Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

History of Andaman and Nicobar Islands dates back to the settlement of the East India Company in the territory of the Islands. The history in Andaman and Nicobar Islands maintains that the East India Company established a penal colony where criminals convicted for crime against the Company were kept.

The history at Andaman and Nicobar Islands suggests that Marco Polo was among the first travelers from the West to reach this conglomeration of Islands. Again, the Kantian Angie a Maratha admiral, is said to have his base in Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the early 18th century.The sovereignty of Kantian Angie ended when he was defeated by the British and Portuguese naval forces.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

In 1789, the British established their colony in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. But, the island was abandoned the British in 1796; yet, the British resumed control over the island in the 19th century. During the 19th century as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands history maintains, the British used Andaman and Nicobar as a penal colony, which was named 'Liliuokalani' or the Cellular Jail. The history of Andaman and Nicobar Islands proves that criminals convicted of crime against the East India Company was sent to Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with a life sentence: the convicts were forced to live in exile in the Liliuokalani.

But, with the end of the British rule, i. e. after the Indian Independence, the 'Kalapani' gave way to a conglomeration of beautiful islands. It was in 1947 that Andaman and Nicobar Islands formed a part of the India Union. Today, Andaman and Nicobar Islands is among the seven union territories of India

 Tourist spots in andaman and nicobar islands 

Tourist spots in Andaman and Nicobar islands

Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India is a very beautiful but unexplored tourist spot in India . It has not only beaches but it also houses many historic monuments and museums. THE capital of the Andaman and the Nicobar Islands Port Blair offers several tourist spots worth visiting. Tourists from all over the world comes to this island to enjoy its serene atmosphere,beautiful beaches and wonderful tourist spots.

Havelock island

This island is considered as one of the best island tourist destination in andaman and nicobar islands. its a very beautiful island which provides idyllic resort in the lap of virgin beach and unpolluted environment, and a guesthouse of tourism department dolphin resort is also available for the tourists. The easiest accessible island from the capital is the Havelock . Small boats leave the Phoenix Bay Harbor daily to Havelock; one can be escorted by a school of dolphins or spot giant sea tortoise and flying fish. It is situated just 54 kms from port Blair. Havelock Island has crystal clear blue water and white sandy beaches. 

As per the Times magazine, issue dated 22ndnov, 2004, beach no.5&7 of Havelock Island [Radhanagar beach and Vijayanagar beach] are one of the best beaches in Asia. and they are laregely untouched by humans.havelock has been chosen to turn it into a luxurious tourist destination.

Ross Island

One of the most exotic of all the strings of islands in the Andaman & Nicobar group is the famous Ross Island, which stands guard at the mouth of Port Blair harbor. Ross island was the symbol of power during the erstwhile British Raj, named after the British surveyor Reginald Ross, this desolate island was transformed into a thriving township when the british established a penal colony on the Andaman & Nicobar Islands in the year 1858. In all about 500 personnel including officers, troops, Indian merchants and families lived at Ross Island. ross island is a tourist attraction which depicts the efficient administration of ancient british government.This island presently houses the ruins of old buildings like hospital, bakery, govt. officers house, etc, all in dilapidated condition, reminding of the old British regime. Navy has established a museum on this island known as ‘smritika' depicting the history of the island.

Viper island

This island derives its name from the vessel ‘viper' in which Lt. Archibald Blair came to the islands in 1768 with the purpose of establishing a penal settlement. The Dangerous convicts found guilty of violating the rules of the penal settlement, were put in fetters and were forced to work with their fetters on in this island.
Sheri Ali was given life imprisonment during the Wahhabi movement against the British Raj. He assassinated lord mayo, viceroy of India with a knife on 8th Feb. 1872. He was hanged on Viper Island.
The harbor cruise, available daily from phoenix bay jetty at 3p.m., provides a panoramic view of different points around the harbor and includes a wonderful trip to viper island.these tourist places shows the ancient penal laws of British rulers.

Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park

The Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park at Wandoor is at a distance of 29kms from Port Blair covering an area of around 281.5 sq kms. The fascinating world of tropical dense rain forests, the sandy beaches and clear blue waters offer excellent sight to the eyes. Red Skin Island and Jolly Buoy Islands are two of the many islands in this park with nice beaches and spectacular under sea views of corals and marine life, where you can indulge in activities such as snorkeling, bathing, etc. 

Tours in island park

Jolly Buoy Island offers a breath taking view of underwater coral and marine life. Glass bottom boats help to take a closer look at the coral colonies. Ideal for sea bathing and basking in the sun kissed beach. 

The Redskin Island also offers the lure of underwater coral gardens and unspoiled beaches. An occasionaldolphin may also be seen. It is a great place for swimming, scuba diving and snorkeling. 

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. It provides excellent Viewing of rare corals and underwater marine life through glass bottom boats; scuba diving and snorkeling are a lifetime experience for any one here. The rich marine life consists of variety of coral reefs, colourful fishes, shells, turtles, salt-water crocodiles, etc. Both Red Skin and Jolly Buoy are ideal places for observing tropical marine life and an amazing maze of corals. Glass-bottom boats and snorkeling equipment are available on hire and most hotels and tour operators will let you have details about how to get them. The island also have good beaches ideal for spending a leisurely day bathing and basking. At best, these islands are daylong excursions and no night stays are allowed. Because of the fragile ecological balance of this area, it has been declared as a Marine National Park.

Baratang Island

Baratang holds the natures best treasures gifted to the Islands. Limestone caves , Active Mud Volcano , Tothatekri [parrot island] & Roglachang Beach,baludera beach are just a few of them. The Road journey from Port Blair to Baratang is through a evergreen dense rainforest. The natural dense rain forests of andamans can be explored only in this tour. The beauty of dense rain forest, singing birds, dense tribal reserve areas are the things you experience in this 5-hour journey from Port Blair to Baratang by road. After that, visit the famous limestone caves by ½ HOUR ferry ride. After that, visit the famous Active mud volcano situated just 9 kms away from Baratang. During ancient times, this place had been an active volcano .Now hot air is bubbling from the mud volcano and this place seems to be like a volcanic mountain with mud strewn all the places from the eruptions. Panchayat guest houses and cheap hotels are available in Baratang for night stay.

Parrot Island

It is a tiny island situated near Baratang. It's a home to thousands of parrots. During sunset, thousands of parrots will come in groups to settle in that island. The landing of parrots can be viewed from boats and it's a wonderful experience to watch such a huge number of parrots landing there. Totally, Baratang is a nature of lover's paradise.

Chatham Island

It has a sawmill lying on the tiny island connected by a bridge over a stretch of sea-water. This saw mill is one of the biggest and oldest in Asia. The main island harbor is also here. The other harbor is haddo, which is nearby.

Barren Island

India's only active volcano is situated in Barren Island. It is just 120 kms away from port Blair. This tiny, circular island covers an area of 8 sq. kms. Barren Island's active volcano erupted twice recently in 1991 and 1994-95 after a period of 177 years. Tourists are allowed to visit this island only on board vessels. Landing on this island is not permitted.

Neil Island

Neil is one of the islands chosen by the government to turn into a luxurious tourist destination. The coral reef here is still intact and is what makes snorkeling a great pleasure here. This island is situated just 36kms away from port Blair. This island is also called the vegetable bowl of Andaman. It provides an ideal holiday for eco-friendly tourists. Laxmanpur, Bharatpur, Sitanagar beaches are the name of the beaches situated here. This beautiful island with lush green forest and sandy beaches is connected by boat from Port Blair, four days a week. It provides an ideal holiday for Eco-friendly tourists.

Cinque Island

This is a small and beautiful island to discover the beautiful marine life in andamans. This island offers snorkeling, scuba diving, etc. but Cinque Island tour can be arranged only in a chartered ship. The shallow seas around the island are rich in corals and there are some fine, unspoiled beaches.

Cinque Island 

If you are lucky, frolicking dolphins could greet you. A day at each of these islands will suffice to quench the appetite of most for the sea. But the experience always leaves the visitors with an restless feeling to long for the more and more of the same.
Mayabunder is situated in northern part of Middle Andaman; it has excellent oceanic beauty and good beaches. Karmatang beach is situated here and it is also a turtle nesting ground. Mayabunder is the Headquarters of North Andaman, at a distance of 360 kms from Port Blair and 85 kms from Rangat Islands.
Rangat provides a real tourist attraction for an ecologically conscious tourist, who can enjoy the virgin nature and breathe unpolluted air, a rare commodity for the city dweller. Cuthbert Bay beach which is15 kms away is the beach here and it is also a turtle nesting ground.
Diglipur is situated in North of Mayabunder; it provides a rare experience of sea, sun and fun for Eco-friendly tourists. It is famous for its marine life. Caliper a sandy beach and a beautiful beach at Ram Nagar is the main attraction here. Kalong, the only river of Andaman flows here, on which the first hydroelectric project of the islands is coming up.

Port Blair

Port Blair, the only sizable town on the islands , serves as the administrative capital.port blair offers several tourist spots worth visiting in andaman and nicobar islands. The center of the town is the lively Aberdeen Bazaar. Constructed entirely of wood, it has been razed to the ground several times in the past. However, every time, reconstruction was completed in no time and now it is as colorful as ever. Port Blair is the only place to do some sightseeing.

Mount Harriot

Mount Harriot was the summer headquarters of the chief commissioner during british raj. It is the highest peak around Port Blair and offers a breath taking view of sunsets and sunrises. It is also situated at 365 meters above sea level and it is an ideal spot for picnic and trekking. It can be reached by road or by ferry.

Chidiya tapu

Chidiya tapu, also known as bird's island, is an ideal picnic spot, with its lush green mangroves, picturesque beach and creeks. It is the southmost tip of south andaman. The lush green mangroves, forest cover with numerous chirping birds and the sylvan sands and munda pahar beaches make it an ideal picnic site. It is around 25kms from Port Blair. The forest guesthouse situated on top of a hillock provides a fabulous view of the isolated islands, submerged corals and the breath-taking sunset.

Carbyn's cove beach

It is situated just 7kms from Port Blair. Carbyn's cove beach is ideal for sunbathing and swimming, etc. It is the only nearest beach situated near Port Blair.

Mini zoo

Mini zoo houses some of the rare species of birds and animals found in these islands.Nicobari pigeon,an endangered bird is also found here.totally its a nice tourist spot for childrens.

Sippighat farm

It spreads over an area of 80 acres. Research & development programs for cultivation of spices like cloves, nutmeg, rubber and pepper are conducted here.

Anthropological Museum

The anthropological museum was set up at Port Blair to document, preserve and display the cultural heritage of the people of these islands. The pre-colonial inhabitants of these islands were the great andamanese, onges, jarawas, sentinelese, shompens, and the nicobarese. This museum depicts the life of the tribes of these islands.

Samudrika

This is a navel marine museum which displays the corals, fishes, animals found in these islands. The museum displays shells, corals, oceanic regime, marine archeology, etc. Many rare and uncommon shells and corals are on display in this museum.

Fisheries museum

The museum displays species of marine life found in the waters of these islands.

Little Andaman : 

It is situated just 129 kms from port Blair. This island has a beautiful waterfall. The hut bay is the name of the beach situated here.

Cellular Jail

The cellular jail is the most important tourist spot in andaman and nicobar islands.The British constructed the cellular jail in 1906 where they imprisoned many freedom fighters during India's struggle for independence. It was declared as a national memorial after independence in 1947,and it now houses a museum and an art gallery and holds sound and light show in the evening. The saga of the heroic freedom struggle is brought alive in this famous sound and light show, shown daily inside the jail premises at 6.00pm[Hindi] and 7.15 pm [English].
National movement were flaring up against the British rule all over India and the freedom fighters related to these movements were sent to Andaman's with long sentences. Prominent among those were from the Mopla rebellion [1792-1947], Wahabi movement [1830-1869], Tharawadi peasant rebellion, Burma [1930] etc.
The construction of cellular jail was started in 1896 and completed in 1906 with 698 cells. The jail was constructed with seven wings, spreading out like a seven-petal flower in its centre and it had a tower with a turret. The three-storey and seven wings building connected the turret.

Nicobar Islands

The Nicobar Islands are separated from the Andaman Islands by the ten-degree channel. It comprises of 28 islands measuring about 1841 sq .kms. The Nicobar Islands are abounding in coconut palm, casuarinas, pandanus, etc. The giant robber crab, monkeys with long tail, nicobari pigeon, megapode are found in Nicobar Islands. The south most part of India, the Indira point is found in great Nicobar. Foreigners are not allowed to visit this island. Indians are also given permission only in exceptional cases.

Car Nicobar [270 kms by sea from Port Blair]

Car Nicobar is the headquarters of Nicobar district. It is a fertile island covered with coconut palms and beautiful beaches.

Katchal [425 kms by sea from Port Blair]

This is a tiny island in the Nicobar group.the first sunrise of the millenium at katchal has brought the nadman and nicobar islands in limelight further of the best tourist destinations of india. This island has wonderful beaches at east bay, jhula, etc.

Great Nicobar [540 kms by sea]

This island is the south most tip of India. Many would have believed that south most tip of India is Kanyakumari but actually its Indira point in great Nicobar. This is a turtle nesting ground for Giant leather back turtles. This island also has a biosphere reserve area.The above tourist places makes andaman and nicobar islands a wonderful destination for all kind of travellers.

Chandigarh History

In this article, we will provide you with the Chandigarh history that will give you useful piece of information on the origin of Chandigarh, India. Prior to the partition of India, Lahore was the capital city of undivided Punjab. But, after the partition, when Lahore went to Pakistan, India was left without any capital. Also, it led to the migration of people of west Punjab to the eastern towns within India. These two factors gave rise to the need to choose a site in the foothills of Shivalik range that would serve as the capital of Punjab. Read on to know more about the origin and history of Chandigarh…
A committee was set up to choose a suitable site, keeping in mind various factors like military vulnerability, drinking water, climatic conditions etc. Finally, a site was selected, but that was in the shape of farms. The city got its name from Chandi, the Goddess of power and Garh meaning fortress. After the site was finalized, a master plan for the city was prepared by an American team (Mayor, Whittleslay, Glass & Nowicki). The project faced a setback with the sudden demise of Nowicki. It was then that the other teammates refused to work on the project.
The committee was again handed over the task of finding a team for completion of the project. In the year 1951, the well-known French architect, named Le Corbusier, took the charge of giving the city a modern look. He further appointed a team, who worked under his supervision and guidance. The team decided to work in two phases. While designing the city, factors like pollution, traffic, travel and tourism and other environmental aspects were borne in mind. This is how Chandigarh turned into a well-planned capital city of Punjab, India.

How To Reach Chandigarh

In this article, we will provide you with information on how to reach Chandigarh. This city is very well connected by road, rail and airways; so reaching Chandigarh is not at all difficult. Read to know more about traveling to Chandigarh:

By road

There is an excellent road network in Chandigarh. There are two national highways, namely, No. 21 (Ambala-Kinnaur) and 22 (Chandigarh-Leh) that serve this union territory by connecting it with other parts of the country. Infact, there are many pilgrimage spots and famous towns that are located at a motorable distance. There are several buses that link Chandigarh with other neighboring cities. Buses are of different kinds: air-conditioned, deluxe, semi-deluxe or ordinary.

By Train

The city is well connected with major cities via train. There are two trains, namely, Shatabdi Express and Himalayan Queen that link Chandigarh with Delhi and the best part is that these trains run daily.

By Air The city is well connected with Delhi, Leh and Amritsar via air. The airport is located at a distance of about 12 kms from the city center.


Chandigarh Weather


Talking about the Chandigarh weather, it can be said that summers are extremely hot and monsoons are highly uncertain. During the monsoon period, sometimes the weather is cool and sometimes very humid. If you are planning a pleasure trip to this city, then the perfect time is between autumn and winters (mid-August to November), when the weather is pleasant. During this period, it is neither too hot, nor too cold and also there is not much of rainfall. Winters are chilling, especially during the late nights and early mornings. Read to know more on Chandigarh climatic conditions:

Here are given some fast facts about the weather & climate of Chandigarh:
Winter temperature: 4-14°C
Summer temperature: 37-44°C
Annual rainfall: around 111.4 cm
Monsoon season: July - September
Best season to visit: between mid-August to November
Tourist Places Near Chandigarh
Kasauli Kasauli was developed by the British during hey days of the empire. It is at a height of 6000-7000 feet above sea level. The climate of this beautiful hill station is salubrious. In this pine covered hill station is situated Pasteur institute which produces antirabies medicine. This institute was set up in 1900 is the oldest in India. Kasauli is around 60 km from Chandigarh and is reached by a branch road from the Kalka-Shimla road. The highest point is the monkey point which is about 4 km from bus stand. It commands excellent view of distant plains. On clear sky one can have a glimpse of sutlej river also. On the other side green hills of Shimla present a panoramic view. On clear nights of Chandigarh present a romantic view.

Shimla

Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh. This beautiful hill station is 114 km from Chandigarh. It can be approached by road or by 'toy train'. Train passes through 105 tunnels and takes 4-5 hours from Kalka to Shimla. During night, half way through the journey, lights of Shimla glow in the distance, looking like glimmering jewels. The journey by train takes longer, but is more romantic. Shimla was the summer capital of India during British rule and it preserves the regal splendour of bygone days. The town of Shimla is located on seven hills. It is spread over the ridge measuring about 12 km. It is at a height of 7000 feet above sea level. For the tourists Shimla is a hill station of all seasons. Every season has its own charm to present.

During autumn clear azure sky, pleasant mountain air with a nip of slight cold has its own charm. This is a season of fruits also. Spring is full of flowers and fragrant air. During monsoon, clouds and mist amids the green hills give an illusion of other worldliness. In winter there is the joy of seeing and feeling snow fall and tantalizing weather. Summer gives a soothing touch of pleasant fresh cool air.

Sanawar

About 6 km from Kasauli is located the famous coeducational Lawerence School at the height of 6000 feet. this School is more than one hundred years old and is run on the lines of Eton, Harrow and Courdonstone. The buildings of the school are sprawled on a thick forested hill.

Sabathu

At an elevation of 4750 feet Sabathu is 28 km from Kasauli. There is located a Gorkha Regimental center. A historic Gorkha fort is also located in this scenic little town. The scenery around the Sabathu is very beautiful as it is situated in the valley which is surrounded by thickly forested hills. A stream also bubbles nearby making this place ideal for excursions.

Dagshai

It is at a height of 6000 feet and 19 km from Kasauli. It is the quietest place for excursions and trekking, as here is nature in the raw. It is reached through a road diversion from Dharampur on Kalka-Shimla highway.

Chail

Chail was the former summer capital of the erstwhile Patiala State. It is about 30 km from Shimla, and has an altitude of 7054 feet. It is known for majestic deodar forests. Here is the heighest cricket ground in the world.