Islands In India
There are two groups of islands –
the andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal, and the
Lakshwadeep and Minicoy Islands in the Arabian Sea.
The first is a group of 204 islands, believed to be extensions of the
mountain system in the northeastern part of the country. Some of them
are volcanic in origin.
The second group has about 43 islands, surrounded by beautiful coral
reefs. The beauty of the andamans notwithstanding, their history is
tainted with blood. Known as Kaala Paani, or black waters, Port Blair,
the capital city of the andamans was the dreaded site of the Cellular
Jail, used by the British for banished convicts.
The jail itself is well worth a visit, for it is replete with tales
of those ‘freedom fighters’ who fought to liberate India
from British dominion and were condemned to spend the last days of
their lives in this jail. |
