Exotic sea food, rich marine life, dense forests, pristine flora and fauna and a host of water sports - you can have all these and much more while on an island tour in India. Lakshadweep Islands and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands are the major Indian islands. The Andaman & Nicobar Islands (abbreviated ANI) is a Union Territory of India, Port Blair being the capital. Another popular Indian island is the Lakshadweep islands, also a Union Territory of India. There are other smaller islands that shelter a variety of rare wildlife species. During your visit to these Indian islands, you can really look forward to enjoying a holiday, which combines fun, flavour and adventure.

Some of the much popular islands in India are as follows :

Andaman Islands
Though Andaman & Nicobar Islands together form a Union Territory of India, the Andaman Islands are a separate administrative district. People of various religious communities including Hindus, Bengalis, Tamils and Punjabi constitute the total population of the Andaman Islands in India. A small part of the total population is also formed by the aboriginals of the Andaman Islands. To reach the islands, one needs to fly to the airport at Port Blair (capital) from either Kolkata (West Bengal) or Chennai (Tamil Nadu).

Nicobar Islands
The Nicobar Islands are also a part of the same Indian Union Territory – Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The Bay of Bengal separates the Nicobar Islands from the Indian subcontinent, the distance being 1,300 km. The islands of Nicobar are comprised of 22 numerous islands of different area and sizes. The Great Nicobar has the distinction of being the largest of these islands. More than half of the total population of the Nicobar Islands is formed by indigenous people. Forest types covering these islands include mangrove, tropical and sub-tropical.

Lakshadweep Islands
Also referred to as ‘Laccadives’, the Lakshadweep Islands are comprised of a group of 36 islands. This is the most preferred adventure destination for all those who have a keen interest in the sport of scuba diving. Out of the 36 different islands, there are only 10 that have human population; of which only 2 (Bangaram Island & Kadmat Island) allow entry for travelers. Exotic corals of the Lakshadweep islands inspire the explorer in travelers. The underwater marine life is what exactly pulls in explorers and travelers to Lakshadweep from the world over.

Other Islands
Besides these groups of Indian islands, there are many other tiny islands that a traveler should never forget. Located in different coastal states of the country, these islands of India also attract attention due to their unique feature and mythological and historical associations. The Divar Island (Goa), Rameswaram Island (Tamil Nadu), Vypin Island-Kochi (Kerala) and the Elephanta Island (Mumbai) are some much frequented islands of India.

While visiting these islands in India for an exotic holiday, travelers are advised to book their accommodation in advance. Please also note that the airfare to these islands shoots up during peak seasons. Advance planning for an island holiday in India would save you both money and time.