|
AREA :
|
8,249 Sq.
km.
|
|
CAPITAL :
|
PORT BLAIR.
|
|
AIRPORT :
|
PORT BLAIR.
|
|
MAIN LANGUAGE
:
|
BENGALI,
NICOBARESE, TELUGU, TAMIL.
|
---------------------------------
Andaman
and Nicobar Islands are a string of 300 tropical islands which lie
scattered halfway between Calcutta and the equator. The area of the
Andamans is 6,408 sq km. Most ofthe Andamans are hilly and forested,
Saddle Peak on North Andaman, which rises to 732 m, is the highest point.
The land area of the Nicobars is about 1,645 sq km.
---------------------------------
The inhabitants, live on 12 of the islands,
particularly Car Nicobar in the north. Great Nicobar, the largest and
southernmost island in the group, is virtually uninhabited. The capital of
this Union Territory is Port Blair on Andaman Islands. The existence of
these islands was first reported in the 9th century by Arab merchants, who
sailed past them on their way to the straits of Sumatra.
---------------------------------
The first western visitor was Marco Polo who called
it the land of the head hunters. The islands were annexed by the Marathas
in the late 17th century. In the early, 18th century, the islands were the
base of Maratha admiral Kanhoji Angre, whose navy frequently captured
British, Dutch and Portugese merchant ships. Angre remained undefeated by
the combined British / Portugese naval task force, right up to his death
in 1729.
---------------------------------
Andaman and Nicobar Islands were finally annexed by
the British in the 19th century and used as a penal colony for Indian
freedom fighters. The penal settlement known as Kala Pani or Black Water
where the most criminals were sent, never to be seen again. In the
notorius 'Cellular Jail' many of the inmates were executed, either
judicially or clandestinely. During World War II the Japanese occupied the
islands and were not welcomed as liberators and created their own record
of cruelty. The local tribes took up guerrilla activities against the
Japanese. After India gained independence in 1947, the islands were
incorporated into the Indian Union.
|
Discover India :- State
Guide
::
City
Guide :: Museums
in India ::
Ayurveda
::
Fairs
& Festivals ::
Wildlife
::
Beaches