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Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Capital:
Port Blair
Location: Bay of Bengal
Area:
Andaman District : 6,408 Sq. Kms.
Nicobar District
: 1,841 Sq. Kms. Total Area: 8,249 Sq. Kms.
Altitude:
Varies from sea level to 732 meters
Highest Peak : Saddle
Peak - 732 metros
Forest Cover: 92 %, Forest area 86%
Distances: 1190 Kms. from Chennai, 1200 Kms. from Visakhapatnam,
1255 Kms. from Calcutta
Climate: Tropical throughout the
year with mean minimum temperature at 23 deg. C and maximum at 31 deg. C. Humidity
is relatively high - 70 to 90% with a gentle breeze blowing all the time. The
weather is generally pleasant with average annual rainfall at 3,000 mm at Port
Blair (May to mid-Sept. & Nov. to Jan.)
Clothing: Cottons
throughout the year
Best Season: October to May
Brief History
The
Andaman & Nicobar Islands were known to be the abode of the aboriginal tribes
Negritos and the Mongoloids respectively since centuries long. There exists
no documentation on Andaman & Nicobar Islands before the survey by British
in1777. Before that the islands remain secluded from the mainland. It was only
at the end of 18 th Century when people from the outside world first visited
here.
It surprises many during the
Andaman & Nicobar Islands tourism
package that the earliest possible reference about the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands comes from Claudius Ptolemaeus, the great Greek astronomer, mathematician
and geographer. The proximity to the Far East gives credence to trading activities
with Japan in ancient times.
Later, Portuguese missionaries spread Christianity
among the islanders, as the Nicobarese language uses many Portuguese words. The
First War of Independence for India saw the islands being used as a prison by
the British for political prisoners and freedom fighters condemned in the cells
to rot and die. The other classification of prisoners included from East Pakistan,
Sri Lanka and the Army
Tourism in Andaman and
Nicobar Islands For the naturalists and proponents of
Eco-tourism
in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands find these islands are akin to
Garden of Eden. The nature lovers appreciate the greenery, unpolluted fresh air,
roads, as well as clean environment makes it a marvelous mix of nature's most
previous delights. There are picnic spots, museums, monuments, mini zoo, Marine
Park, waterfall, and gardens. The waters of Bay of Bengal and
tropical
rain forests of the Island give shelter to a vast collection of plant,
animal and marine life. Interspersed with flat stretches of crescent shaped
beaches
of Andaman & Nicobar Islands are fringed with coconut palm and tropical
jungle, while topography of the islands is hilly in places.
Fun
activities in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
One can enjoy adventure
tourism in the form of Island camping, snorkeling, trekking,
SCUBA diving
and other water sports. The Andaman & Nicobar Islands are a once
in a lifetime holiday experience.
Worth Visting
Places
Jolly Buoy Island Tourism, Clique Island Tourism,
Red Skin Island Tourism, Havelock Island Tourism, Barren Island Tourism, Ross
Island Tourism, Viper Island Tourism, and Chatham Island Tourism. The beautiful
beaches include Radhanagar Beach Tourism, Vijaynagar Beach Tourism, picturesque
Corbyn's Cove Tourism, Harminder Bay Beach Tourism, Karmatang Beach Tourism, Ramnagar
Beach Tourism, etc. How to Reach
By Air Port
Blair is connected with Chennai and Calcutta by air.
By
Sea Regular passenger ship services are available to Port Blair
from Chennai, Calcutta and Vishakhapatnam and back.
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Andhra Pradesh
State
Capital : Hyderabad
Population ('000s in 1991) : 66,508
Area ('000 sq. km) : 275
Females per 1000 males (1991)
: 972
Literacy rate (1991) : 44.1
Ratio
of urban population (1991) : 26.9
Principal Language :
Telugu and Urdu
Overview
of Tourism in Andhra Pradesh During your
south India tours
to Andhra Pradesh, you will come to know that the state was one of the
poorest and least developed. It is a miracle of sorts that the diligent people
and few able administrative thinking have made Andhra Pradesh a computer-friendly
state. The recent visit of the President of the United States, Mr. George Bush,
to the state capital Hyderabad amply proves the improved prospects.
Andhra
Pradesh is situated south of Vindhyas and shares a common history with its neighbours
Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. If you are on
a
south India temple tour , you come to know that Andhra Pradesh
has one of the most famous and richest temples in the world Sri Venkateswara
temple at Tirupati. The other famous
monuments and heritage sites
include Charminar, Golconda Fort in Hyderabad, Salar Jung Museum, and
Buddhism
sites and viharas at Nagarjunasagar. One can also visit the
wildlife
National Parks and
bird sanctuaries of Papikonda,
Kolleru, Kawal and Manjira. Andhra has a nearly 1000 km-coastline with eight
of its 23 districts having direct access to the sea. Famous
beaches
of Andhra Pradesh that enthrall are Visakhapatnam Beach Tourism, Kakinada
Beach Tourism, Bheemunipatnam Beach Tourism, Kalingapatnam Beach Tourism, Mypad
Beach Tourism, and Chirala Beach Tourism.
History of
Andhra Pradesh The epic era of Ramayana and Mahabharata encompasses
the history of Andhra Pradesh. It is only since the year 236 BC that the documented
history of Andhra Pradesh Tourism can be traced. However, centuries ago it was
the sprawling kingdom of the Emperor Ashoka the Great. It was during his rule
that the Buddhism flourished here of which traces can be seen in and around the
state during specific Buddhism Tourism. There existed a unique combination; the
men practiced Brahmanism while most ladies did the following of Buddhism. The
post Ashoka period saw many dynasties like Ishvakus, Chalukyas, Pallavas, Kakatiyas,
Vijayanagaram kings, Qutb Shahis, and Mughals that ruled the princely state called
Hyderabad. Finally, a General of the Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb, took over. His
successors, who entitled themselves the Nizams, ruled the state till Independence.
Capital
of Andhra Pradesh
Leaving its medieval history behind, in the
Hyderabad
Tourism one finds that it is the city of progressive modern metropolises
today. It has brought about a revolution by recasting the values and refinement
in etiquettes. The city of Hyderabad has adapted well with the modern ethos, and
western haute couture is slowly and firmly replacing the traditions of the sherwani
and burqa. The resultant change has produced a Miss World as well as budding celebrity
tennis star. Fortunately, besides the
Continental food , the
gourmet delights of the Deccani cuisine, the Hyderabadi biryani in particular,
is still a legend and current both. The other mouth water preparations include
‘
Sheermal ' (a local bread/
tandoori roti ),
Haleem (boneless mutton), ‘
bagara baigan ',
palak mutton ', ‘
methi chicken ', ‘
kheema
methi ', ‘
mutton ambada ,
Curried prawns and
fish with rice ,
Sheer Khorma ',
Double-ka-meetha
,
Khubani-ka-meetha, and so on.
Society
Andhra people are one of the friendliest and warm of the Indian
populace, with roots and history firmly entrenched into a blend of Mauryan era.
Their fineness in artistry, dance and crafts in their mosaic cultures is well
known. The harmonious and peaceful living of all religions like Hindus, Buddhists
and Muslims is the hallmark.
Culture of Andhra
Pradesh One's appetite for
cultural tourism in Andhra Pradesh
is fully whetted as the state has a rich cultural heritage. A varied
cuisine makes the mother tongue Telugu a sonorant treat. The blend of vibrant
religious festivals, beautiful crafts, and famous
classical dance form
Kuchipudi with it's the blend music and abhinaya are some of the indelible
impressions of this state. Tholubommalaata, a shadow puppetry theatre is a fascinating
folk art while tribal dances contribute in equal measure to the artistic heritage
of Andhra Pradesh.
Andhra Pradesh's Handicrafts, Puppets Silver
Filigree of Karimnagar and Budithi handicraft of Srikakulam are very good specimens.
Ikat weaving, Gadhwal, Pochampalli and Dharmavaram silk saris are some of the
amazing handlooms and handicrafts Andhra Pradesh is renowned for. Nirmal pottery,
Bidriwork as well as Durgi, Allagadda and Tirupati are three of the major centers
of stone art. Lacquer toys, Anakapalli articles, Pembarthi Sheet Metal Ware, Telengana
is particularly well known for its folk paintings. Banjara needle craft, Kalamkari,
the pen-painted fabrics of Machilipatnam and Kalahasti also make their mark in
handicraft bouquet from Andhra Pradesh.
Climate
of Andhra Pradesh The temperature varies from 41-20 degree centigrade
in summer (March to May) to 32 -13 degree centigrade in winter (January to February).
June to December is the monsoon months and the weather remains hot and sultry.
October to February is the best season.
Festivals
of Andhra Pradesh The Deccan Festival is celebrated in February.
The Andhra Pradesh and more so, the old city of Hyderabad celebrates Bakri-Id
with ritualistic fervor. The Andhra Ugaadi festival heralds the New Year. The
typical
Indian festivals such as Holi, Mahavir Jayanti, Nag
Panchami, Gandhi Jayanti, Diwali, and others.
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