Little Andaman Island (Onge: Gaubolambe) is the fourth largest of the Andaman Islands of India with an area of 707 km2, lying at the southern end of the archipelago. It belongs to the South Andaman administrative district, part of the Indian union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It lies 88 km south of Port Blair, the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Geography

The island is in the Bay of Bengal and belongs to the Little Andaman Group, and is separated from Rutland Island in Great Andaman by the Duncan Passage. The Little Andaman Group is the counterpart of the Great Andaman island group. The low-lying island has widespread rainforest and several rare species of marine turtle. Little Andaman Island has white sandy beaches and bewitching waterfalls. The Little Andaman Lighthouse (a.k.a. Richardson's Lighthouse) is located 14 km south by road from Hut Bay port and is situated on the Southern tip of Little Andaman Island.

Climate

Administration

Administratively, Little Andaman Island is part of Little Andaman Tehsil.

Demographics

Bengali is the most spoken language in Ferrargunj tehsil. As of 2011 census, Bengali is spoken as the first language by 48.60 percent of the district's population. Largest language's population are Bengali 9,148 Telugu 2,413 Kurukh 1,444 Necobarese 1,403 Tamil 1,349 Sadri 1,123 Hindi 780 Malayalam 595 Kharia 152.

Transportation

Hut Bay wharf, a deep water wharf that can be approached through a gap in the coral reef, on the east coast of the island is the entry point of Little Andaman Island. Daily boat services connect Hut Bay wharf with Port Blair in seven hours voyage. Additionally, there are a helicopter services by Pavan Hans Ltd. and a sea plane connection available between Port Blair and Hut Bay. The flight time by helicopter or sea plane is approximately 40 minutes. There is a road alongside the east coastal line.

Tourism

Little Andaman offers surfing, boating through the creeks, and visits to an elephant logging plantation. Butler Bay, 14 km from the Hut Bay Jetty, is a beach popular among tourists due to coral viewing, surfing and other marine activities. Tourist huts are available on the seashore itself flanked by the coconut plantation. Netaji Nagar Beach is 11 km from the Hut Bay jetty.

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