Andaman and Nicobar – History, Geography, Tourism, Economy
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a chain of tropical islands in the Bay of Bengal, closer to Myanmar and Indonesia than to mainland India. They are known for white sand beaches, coral reefs, thick rainforest and the Cellular Jail, where many freedom fighters were imprisoned. This guide covers the history, geography, people, tourism and economy of the islands in plain English, with facts checked against standard references.
Our old post on this topic gave the wrong number of islands, the wrong completion date for the Cellular Jail and some doubtful history. We have rewritten it completely.
Table of Contents
Andaman and Nicobar at a Glance
- Status: Union territory of India.
- Islands: 836, of which only 31 are inhabited.
- Capital: Port Blair, officially renamed Sri Vijaya Puram on 13 September 2024.
- Land area: About 8,249 square kilometres.
- Population: 380,581 at the 2011 census.
- Districts: South Andaman, North and Middle Andaman, and Nicobar.
- Languages: Hindi and English are official, while Bengali, Tamil and Telugu are widely spoken.
Geography
Two Island Groups
The territory has two main clusters. The Andaman Islands lie to the north and the Nicobar Islands to the south, separated by the Ten Degree Channel, which is about 150 kilometres wide. The islands sit between the Bay of Bengal to the west and the Andaman Sea to the east. Port Blair is about 1,190 kilometres from Chennai and 1,255 kilometres from Kolkata.
Peaks and a Volcano
The highest point is Saddle Peak, 732 metres high, on North Andaman. Barren Island in the Andaman Sea is the only confirmed active volcano in the Indian subcontinent. Its first recorded eruption was in 1787, and it has erupted more than ten times since, most recently in 2025. At the southern tip of Great Nicobar lies Indira Point, the southernmost point of India.
Climate
The islands have a warm tropical climate all year, with average temperatures between about 23 and 31 degrees Celsius. Rain comes with the monsoons, and tropical cyclones are common in late summer. Mangroves, marshes and coconut palms line much of the coast.
Forests and Sea Life
About 86 percent of the land is forest, with around 2,200 kinds of plants, some found nowhere else. The surrounding seas hold about 200 species of coral and more than 1,350 kinds of fish, along with dugongs, sea turtles, dolphins and saltwater crocodiles.
History
The First People
The indigenous Andamanese people may have lived in isolation for more than 30,000 years. The Greek geographer Ptolemy mentioned the islands in the second century CE. There are few written records of the early people, because they had no written language to keep their own history. An eleventh century Sanskrit work, the Kathasaritsagar, calls the islands Narkel Dweep, meaning coconut island.
Cholas and Travellers
In the eleventh century, the Chola king Rajendra I used the Nicobar Islands as a naval base for his expeditions to South East Asia. A Chola inscription from Thanjavur, dated to 1050, calls them Ma Nakkavaram, the great open land, which may be the origin of the name Nicobar. Marco Polo later noted the islands in the thirteenth century.
European Colonies
The Danish arrived on the Nicobar Islands in 1755 and declared a colony, but repeated outbreaks of malaria wiped out most settlers. Between 1778 and 1783, William Bolts tried to start an Austrian colony on the Nicobars, wrongly thinking the Danish had left. In 1789, Archibald Blair of the British navy set up a settlement in the Andamans, and Port Blair takes its name from him. That first settlement was abandoned in 1796 because so many people died of disease. Italy tried to buy the Nicobars from the Danish between 1864 and 1868, but in 1868 the Danish sold their rights to the British instead. In 1872, both island groups were placed under one chief commissioner based at Port Blair.
The Penal Colony
After the revolt of 1857, the British used the Andamans as a prison far from home. The first 200 convicts arrived at Ross Island in March 1858. For prisoners, the sea crossing, called kala pani or black water, also brought fear of losing caste. Ross Island stayed the administrative headquarters of the islands until the end of the Second World War.
The Cellular Jail
The Cellular Jail was built between 1896 and 1906. It had seven wings spreading out from a central tower, so that guards could watch every cell. Many freedom fighters were held here, including Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and his brother Babarao, Batukeshwar Dutt and the scholar Fazl e Haq Khairabadi. Read more in our post on Veer Savarkar.
An earthquake in 1941 damaged the building, and today only three wings and the central tower remain. Prime Minister Morarji Desai declared it a National Memorial on 11 February 1979.
Japanese Occupation
During the Second World War, Japan captured Port Blair on 23 March 1942. On 29 December 1943, Japan handed provisional control of the islands to Subhas Chandra Bose’s Azad Hind government, though real power stayed with the Japanese. Bose visited Port Blair from 29 to 31 December 1943, and the Andaman and Nicobar islands were renamed Shaheed and Swaraj. Learn more about Subhas Chandra Bose.
The occupation was harsh. In the Homfreyganj massacre on 30 January 1944, 44 local people were shot on suspicion of spying. Japanese commanders surrendered on 15 August 1945, and after independence the islands became part of India.
During the partition talks, both the Congress and the Muslim League claimed the islands. They later became home to many families displaced by partition, who set up farming villages on land cleared for them.
New Names
In December 2018, three islands were renamed to honour Bose. Ross Island became Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island, Havelock Island became Swaraj Dweep, and Neil Island became Shaheed Dweep. In September 2024, Port Blair itself was renamed Sri Vijaya Puram.
The 2004 Tsunami
On 26 December 2004, a huge undersea earthquake near Sumatra sent waves up to 10 metres high crashing onto the islands. More than 2,000 people died and at least 40,000 were left homeless. Many indigenous people survived by moving to high ground, following old traditions that warned them to flee after earthquakes.
People and Tribes
Most residents today are settlers from the mainland and their descendants, including many Bengali, Tamil and Telugu speaking families. The islands are also home to indigenous groups such as the Great Andamanese, Jarawa, Onge, Sentinelese, Shompen and Nicobarese. The Sentinelese of North Sentinel Island have almost no contact with outsiders, and the law forbids anyone from going within 5 kilometres of their island. Visitors must respect all tribal reserves.
Tourism
Beaches and Islands
Swaraj Dweep, formerly Havelock, and Shaheed Dweep, formerly Neil, are among the best known islands for visitors. Radhanagar Beach on the western coast of Swaraj Dweep, about 12 kilometres from the jetty, is famous for white sand and clear water. It holds the Blue Flag label, an international award for clean and safe beaches. The historic ruins on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island, the old British headquarters, are another popular sight.
Getting There
Veer Savarkar International Airport near the capital has regular flights to major Indian cities. Ferries from the capital reach Swaraj Dweep and other islands. Plan sea trips with spare days, because weather can delay boats in the monsoon. Never try to visit tribal reserves, which are closed to outsiders by law.
Marine Parks
The Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park near Wandoor was created on 24 May 1983 to protect corals and nesting sea turtles. Small protected islands such as South Button Island National Park also guard rich sea life.
Festivals
The islands host a yearly tourism festival with cultural shows, food and sports. See our post on the Island Tourism Festival.
Economy
Nearly half of the people work in farming, even though only about 6 percent of the land can be cultivated. Rice is the main food crop, while coconut and arecanut are the cash crops of the Nicobars. A huge sea area gives the islands a strong fishing industry, and tourism is a growing source of jobs. The islands are also home to the Andaman and Nicobar Command, the only joint command of India’s army, navy and air force.
Car Nicobar is the headquarters of the Nicobar district, and Mayabunder is the headquarters of North and Middle Andaman.
What We Changed From the Old Post
We rewrote the post in plain English and added sections on the Japanese occupation, renamed islands, the 2004 tsunami, tribes and tourism.
We corrected the number of islands from 572 to 836 and the jail’s completion date from 1908 to 1906. We removed the unsupported claim that Kanhoji Angre had a base here and the idea that Marco Polo set foot on the islands.
We also updated forest and farming figures.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many islands are in Andaman and Nicobar?
There are 836 islands, and only 31 are inhabited.
What is the new name of Port Blair?
Port Blair was officially renamed Sri Vijaya Puram on 13 September 2024.
When was the Cellular Jail built?
Between 1896 and 1906.
Is there an active volcano in India?
Yes. Barren Island in the Andaman Sea is the only confirmed active volcano in the Indian subcontinent.