1. The first sunrise of the millennium

According to the expert at Greenwich Observatory, the millennium sun will rise along half a great circle across eastern Russia and central China, and the Bay of Bengal. At midnight GMT, the sun will just be rising over Katchall Island in the Nicobar group of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Anybody along a line that goes through the Nicobar Islands would encounter the dawn of the new thousand years at 00 hours UT.

2. Remote Tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Andaman and Nicobar Islands are home to two tribal groups called the ‘Negrito’ and the ‘Mongoloid’ tribes. The Negrito tribes residing in the Andaman Islands are the Great Andamanese, Onge, Jarawa, and Sentinelese. The Nicobar Islands are home to two Mongoloid tribes called the Shompen and the Nicobarese.

You can spot the Jarawa tribe on the way to Baratang Islands!

3. Only active volcanoes in India

The Andaman Islands have the only active volcanoes in India. Barren Island in the Andaman Islands had eruptions from 1787-1832. The most recent volcanic eruption began in 2018 with lava flows and ash emissions at the summit.

Baratang Island contains active mud volcanoes formed by the underground emissions of uncompressed water and natural gases from decomposing organic matter.

4. The largest Sea-turtle in the world & Arthropod Birgus Latro (coconut crabs), reside in the Andaman Islands

Hawksbill, Green turtle, and the Leatherback (Dermochelys Coriacea) dwell on the finest nesting beaches of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Leatherback turtles are the largest in the world. 

Arthropod Birgus Latro is also known as coconut crabs because they eat tender coconuts and hate water. The highest numbers of these crabs are present in the Andaman Islands. They live on land but climb up the coconut trees at night and carve a hole into the tender coconuts to eat the soft part. 

5.  India’s first and only joint tri-service Defence command is at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The Andaman and Nicobar Command is India’s first and the only joint tri-service command, with interchanging three-star commanders-in-chief from the Army, Navy, and Air Force reporting directly to the chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee. It is also the focal point for Indian engagement with regional navies in Southeast Asia.

6. The state animal of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is the Dugong, the sea cow

Dugongs can be found grazing on marine vegetation in the sea of the Andaman and Nicobar Island. They are also called the Angel of the sea.

It is the national animal of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 

7. Cellular Jail in Port Blair (Kalapani), built in the Andaman Islands to penalize the Indian revolters and prisoners

The Cellular Jail was a colonial prison in the British era to accommodate the rebels and Indian prisoners after The revolt of 1857. It is now a national monument in the memory of the great martyrs and an open museum for history lovers to understand the Indian freedom movement. There is also an evening light and sound show which depicts the British rein.

8. First commercial seaplane in India was launched in the Andaman Islands

Jal Hans, owned by the government of Andaman Islands, launched their first seaplane in 2013. Jal Hans is an eight-seater plane with modern navigation features and can travel about 250 km in an hour. It lands on the water as well as the ground.

9. Ross Island in Port Blair was a headquarter for the British and the Japanese

Ross Island was a former headquarters for the British in the islands. However, it was destroyed in the earthquake of 1941. After that, the Japanese converted the site into a POW camp and built war installations. The ruins are still seen on the islands. The island is now under Naval control and is a famous tourist spot.

10. India’s Southernmost tip- the Indira point

 India’s southernmost tip lies at a village at the Nicobar Island of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, known as the India point. It subsided by 4.25 meters during the 2004 Tsunami.