Andaman and Nicobar District Map

The Andaman group of islands comprises of islands such as North Andaman, Middle Andaman, South Andaman, Baratang, and Little Andaman. It is a group of big and small picturesque islands in the form of a narrow broken chain which forms a north-south arc. It is located at 16oN and 14oN latitude and 92oE and 94oE longitude. It covers the geographical area of 6408 sq km.

The main attraction of the Andamans is the crystal clear seas, white sandy beaches and shallow coral reefs. Andamans has immense potential as a tourist place. The hot tourist places of Andaman are:

• Neil Island (36 kms. from Port Blair)
• Long Island (82 kms. from Port Blair)
• Rangat (170 kms. by road and 90 kms. by sea)
• Cutbert Bay beach ( a turtle nesting ground)
• Mayabunder (242 kms. by road/136 kms. by sea)
• Diglipur (290 kms by road/180 kms. by sea)
• Little Andaman Island (120 kms. by sea)
• National Memorial(a three storeyed prison, reminiscent of Indian freedom fighters)
• Anthropological Museum( describes the life of the Paleolithic Islanders)
• Fisheries Museum (exhibits the species of marine life found in the Andaman islands )
• Samudrika (Naval Marine Museum, depicting the various aspects of oceanic environment )
• Zoological Survey of India Museum

Forest Museum The rainforests make the Andamans rich in timber, which is one one of its major source of income. The people of Andaman are engaged in agriculture and grow paddy as the main crop with other field crops namely pulses, oilseeds and vegetables. Spices like cloves, nutmeg , pepper, and cinnamon rubber, red oil, palm and cashew are also grown by the people. Tourism and fishery are its other sources of income.

The important industries in Andamans are Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) conduit pipes and fittings, fiberglass, paints and varnishes, steel furniture, soft drinks and beverages. By the initiative of the Government the industrial scenario is changing at a very rapid pace, but due to its fragile eco system major industrialization is not possible.

Over the last few years there is a substantial growth in the field of education in Andaman. There are many renowned educational institutions for higher studies viz.

• Regional Medical Research Centre, Port Blair (ICMR)
• Central Agricultural Research Institute, Port Blair
• Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar Government Polytechnic
• Jawaharlal Nehru Rajkeeya Mahavidyalaya
• Government Teachers Training Institute, Andaman
• Tagore Government College of Education