Strung along the aquamarine waters of the Bay of Bengal, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands weave a magical spell on visitors. An integral part of the mountainous landmasses running from Myanmar to the outer reaches of Indonesia, they were strangely by-passed by the main shipping lines that plied the waters of the Indian Ocean. This isolation enhances the mystery that surrounds the emerald archipelago of 572 islands, islets and rocks. The main landmasses in the northern group – The Andaman Islands – are North, Middle and South Andaman islands that are separated by narrow waterways. Smaller islands lie dotted around these. Northeast of Port Blair, the capital, is Ritchie’s Archipelago, in which lies Havelock Island, boasting of beaches that are rated amongst the best in the world.

The southern group – the Nicobar Islands – is mostly inaccessible to tourists. In British times, the Andaman Islands acquired the notoriety of “Kaala Paani” where Indian freedom fighters were condemned to be incarcerated in the Cellular Jail where they were subjected to the most horrific forms of torture, cruelty and injustice known to mankind. A visit to the Cellular Jail, now a national memorial, is a must once-in-a- lifetime pilgrimage for any patriotic Indian. Andaman Islands today is an amazing tourist destination with an international feel.