Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Archipelago of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Vandoor and Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park

Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a unique island state of India, located in the Bay of Bengal, 1400 km from the mainland. There are not many resorts here, but those that exist are above all praise. The islands are famous for their excellent climate, amazingly rich vegetation, privacy and “ecological friendliness”. In addition, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a closed zone, territory national reserves, to visit which you need to obtain a separate permit.

The total number of islands is about 570, of which 550 are in the Andaman Islands. There are only about 40 inhabitants in the territory, including 26 in the Andaman part; About 10 islands are open to tourists.

The capital and largest city is Port Blair. The major cities are Diglipur, Rangat and Mayabunder.

Visa, permit

To visit the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, you need a special permit, which is issued upon arrival in Port Blair, at the immigration office at Haddo Jetty. However, when traveling to the islands by sea, it is necessary to obtain this permit in advance, on the mainland (Foreigners’ Registration Office in Chennai - tel.: 044-28278210, in Kolkata - tel.: 033-22473300), or when applying for a standard Indian visa. The permit is usually issued for a period of up to 30 days; travelers who do not have return tickets or an invitation from the hotel can receive a “permit” for only 15 days.

In addition, the permit can be extended in Port Blair, but only for a maximum of 15 days.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a closed zone, a territory of national reserves, to visit which you need to obtain a separate permit.

The permit is usually checked by hotels, island administrations, ferries and upon departure, so you should not lose it.

If you have permission, you can visit the following islands: South Andaman, Middle Andaman, Little Andaman (not including areas inhabited by indigenous people), Nail, Havelock, Long Andaman, Diglipur, Baratang, islands included in the territory of the National Park. Mahatma Gandhi (except Boat Hobday, Twin, Tarmugli, Malay and Pluto; overnight in marine park possible only after notification of the administration) and North Passage Island.

Day visits to the islands of Jolly Buoi, South Sinquet, Red Skin, Ross and Smith, Narcondam, Interview, Brothers, Sisters, as well as Mount Harriet, Madubana and volcanic island Barren (boat only, no landing).

How to get there

By air

The capital of the islands, Port Blair, receives flights from Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai. It’s worth booking tickets in advance, as their prices increase significantly during the season, and there’s also a chance you’ll end up without them at all. International flights are planned to open soon (in particular, from Bangkok).

Indian Airlines flies every day from Chennai (travel time 2 hours 5 minutes) and Kolkata (travel time 2 hours). In addition, JetLite airlines fly from Chennai and Delhi (via Kolkata, the journey takes about 4 hours) and Kingfisher Red from Chennai (one of the most budget companies).

On water

There are regular boats from Kolkata, Chennai and Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) to Andaman, which takes several days and is an adventure in itself. As a rule, Port Blair receives 4 to 6 flights per month from Kolkata (56 hours journey, MV Akbar), and in season - another flight per week from Chennai (60 hours, MV Nancowry and MV Swarajdweep) . MV Harshavardhana operates from both ports. There is a flight from Visakhapatnam (Vizag) once a month.

Search for air tickets to Delhi (the closest airport to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands)

Weather in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The climate is tropical, minimum temperature +23 °C, maximum +31 °C. humidity - 70-90%. Best time for a visit - October-May. From May to mid-September, and from November to mid-December is the rainy season. At the end of summer, severe storms are common, causing serious damage.

Tourist safety

Local residents became acquainted with civilization not so long ago, so a complete lack of clothing, or loincloths and bright beads, is absolutely commonplace on the islands.

Aboriginal settlement sites are most often closed to tourists; in addition, video and photography are prohibited there.

Transport

Between the islands there is ferry service, and helicopters also fly. Flights are highly dependent on the weather, and during severe storms they may be canceled altogether. Tickets are inexpensive, from Port Blair to Havelock ~150-250 INR.

Tourist ferries are quite comfortable, designed for 100 people, and have air conditioning, which, however, is not always adequate. Regular ferries are much larger and less comfortable, designed for 400 people, located on two levels.

In Highlock and Port Blair there is incredible excitement at the ticket counters. You can buy tickets in relative peace in (!) the women's queue, where tickets are sold to everyone, regardless of gender.

The fare depends on the class of service: 600, 700 or 1000 INR (leather seats and own TV). During the high season, it is worth booking tickets at least a day in advance.

You can travel directly on the islands by auto-rickshaws (in Port Blair and Havelock Island), taxis (only in the capital) or scooters, which can also be rented only in the capital and on Havelock Island. Rental cost 350-400 INR per day, deposit ~800-900 INR.

Prices on the page are for April 2019.

Travel to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Beaches of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Corbin's Bay - best beach near Port Blair. This small area soft white sand, hidden from prying eyes by a green palm canopy. There is a good restaurant, guesthouse and resort hotel Peerless Resort. 30 km to the south is the “Bird Island” of Chirya Tapu, which can be reached along the only road through the jungle and swamps from a small fishing village to a wide bay with shell beaches.
Viper Island is a tiny, quiet island located inside Port Blair harbour. The beaches of the island are sandy, the rest of the territory is covered with greenery.
Havelock Island is famous for its beautiful white beaches, the most popular of which are Vijayanagar and Radhanagar. Crystal clear water and stunning coral reefs, as well as numerous marine life, including dolphins, turtles and large fish, invariably attract many tourists to the island. There is a diving center on Vijayanagar beach - perfect place to study the life of marine life. In addition, you can even see elephants in the forests of the island.
Karmatang is located in the northern part of Middle Andaman, 136 km from Port Blair. This is a nice quiet beach and a place where large turtles lay their eggs.
Diglipur Island (136 km from Port Blair) is famous for the sandy Ramnagar beach: fragrant oranges grow here, and under the water you can see hundreds of amazing fish and their ilk. The island is crossed by the only river in the archipelago - Kaplong.
Rutland Island is an ideal eco-tourism destination. You can stay in small cottages at Totani Resort, from where you can begin exploring the beautiful mangroves and coral reefs of the island.
Neil Island, quieter than Havelock, is famous for good beaches and snorkeling opportunities.

Wandour Beach - the gateway to national park named after Mahatma Gandhi.

Vandoor is the gateway to the Mahatma Gandhi National Park.
Baratang Island is attractive for its atmosphere, preserved from ancient times in in its original form.
Barren Island is volcanic, the only one in all of India.
Long Andaman is ideal for a Robinson Crusoe-style holiday. There is nothing on the island; you must bring all your equipment and food with you.
Little Andaman will appeal to fans of surfing.

Entertainment and attractions

Port Blair is the capital of the state, famous for its located near the city center snow-white beaches, as well as a large diving center, anthropological, forestry and maritime museum, historical building"Cellular Prison", now turned into a National Memorial.

More than 3,000 species of plants can be seen on the islands, including 150 species of ferns, 100 species of orchids, a variety of palms and fruit trees.

Countless colorful fish swarm in the underwater coral forests. In addition, there are 96 reserves and 9 National Parks on the islands.

Diving and snorkeling in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The best diving is on Havelock Island, in national park them. Gandhi and South Sinque Island.

Snorkeling - in North Bay, on MuaTerra Beach and on Havelock Island. The equipment is inexpensive and can be purchased or rented.

You can take a glass-bottom boat ride on Jolly Buoi Island.

India, Nicobar Islands, India

Show on the map

The Nicobar Islands are part of the island state of India, along with the Andaman Islands. The Nicobar and Andaman Islands are separated by the Tenth Degree Strait. There is a ferry service between the islands. These islands of India are a protected area virgin nature, sandy beaches and exotic flora and fauna. Also, some of the islands are still inhabited by indigenous tribes that have not been touched by civilization.

How to get to Nicobar Islands

You can reach the Nicobar Islands through the Andamands. Airplanes fly from Kolkata and Chennai to the Andamand capital, Port Blair. From Delhi to the islands you can only get through Calcutta. Planes land in the capital of Andaman - Port Blair. From Kolkata, Chennai and Visakhapatnam, you can travel to Port Blair by boat (about 60 hours, which takes 4 days).

For a long time, entry to the islands was prohibited; exceptions were made only for researchers and scientists. Now you can visit the Nicobars Islands only after receiving special permission. Those flying to the islands by plane will be able to obtain such permission at the Port Blair airport. If you decide to sail to the islands by ship, you will have to take care of permission at the embassy (upon obtaining a visa) or at the port of departure. The permit is issued for a period of 30 days. Your permit will be checked when visiting all the islands, and when checking into a hotel - handle this important document carefully.

Geography and history of the Nicobar Islands

The archipelago in India has 22 islands, of which only 12 are inhabited. The main village of the island is Nankowri, and the largest islands are Car Nicobar, Great Nicobar, Chaura, Teressa, Nankowri, Katchal and Little Nicobar.

Europeans landed on the Nicobar Islands in 1745 - the Danish East India Company was the first to appear here. Austria owned this land for several years, and in 1868 the islands were sold to Great Britain and became part of British India. With the declaration of independence by India, they became part of the union territory of Andamand and Nicobar Islands.

A group of 19 islands in the Indian region, between the Bay of Bengal. and Andaman Sea. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are part of the Union Territory of India. 1.6 thousand km². Large islands the tops of the underwater ridge (height up to 642 m), small coral...

Nicobar Islands- a group of 19 islands in the Indian Ocean, between the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. They are part of the Union Territory of India. 1.6 thousand km2. Large islands are the tops of an underwater ridge (height up to 642 m),... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

Nicobar Islands- (Nicobar Islands, in Malay Poolo Sambilong) a group of islands in Indochinese waters Indian Ocean, south of the Bay of Bengal, between 6°45 and 9°16 N. w. and 92°50 and 94°E. d.; belong to England. Together with the Andaman Islands they serve... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

Nicobar Islands- (Nicobar Islands), a group of 19 islands in the northern Indian Ocean, between the Bay of Bengal. and the Andaman Sea. Prol. Tenth Degree are separated from the Andaman Islands, which lie to the north, and belong to India. Pl. 1.6 thousand km². Large mountains are peaks... ... Geographical encyclopedia

Nicobar Islands- a group of 19 islands (12 of them inhabited) between the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea in the Indian Ocean. Indian territory. Area 1.6 thousand km2. They are a continuation of the Arakan Mountains and the chain of the Andaman Islands. Height up to 642… …

Nicobar Islands- NICOBAR ISLANDS, an archipelago located in Indian. ocean, in front of the entrance to Malacca. prol., between 61/2 9° N. latitude, on both sides 93° east. duty. from Greenwich. There are 7 digits and a lot of small ones in the group. about vov with the community. area OK. 1700 sq. ver. And… … Military encyclopedia

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- Hindi English Andaman and Nicobar Islands Status Union Territory Administrative center Port Blair ... Wikipedia

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- a union territory of India, on the islands of the same name. 8.3 thousand km2. Population 279 thousand people (1991). The administrative center is Port Blair. * * * ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS (Andaman and Nicobar Islands),… … encyclopedic Dictionary

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- territory ( administrative unit) within India. Area 8.3 thousand km2. Population 79 thousand people. (1966). The administrative center is Port Blair. For nature and economy, see the articles Andaman Islands, Nicobar Islands ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS- a union territory of India, on the islands of the same name. 8.3 thousand km². Population 279 thousand people (1991). Adm. c. Port Blair... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Books

Sunlit Islands by Suresh Vaidya. The book by the famous Indian writer and journalist Suresh Vaidya tells about the author's journey to the once shrouded in mystery Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In a lively and entertaining way...

September 04, 2013 Dmitry Elagin

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a Union Territory of India. We have already talked quite a lot about the Andaman Islands, but the theme of the site also implies a description of the Nicobar Islands. Let us remember that they are separated by the Strait of the Tenth Degree. May the Nicobar Islands be even more distant from tourism business than Andaman, they still deserve special attention. Let's start with the most populated island - Car Nicobar.

Car Nicobar is the northernmost of the Nicobar Islands group. A little geography: the island has an area of 127 km² and an unusually flat topography for the area. As on all nearby islands, the temperature varies little throughout the year and stays at around 25-28 C. August is considered to be the rainiest month. Despite the fact that it is the most densely populated among the Nicobar Islands, there are no cities as such. More than half the population of all the Nicobar Islands live on Car Nicobar. But here you can count 15 villages:

Ha-nyôch (Mus)
Töt-chak (Kinmai)
Tö-kuö-nö Sē-ti (Small Lapathy)
Tö-ki-röng Sē-ti (Big Lapathy)
Hong-chu (Tapoiming)
Pum-pai (Chukchucha)
Sa-rā-ki (Kinyuka)
Tim-lö (Tamalu)
Kè-è-rô (Perka)
U-rek-ka (Malacca)
Sa-pë-ha (Kakana)
Öt-ra-höön (Kimius)
Ha-ran (Arong)
Öt-ka-sip (Sawai)
Rit-top (Titop)

Local residents are mainly engaged in agriculture. They supply timber and coconuts to the mainland. The island of Car Nicobar was seriously damaged by the tsunami in 2004, but today there is virtually no evidence of those terrible events. Not long ago, the governor announced that he intends to develop tourism on the island. We should expect the opening of new hotel complexes in the near future. It is worth noting that everything necessary for this is here.

The island boasts extremely picturesque nature, which was preserved in its original form thanks to minimal intervention from civilization. It has all the attributes of heaven tropical island– excellent beaches stretching for many kilometers framed by coconut thickets, warm waters, a network of roads entangling most islands.

How to get to Car Nicobar Island

On this moment The Nicobar Islands are closed to tourists, but the mayor of the island has promised that they will open soon. The island has an airport and regular connections with Indian cities on the mainland: Chennai, Delhi and Kolkata. You can get there by water from the capital of the Andaman Islands - Port Blair. The villages closest to the airport are Malacca and Perka.

Geographical position

Andaman and Nicobar Islands is an island union territory within India. The administrative center and largest city is Port Blair. Population 379,944 (2011).

Area 8249 km²(1st place among union territories). The territory is located in the southeastern part of the Bay of Bengal of the Indian Ocean. It consists of two groups of islands (Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands), separated by the Tenth Degree Strait. The total number of islands is about 570, of which about 550 are in the Andaman Islands. There are only about 40 inhabited islands in the territory, including 26 in the Andaman part.

How to get there

By plane
The capital of the islands, Port Blair, receives flights from Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai. It’s worth booking tickets in advance, as their prices increase significantly during the season, and there’s also a chance you’ll end up without them at all. International flights are planned to open soon (in particular, from Bangkok).

On the ship
There are regular boats from Kolkata, Chennai and Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) to Andaman, which takes several days and is an adventure in itself. As a rule, Port Blair receives 4 to 6 flights per month from Kolkata (56 hours journey, MV Akbar), and during the season - another flight per week from Chennai (60 hours, MV Nancowry and MV Swarajdweep) . MV Harshavardhana operates from both ports. There is a flight from Visakhapatnam (Vizag) once a month.

Visa

A special permit is required to visit the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which is issued upon arrival in Port Blair, at the immigration office at Haddo Jetty. However, when traveling to the islands by sea, it is necessary to obtain this permit in advance, on the mainland (Foreigners’ Registration Office in Chennai - tel.: 044-28278210, in Kolkata - tel.: 033-22473300), or when applying for a standard Indian visa. The permit is usually issued for a period of up to 30 days; travelers who do not have return tickets or an invitation from the hotel can receive a “permit” for only 15 days.

In addition, the permit can be extended in Port Blair, but only for a maximum of 15 days.

Climate

The climate in the Andaman Islands is humid tropical, without significant seasonal fluctuations in temperature, which on average ranges from +23 to 31 degrees. Air humidity is quite high and sometimes reaches 90%. During the summer and winter periods, quite a lot of precipitation falls on the islands in the form of short-term heavy rains. The period of storms and tropical cyclones begins at the end of summer and lasts until mid-autumn.

Video

Population

Population of the Andaman Islands, mainly focused on 22 officially inhabited islands and its population is more than 340 thousand people. The bulk of the population are Indians and Europeans who inhabited the islands during their colonization. The indigenous inhabitants of the Andaman Islands include ten tribes and nationalities, the most numerous of which are the Onge and Jarawa Sentinel. The latter continue to lead a lifestyle secluded from civilization, hiding in hard-to-reach places. mountainous areas islands. Of the Nicobar Islands, only 12 islands are officially inhabited. Their population before the deadly 2004 tsunami was estimated at 36 thousand people. In addition to Indians and Europeans, the islands are mainly inhabited by their indigenous tribes. They live secluded from civilization, hiding from others in the mountains. Cannibalism and tribal relations flourish in Aboriginal tribes. The exact number of Aborigines is currently unknown, due to their secrecy from the world. official languages - Hindi and English. The indigenous population uses languages belonging to the Nicobar and Andaman language groups.

Nature

Tropical forests cover more than 93% of the islands of the archipelago. They are home to more than 3,000 species of woody plants and herbs, as well as more than 150 species of ferns, more than 100 species of orchids, palms and tropical fruit trees.

The offshore coral reefs are home to a countless variety of fish and sea snakes.

Animal world tropical forests The islands are quite rich and have more than 200 species of mammals alone, the largest of which are elephants. Huge sea turtles, unique to the region, lay their eggs in the coastal areas of some islands and on beaches. In general, there are 9 parks on the islands that have national status, and more than 90 reserves in which flora and fauna are protected by Indian laws.

Hotels, hotels, prices

5* hotels located at the main resorts of India, amaze guests with their splendor: these are not just vacation spots with a wide range of services, but fairytale palaces on the coast, where the staff tries to fulfill almost all the wishes of tourists. Here they will find magnificent gardens and beaches, luxurious rooms (almost all 5* hotels are created in best traditions Indian national architecture), Ayurveda, yoga, massage centers, beauty salons and fitness centers, enchanting evening entertainment programs and even sessions with an astrologer. Perhaps the most sophisticated of this category include hotels belonging to international networks Taj group, Mariott, Hyatt. IN major cities 5* hotels do not always correspond to this category - often their service leaves much to be desired.