Islands · Union territory
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Some 570 islands in the Bay of Bengal, with coral reefs, colonial-era prison history and indigenous communities whose privacy is legally protected.
- Capital
- Sri Vijaya Puram — Formerly Port Blair; renamed Sri Vijaya Puram in 2024.
- Languages
- Hindi and English (official); Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Nicobarese — major and official languages, not an exclusive list.
Cultural traditions, arts & crafts
- • Shell and coconut-shell craft (within permitted materials)
- • Nicobarese hodi canoe building and community dance
- • Cellular Jail commemoration and freedom-movement memory
- • Marine conservation and reef-safe tourism practice
Major festivals
- Island Tourism Festival — Announced annually (dates vary — verify current dates)
- Subhash Mela, Havelock — January (dates vary — verify current dates)
- Monsoon and Beach festivals — Announced annually (dates vary — verify current dates)
Traditional dress & textiles
Dress varies by community, district, occasion and generation; everyday clothing today is often contemporary. These are representative traditions rather than a single state costume.
- • Settler communities from Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala wear their own regional dress
- • Light cotton clothing suits the humid maritime climate year-round
- • Photography and dress customs of protected indigenous groups must be respected; visits are legally restricted
Where to go
Show Andaman and Nicobar Islands on the explore mapSources & verify
- Andaman & Nicobar Administration (official)
- Know India — States & UTs (Government of India)
- Incredible India — Ministry of Tourism
Last reviewed: August 2026. Cultural traditions in India vary by community, district, occasion and generation. The notes below are representative examples reviewed against government sources, not exhaustive or official definitions. Festival timings follow lunar or locally announced calendars — verify current dates with the relevant state tourism department before travelling.