Little Andaman is an Indian island. More specifically, it lies in the southern end of the archipelago, in the Bay of Bengal and is situated about 120 km south of Port Blair, the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This island is known by the name of Egu Belong, among the people of the local tribe of the island. The Duncan Passage is known to separate this island from the Rutland Island in Great Andaman. It is considered to be the fourth largest of the Andaman Islands and is also considered to be a counterpart of the Great Andaman Island group.
Geography of Little Andaman
Globally, the Little Andaman Island can be pinpointed at coordinates 10 degrees 45 minutes north and 92 degrees 30 minutes east. It covers an area of about 734 square kilometers. Characteristically, this island is a low-lying geographical feature.
Flora of Little Andaman
The Little Andaman Island is considered to be extremely rich in biodiversity as it has dense and widespread evergreen rain forest. Red oil palm plantations are other noteworthy sites on this island.
Fauna of Little Andaman
The Little Andaman Island is a home to several rare species of marine turtle.
Demography of Little Andaman
The Little Andaman Island has been a tribal reserve since 1957. It is inhabited by a tribal group called the Onge Aboriginal Tribe. More specifically, Dugong Creek in the North and South Bay area are tribal reserves for Onge. Apart from this tribal group, people from erstwhile Bengal also reside here. A Nicobarese settlement is also found on Little Andaman. As per the census of 2001, the Little Andaman supported a population of about 17,528. This population was identified in 4,093 households and these households were identified in 18 villages.
Tourism of Little Andaman
Little Andaman is known to a suitable destination for the people who would want to distance themselves from their mundane and monotonous urban life for a period of time to enjoy the beauty of the sea, the sandy shore and the greenery on the island. Contradicting its name, Little Andaman is one of the largest islands open for tourism, but its remote location makes it the least frequented by travelers. This island is adorned by white sandy beaches and bewitching waterfalls.
Like any other beach, the Butler Bay Beach is located at a distance of about 14 km from the Hut Bay Jetty. The Butler Bay beach resort is famous for boating. More specifically, facility for boating is available in the creek near the Butler Bay beach resort. The northern side of the Butler Bay beach is well known for surfing. Little Andaman has been recognized as a prime surfing destination in India in "The Stormrider Surf Guide, Indonesia and the Indian Ocean". A private agency in Little Andaman is known to run a Surfing School, thereby giving impetus to surfing on this island. Areas in the vicinity of the Butler Bay Beach are known to be the sites for scuba diving for the purpose of coral viewing. Therefore, tourists are advised to carry scuba equipments. On this beach, tourists receive accommodation in huts located on the seashore, flanked by the coconut plantation. Another beach namely, Netaji Nagar Beach is located at a distance of about 11 km from the Hut Bay Jetty.
White Surf Waterfall is located at a distance of about 6.5 km from the Hut Bay Jetty in the midst of the evergreen rainforest. Whisper Wave Waterfall is located at a distance of about 25 km from the Hut Bay Jetty in the midst of the jungle. Journey to this waterfall includes 4 km trekking through the forest. There is another waterfall which is about 20 to 25 m high with small bamboo grass all around.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands Forest Plantation Development Corporation Limited (ANIFPDCL), is a government organization which functions to provide package tour from Port Blair to the Little Andaman Island. This corporation is also engaged in arranging exciting elephant safari through the jungle, near the White Surf waterfall. To successfully organize elephant safari the corporation is resourceful in terms of the number of elephants. More than 30 elephants, which are domesticated as well as well-experienced, serve the corporation on the island. Elephant lumbering activities inside the forest and a camp where elephant calves are trained in lumbering activities are also evident on the island. A guest house and tourist huts on the beach are the result of the initiative taken by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Forest Plantation Development Corporation.
The tourism sector of Little Andaman is adversely affected during the monsoons from May to August. From November to February some southwest spots which are accessible by sea, remain passable.
Visiting Information
The nearest airport from Little Andaman Island is Port Blair. Regular flights to major cities of India like Kolkata and Chennai (Madras) are available from Port Blair. A sea plane connection is available to travelers. This connection extends between Port Blair and Hut Bay. The Jal Hans is a commercial seaplane service based in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India. It has received exclusive rights to service in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for a period of five years. Helicopter services provided by Pavan Hans Ltd also act as a viable option to reach one"s destination, Little Andaman. As per estimations, the flight time by helicopter or sea plane is approximately 40 minutes. The entry point of Little Andaman Island is Hut Bay wharf. It is defined as a deep water wharf which is reachable through a gap in the coral reef, on the east coast of the island. The Hut Bay is also considered to be the headquarter of the island. The village of Kwate-tu-Kwage is located on Hut Bay. It is important for the visitors to know that the Hut Bay wharf jetty is connected with Port Blair by daily boat services. There is a road alongside the east coastal line and every village is named on the distance per kilometer of the road, by the residents.
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