Andaman-Nicobar Islands: Part of India Territory Near Sumatra

VIVA – The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a territory of India. Geographically, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are located 150 km north of Sumatra Island, separated from Thailand and Myanmar by the Andaman Sea. This island consists of more than 500 islands.

As reported from various sources, the capital of this archipelago is Port Blair. The territory is dividing into three districts: Nicobar with the capital city Car Nicobar, South Andaman with Port Blair as the capital, and North and Central Andaman with the capital city named Mayabunder.

On December 26, 2006, when Aceh was hit by a tectonic earthquake, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands also felt it. Several areas of the archipelago have been severely impacted by infrastructure, particularly in the Nicobar region.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are famous for their beautiful beaches. On this beach, visitors can do Scuba Diving on Havelock Island or Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park. Visitors can also do snorkeling at MuaTerra or North Bay beaches.

Then, visitors can see coral reefs using glass-bottomed boats on Jolly Buoy Island or Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park.

Shaheed Dweep Island becomes one favorite of tourists, equipped with unexplored coral reefs, white sandy beaches, and tropical forests and vegetation.

Not only offering beautiful beaches, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands often hold various festivals and workshops as a means of entertainment in various fields. Some examples are the Indian Panorama Film Festival, kite-making workshops, music concerts by local musicians, and others.

For culinary, these islands serve Seafood which is priced more expensive than standard Indian food.

One of the popular Indian dishes made from seafood is tandoori fish, fish soaked in yogurt and marinated with lemon, then grilled until smoky.

To enter these islands, non-Indian people need a permit to visit the islands which can be issued upon arrival at the airport. If planning to arrive by sea, visitors must arrange for a permit before arrival, either in the Chennai area or when applying for an Indian visa.

Tourists usually get a permit for 30 days. However, the permit can be extended in Port Blair for as many as 15 days. So, for a one-time stay a maximum of 45 days.

These permits are checked upon arrival on most islands, hotel check-in, and ferry bookings, and must be submitted when tourists leave the island.