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. "Here the white beaches on the edge of a meandering coastline have palm trees that sway to the rhythm of the Sea. The beat of tribal drums haunt the stillness and technicolour fish steer their way through crystal clear water." This addition of strangeness to beauty which is responsible for creating the infinite romantic impact may be described in the following famous lines of Keats.

"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

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

 

AREA

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

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

Climate

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%

  Population

 

 

 

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%

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