The Andaman and the Nicobar groups of Islands sparkle like a chain of beads on the inky, blue water of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea with their golden beaches, lush green vegetation, tropical forests, unpolluted air, fascinating tribal life and cosmopolitan population. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, comprising 324 large and small islands and covering an area of 8,300 sq.km. These Islands were veiled in mystery for many a years and treated as forbidden land, the Kalapani (kala means black and pani means water), perhaps so named to inculcate an impression of fear and dread in the prisoners. As a matter of fact, this name has nothing to do with the colour of the sea and the bays where these beautiful islands are located.

The situation is completely changed at present. These islands are no more considered as a ‘Black Water Prison’ They are rather a green paradise attracting a large number of tourists from the mainland and abroad every year. The topography of these islands is also unique and comparable to that of the famous Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Perhaps, the virgin natural beauty of this place makes many a naturalist and tourist very much enthusiastic to have a glimpse of animal life of these islands. Out of 572 Island only 36 are inhabited, 24 in the Andaman Group and 12 in the Nicobar Group.The Great Andaman group covers a land area of 6408 sq km. The southernmost island of the Andaman group is the Little Andaman which is separated by a strait called Duncan Passage. This island is 48 km long and 27 km wide and its land area is about 960 sq km. The distance between the northernmost point of Car Nicobar and Pygmalion Point (the southernmost tip of Great Nicobar) is 310 km. The Pygmalion Point is in fact the southernmost boundary of India and is about 144 km from Achin Head of Sumatra. Of all the islands of Nicobar group, Great Nicobar is the largest having an area of nearly 1045.1 sq km with a length of 55 km between Murray Point in the north and Pygmalion Point in the south. Other islands of the group worth mentioning are Car Nicobar, Choura, Tillanchong, Teressa, Bompoka, Camorta, 3 Trinket, Nancowry, Katchal, Pulomilo, Kondul and Little Nicobar. Most of these islands are fertile and support evergreen vegetations, especially the clusters of coconut palms that bear green fans waving high above the slim bare trunks against the blue sky. Car Nicobar is the Headquarter of the Nicobar group of islands. It is a coral island and has a shape more or less that of Australia with a land area of 126.9 sq km.