Andaman Islands

The Andaman Islands are a large group of 200 islands.

They sit in the northeastern Indian Ocean. Most of these islands belong to India as part of a Union Territory. Some islands, like the Coco Islands, belong to Myanmar.

These islands act as a boundary in the sea. To the west lies the Bay of Bengal. To the east is the Andaman Sea. The islands are home to many different groups of people. Some are indigenous tribes like the Jarawa and the Sentinelese.

Because some groups wish to be left alone, law forbids visiting North Sentinel Island. This protects their right to privacy.

Life on the islands has a very long history. People have lived there since the first millennium BC.

Evidence shows they may have arrived over 26,000 years ago. This was a time when sea levels were much lower. This made the trip from the mainland much shorter. The people who live there are a distinct group. They are different from other people in Asia. Over many thousands of years, their languages and groups changed. Even in the 13th century, Chinese books wrote about these islands.

They described how ships might drift toward them.

Many strong lands have controlled the islands over time. In 1050 CE, the Chola Empire used the islands as a naval base.

They called the land "Ma-Nakkavaram." Later, the British arrived and set up a penal colony. They built a settlement on Chatham Island in 1789. This place eventually became known as Port Blair.

The British used the islands to hold prisoners. One famous place was the Cellular Jail, completed in 1910. It had 698 cells for solitary confinement. Many people called the islands "Kala Pani," which means "black water."

During World War II, the islands saw more changes. Japan occupied the islands during the war.

A leader named Subhas Chandra Bose visited them. He helped rename the islands to honor martyrs. After the war ended, the British planned to close the prison. They wanted to use the islands for timber and farming.

In 1947, India gained its independence. Most of the islands became part of the Republic of India in 1950. The islands have since become a place for many new things. People now visit to see the history and the nature.

Today, the Andaman Islands are famous for their beauty.

Many people travel there to see the coral reefs.

In 1998, surfers visited the islands for the first time. They went to places like Little Andaman to ride the waves. The islands also have thick, green forests.

Nature is very powerful here, too. In 2004, a huge earthquake caused a tsunami. This event was very long and changed the coast. Thankfully, local stories about moving inland helped save many lives.