Located in the Bay of Bengal, far from the eastern coast of mainland India, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands stand in striking solitude. This archipelago, is a breath-taking cluster of around 836 lush, forest-covered islands and islets. Rich in biodiversity, they are home to tropical evergreen forests, nourished by abundant rainfall and teeming with rare flora and fauna. The archipelago is about 8,200 sq km and is divided into two distinct groups: the Andaman Islands in the north and the Nicobar Islands to the south, separated by the 150 km wide Ten Degree Channel. Of the approximately 550 islands in the Andaman group, only 28 are inhabited. The Nicobar group consists of around 22 main islands, with 10 of them supporting human settlements. Steeped in history, these islands played a significant role during India’s freedom struggle. Sites like the infamous Cellular Jail, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island, Viper Island, Mount Harriet, and Hopetown serve as reminders of that era.