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Demographics:
Major languages spoken in the Andamans are Bengali (25.95%), Hindi (18.4%), Urdu (14.2%), Tamil including Sri Lankan Tamils (17.84%), Nicobarese and Telugu (12.93%). English is widely spoken. The majority of Andamans are Hindus, Christians and Muslims, with a sizeable Sikh minority.
The indigenous people of the Andamans were the Great Andamanese, representing at least 10 distinct sub-groups and languages; the Jarawa; the Jangil (or Rutland Jarawa); the Onge and the Sentinelese, all on separate islands. Totalling 7,000 tribals, they were systematically hunted down by the British to the verge of extinction. Today, only approximately 400–450 remain. The fate of the inhabitants of the Nicobar islands was no better. These were the Nicobarese, or Nicobari, living throughout many of the islands and the Shompen, restricted to the interior of Great Nicobar.
How to Get There:
Access is possible mainly to the Andamans, with Port Blair being the basic destination. The closest these islands come to India is 1190 km from Chennai. A visitors permit is required to visit the islands. These are easily available at Kolkata, Chennai and Delhi, but it is best to acquire it at the air or seaport. Of 30 days duration, they can be extended locally.
• By Air: There are regular flights from Kolkata and Chennai to the recently extended runway in Port Blair. Taxis and auto-rickshaws are available to the town. If you have booked a room in any of the middle- or upper-range hotels or do so at the counter in the airport, you should find a shuttle bus to your hotel waiting outside.
• By Sea: Chennai is connected to Port Blair by sea. The transit facilities here are the same as at the airport, though it is much further away.
Foreign tourist charter flights are also permitted to land at Port Blair subject to meeting stipulated guidelines of the Director General of Civil Aviation.
Best Time to Visit:
The best time to visit is between January and May. Rains play spoilsport for the other months. The tropical hot and humid summer is anathema.
Where to Stay:
Stay is possible mainly in Port Blair, which has one 5-star hotel, one 3-star hotel, one 1-star hotel, three Premium Hotels, thirteen Budget Hotels and 21 Lodges. Four lodges are available at other islands, two each at Wandoor and Havelock islands, the latter having two resorts as well. Government Accommodation is distributed between Port Blair, Carbyn's Cove, Havelock Island, Neil Island, Rangat and Diglipur.
What to See:
There is a plethora of beaches with every inhabited island having at least one each.
Visitors are spoiled for choice. Most of them are some distance away, requiring 2-12 hour ferries
from Port Blair. The water is pellucid; watch out for sunburn!!
Port Blair has the Cellular Jail, which stood mute witness to the inhuman behaviour of the vicious Britishers who took sadistic delight in torturing Indian freedom fighters, and which is now a national monument dedicated to them. A son et lumiere brings those days back to haunt you. It has a Museum, an Art and a Photo gallery also.
Ross Island, the capital of Port Blair during the British regime, is a tiny island standing
at the mouth of Port Blair harbour and houses the ruins of old British buildings. Viper Island, just across the bay, bears grim testimony to its past, with its gallows on a hillock clearly visible. Women prisoners were hanged here. A three-hour harbour cruise on a glass-bottomed boat is a good way of taking in Port Blair. Alternatively, Package Tours lasting between 3-8 days are worth the experience. The Botanical Gardens, Burmah Nullah and the Wimberlygunj Lumbering Centres, in the jungles could form part of an extended itinerary.
Where to Eat:
There are 10 restaurants in Port Blair, three in Havelock Island and two in Wandoor. Annapurna, Waves and Icy Spicy Restaurants in Port Blair are recommended. The menu is sea-food oriented, but good vegetarian and non-vegetarian food is popular. Continental, Chinese and South Indian food dominate the platter and are easy on the stomach.
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