“Charmed magic casement opening on the foam of perilous seas in fair lands forlorn.”

Andaman and Nicobar islands have their mention in the Hindu Epic, Ramayana. The monkey God Hanuman stayed for some time on the Andaman Islands while he was on his route to lanka. Aboriginals have occupied the Islands for umpteenth number of years – but their xenophobia and antagonism resulted in the region remaining uncharted. The place turned into the naval base of the great Maratha admiral, Kanhoji Angre in the early 18th century. However, these offshore islands had not escaped the eagle eyes of the British. Then came August 1947, and the English left the shores of India and went back to their land. Andaman and Nicobar became part of the dominion of India.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have a tropical climate. The temperature never touches the extremes. In nearly all the seasons the weather remains warm, moist and calm. The temperature is moderate throughout the year ranging between a maximum of around 34C and a minimum of 16 C. The propinquity of the sea and the copious rainfall thwart the extremes of heat. The monsoon lengthens over a period of eight months.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are exemplified by two distinctive native cultures. One is the Negrito population and other is the Autochthones. The local born people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands belong to chiefly three religious groups. One is Hindus, second is Muslims, and third is Christian. Some of the important festivals celebrated by the people of Andaman and Nicobar are Shivratri, Idd, Ram Navami, Christmas, Good Friday, Janmashtami etc. All three religious groups among the locals take part in one another's festivals.

Because of the cosmopolitan nature of the islands of Andaman and Nicobar, most of the Indian languages are spoken here. The common language spoken by a majority of people is Hindi. English is used as an official language. The common languages spoken in the region are Bengali, Punjabi, Marathi, Telgu, Tamil, Gujrati, Oriya, Malayalam and Karen.

The population of the Andamans and Nicobar islands was 314,084 in 2001. In 1981 it was around 188,254 and in the year 1991 it went up to 280,661.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands were shrouded in mystery for centuries because of their inaccessibility. These are the paragon of beauty and present a landscape full with scenic and picturesque extravaganza. These islands shimmer like emeralds in the Bay of Bengal. The dense forest which cover these islands and the innumerable exotic flowers and birds create a highly poetic and romantic atmosphere. "Here the white beaches on the edge of a meandering coastline have palm trees that sway to the rhythm of the Sea. The beat of tribal drums haunt the stillness and technicolour fish steer their way through crystal clear water." This addition of strangeness to beauty which is responsible for creating the infinite romantic impact. The major tourist attractions are:

• Mini Zoo at Port Blair
• Mount Harriet
• Neil Island
• Viper Island
• Chirya tapoo
• Anthropological Museum
• Haddo Forest Museum

Andaman and Nicobar islands is a splendid place for adventure seekers. Many types of adventure sports are offered on this land. Some of the important adventure sports that tourists can take contentment of are:-

• Water Sports - Sailing, boating, snorkelling, paddle boating and surfing are some of the water sports organised by the Directorate of Tourism, A & N Administration, at the following places :-
• Andaman Water Sports Complex, Aberdeen - Facilities for safe water sports such as rowing, paddle-boating, kayaking, aqua cycling, aqua gliding, and bumper boats are available at the complex. Adventure water sports like water skiing, water scooter, para sailing, wind-surfing, sailing, and speed boating are also available. There are saline water swimming pools, and also an artificial waterfall nearby.
• Gandhi Park - The Gandhi Park houses other parks like children's park, amusement park, entertainment park, deer and bird park, water sports, nature trail, and lake and garden.
• Corbyn`s Cove Tourism Complex - A beach 7km from Port Blair, it is ideal for swimming and surfing. The cove also offers water sports and has a restaurant and a bar at the beach.
• Island Camping - For a quiet restful holiday on the beach, tents are available on hire at Radhanagar Beach in Havelock Island and a few other places.
• Scuba Diving - For close look at the marine life around the islands, scuba diving facility is available with the Andaman and Nicobar Scuba Diving Society at Wandoor or at the WelcomGroup Bay Island resort.
• Snorkelling - The Andaman Water Sports Complex, Corbyn's Cove Tourism Complex, and Havelock Island besides a few other places are ideal for snorkelling through the marvels of under water life. Snorkels are available at these centers and a few other places like Andaman Teal House Port Blair, Horn Bill Nest Port Blair, Dolphin Yatri Niwas Havelock and Turtle resort Diglipur. The best place for SCUBA and snorkelling is no doubt the Wandoor Marine sanctuary, which is now called the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park. The sanctuary is a virtual paradise for any nature lover but the facilities are not good. You need to carry your own Snorkelling equipment as you are unlikely to find a decent set anywhere on the islands!
• Trekking - Various trekking trails are on offer at the Andamans. The trail from Mt. Harriet to Madhuban through the unique forest ecosystem, is one of the popular ones. Trekking equipment and tents are available from Andaman Teal House, Port Blair.