Tourism in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Tourism in Andaman and Nicobar Islands relates to tourism in union territory of India, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Andamans are an archipelago of over 572 tropical islands, of which only 38 are inhabited.[1][2][3] In 2004 Radhanagar beach at Havelock Island was bestowed with the title of "Asia’s Best Beach" and as the world's seventh most spectacular beach by Time Magazine.[4]

Tourism industry

Tourism is a major industry in Andaman. The bulk of the revenue earned by the government of Andaman and Nicobar is through the tourism industry. In 2008 total 136,426 tourists visited Andaman and Nicobar. Growing sectors in tourism and potential area of investment are water sports and adventure tourism including trekking, island camping, snorkeling and scuba diving. Sea aquarium, water theme park, wave surfing, marina yacht, convention centre, health resorts, sanctuaries, national park, inter-island cruise liner.[5] New islands in the Andaman archipelago are expected to open for tourism related activities. Andaman and Nicobar Islands are promoted as an eco tourism destination. The major activities currently present in the islands are Scuba Diving, Sea Walking, Parasailing, Kayaking, Game Fishing, Semi submarine, Glass bottom boat ride and Night cruising. North Bay Island and Havelock Island are the two top islands that promotes adventure related tourism activities. Accommodation is available at all the major islands such as Port Blair, Havelock and Neil Island.[6]

Natural resources in Andaman

Andaman and Nicobar has approximately 86 percent of forest area of its total land. The forests constitute an integral wing of the natural resource of Andaman and Nicobar and it houses 96 sanctuaries and nine national parks.[5]

The primary sanctuaries that form a part of the natural resources of Andaman and Nicobar islands are Narcondum Hornbill Sanctuary, which protects hornbills; Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, which features a large variety of aquatic creatures; Nicobar Pigeon Sanctuary; South Sentinel Island Sanctuary, offering giant robber crabs; and North Reef Sanctuary, which is principally dedicated to the nurturing of a variety of water birds.[5]

Major attractions
Cellular Jail
Historic gallows on Viper Island

Major tourist attractions in Andaman and Nicobar islands include:

Cellular Jail

The Cellular Jail, also known as Kālā Pānī (Black Water), was a colonial prison. The prison was used by the British especially to exile political prisoners to the remote archipelago. Many notable dissidents such as Batukeshwar Dutt and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, among others, were imprisoned here during the struggle for India's independence. Today, the complex serves as a national memorial monument.[7]

Swaraj Island (Havelock Island)

Swaraj Island (formerly known as Havelock Island), with an area of 113.93 km², is the largest of the islands that comprise Ritchie's Archipelago, a chain of islands to the east of Great Andaman in the Andaman Islands.[8]

Radhanagar Beach

Radhanagar Beach is a beautiful pristine clean beach located on the western coast of Havelock Island. Called an infinite beach,[9] Radhanagar was voted the best beach in Asia by Time Magazine in 2004 and is now considered one of the top 100 beaches in the world.[10] Radhanagar beach was awarded the prestigious blue flag certification in the year 2020. The Blue Flag certification is a globally recognised eco-label accorded by "Foundation for Environment Education, Denmark" based on 33 stringent criteria under four major heads -- environmental education and information, bathing water quality, environment management and conservation, and safety and services at the beaches.[11]

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island was the seat of British administration. This is the island from where the British governed the entire Andaman Islands and had set up a colony on this island. It was previously called Ross Island. The Indian Navy currently manages the island and the island is open to tourist visits. A boat ride is required to reach Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island from the Rajiv Gandhi water sports complex. The island is closed to tourists on Wednesday.[12]

Viper Island

Viper Island is near Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, was the site of the jail where the British used to imprison convicts and political prisoners. It has the ruins of a gallows atop a hillock. The jail was abandoned when the Cellular Jail was constructed in 1906.

Baratang Island

The Baratang Island which lies 100 kilometres north of Port Blair, also has a mangrove creeks leading to limestone caves and mud volcanoes.[13]

  • Havelock Island.
    Havelock Island.
  • Elephant at Havelock
    Elephant at Havelock
  • Viper Island
    Viper Island
  • One view of Ross Island
    One view of Ross Island

See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tourism in India.

Further reading
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
  • India. Planning Commission (1 January 2008). Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Development Report. Academic Foundation. pp. 205–. ISBN 978-81-7188-652-4.

References
  1. "ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS - Incredible India | Travel on The Indian Panorama". Theindianpanorama.com. Retrieved 2015-07-29.
  2. "Andaman-Nicobar Islands - An Unending Delight". Daijiworld. 2015-07-23. Retrieved 2015-07-29.
  3. "ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS - Travel in Andaman". travelinandaman.com. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  4. "Andaman's Havelock Island: The picturesque coral reefs are a haven for divers to explore the beauty of aquatic life". The Economic Times. 2015-07-19. Retrieved 2015-07-29.
  5. "The Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Project" (PDF). Thai Embassy in Kolkata. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 January 2017.
  6. "Andaman & Nicobar Islands - How is Andaman as a Tourism Destination?". www.experienceandamans.com. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  7. History of Andaman Cellular Jail: Recapture of Andaman Islands to keep Political Prisoners Archived 2011-08-29 at the Wayback Machine. AndamanCellularJail.org. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  8. "Andaman and Nicobar Island Tourism". Andamansguide. Retrieved 2016-09-06.
  9. "9 Reasons Why Havelock Island Is The Pearl Of Andaman - News Stories, Latest News Headlines on Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2015-12-14.
  10. "World's 100 best beaches - CNN.com". CNN. Retrieved 2015-12-14.
  11. Kumar, Ravi Prakash (2020-10-15). "8 Indian beaches get prestigious Blue Flag certification. Check list here". mint. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  12. "Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island, Ross Island Andaman - How To Plan & Visit Guide 2020". www.experienceandamans.com. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  13. "Baratang is the most-stunning, untouched, uncrowded Andaman island you've been looking for". Hindustan Times. 2017-12-07. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
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