Andaman And Nicobar Islands Facts and Information
General Information
| Capital | Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair) |
|---|---|
| Formation Date | 1 November 1956 |
| Largest City | Sri Vijaya Puram |
| Name | Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Union Territory) |
| Number of Islands | 572 (37 inhabited) |
| Official Languages | Hindi, English |
| State Bird | Andaman wood pigeon |
| State Tree | Andaman padauk |
Government and Administration
| Districts | 3 (South Andaman, North & Middle Andaman, Nicobar) |
|---|---|
| High Court | Calcutta High Court (Port Blair Bench) |
| Legislature | No legislative assembly (UT directly administered) |
| Lieutenant Governor | DK Joshi |
| Lok Sabha Seats | 1 |
| Rajya Sabha Seats | 0 |
Geography and Environment
| Area | 8,249 km² |
|---|---|
| Climate | Tropical, hot and humid |
| Forest Cover | ~82% (one of highest in India) |
| Highest Point | Saddle Peak (732m) |
| Indigenous Tribes | Jarawa, Sentinelese (uncontacted), Onge, Great Andamanese |
| Location | Bay of Bengal, near Myanmar |
Demographics and Social Structure
| Density | ~46/km² |
|---|---|
| Languages Spoken | Bengali, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu |
| Literacy Rate | 86.27% (one of highest in India) |
| Population (2011 Census) | 380,581 |
| Sex Ratio | 876 |
Economy and Industry
| Major Crops | Coconut, areca nut, paddy |
|---|---|
| Major Sector | Tourism, fisheries, agriculture |
| Marine Resources | Fishing, pearl cultivation |
Education and Research
| Major Institute | Pondicherry University Port Blair Campus |
|---|---|
| Research Centers | Central Agricultural Research Institute |
Infrastructure and Connectivity
| Inter-island Travel | Ferries and helicopters |
|---|---|
| Major Airport | Veer Savarkar International, Port Blair |
| Port | Port Blair |
Culture and Heritage
| Historic Site | Cellular Jail (Kala Pani) — freedom struggle memorial |
|---|---|
| Major Festival | Island Tourism Festival, Subhash Mela |
| Tribal Heritage | Among world's oldest indigenous populations |
Tourism and Places of Interest
| Active Volcano | Barren Island (only active volcano in South Asia) |
|---|---|
| Beach | Radhanagar Beach (Asia's best beach by TIME, 2004) |
| Diving | Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) |
| Historic Memorial | Cellular Jail (Kala Pani) |
| Marine Park | Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park |
Fun facts
| Active Volcano | Barren Island is South Asia's only active volcano |
|---|---|
| Asia's Best Beach | Radhanagar Beach voted Asia's best by TIME magazine |
| Sentinelese Tribe | One of the last uncontacted peoples on Earth |