The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a breathtaking archipelago located west of India. Spread out over more than 800 km in the Bay of Bengal, it looks like the perfect tropical dream. The less than 300 000 inhabitants have 572 islands at their disposal, covered in dense forest and white...

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a breathtaking archipelago located west of India. Spread out over more than 800 km in the Bay of Bengal, it looks like the perfect tropical dream. The less than 300 000 inhabitants have 572 islands at their disposal, covered in dense forest and white beaches. The Andaman and Nicobar islands are the perfect place to go SCUBA-diving, hiking or camping.

Port Blair is the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar islands. It is the only town of size and has the same atmosphere of any lively Indian market town. Except sniffing the lively atmosphere, you can visit the Cellular Jail. This is a large prison built by the British in the early 1900s. It still gives a powerful impression of the terrible conditions the prisoners, mostly Indian freedom fighters, were held. It is now a monument to those freedom fighters and had and excellent Sound & Light show, both in Hindi and English. Other sights in Port Blair are the Marine Museum, the Anthropological Museum, and the Chatham Sawmill.

A visit to the Mahatma Ghandi Marine National Park will be an unforgettable experience. You can view the spectacular coral reefs and other life forms through glass bottom boats, SCUBA-diving and snorkelling. The park covers an area of 281.5 square km. and encloses open sea filled with coral reefs and as many as 15 islands covered with mangrove creeks and tropical rainforests.

Port Blair can be reached from Calcutta and Chennai in India by air and from Chennai, Calcutta and Vishakhapatnam by sea. Indian tourists can travel freely through the archipelago, but foreigners need a special permit to visit. This can easily be obtained in Port Blair, but only grants access to a limited number of places and islands in the Andaman area. Everybody (Indian as well as foreigners) need special tribal area entry permit to visit Nicobar Islands, and it is very difficult to get. Despite this, it still is a true Garden of Eden for those who seek peace and quiet and a beautiful beach.

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