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North Sentinel Island is one of the Andaman Islands. It's home to the Sentinelese, an isolated indigenous people fiercely protective of their island refuge. In fact, they are hostile to outsiders and have killed people who approached or landed on the island.
The Andaman island of Swaraj Dweep, previously known as Havelock Island, is an eco-tourism hotspot. It has some of the best beaches in the region, notably Radhanagar Beach, Elephant Beach, and Kalapathar Beach.
Lakshadweep is a paradise archipelago of 36 islands. Pictured is Bangaram Atoll, textured by screwpine and coconut palms.
Anchored in the backwaters of Kerala is Monroe Island, itself a cluster of eight smaller islands. It's named for Scottish Resident Colonel John Munro, who was responsible for creating the network of canals the destination is well known for.
Majuli is the world's largest inland river island, according to Guinness World Records. The island is one of Assam's most spectacular natural wonders, celebrated for its diverse ecosystem.
Netrani Island is moored off the coast of Karnataka in the Arabian Sea. A coral island whose reefs teem with an impressive variety of sea life, Netrani is also a cultural draw, being the location of the famous Hindu temple Jai Bajrangbali.
India's Karnataka State harbors the St. Mary's Islands, a set of four small islands known for their distinctive geological formation of columnar rhyolitic lava, which has put the destination on the geo tourism map.
UNESCO inscribed the ancient rock caves on Elephanta Island as a World Heritage Site in 1987. The island, one of a number set in Mumbai Harbor, attracts numerous visitors eager to gaze upon the collection of cave temples dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.
Rameswaram Island, also known as Pamban Island, was originally connected to the mainland by India's first sea bridge, opened in 1914. A new road bridge is set to replace the rail connection to this iconic island, favored for its wealth of beaches and temples.
Willingdon Island is the largest artificial island in India. It forms part of the city of Kochi and, while not a tourist destination, Willingdon Island is steeped in history as a significant home for the Port of Kochi and as a strategic Allied military base during the Second World War.
Sources: (TheWire) (Guinness World Records) (UNESCO) (IUCN)
See also: Islands inside islands: Impressive recursive islands around the world
Set off the southern coast of Gujarat's Kathiawar peninsula, Diu Island brims with remnants of a bygone Portuguese era, exemplified by the 16th-century Diu fortress. It stands as one of the Seven Wonders of Portuguese Origin in the World.
Similarly, historic Indo-Portuguese architecture characterizes Divar Island in Goa. For example, the village of Piedade, which means "pity" or "compassion" in Portuguese, is where the early 18th-century Church of Our Lady of Compassion is located.
Still in Goa, Ilha Grande (Grand Island) is one of the region's most popular vacation destinations, combining golden beaches, all kinds of watersports, and plenty of wildlife sightseeing opportunities.
Floating in the Bay of Bengal, Little Andaman Island is big on holiday appeal. The watersport product is well established here, while its greatest natural wonder is the inland rainforest, which hides rare wildlife and several bewitching waterfalls.
Shaheed Dweep, previously known as Neil Island, is one of a cluster of small islands in Ritchie's Archipelago. The island is a low-key vacation destination easily explored by bicycle (it's that compact). The Hawrah Natural Bridge is a much photographed local landmark.
Barren Island, the most easterly island of Andaman, is the only active volcanic island of India and also of South Asia. The latest eruption was recorded in 2017. The waters surrounding Barren Island are reputed to be among the world's top scuba diving destinations.
Great Nicobar Island is the largest island in India and also one of the most beautiful of the Indian Ocean islands. Featuring a tropical rainforest climate, the majority of the island is designated as the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve—home to many unique and endemic species of plants and animals including the striking Nicobar Pigeon, listed as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Agatti Island is known as the gateway to the Lakshadweep Islands. A narrow 7.6-km (4.7-mi) long coral atoll, Agatti itself is open to tourism but visitors are required to obtain an entry permit to stay on the island. World-class watersports activities are reasons why most people set foot on this remote slither of land.
The honeymooners favorite, Kadmat Island in the Lakshwadeep archipelago is another Indian Ocean gem. Also called Cardamom Island, this remote spec of land is famous for its marine turtles and myriad of watersports options.
The whole of Nalbana Island is a designated bird sanctuary and attracts ornithologists in their hundreds, who flock to Odisha to catch a glimpse of rare species like the spoon-billed sandpiper and Pallas's fish eagle.
Konaseema is a group of islands situated between the tributaries of the Godavari River and the Bay of Bengal. Surrounded by palm-fringed lakes, canals, and lagoons, and featuring numerous coconut groves, Konaseema is nicknamed "God's own creation" for its visual splendor.
One of the smaller islands in the Southern Group of the Nicobar Islands, Little Nicobar is a secluded haven nestled well away from the usual tourist hustle-bustle. This is a destination that will appeal to those seeking solace, natural beauty, and astonishing marine life.
The Andaman Islands feature two sets of islands known for their quirky names—North Brother Islands and South Brother Islands. Both are uninhabited. Not to be outdone, The Sisters are a group of islands also set in the Andaman Sea and also uninhabited, although there is a wildlife refuge established on them.
Officially known as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island, Ross Island was the location of the infamous Ross Island Penal Colony. The colony became infamous as Kalapani, or "Black Water" for the brutalities inflicted by the British authorities on the political prisoners from India. Today, the weathered ruins serve as a dark reminder of British colonial rule in India during the 19th century.
One of the West Baratang Group of the Andaman Islands, Parrot Island is, as the name suggests, famous for its colorful birdlife. Tourists flock to this uninhabited island to hear the evening calls of thousands of parrots.
Baratang, which belongs to the Great Andaman Chain, contains the only known examples of mud volcanoes in India.
Interview Island is one of the Andaman Islands. It has about 80-90 feral elephants, which were brought for forestry works. Elephants also roam the beaches of Swaraj Dweep.
Port Blair on Viper Island is the capital city of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It serves as the entry point to these two island groups set in the Bay of Bengal. The city's Cellular Jail, an early 20th-century British colonial prison, is a major tourist attraction.
Enchanting Char Chinar is an island in Dal Lake near Srinagar, in India's Jammu and Kashmir region. It's named as such for the majestic Chinar trees set at the four corners of the diminutive island.
When we think of India, we envision a vast country of spectacular beauty that occupies the greater part of South Asia. But did you know that this incredibly diverse nation has 1,382 islands dotted across its territory? A fair number of these are uninhabited, but there are many more that are home to indigenous peoples, and dozens geared towards tourism. And all enjoy jaw-dropping locations in some of the most unspoiled regions in the world.
Intrigued? Click on and travel through this gallery to discover the islands of India you need to visit.
Islands of India you probably haven't heard of
Here are the Indian islands you need to visit
TRAVEL Destinations
When we think of India, we envision a vast country of spectacular beauty that occupies the greater part of South Asia. But did you know that this incredibly diverse nation has 1,382 islands dotted across its territory? A fair number of these are uninhabited, but there are many more that are home to indigenous peoples, and dozens geared towards tourism. And all enjoy jaw-dropping locations in some of the most unspoiled regions in the world.
Intrigued? Click on and travel through this gallery to discover the islands of India you need to visit.