Google Map Of Andaman & Nicobar

Official Website: http://www.and.nic.in//
Established: 1956-11-01
Capital: Port Blair
Largest city: Port Blair
Districts: 1
Government Body: NA
Legislature: NA
Parliamentary constituency: 1
High Court: NA
Area Total: 8250 km2 (3185 sq mi)
Area rank: NA
Population 2011: 379,9441 (32)
Population Density: 46 /km2 (119 /sq mi)
Time zone: IST (UTC+05:30)
UN/LOCODE: NA
ISO 3166 code: IN-AN
Vehicle registration: NA
HDI: 0.778 (medium)
HDI rank: NA
Literacy: NA
Official languages: Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Tamil, English, Nicobarese

Overview and Introduction:

History of the Name:

The name Andaman is basically the name of the powerful Hindu God, Hanuman, from which the land has got its first name.The name Nicobar is a Malay word, which means ‘land of the people’ from which the Island has got its second name.

Population:

The Andaman and the Nicobar Islands have been inhabited for almost more than 30,000 to 60,000 years. The native people of the Andaman Islands are called as The Great Andamanese. There were about 7000 Andamanese people when outsiders began to inhabit the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Each group spoke a different language that had no written form. Some of the natives of the Andamans were:

• The Jarawa
• The Jangil
• The Onge
• The Sentinelese

The Great Nicobar Islands also were inhabited by their natives. The two main native groups of the Nicobar Islands were:

• The Nicobarese or Nicobari who were living throughout a number of islands
• The Shompen who lived only in the interiors of the Great Nicobar islands

As outsiders started to settle in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, these natives started to diminish in numbers. Lot of people also lost their lives because of the spread of incurable diseases. Now approximately 400 to 500 natives only inhabit the islands. The Jangils have been extinct now.

Geography:

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a group of 572 Islands situated in the Bay of Bengal. The islands spread over an area of 8249 sq. km. The Andaman Islands comprises of continuous 200 islands in the surface of the Bay of Bengal. The Nicobar Islands are situated to the south of The Andaman Islands. The Andaman and the Nicobar Islands are separated by Ten Degree Channel to the south. The Saddle Peak which is 2360 feet in height is the highest peak of the Andaman Islands. This peak is formed mostly by limestone, sandstone and clay. About 36 islands are only inhabited and the other islands are not inhabited.

Weather:

The climate of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is always warm just like the climate in the tropical countries. The country receives irregular rainfall with complete dry or complete wet seasons up and down the year.

History of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands:

• At the time of the Maratha rule in the 17th century The Andaman and Nicobar Islands were used by Admiral Kanhoji Angre as a temporary base for the ships. He fought against the British rule in India.

• A naval base and a penal colony were set up by the Bengal Government in 1789 in The Great Andaman. This place was called as the Port Blair, which is now the capital of The Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

• During the British rule in India freedom fighters were sent to the famous Cellular Jail in Port Blair at The Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The method of imprisonment was called as Kalapani, meaning Black water

• In 1857, The Andaman and Nicobar island groups were united.

• In 1950 The Andaman and Nicobar Islands became a Union Territory of India. 

Demographics:

In 2010, the population have increased to about 3,56,000 comprising of people from different parts of India. There are settlers who have the roots in Bengal, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamilnadu. The official language of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is Hindi. English and other Indian languages are also spoken. There are about 1000 adivasis (also called tribes) who still live in the islands.

Economical Information:

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands houses a huge collection of natural resources. The economy of the islands depends mainly on the attractive and rare varieties of flora and fauna. Agriculture, fishing and tourism are the major sources of income to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The major agricultural crops are oilseeds, palm, pepper, cashew, rubber, red oil etc. Major industries of the islands are minerals, energy resources and handicrafts. There are innumerable tourist spots which attracts tourists across the world. Crafts made of wood are also a major attraction of the Islands economy.

Culture:

The culture of The Andaman and Nicobar islands is the combination of the Negrito natives and the Mongoloid settlers. These two individual cultures continue to remain until today. There is peace and coexistence between these two cultures and the natives maintain their dignity and culture, separated from the mainstream population of the immigrants. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a mixture of varied culture, language and religion.

Cuisine:

Early inhabitants of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands were hunters and therefore meat and fruits were their natural cuisine. With the arrival of immigrants sea food also became a part of their cuisine. All the hotels and restaurants serve sea food at a very reasonable price. Chinese, continental and western cuisines also are becoming popular among the Islanders.

Festivals:

Most of the festivals celebrated by the Andaman and Nicobar Islanders are the festivals that the immigrants brought into the Islands along with them. The Administrators of the islands organize a 15-day festival every year which exhibits the developments and important aspects of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The other local festivals are Durgapuja celebrated by the Bengalis, Pongal for the Tamils and Telugus, and Onam for the Malayalis and their respective religious festivals.

Religion:

The existing tribes belong to a religion called “animism. According to this religion Paluga is the deity that is solely responsible for everything that happens in this world. The tribal people believe that the Paulga resides at the Saddle Peak the highest peak of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This religion believes in the existence of ghosts, spirits and souls. They also do not believe in hell or heaven.

The local dwellers of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands belong to the three main religions, namely The Hindus The Christians and The Muslims.