The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are one of the seven Union Territories in India. These beautiful islands located in the Bay of Bengal are much closer to Thailand than mainland India. The sea to the east of the islands and between the Islands and Thailand is the Andaman Sea. The islands are known for their clear blue water, white sand and pristine reefs which make it a tourist destination that is growing in popularity.
The islands comprise of two groups, namely the Andaman and the Nicobar islands. These two groups are separated by the 10 degree channel with Nicobar lying to the South and Andaman to the North. The capital of the Union Territory is Port Blair. The total land are is approximately 8249 sq kms spread over 570 islands of which only 38 are permanently inhabited.
Havelock Island in Ritchie’s Archipelago lies 22 nautical miles North East to the capital and is a popular destination for tourists. South of Havelock lies Neil Island, another popular tourist destination. Barren Island, South Asia’s only active volcano is part of this chain. It is located 60 miles North-East of Havelock.
