PARADISE ON EARTH
|
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands
were shrouded in mystery for centuries because of their inaccessibility.
These are the paragon of beauty and present a landscape full with scenic and
picturesque extravaganza. These islands shimmer like emeralds in the Bay of
Bengal. The dense forest which cover these islands and the innumerable
exotic flowers and birds create a highly poetic and romantic atmosphere.
"Charmed magic casement opening on the foam Of perilous seas in fair lands forlorn." The scenic beauty of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, would create a sense of dissatisfaction and the human mind would rebel against "the whole mass of the motley facts of life". He would be guided by an irresistible desire to this paradise on earth, with invincible faith on the philosophy of Wordsworth: "Our cheerful faith, that all which we behold is full of blessing". The unparalleled beauty of these islands, create in men a love of nature with a caressing tenderness, a wistful fondness for all its delicate nuances. The enveloping atmosphere with its subtle harmonies of light and shade, fragrance and exhales the paradise, visionary splendours, and the music of the birds that defies definition would develop creative and constructive feelings in the hearts of those people who come here to enjoy the beauty of nature. He would like to rebel against the stereotyped moulds and forms into which life is so called 'modernman' is cast. He would be under the impact of the complex mood of infinite longing and tragic helplessness, "the yearning that craves for expression, yet defies expression, the inconclusive struggle between emotional apprehension of life and the articulation that must transcend personal emotion". The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have great maritime importance. During the British period political leaders considered dangerous to the interests of the Raj and other dreaded criminals were deported from mainland to the Cellular Jail- the Indian Bastille, situated on the sea coast of Atlanta Point in the North-Eastern part of Port Blair. Thus these islands were infamously known as the 'Black Water Prison' or 'Kala Pani'. The Andaman & Nicobar are a group of picturesque Islands, big and small, inhabited and uninhabited, a total of 572 islands, islets and rocks lying in the South Eastern Part of the Bay of Bengal.They lie along an arc in long and narrow broken chain, approximately North-South over a distance nearly 800 kms. . It is logical to presume a former land connection form Cape Negris at South part of Burma to Achin Head (Cape Pedro) in Andalas (Sumatra). The flora and fauna of these islands, however, indicate that this land connection if it existed, should have been prior to the development of their present life form. |
GENERAL INFORMATION OF
A&N ISLANDS
|
Location |
Bay of Bengal |
|
Longitude |
920 to 940 East |
|
Latitude |
60 to 140 North |
Altitude (Highest Point)
|
Andaman Islands |
|
| Saddle Peak (North Andaman Island) |
732 Metres |
|
Nicobar Islands |
|
| Mount Thullier (Great Nicobar Island) |
642 Metres |
|
Total Area |
Sq.km |
8249 |
|
Andaman District |
" |
3106 |
|
Nicobar District |
" |
1841 |
| North & Middle Andaman |
" |
3302 |
|
URBAN AREA |
" |
16.64 |
|
RURAL AREA |
" |
8232.36 |
Length & Breadth
|
Length and Breadth of Andaman Islands |
|
|
Total Length |
467kms |
|
Maximum Width |
52 Kms |
|
Average Width |
24kms |
|
Length and Breadth of Nicobar Islands |
|
|
Total Length |
259 Kms |
|
Maxiimum Width |
58 Kms |
|
Biggest inhabitant Island in Andaman Group |
|
|
Middle Andaman Island |
1536 Sq.Km |
|
Biggest inhabitant Island in Nicobar Group |
|
|
Great Nicobar Island |
1045 Sq.Km. |
|
Smallest inhabitant Island in Andaman Group |
|
|
Curlew Island |
0.3 Sq Km. |
|
Smallest inhabitant Island in Nicobar Group |
|
|
Pilomillow Island |
1.3 Sq.Km |
|
Distance by Sea (In Kms.) |
|
|
Between Port Blair & Chennai |
1190 |
|
Between Port Blair & Calcutta |
1255 |
|
Between Port Blair & Vishakapatnam |
1200 |
| Distance by Air Kms. | |
|
Between Calcutta & Port Blair |
1301 |
|
Between Chennai & Port Blair |
1375 |
Administrative Unit
|
Administrative Unit |
No. |
|
District |
3 |
|
Sub-Division |
6 |
|
Tahsil |
9 |
|
Town |
3 |
|
C.D.Block |
5 |
|
Lok Sabha Seat |
1 |
|
Municipal Council |
1 |
|
Municipal Ward |
18 |
|
Panchayat |
67 |
|
Police Station |
15 |
|
Panchayat Samiti |
07 |
|
Zilla Parishad |
01 |
|
Island/ Village |
Nos. |
|
Revenue Village |
204 |
|
Census Village |
547 |
|
Inhabited Village |
501 |
|
Uninhabited Village |
46 |
|
Inhabited Island |
38 |
|
Normal Rainfall at Port Blair |
3180 mm |
|
Actual Rainfall at Port Blair during 2003 |
3004.2 mm |
|
Rainy days at Port Blair during 2003 |
149 |
|
Mean Minimum Temperature at Port Blair during 2003 |
23.90 Celcius |
|
Mean Maximum Temperature at Port Blair during 2003 |
30.20 Celcius |
|
Mean Relative Humidity at Port Blair During 2003 |
81% |
|
TOTAL POPULATION |
1971 |
1981 |
1991 |
2001 |
|
115133 |
188741 |
280661 |
356152 |
|
|
Male |
70027 |
107261 |
154369 |
192972 |
|
Female |
45106 |
81480 |
126292 |
163180 |
|
RURAL POPULATION |
88915 |
139107 |
205706 |
239954 |
|
Male |
53195 |
78401 |
111986 |
128961 |
|
Female |
35720 |
60706 |
93720 |
110993 |
|
URBAN POPULATION |
26218 |
49634 |
74955 |
116198 |
|
Male |
16832 |
28860 |
42383 |
64011 |
|
Female |
9386 |
20774 |
32572 |
52187 |
|
RELIGION-WISE POPULATION |
||||
|
Religion |
1971 |
1981 |
1991 |
2001 |
| Hindu |
70134 |
121793 |
189521 |
246589 |
| Christian |
30342 |
48274 |
67211 |
77178 |
| Muslim |
11655 |
16188 |
21354 |
29265 |
| Sikh |
865 |
991 |
1350 |
1587 |
| Buddhist |
103 |
127 |
322 |
421 |
| Jain |
14 |
11 |
17 |
23 |
| Others |
2020 |
1357 |
886 |
1089 |
LITERACY RATE
|
(As per Census of India - 1st March 2001) |
|||
|
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
| A & N Islands |
71.07% |
76.09% |
65.15% |