About Andaman & Nicobar
A
bird's eye view shows this cluster of 350 small and large island as small, green
speaks staggered on the vast blue waters. Situated midway between India and
Burma, in the Bay of Bangal, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands were at one time
inhabited by various tribes which strongly resisted any efforts at civilization.
some of these tribes are perhaps among the oldest tribal communities in the
world, and tourists are prohibited from establishing contact with them. Owing
to prolonged isolation they are somewhat hostile and are also under the danger
of catching infection from outsiders.
Indian legend traces the name Andaman to a derivation of Handuman or Hanuman
the Monkey God of the epic Ramayana, who is said to have used these islands
as stepping stones on his way to Sri Lanka, to save Goddess Sita, consort of
Lord Rama.
Modern history perhaps dates to 1789 when Lord Cornwallis, the British Governer
-General commissioned a survey of the islands.
Later, after the First War of Independence in 1857 the British established a
penal colony here and Andamans and Port Blair, the capital, came to be a dreaded
word. For, known as 'Kala Pani' of 'Black Water', the city was the site of the
Cellular Jail - a panel colony where political prisoners were banished, perhaps
never to be seen again.
During
world War II, the Japanese occupied the Islands and held them from 1944-1945.
The Andamans today present a totally different picture. Some tribes have opened
up, and the British rule is no more. The islands are now fast becoming an attractive
holiday destination-for the anthropologist and the beach lover.
The Islands are a living museum of planet earth. Dense rain forests, and canopies
of luxuriant green branches host a variety of birds, insects, and all kind of
life. There are beautiful tropical flowers and orchids. The jungles shelter
about 242 species of birds, 46 species of mammals and 78 species of reptiles
comprising the wild cat, iguana, green lizsards, deer, wild pig, goats and a
wide variety of snakes.
The water are clear and beautiful, and the beaches at Corbyn's Cove, Wandoor,
Jolly Boy and Cinque offer an excellent sea for swimming. Numerous other beaches
are open to holidayers out to enjoy water sports. Tourists can surf, ski, scuba
dive, snorkel, sail, fish or just enjoy the sea, the sun and the sand. For the
more adventurous, deep-sea diving unfolds precious treasures of corals, vegetation,
sponges and fish life.
