Mud Volcano, Baratang

It is one more main attraction for visitors travelling in Andaman islands. This Volcano is nearer to Baratang Jetty of Andaman islands (middle Andaman). It takes atleast a day to visit this place and return to Port Blair.
Mud Volcano is created by natural gases emitted by decaying organic matter underground. As the mud is pushed upwards by the gas, it deposits and hardens above ground. As more mud oozes out and spills over the edge it grows in sizes, gradually forming what you can see today a miniature volcano with rich, creamy mud crater at the top.

Sitapur Beach, Neil Island

This beach is exposed to the open sea and thus prone to higher tides. It is 5 km south and at the tip of the island. This beach is best suited to watch Sunrise in the backdrop of natural vegetations & limestone formations. The journey from the Jetty to Sitapur beach itself is refreshing with green fields and variety of crops.

Sunset at Chidiya Tapu

Campaign to end Jarawa Tourism Strengthens Further in Andamans!!!

The campaign started by Survival International and SEARCH is gaining momentum with tour operators and leading travel companies who cater a large number of tourists in Andaman giving their willingness to join the campaign. In a recent development today, ‘Andaman Escapades Pvt. Ltd.’, a destination management company catering thousands of tourists every year in the islands has given its willingness to join the campaign. 

Survival and SEARCH in June 2011 had appealed to the tourists worldwide to boycott the stretch of the most controversial stretch of Andaman Trunk Road that passes through the home of the endangered Jarawa tribe, who number just 300 and odd. The dwindling tribe of Andaman has been surviving in the islands for more than 60,000 years and are considered as one among the first human race who migrated from Africa. 

The Jarawa resisted contact with the British who had occupied in the islands and the growing numbers of Indian settlers on their islands until 1998. Now, they are under serious threat due to poachers who hunt the animals they depend on and bring diseases, violence and exploitation. In 1999 and 2006 the Jarawa suffered outbreaks of measles – a disease that has wiped out many tribes worldwide following contact with outsiders. 

Expressing his opinion on the campaign, Shri Abdul Majeed, Director of Andaman Escapades wrote to SEARCH in which he said, “We cater both International and Domestic Indian Clients. Many of our clients had been visiting Baratang in the past. But off late we realized that the tourist visiting to Baratang trough Andaman Trunk road are not very keen on visiting Mud volcano and lime stone cave but to see and encounter Jarawa tribe…” 

“This we realized when recently Andaman trunk Road was closed due to a Steel Bridge repair and had to send our clients trough boats which they were not very keen on … We appreciate this initiative”.  

Shri Mohammed Sajid, the Managing Director of the Company talking to the Director of SEARCH said, “We have been keenly following this campaign and we decided to extend our whole hearted support as long as it is for a noble cause to protect a human race, who will be extinct if timely action is not taken”.  

Andaman Escapades Pvt. Ltd. is a destination management company in the islands and cater to 5000 tourists annually in the islands, which includes Indians and foreigners as well. Among the list of their cliental are the Italian Consulate General, Issaballa Satirmo, Gladyo Taratori, CEO of ENI, an Oil Rig Company, companies like Infosys, Microsoft, Google, Zybia, Norcsort Drilling and others.  

Andaman Holidays Pvt. Ltd. which had already joined and Andaman Escapades Pvt. Ltd. are both members of the Andaman Chamber of Commerce & Industry, which still feels that the stretch of Andaman Trunk Road should remain open.


Source: http://andamanchronicle.com/content/view/4317/27/

Corals in Andamans

The noun 'Corals' is believed to have derived its to origin from an Arabic word 'garal' which means small stone, or Hebrew 'goral' which means pebble. Later the Greek adopted it as 'korallion' and in Latin it appeared as 'Coralium'. The present day English version means 'the hard stony skeleton secreted by certain marine polyps'. The animals, which secretes and builds this skeleton originated some 570 million years ago. This tiny boneless, fragile creature is genetically endowed with exceptionally high architectural skill polyps create multispectral & multidimensional skeletons known as corals. A close look at a dead bleached coral piece will reveal its porousness. Millions of pores are found in a small piece of coral. Each 'pore' was the home for a 'polyp' and each piece of this calcareous 'garal' is the outcome of cumulative effort put-in by billions of polyps for a long time.

Credit: Naval Marine Museum, Samudrika.

Barren Island in Andamans

The only live volcano in the Indian peninsula. Barren lies around 120 km. north east of Port blair in Andaman sea. This tiny, almost circular island covers an area of about 8 sq.km and has a diameter of about 3 km.
It belongs to general Sunda group and is believed to have born out of an eruption which occured during the late Pleistocene period. Later in the course of geological evolution the prime gaint cone got transformed to the present day Barren. The existing cone in fact, is the central part of the blown off cauldron.
contrary to its name barren the island is fully covered with lush green forest and is inhabited by 13 species of birds, 10 species of butterflies, 9 species of insects, 7 species of mammals, 6 species of flies, and 2 species each of centipedes and spiders.

The mammals include a stock of feral goats, which have adapted themselves to the terrain and depend on sea water to survive in the absence of a perennial fresh water source on the island. It is believed that the goats reached the island following a shipwrech in the region.

Safety Tips for Swimmers and Divers

- Swim / Dive only in patrolled beaches / site
- Seek local knowledge on sites prior to swimming / diving
- Look for safety sign and observe them strictly
- Don't enter sea with open wounds
- Don't wear jewels / bright coloured dress while swimming / diving
- Don't walk over corals. They inhabit Stone Fishes which are poisonous if threaded
- Don't swim among shoals of fishes. Move out of water if you notice crocodiles, large shoals of jelly fishes, sharks,and sea snakes
- In case of emergency dial - 100

Snorkelling in North Bay Beach

North Bay offers rarest varieties of corals and rich marine life. The underwater corals in North bay beach is beautiful and colorful. Person who does not know swimming also can experience this marine world as they will be escorted by experienced person and rubber tubes will be provided.

State Tree of Andaman & Nicobar Islands - Andaman Padauk

                     The state tree Andaman Padauk is a charming looking tropical deciduous tree with burr and buttress pattern giving it a distinct look. It is endemic to these islands only.

                     Growing to a height of 120 feet or so, this tree is highly prized for its distinct reddish coloured timber from which beautiful furniture pieces are manufactured.
Growing tall, they spread out into branches after about 60-65 feet and form a thick canopy like cover at the top.
                     
                     They have flying saucer shaped inedible fruits.

Presbyterian Church, Ross Island

The entrance to this church built in European style stands tall amidst the lush green tropical trees. But, as one enters the church, it is amazing to note its sheer emptiness inside as most of the structure has given way to ruins. Not so far away on the slopes towards the sea is yet another church structure, but its last remaining wall has been taken over by the roots of the Banyan tree.

Cellular Jail Photos