handful are inhabited. With crystal-clear waters, white sandy beaches, lush tropical rainforest, coral reefs and an incredible array of marine life, the islands are a holidaymaker’s dream destination. Also famous as the site of the notorious Cellular Jail, the islands are a significant part of India’s freedom struggle. Andaman and Nicobar is a unique territory with a blend of nature, indigenous tribes, strategic importance and rich marine habitat making it one of the most distinctive regions of India.
Location and Geography
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a union territory of India located in the Bay of Bengal, about 1,200 km (750 miles) southeast of the Indian mainland. The islands stretch about 800 km (500 miles) from north to south between 6°N and 14°N latitude and 92°E and 94°E longitude and cover a total area of 8,249 square kilometers (3,185 sq mi).
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are made up of 572 islands, cays, and exposed coral gaps, of which 38 are inhabited all the time. These islands are further grouped into the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and are divided by the 10 degree Channel (150 km wide), which runs from the south to the north of the islands. The islands are to the east of the Bay of Bengal and to the west of the Andaman Sea, making it an extremely important country in the Indian Ocean.
History of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have a long history dating back thousands of years with the indigenous tribes who first inhabited the islands. In the colonial era, the British established a penal settlement on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands after the Indian Rebellion of 1857. By building the Cellular Jail in Port Blair the British turned the islands into one of the most feared places of punishment in British India and it is here that many Indian freedom fighters were imprisoned.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, were occupied by the Japanese during World War II from 1942 to 1945. It was here that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose hoisted the Indian national flag in Port Blair in 1943. After India gained freedom and became a Republic in 1947, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands became a part of the Republic of India. They were constituted as a Union Territory on 1st November 1956.
Capital and Administrative Divisions
Port Blair is the capital town of South Andaman Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a Union Territory of India. Port Blair serves as the administrative center, commercial hub, educational hub and the hub for transportation in the Union Territory. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are administratively divided into three districts – North and Middle Andaman, South Andaman and the Nicobar Islands. Each of the districts have their administrative headquarters to look after the local governance and to deliver services to the public.
Population and Demographics
The 2011 Census of India for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands reported a population of 380,581, confined to a few islands and primarily residing in Port Blair and its surrounds. Many residents are migrants from other parts of India while others are from the indigenous tribal groups that are native to the islands. Further statistics on the growth of the population will be available when the next Indian national census takes place.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are home to some of the oldest surviving tribal communities in the world, including the Great Andamanese, the Jarawa, the Onge and the Sentinelese from the Andaman Islands, and the Nicobarese and the Shompen from the Nicobar Islands. Most of these tribes live in their respective tribal reserves which are protected areas and are largely out of bounds to outsiders in order to protect them from external influences that may threaten to destroy their unique culture and way of life.
Languages Spoken
In Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration and education are conducted in Hindi and English languages. In addition to these official languages, several other languages are spoken by majority of the migrants from all over the country such as Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Nicobarese, Punjabi and Urdu. Thus the Island has multilingual culture.
Climate
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands experience a tropical maritime climate throughout the year. The temperature varies between 23°C and 31°C and is very humid. The average annual rainfall is about 3,000 mm (118 inches) that occurs mainly during the two monsoons- the southwest and the northeast. The pleasant climate and warm sea throughout the year makes the Islands an ideal tourist destination.
Economy
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and seafood production, tourism, government services are the major sectors of economy of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The tourism in the Islands is rising rapidly due to the natural beauty, water sports and historical monuments. Agriculture is another major activity in which arecanut, coconut, paddy, bananas, spices, fruits and vegetables are being cultivated and marketed. The fishing and seafood production also forms a major part of the economy of the Island due to the vast coastal waters and rich marine resources.
The location of the islands places them at the center of India’s efforts at ensuring maritime security as well as supporting naval operations. As an archipelago, it is strategically placed in the eastern Indian Ocean with routes of international shipping crossing through the region.
Biodiversity and Wildlife
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are amongst India’s most biodiverse regions, boasting tropical rainforest which is home to thousands of varieties of plants and animals some of which can be found nowhere else on the planet. The coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds and other marine ecosystems support a vast array of colorful fish, sea turtles, dolphins, dugongs, giant saltwater crocodiles and countless species of birds amongst others.
There are several protected areas in Andaman and Nicobar Islands including Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Mount Harriet National Park (Mount Manipur National Park), Saddle Peak National Park, Campbell Bay National Park, Galathea National Park and Rani Jhansi Marine National Park.
Tourism in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Andaman and Nicobar Islands are premier beach and eco-tourism destination of India. Tourists flock to experience stunning beaches, scuba diving, snorkeling, sea walking, kayaking, bird watching, island hopping and nature photography. Some of the major tourist attractions of the Islands include Cellular Jail, Radhanagar Beach on Havelock (Swaraj Dweep), Elephant Beach, Ross Island (Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island), North Bay Island, Baratang Island, Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep), Limestone Caves and Barren Island which is India’s only active volcano.
The islands are packed with spectacular coral reefs, stunning bioluminescent beaches, wonderful mangrove forests and simply breathtaking sunsets. So the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are one of the leading adventure and nature tourism destinations in India.
Transportation
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are connected to mainland India through the air and sea. Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is connected to major Indian cities including Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam through flights from the Veer Savarkar International Airport. There are also passenger ships that operate between Port Blair and the mainland ports of Chennai, Kolkata and Visakhapatnam. Though sea travel takes longer to reach the destination, it is still preferred by many due to cost effectiveness.
Ferries, boats and bridges in some areas link up islands that are inhabited while within the Territory, inter-island shipping forms a significant means of transport.
Education and Healthcare
Andaman & Nicobar Islands has seen development in educational and health care infrastructure over the years. Schools, colleges and institutions for vocational studies, hospitals and health centers, primarily are located in Port Blair and other islands which have sizeable population. The Government is actively involved in setting up health centers, improving health care to reach out to people in remote island, enhancing digital connectivity, disaster management and improving overall services to people residing in the Islands.
Importance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are of immense strategic, ecological, historical and economic value to our country. The Islands are strategically located near the Malacca Strait, one of the world’s most important and busiest maritime trade route. The Islands are also of immense value for the country for marine conservation, climate change research, biodiversity conservation, eco-tourism and fishery management.