The coral-fringed Andaman and Nicobar islands, a sprawling archipelago stretching between India’s southernmost tip and the west coast of Myanmar. It is one of the most intriguing places in the world, partially because unlike other tropical destinations in the world that witness tourists around the year, most of these islands are off-limits to outsiders and tourists. Out of a total of 572 islands, only around 36 are inhabited by humans. Be it the unique wildlife, or the mysterious indigenous tribes of the islands, there are facts about this part of the world that are absolutely jaw-dropping. Read on to know one of the most amazing mind-boggling facts about Andaman and Nicobar islands.
1. The Sentinelese and Jarawa tribes survived the tsunami without any help
Tsunami and earthquakes that rocked the islands of Andaman and Nicobar mysteriously left 250 members of the ancient tribal communities of Jarawa and Sentinelese untouched. Anthropologists speculate that the ancient knowledge of the movement of wind, sea and birds may have been responsible for saving the indigenous tribes from the tsunami. They have been dwelling in the forests of the islands for centuries, leading a hunter-gatherer lifestyle, living in complete isolation from the rest of the world.
2. The islands are home to Coconut crab- the largest living Arthropod Birgus latro
The largest living orthopod is known as Coconut crab (since they love climbing coconut trees and eating coconut!) resides in Andaman and Nicobar islands. These super huge crabs despise water and are believed to be land-dwelling creatures. The species is threatened with extinction on most of its range in India and are only found on the islands, the reason that can be attributed to is the fact that it’s considered a social taboo to hunt and consume this beautiful and rare creature.
3. These islands have a dark history written in blood
The notorious freedom fighters of the great independence movement were imprisoned and even tortured on the islands that infamously got named “kaala pani” or black waters. This came close second to the atrocities by the Japanese on Indians while they captured the islands during WWII. Prisoners were tortured and killed in jail and thousands of them lost their lives while they fought for their freedom.
4. Parrot island- one of the islands of Andamans houses thousands of parrots
If you are a nature lover or an enthusiast, then parrot island, one of the uninhabited islands of Andamans is a must-visit destination for you. It forms a part of the most breathtaking islands of Baratang Island, additionally offering a magnificent view of the vastness of the sea. The island located thirty kilometres from Baratang Jetty is a 30 minutes boat ride away. The surprising fact is that the island is inspected every day by a group of five parrots who visit evening. The visit is followed by a huge number of parrots flocking to the island after an interval of ten minutes.
5. The tribes inhabiting the islands are one of the most hostile tribes in the world!
Negrito tribes- The Andamanese, Onge, Jarawa and Sentinelese reside in the Andaman islands, whereas the Nicobar islands house the two Mongoloid tribes- The Nicobarese and the Shompen. The Negrito tribes, as the name suggests, arrived in the islands From Africa some 60,000 years ago. Out of these tribes, the Sentinelese are considered as deft archers who have over a period of time gained the notorious reputation for being the defenders of their homeland. Any attempt to contact them is welcomed with showers of spears and arrows. The reason behind this hostility remains one of the biggest unsolved mysteries among anthropologists and historians.
