Havelock Island

Havelock Island, officially Swaraj Island, is one of the largest islands that comprise a chain of islands to the east of Great Andaman in the Andaman Islands. It belongs to the South Andaman administrative district, part of the Indian union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.[3] The island is 41 km (25 mi) northeast of the capital city, Port Blair.

Havelock Island
Havelock Island
Location of Havelock Island
Geography
LocationBay of Bengal
Coordinates11.96°N 93.00°E / 11.96; 93.00
ArchipelagoAndaman Islands
Adjacent bodies of waterIndian Ocean
Total islands1
Major islands
  • Havelock
Area92.2 km2 (35.6 sq mi)
Length18 km (11.2 mi)
Width8 km (5 mi)
Coastline58.5 km (36.35 mi)
Highest elevation167 m (548 ft)
Highest pointYulutang
Administration
DistrictSouth Andaman
Island groupAndaman Islands
Island sub-groupRitchie's Archipelago
TehsilRitchie's Archipelago Tehsil
Largest settlementGovinda Nagar
Demographics
Population6,351 (2011)
Pop. density68.5/km2 (177.4/sq mi)
Ethnic groupsBengali
Additional information
Time zone
PIN744211[1]
Telephone code031928 [2]
Official websitewww.and.nic.in
Literacy84.4%
Avg. summer temperature30.2 °C (86.4 °F)
Avg. winter temperature23.0 °C (73.4 °F)
Sex ratio1.2♂/♀
Census code35.639.0004
Official languagesHindi, English

Etymology

Havelock Island is named after a British general, Sir Henry Havelock, who served in India.[4]

In December 2018, it was renamed as Swaraj Island as a tribute to Subhas Chandra Bose. Bose had hoisted the Indian flag at Port Blair on 30 December 1943 and proclaimed the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as territories liberated from British rule. He had subsequently named Andaman Island as Shaheed and Nicobar Island as Swaraj.[5]

History

Havelock is one of the few places that the administration of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands union territory of India has permitted and encouraged development of tourism, with a focus on promoting eco-tourism.

Havelock Island avoided much of the devastation by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and its resulting tsunami and there were no documented casualties.

There is a lighthouse at the northern point of the island, near Govinda Nagar, established in 2005. [6]

On 30 December 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that Havelock Island would be renamed as Swaraj Island.[7]

Geography

The island belongs to the Ritchie's Archipelago and is located between Peel Island and Neill Island.

Administration

Politically, Havelock Island is part of Port Blair taluk.[8]

Demographics

The island's current population of 6,351 consists of mainly Bengali settlers. Many of these settlers have East Bengali origin as these people were given settlement by the Indian government after the Partition of India in 1947.

The six villages are:

  • Govinda Nagar 2,940
  • Vejoy Nagar (inc. Kalapathar) 1,099
  • Shyam Nagar 856
  • Krishna Nagar 719
  • Radha Nagar 637
  • Road between Shyam Nagar and Krishna Nagar 100[9]

Beaches

Radhanagar Beach on the western coast, also known as Number 7 Beach, is one of the most popular beaches on Havelock and was named "Best Beach in Asia" by Time in 2004.[10] Other notable beaches include Elephant Beach on the northwest coast and Vijay Nagar Beach (No. 5), Beach No. 3 and Beach No. 1 on the east coast. Kalapathar is another famous beach.[11]

Transportation

The island can be reached from Port Blair by government-operated ferries and private cruises.[12] There are also helicopter services.[13]

A local bus connects the jetty and villages on an hourly circuit.[14]

  • Radha Nagar Beach sunset view
  • Elephant Beach, Havelock Island
  • Kalapathar Beach
  • Prominent horticulture produce of Havelock
  • Coral reef Elephant Beach
  • Coral reef Elephant Beach
  • Coral reef Elephant Beach
  • Coral reef Elephant Beach
  • Havelock Light House
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References
  1. "A&N Islands - Pincodes". 22 September 2016. Archived from the original on 23 March 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  2. "STD Codes of Andaman and Nicobar". allcodesindia.in. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  3. "Village Code Directory: Andaman & Nicobar Islands" (PDF). Census of India. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  4. Llewellyn-Jones, Rosie (2007). The Great Uprising in India, 1857-58: Untold Stories, Indian and British. Boydell & Brewer. p. 168. ISBN 978-1-84383-304-8.
  5. Ananya Bhardwaj (25 December 2018). "Andaman's most-visited islands to be renamed during PM Modi visit". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  6. "Narcondam Island". Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  7. "PM Narendra Modi renames 3 islands of Andaman Nicobar". The Times of India. 30 December 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  8. "DEMOGRAPHIC – A&N ISLANDS" (PDF). andssw1.and.nic.in. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  9. Map
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 January 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. beaches map
    - CNN
    - Another beach poll
  12. A & N Administration. "Ferry Program for Neil, Havelock & Rangat". Retrieved 15 October 2013.
  13. A & N Administration. "Helicopter Inter Island Schedule". Retrieved 15 October 2013.
  14. bus
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