| Location |
Bay of Bengal |
| Base |
Yomah Mountain Range |
| Position |
92° to 94° East
Longitude, 6° to 14° North Latitude |
| Distance |
1255 Kms from Kolkata,
1190 Kms from Chennai
1200 Kms from Visakhapatnam. |
| Area |
Andaman District:
6408 Sq. Kms.
Nicobar District : 1841 Sq. Kms. |
| Spread |
Total Length – 726 Kms.
Average width – 24 Kms. |
| Total Islands |
572 Nos. (Big, Small & Rocks) |
| Total Population |
Four Lakhs |
| Altitude |
0 To 732 Mtr |
| Highest Peak |
Saddle Peak (North Andaman) -732 Mtrs.
Mount Thullier (Great Nicobar) – 642 Mtrs.
Mount Harriet (South Andaman) – 365 Mtrs. |
| Forest Density |
86% |
| Climate |
Tropical Through out the year. Temperature
varies between 23 0C to 310C |
| Rain Fall |
3180 mm |
| Capital |
Port Blair |
| Literacy |
65.38% |
| Density |
43 persons per sq kilometer |
| Biggest Island (Inhabited) |
Middle Andaman –
1536 Sq Kmts. |
| Smallest Island (Inhabited) |
Ross Island – 0.8 Sq Kmts. |
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Pre-History: |
|
| It is
believed that Marco Polo was among the first from
the West to set foot on one of the islands. Kanhoji
Angre, a Maratha admiral had his base on the island
in the early 18th century. From there, he attacked
passing Portuguese, Dutch and English merchant vessels
on their way to or from their various Asian colonies.
In 1713, his navy even succeeded in capturing the
yacht of the British Governor of Bombay. Despite
many efforts by the British and later a joint military
force of British and Portuguese naval forces, Kanhoji
Angre was never defeated. He died in 1729. |
| It is
also believe that the Andaman island were known as
“Handuman” from the Vedic Period and ware inhabited
by the Aborgines of Great Andamanies who were known
cannibals to the early travelers. IBased on the studies
of tribal and fauna it is logical to presume a former
land connection from Cape Negris at south part of
Burma to Achin Head (Cape Pedro) in Sumatra. |
| |
Early History-Kala
Pani: |
| The
early history of these islands i.e. the history of
Kala Pani is known since March 1789 when Lt.Archibald
Blair (Later Captain) of Indian Navy was assigned
the task to survey these island by East India Company.
He later established a colony in Mark Island (Chatam
Island) and Ross Island. It was then this island
that is Port Blair was named as Port Cornwallis.
However in 1796 due to unhealthy climate and high
mortality rate this colony was shifted from the Port
Cornvallis i.e Port Blair. The British finally annexed
the islands in the 19th century adding them to their
empire. They turned it into a penal colony for Indian
freedom fighters. The construction of the infamous
Cellular Jail was completed in 1908. Hundreds of
anti-British Indians were tortured to death or simply
executed here. With the Second World War, Japanese
troops occupied the islands and the local tribes
initiated guerrilla activities to drive them out.
When India achieved independence in 1947, the Andaman
and Nicobar Islands were incorporated into the Indian
Union. |
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Present Age-Golden
Water |
| The present age history
or the history of the Golden Water is entirely contradictory
to its early history. |
| Glittering
jewels, casually scattered on velvety carpet of the
Bay of Bengal, the group of 550 odd islands, a paradise
created by eternity in perfect harmony with the nature
forms the ‘Pristine’ Andaman & Nicobar Islands. |
| Tropical
lush green thick forests with many species of herbs
full of flora, fauna and exotic birds constitute
these unadulterated Emerald Islands. |
Besides presence in the
lap of Mother Nature, these Islands have pivotal
role in the struggle of Indian Independence. Historical
monuments of three different cultures i.e. Indian,
British and Japanese are the animated reminiscence
of World War II.
With a perfect blend of Nature, Legends and history
the Bay of Bengal elevates to it’s peak in these
Islands. |
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| Click
here to view Havelock Map |
