Andaman Islands are part of the Andaman Nicobar Islands. The island is a part of the Indian Ocean Archipelagic islands in the Bay of Bengal. Port Blair is the main community on the islands and the administrative centre of the Union Territory. The Andaman Islands consists of almost two hundred islands in the Bay of Bengal. Andaman Islands being a protected zone have controlled urbanization, retaining much of its charm and the rich natural beauty. According to a popular belief Andaman is actually a Sanskrit word by way of Malay and refers to the Hindu God Hanuman.
The population of Andaman consists of a small minority of indigenous Adivasis of the Andamans and the rest are mainly Bengali, Hind and Tamil settlers from the Indian mainland. Andaman Islands raise deep curiosity among the travelers, who are drawn towards the region to decode the mysticism surrounding the region. There are quite a few points of interests in Andaman, which are worth a visit like, the Cellular jail noted for the cruelty and brutality of the British troops on Indian prisoners, Ross Islands, home to various ruins reflecting the past of the region, Corbyn’s Cove Beach, Viper Island, Mount Harriet - highest peak in South Andamans, Chatham Saw Mill, Havelock Island, Red Skin Island, Jolly Buoy Island, Baratang Island and several other attractions lying in and around the Andaman Island. For accommodation, there are plenty of hotels in Andaman offering quality lodging facilities across various budget categories, catering to varying tastes and preferences of the myriad of travelers visiting the region.
There are few entry formalities that needed to be completed before foreign nationals can enter the region. Entry permits can be obtained from Indian missions abroad or from foreigner’s Registration offices at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. Indians don’t need a permit to enter Andaman but, Nicobar requires a permit even for Indians. Even after the entry permits, there are few things restricted in the region like nudity on beaches, putting up tents or hammocks on beaches, entering National Parks without permission, entering restricted and tribal areas.
Andaman can be visited throughout the year as the region experiences warm weather conditions throughout the year with sea breezes offering some respite. Getting to Andaman is relatively easy as the region is well connected by air and waterways. The islands has a functional airport in Port Blair called the Vir Savarkar Airport, while various cruise ships connect the island to the Indian mainland.
