Parliamentary Constituency : One

Municipal Councils : One

Municipal Wards : Eighteen

Gram Panchayats : Sixty Seven

Panchayat Samities : Seven

Zilla Parishad : Two

Length & Breadth of Andaman Group of Islands:  Total Length : 467 Kms (Maximum Width : 52 Kms, Average Width : 24  Kms)

Length & Breadth of Nicobar Group of Islands:  Total Length : 259 Kms (Maximum Width : 58 Kms)

Villages: Revenue villages : 204, Census villages :547,  Inhabited villages :501, Unhabited villages : 46

3.    Area in Sq.Km. of the District as a whole and its different sub-divisions:

• South Andaman District                        - 3,106 Sq. Kms.

• North & Middle Andaman District    - 3,302 Sq. Kms.

• Nicobar District                                        - 1,841 Sq. Kms.

• South Andaman Sub-Division     - 208471

• Mayabunder Sub-Division            - 62736

• Diglipur Sub-Division                     - 42877

• Car Nicobar Sub-Division             - 20292

• Nancowry Sub-Division                - 13562

• Campbell Bay Sub-Division          - 8214

• South Andaman District                      - 155403

• North & Middle Andaman District   - 71197

• Nicobar District                                       - 26535

• Total Male Literates                                - 146831

• Total Female Literates                           - 106304

6.    Police stations (total as well as sub-division wise):

7.    HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Mythologically, the name Andaman is presumed to be derived from Hanuman, who was known to the Malays as Handuman. Since pre-historic times, these islands were the home of aboriginal tribes. The tribes of the Andaman group of islands are the Great Andamanese, Onges, Jarawas and Sentinelese, all of Negrito origin, while the tribes of Nicobars are the Nicobarese and Shompens, both of Mongoloid stock. The first settlement in the islands by the British took place in 1789, which was later abandoned in 1796. The second settlement which was basically a penal settlement, was taken up in 1858, after the first War of Independence, followed by the settlement of convicts including Moplas, some tribes from Central and United Provinces, refugees from erstwhile East Pakistan, Burma and Sri Lanka as well as ex-servicemen. The islands no more carry the sobriquet of "Kala pani" and have become one of the most sought after destinations of the world.

These emerald Islands, blessed with natural beauty, 86% forest cover, world class beaches, undulating creeks, crystal clear water and unpolluted environment command the first place to visit for tourists. This archipelago of more than 572 islets and and islands with 37 inhabited islands stretches over a length of more than 700 kms. from North to South. The topography of the islands is hilly with exotic flora and fauna. The sandy beaches, fringed with coconut palms, and the sea around the island offer excellent scope for Adventure Water Sports and game-fishing. These green islands attract many nature-lovers, and bird-watchers from all over the world. Adventure tourism like trekking, island camping snorkeling, scuba diving etc. are the major attractions here.

Location Bay of Bengal

92º to 94º East Longitude

6º to 14º North Latitude

Capital Port Blair

Highest Peak Saddle Peak – 732 meters

Tropical and humid. Humid ranges between 70% to 90% with a gentle breeze blowing at all times. The weather is generally pleasant with a mean minimum temperature of 23ºC and mean maximum of 30ºC.

By Air: Port Blair is well connected with Chennai and Kolkata by Air. There is also a daily hopping flight of Jetlite linking Delhi with Port Blair via Kolkata. Presently flights are operated by Air India, Jet Airways, Jetlite and Kingfisher. The number of flights are increased during the peak tourist season based on demand. (Journey time: 2 Hrs.) Foreign tourist charter flights are also permitted to land at Port Blair subject to the fulfillment of guidelines of the Director General of Civil Aviation. The islands are also interconnected by helicopters operated by Pawanhans.

By Sea: Regular passenger ship services are available to Port Blair from Chennai, Kolkata and Vishakhapatnam. There are three to four sailings for Kolkata and Chennai one sailing for Vishakhapatnam every month.

Chennai – Port Blair : Journey time about 60 hrs.

Kolkata – Port Blair : Journey time about 66 hrs.

Vishakapatnam – Port Blair : Journey time about 56 hrs.

Cellular Jail constructed by Britishers in 1906 located at Port Blair, stands mute witness to the atrocities meted out to the freedom fighters, who were incarcerated in this jail. The name ‘Cellular’ was given as this jail is made up of individual cells for solitary confinement of the prisoners. Originally, it was a seven pronged building with central tower acting as its fulcrum and a massive structure comprising honey comb like corridors. This jail, now a place of pilgrimage for all freedom lovers, has been declared a ‘National Memorial’.

Once the seat of British power and capital of these Islands, it stands now as a ruin of the bygone days with the old structures almost in debris. A small museum named ‘Smritika’ holds photographs and other antiques of the Britishers relevant to these islands.

Notorious for chain gang punishment, this island was used as open jail for the convicts as well as freedom fighters by the Britishers prior to construction of the Cellular Jail. The jail at Viper Island was abandoned after the construction of Cellular Jail. It has a gallows atop a hillock, where condemned prisoners were hanged. Sher Ali, who killed Lord Mayo, the Viceroy of India in 1872, was also hanged here.

The Chatham Saw Mill, one of the oldest and the largest Saw Mills in Asia, is built on a tiny island named Chatham and is connected to main Island by a bridge. It is a storehouse of timber like Padauk, Gurjan, Marble, Satin Wood, etc. This island has the second largest wharf of these islands and is near the Haddo Wharf.

Once the summer Head Quarters of the erstwhile Chief Commissioners during British Raj, this place is ideal for fascinating distant view of the other islands and the sea. It is the highest peak in the South Andamans. (365 meters high). One can trek upto Madhuban through a nature trail and can find rare endemic birds, animals and butterflies. Conducted tours to Mt. Harriet are available from Andaman Teal House.

Barren Island, having the only active volcano in India, has a big crater of the volcano, rising abruptly from the sea, about ½ km from the shore and is about 150 fathoms deep. Can be visited onboard vessels only. Administration is contemplating facilitating aerial view of volcano from helicopter/seaplane for tourists.

8.    The distance of any of its sub-divisions from Kolkata and mode of transport/communication from Kolkata:

• 1255 Kms. from Kolkata to Port Blair

• 1190 Kms. from Chennai to Port Blair

• 1200 Kms. from Vishakhapatnam to Port Blair

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9.    Number of Courts (total as well as sub-division wise):

            Total number of Courts in Andaman & Nicobar Islands - 09

• At Port Blair - 05

• At Mayabunder - 02

• At Campbell Bay - 01

• At Nicobar - 01