Andaman

ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS ABOUT PORT BLAIR AND ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS Floating in splendid isolation, cast of the Indian mainland is the archipelago of 572 emerald islands, islets and rocks known as Andaman & Nicobar Islands. This Union Territory is stretched over an area of more than 700 Km. from north to south with 36 inhabited islands. Once a hill range extending from Burma (Myanmar) to Indonesia, these undulating islands are covered with dense forests and endless variety of exotic flowers and birds. The topography of the islands is hilly and abounds in evergreen forests. The sandy beaches on the edge of meandering coastline are fringed with coconut palms that sway to the rhythm of the sea. The sea around the islands offers excellent scope for water sports. The rare flora and fauna, underwater marine life and corals, with crystal clear water and mangrove-lined creeks, offer a dream-view of the rare gifts of nature. The clean and wide roads, free of filth as well as unpolluted fresh air attract any nature-lover, which seek absolute peace and tranquility in the lap of Mother Nature. Adventure tourism like trekking, island camping, snorkeling, scuba diving etc., are the real attractions. A visit to these islands is a memorable lifetime experience. Mythological, the name Andaman was presumed to be derived from Hanuman, who was known to the Malays as Handuman. Since Prehistoric times, these islands were the home of aboriginal tribes. The tribes of, the Andaman group of islands are the Great Andamanese, Onges, Jarawas, and Sentinatese, all of Negrito origin, while the tribes of Nicobars are the Nicobarese and Shompens, both of Mongoloid stock. 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, after the First War of Independence, followed by the settlement of convicts, Moplas, some criminal tribes from Central and United Provinces, refugees from erstwhile East Pakistan, Burma and Sri Lanka as well as ex-servicemen. In these islands people of all faiths - Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs etc., and of all languages like Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Punjabi, Nicobari etc., live together in complete peace and harmony. Inter-religion and inter-regional marriages are common. This amazing racial and cultural mix is correctly described as Mini-India. Forests are the green extend over gold of the islands. The reserved and protected forests extend over 86% area of the territory and the forest cover is more than 92 %. About 50 % of the forests has been set aside as Tribal Reserves, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries, which are inviolate. Luxuriant mangroves, perhaps the richest in the world, occupy nearly II. 5 % of the territory. More than 150 plant and animals species are endemic in nature. Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is rich in corals, varieties of colored fishes, sea turtles etc., besides other marine life. It is a bird’s paradise - more than 271 varieties of birds inhabit the idyllic landscape, out of which 39 are endemic. Megapode, Swiftlet, Hornbill and Nicobar Pigeon are some of the specialties of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. GENERAL INFORMATION LOCATION: Bay of Bengal 92 deg. to 94 deg. Longitude 6 deg. to 14 deg. North Latitude AREA: Andamans District: 6,408 Sq.Kms. Nicobars District: 1,841 Sq. Kms. Total Area: 8,249 Sq. Kms. CAPITAL: Port Blair DISTANCE: 1255 Kms. from Calcutta 1190 Kms. from Chennai

1200 Kms. from Vishakhapatnam ALTITUDE: Varies from sea level to 732 meters HIGHEST PEAK: Saddle Peak - 732 metros CLIMATE: Tropical throughout the year with mean minimum temperature at 23 deg. C and maximum at 31 deg. C. Humidity is relatively high - 70 to 90% with a gentle breeze blowing all the time. The weather is generally pleasant with average annual rainfall at 3,000 mm at Port Blair (May to mid-Sept. & Nov. to Jan.) FOREST COVER: 92 %, Forest area 86% BEST SEASON: October to May CLOTHING: Cottons throughout the year GETTING TO PORT BLAIR, ANDAMAN & NICOBAR GETTING THERE: Andaman is well connected to Chennai by Alliance air and Jet Airways. The return Airfare for the above sector is: Indian Nationals: Alliance Air: INR 12570/Plus 0.25% tax (INR 32/-) Jet Airways: INR 11990- plus 0.25% tax (INR 30/-). Foreign Nationals: US$ 410 plus 0.25% tax. Alliance air Departure Arrival Days of operation Chennai to Port Blair 0600 0805 (Mo, Wed, Friday, Sunday) Port Blair to Chennai 0840 1045 (Mo, Wed, Fri and Sunday) Jet Airways Departure Arrival Days of operation Chennai to Port Blair 0525 0725 Daily Port Blair to Chennai 0755 0955 Daily Air Schedule: Kolkatta (Calcutta) to Port Blair Dep :0530 Arr:0730 (Mon, Tue, Thu Sat and Sunday) Port Blair to Kolkatta (Calcutta) Dep:0800 Arr: 1000 (Mon, Tue, Thu Sat and Sunday) The return Airfare for the above sector is: Indian Nationals: INR 14150/- plus 0.25% tax (INR 35/-) Foreign Nationals: US$ 410 plus 0.25% tax We do not charge any service charges for making your bookings and issuance of airtickets. You can make the payment for the tickets to us by bank transfer. The air-tickets can be sent to your home address under registered. Post.

ACCOMMODATION AT ANDAMAN The Directorate of Tourism provides cozy and comfortable accommodation at affordable prices at Andaman Teal House, Hornbill Nest and Sainik Vishram Ghar at Port Blair, Dolphin Yatri Niwas at Havelock Island, Hawabill Nest at Neil Island, Hawksbill Nest at Rangat, Swiftlet Nest at Mayabunder and Turtle Resort at Diglipur. Andaman & Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO) runs the Megapode Nest/Tourist Home Complex at Port Blair. PLACES OF INTEREST- IN AN AROUND PORT BLAIR: CELLULAR JAIL (National Memorial): Cellular Jail, located at Port Blair, is a mute witness to the tortures meted out to the freedom fighters, who were incarcerated in this Jail. The Jail, completed in the year 1906 acquired the name, 'cellular' because it is entirely made up of individual cells for the solitary confinement of the prisoners. It originally was a seven pronged, puce colored building with a Central Tower acting as its fulcrum and a massive structure comprising honeycomb like corridors. The building was subsequently damaged and presently three out of seven prongs are intact. The Jail now

a place of pilgrimage for all freedom loving people has been declared a National Memorial. The penal settlement established here by the British after the First War of Independence-e in 1857 was the beginning of the agonizing story of the massive and awful Jail at Viper Island followed by the Cellular Jail. The patriots who raised their voice against the British Raj were sent to this Jail, where many perished. Netaji Subash Chandra Bose hoisted the first Tri-Color on 30th December 1943 at a place near this Jail. During the 50th year of India's Independence, the President of India honored the living freedom fighters and widows of the freedom fighters, who were incarcerated in the Cellular Jail, on 30th December 1997. A commemorative coin and a postal stamp on Cellular Jail were also released on this occasion. The saga of the heroic freedom struggle is brought alive in a moving Son-et-Lumiere' shown daily at 6.00 PM (Hindi) and 7.15 PM (English). Also there is a Museum and an Art Gallery which is open on all days except Monday from 9.00 AM to 12 Noon and 2.00 PM to 5.00 PM. ANDAMAN WATER SPORTS COMPLEX: This is a unique sports complex in India in its own kind. There are facilities for safe Water Sports such as Rowing Boats, Paddle Boats, Kayaks, Aqua-cycle, Aqua-glide, Bumper boats, etc., and Adventure water sports such as Water-skiing, Water scooters, Gemini boats, Para-sailing, Sail boats, Windsurfers, Speed boats, Glass-bottom boats, etc., There are Saline Water Swimming Pool, Nature-walk, Change Room, Food Plaza, also. There is a Memorial built to commemorate the Battle of Aberdeen, fought between the British and Andamane aborigines in May 1859, in which many Andamanese died. There is an artificial waterfall nearby. CHILDREN'S TRAFFIC PARK: This parks near Aberdeen Water Sports Complex, is set up by the Traffic Police to educate young children about the traffic rules. There is a Toy Train nearby. GANDHI PARK: This beautiful Park at Port Blair has facilities like children's park, amusement park, Entertainment Park, deer and Bird Park, water sports, nature trail, lake, garden, restaurant and Japanese temple, as well as a bunker. The erstwhile Dilthaman Tank, which was the only source of drinking water to Port Blair has been developed into Gandhi Park in an unbelievably short time of 13 days. PLACES OF INTEREST- IN AN AROUND PORT BLAIR: Corbyn's Cove: Corbyn's Cove, 7 Kms., from the town, is the coconut palm fringed beach, ideal for swimming, surfing and sun-basking. Facilities like water sports, restaurant and bar, change room, etc., are also available. The Chatham Saw Mill: The Chatham Saw Mill, one of the oldest and largest mills in Asia, built on a tiny island, is connected to Port Blair by a bridge. It is a storehouse of timber like Padauk, Gurjan, Marble, Satin Wood, etc. The island has the second largest wharf of these islands, where island-mainland ships can berth. MINI ZOO: Situated in Haddo, Port Blair, it houses some of the rare species of endemic birds and animals found in these islands. MOUNT: The summer headquarters of the Chief Commissioner during British Raj, it is an ideal place for a nice and fascinating view of the sun, sea and sand. It is 365 meters high, the highest peak in the South Andamans. One can trek upto Madhuban through a nature trail and can find rare flora and fauna, endemic birds, animals and butterflies. Conducted tours to Mt. Harriet are available from Andaman Teal House. Sippighat Farm: Sprawling over an area of 80 acres is a Government farm. Research & development programs for cultivation of spices like cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, coconut and Ruins in Ross Island pepper are conducted.

Ross Island: A short boat ride from Phoenix Bay Jetty, Ross Island, was the seat of the British Administration. Important ruins include a Church, Cemetery, Swimming Pool and Chief Commissioner's residence. A small museum of Indian Navy, Smritika, has a good collection of old records. Boats are available from Phoenix Bay Jetty, Port Blair daily except Wednesday. Viper Island: Viper Island is very near to Port Blair and was the old Jail was British's used to harbor convicts. It has ruins of gallows atop a hillock. The Jail was abandoned when the Cellular Jail was constructed in 1906. ADVENTURE TOURISM at ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS: SCUBA DIVING: Andaman waters offer a fascinating world of under-water marine life, varieties of colorful fishes, rarest of the coral reefs in the world, mysterious remains of sunken ships, etc. All these can be explored through Scuba diving. Andaman & Nicobar Scuba Diving Society situated at Wandoor provides Scuba Diving opportunities. Private divers are also available. SNORKELING: One can enjoy the under-water marine life and view the rarest varieties of corals by snorkeling near the Andaman Water Sports Complex, Corbyn's Cove Tourism Complex, Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Havelock and other islands on all days from dawn to dusk depending on weather. TREKKING: One can go trekking through the nature trail from Mt. Harriet to Madhuban and enjoy the rare forest life, flora and fauna. There are other trekking routes also. Trekking equipment and tents are available on hire from Andaman Teal House. ISLAND CAMPING: Island camps are just the right choice for the nature lovers, who wish to enjoy sun, sea and pristine beauty of nature by spending quiet holidays right on the beach. Tents are available locally on hire from October to May.