The Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Capital Port Blair
Population ('000s in 1991) 281
Area ('000 sq. km) 8
Principal Languages Hindi, Nicobarese, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu



The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, home to a number of aboriginal tribes, lie in the Bay of Bengal, approximately 1,220 km south east of the coast of West Bengal and 1,190 km east of Madras. Boasting of an idyllic landscape and immense natural attractions, it is one of the popular tourist resorts in the country.

The existence of these islands was first reported in the 9th century by Arab merchants, who sailed past them, on their way to the straits of Sumatra. The first Western visitor was Marco Polo, who called it `the land of the head - hunters'.

The main aboriginal group in the Andamans are the Onges, who live on Little Andaman. Onges, like other Andamanese tribes, are of Negrito origin. They practice food - gathering, hunting, honey - collecting and fishing, and are the only tribe on the islands, who freely accept contact with the outside world.

In the Nicobars, the only aboriginals are the Shompens, who are averse to any contact with the outside world. The Nicobarese, the largest group, seem to be of mixed Burmese, Malay, Mon and Shan origin. They are a friendly and cheerful lot, who do not accept money and prefer the barter system. Communing with the dead is one of the many intriguing rituals practiced in Nicobar.

The islands were annexed by the Marathas in the late 17th century. In the early 18th century, the islands were the base of Maratha admiral Kanhoji Angre, whose navy frequently captured British, Dutch and Portugese merchant ships. Angre remained undefeated by the combined British / Portuguese naval task force, right up to his death in 1729. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands were finally annexed by the British in the 19th century, and used as a penal colony for Indian freedom fighters.

courtesy: Discover India

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Today, the Andaman islands have become a favourite settlement zone for Bangladeshis and south Indians, and the local tribals are feeling marginalised.

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