Extraordinary Destinations
Amazing
ANDAMANS
India ’ s most remote state , the Andaman Islands , situated more than 1000 km off the east coast in the middle of the Bay of Bengal have everything that one could imagine for a perfect vacation . It doesn ’ t matter if you are visiting here with your parents , friends , spouse or kids because there ’ s something in store for everyone .
For administrative purposes , the Andamans are grouped with the Nicobar Islands , 200 km further south , but these remain strictly off-limits to foreigners , as well as Indians with no direct business there . Approximately some 200 islands make up the Andaman group and 19 of them sum up the Nicobar . They are of various different sizes stretching over a range of 755 km . All but the most remotest of these islands are populated in parts
Anurag Rao
by indigenous tribes whose numbers have been slashed by a huge number due to the nineteenth-century European settlement followed by rampant deforestation in more recent history .
Getting to the Andamans from the mainland is no longer a daunting task ; with well-connected flights from Kolkata , Chennai , Vishakapatnam , Delhi and Mumbai you could be at these dreamy islands in matter of a few hours .
Covered by dense deep green tropical forests , the archipelago supports a profusion of wildlife , including some extremely rare species of birds . But for the most , it ’ s the beaches and the pristine reefs around the islands that attract them .
The colourful fish , the kaleidoscopic corals and the crystal-clear waters of the Andaman Sea are perfect for snorkelling and scuba diving . Then of course comes the rich heritage history of the British Raj . At every point throughout the Andamans the stories of the British Raj and the ruins from the Second World War
14 destination exotica | february 2017