Andaman Islands, Archipelago in Bay of Bengal, India
The Andaman Islands form a chain of roughly 200 islands in the northeastern Indian Ocean, part of Indian territory in the Bay of Bengal. The highest point rises at Saddle Peak, while tropical rainforest and mangrove forests cover the coastlines and interiors.
British colonial administration established a penal settlement in Port Blair during the late 18th century, which remained active until Indian independence in 1947. The notorious Cellular Jail became a symbol of resistance against colonial rule and housed numerous political prisoners.
Fishing communities along inhabited coasts continue their daily work with small wooden boats, while families still use traditional methods for drying fish and making coconut products. Local markets in settled areas display handwoven baskets, carved shells, and items visitors can observe and sometimes buy.
Several inhabited islands require special permits for visitors, which can be arranged in Port Blair, while other areas remain fully closed to access. Most activities concentrate around the main island and nearby reachable islands with regular boat connections.
Native groups on certain remote islands have maintained their isolation for a period between 50,000 and 70,000 years, as indicated by genetic studies. This exceptionally long separation from other populations has resulted in ways of life and languages that exist nowhere else.
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