ANDAMAN
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The Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands Stretches over a length of more than 700kms from North to south floating in the clear blue waters of Bay of Bengal, East of the Indian main land and consists of 572 emerald Islands (36 of which are inhabited), islets and rocks. Since pre-historic times aboriginal tribes have lived on these Islands. The Andaman group is inhabited by tribes of Negrito origin, while the Nicobar Islands are inhabited by Mongloid stock.
The topography of the islands is hilly and they abound in evergreen forests. Timber is plentiful and of a vast variety. These undulating islands are covered with dense forests and endless variety of exotic flora and fauna.
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| FLORA |
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Andaman & Nicobar Islands are blessed with a unique luxuriant evergreen tropical rainforest canopy, sheltering a mixed germ plasm bank, comprising of Indian, Myanmarese, Malaysian and endemic floral strain. So far, about 2200 varieties of plants have been recorded, out of which 200 are endemic and 1300 do not occur in mainland India.
The South Andaman forests have a profuse growth of epiphytic vegetation, mostly ferns and orchids. The Middle Andamans harbours mostly moist deciduous forests. North Andamans is characterised by the wet evergreen type, with plenty of woody climbers. The north Nicobar Islands (including Car Nicobar and Battimalv) are marked by the complete absence of evergreen forests, while such forests form the dominant vegetation in the central and southern islands of the Nicobar group. Grasslands occur only in the Nicobars, and while deciduous forests are common in the Andamans, they are almost absent in the Nicobars. The present forest coverage is claimed to be 86.2% of the total land area.
This atypical forest coverage is made-up of twelve types namely:
Giant evergreen forest
Andamans tropical evergreen forest
Southern hilltop tropical evergreen forest
Cane brakes
Wet bamboo brakes
Andamans semi-evergreen forest
Andamans moist deciduous forest
Andamans secondary moist deciduous forest
Littoral forest
Mangrove forest
Brackish water mixed forest
Submontane hill valley swamp forest
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| PLACES OF ATTRACTION |
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| The Cellular Jail (national memorial) |
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Cellular Jail, located at Port Blair, stood mute witness to the tortures meted out to the freedom fighters, who were incarcerated in this jail. The Jail, completed in the year 1906, acquired the name cellular, because it is entirely made up of individual cells for the solitary confinement of the prisoners. . The Jail, now a place of pilgrimage for all freedom loving people, has been declared a National Memorial. |
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| Son-et-Lumiere (sound and light Show) |
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The saga of the heroic freedom struggle is brought alive in a moving Son-et-Lumiere, shown daily inside the Cellular Jail compound at 6:00 PM (Hindi) and 7:15 PM (English).
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| Ross Island |
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Ross Island, the erstwhile capital of Port Blair during the British regime, is a tiny island standing as guard to Port Blair harbor (10 minutes journey from the Phoenix Bay Jetty, Port Blair). The island presently houses the ruins of old buildings like Ballroom, Chief Commissioner's house, Govt House, Church, Cemetery, Hospital, Bakery, Press, Swimming Pool and Troop Barracks, all in dilapidated condition, reminiscent of the old British regime.
The island is spread over 0.6 sq kms and is a popular place with tourists and the Indian Navy has established a museum on the island known as "Smritika". |
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| Viper Island |
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The tiny serene, beautiful island is situated inside the Port Blair harbor (20 minutes boat journey). The island derives it's name from the vessel "Viper" in which Lt. Archibald Blair came to the islands in1789 with the purpose of establishing a penal settlement. The vessel, it is believed, met with an accident and its wreckage was abandoned near the island. Viper Island witnessed the untold sufferings the freedom fighters had to undergo. Convicts found guilty of violating the rules of the Penal settlement were put in fretters and made to work on the island. The ruins of the jail and the gallows can be seen on the island. |
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| Andaman Water Sports Complex |
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Offers facilities for safe water sports such as water skiing, water scooters, Gemini boats, parasailing, sail boats, wind surfers, speed boats, glass bottomed boats. There is a saline water swimming pool, promenade for walking and changing rooms and a food plaza available near the complex.
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| Chatham Island & Sawmill |
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The Chatham Sawmill, is one of the oldest and largest mills in Asia, built on a tiny island connected to Port Blair by a bridge. The island has the second largest wharf on these islands. |
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| Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park |
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The Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park at Wandoor is at a distance of 29 Kms. from Port Blair covering an area of 281.5 sq kms. This marine Park made-up of open sea, creeks and 15 small and large islands, is one of the best found anywhere in the world. Viewing of rare corals and underwater marine life through glass bottom boats, and snorkelling are a lifetime experience for anyone. |
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| Chidiya Tapu (25 kms. from Port Blair) |
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Chidiya Tapu is the southern most tip of South Andaman. The lush green mangroves, forest cover with numerous chirping birds and the white sand beach make it an ideal picnic site and for snorkeling. The forest guesthouse situated on top of a hillock provides a fabulous view of isolated islands, submerged corals and the breath-taking sunset.
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| Madhuban (75 kms. by road/20 kms. by ferry and road from Port Blair) |
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This place is a trekking area, north east of South Andaman. Exotic endemic birds, animals, butterflies, and elephant lumbering are the most interesting part of the trek. |
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| Mount Harriet (55 km, by road/15 km by ferry and road from Port Blair) |
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The summer headquarters of the Chief Commissioner during British Raj, this place is an ideal for a nice and fascinating over view of the outer islands and the sea. It is the highest peak in the South Andamans (365 metres high). One can trek upto Madhuban through a nature trail and can find rare endemic birds, animals and butterflies. Conducted tours to Mt. Harriet are available from Andaman Teal House. |
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