Sprawled over 700 Km in the Indian Ocean, in the southern part of the Bay of Bengal, in the forms of islands and islets, the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is one of the most traversed tourist destinations in India. An archipelago of 527 islands, Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a bearer of the rich heritage of India�s past. Mother Nature has been particularly generous in this place, with admirable vistas to charm you totally.

Having derived its name from the Hindu God, Hanuman, who was referred to as Handuman by the Malays, the Andaman and Nicobar islands have been inhabited since several thousand years, as per archaeological survey. Later on, this place was used as a site for exile during the British rule. Under the sentence of �kalapani�, prisoners were deported to the islands, severing any kind of relation with the civilized world. The Cellular Jail in Port Blair, the capital of Andaman and Nicobar was then regarded as the �Siberia� of British India and it has accommodated many a freedom fighter whoever raised their voice against the government.

Tourist attractions in Andaman and Nicobar Islands:
Port Blair, the administrative capital of the Andaman and the Nicobar Islands, offers several tourist spots worth visiting. The Cellular Jail where the freedom fighters of India were exiled to and kept captive is today one of the most traveled tourist attraction sin Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The Marine Museum and the Fisheries Museum are the two of the prime attractions here as they preserve some of the rarest species of flora and fauna. The Anthropological Museum helps you explore into the aborigines and their weaponry. The Aberdeen Bazaar in Port Blair stands as a major haunting ground of the tourists as you can pick up some nice shell and wooden artwork items to keep as souvenirs or gifts.

Home to more than 110 species of wild orchids, the Andaman and Nicobar islands has various tribal reserves, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. The bird sanctuary at Chiriyatapoo is one of the must visits at the Andaman and the Nicobar Islands.

The trek from Mt. Harriet to Madhuban helps you encounter the rarest of forest life, flora and fauna. Other trekking routes are also accessible and tents for island camping are available at various spots throughout the Andaman and the Nicobar Islands.

The Wandoor or the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Carbyn�s Cove Tourism Complex and the Havelock Island are ideal spots to be visited for snorkeling at the Andaman and the Nicobar Islands. The Andaman Scuba Club trains beginners and amateurs for scuba diving. You cannot miss out on the thrilling elephant safari, island trekking and lagoon cruises are other adventure activities you may enjoy at the Andaman and the Nicobar Islands.

Festivals:
The Annual Island Tourism festival held during the months of December and January, the Subhash Mela and the Vivekananda Mela are some of the events that see several footfalls.

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