A group of islands in the eastern part of the Bay of Bengal south of Myanmar. The Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands stretches over a length of more than 700kms from North to south floating in the clear blue waters of Bay of Bengal, Jolly Buoy Island East of the Indian main land and consists of 572 emerald Islands islets and rocks. The Islands are in two groups: the Andamans and the Nicobar. The sandy beaches on the edge of meandering coastline are fringed with coconut-palms that sway to the rhythm of the sea. The sea around the islands offer excellent scope for water sports. The rare flora and fauna, underwater marine life and corals, with crystal clear water and mangrove-lined creeks, offer a dream-view of the rare gifts of nature. The clean and wide roads, free of filth as well as unpolluted fresh air attract any nature-lover, who seek absolute peace and tranquility in the lap of mother nature. Adventure tourism like trekking, island camping, snorkeling, scuba diving etc., are the real attractions.

The islands were colonized by Britain during the mid 1800s and were administered as part of the British Empire of India. When India became independent in 1947, they were organized as a union territory of the Republic of India. Since 1974, the Andaman Islands and the Nicobar Islands have had separate district governments within the territory. The Andaman Islands, large and small, number about 239, the bulk consists of three closely connected large islands – North, Middle and South Andamans which with other two Islands, Baratang and Rut-Land, almost form one landmass known as the Great Andamans. In the Nicobars, there are 19 islands of which 13 are inhabited by about 12,000 aboriginal tribesmen. Most of them live on Car Nicobar, the northern most of the archipelago. Half of the total area is covered by the Great Nicobar which is almost uninhabited.

Hundreds of islands in crystal clear water, some rugged limestone cliffs, others boosting an array of beautiful beaches, some of the world’s most exciting dive spots and a wide selection of resorts, ranging from simple bamboo huts to 5-star luxury, this is the island world of the Andaman Sea. Every island is different, each has its own character made up of beaches, mountains and mangrove forests. Some are uninhabited, others are shelter for small fishing villages and their local inhabitants.
Coral reefs are of the fringing type, often several hundred meters wide and separated from the shore by a lagoon of similar width. A barrier reef to the west has also been reported but its precise coordinates are yet unknown. The coral diversity until a few years back was among the highest in Indian reefs, with 133 species under 57 genera. Recently, a large number of documented and visual new records have also been made, raising the total coral species numbers to 316 species under 78 genera.Eco-tours offer you an opportunity to trek across tracts of virgin tropical rain forest, track endemic bird and reptile species, identify the rare flora of the islands, camp on deserted beaches, snorkel in pristine coral reefs, and go crocodile spotting or game fishing under darkness. While you do this, you are ably escorted and led by local islanders or Karen tribal who make excellent nature guides and trackers. During the course of these Eco-tours, you will meet the young researchers of these conservation projects, be sensitized and debriefed at their bases, and even participate in some of the ongoing research in sea-turtle and swift let conservation.

These ‘Emerald Islands’ are a famous tourist destination. It has various hotels to cater to the demands of tourists. Some of the islands in Andaman and Nicobar are hilly in places, covered with tropical jungle and with flat stretches of beaches. Adventure tourism like trekking, Island camping, snorkeling, SCUBA diving are the real attractions. The places of interest include Cellular Jail, Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Water Sports Complex, Fisheries Museum, Chidiya Tapu, Mount Harriet and Samudrika Museum.The Andaman & Nicobar Islands are a once memorable lifetime holiday experience.