Interesting Facts About the Famous Indira Point in Andaman

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands has attained a fame of being one of the best tourist destinations across the world. Several factors have worked behind its popularity among Indian as well as foreign tourists. It has successfully established tourism as it main source of income with the help of several popular monuments, islands, forests, flora and fauna, luxury cruises, water sports etc. In fact there are certain monuments and islands that have greatly helped the union territory attain the position of a hit tourist destination.

One such monument is the Indira Point, located at the southernmost tip of the Great Nicobar Island. It is positioned within the island of Sumatra situated to the south of the Great Nicobar Island. It has been attained fame due to several reasons and also gone through several transformations along with the island and the country of India as and when nature has demanded. The whole island covers an area of about 1045 square kilometers with a population of around 9,440 humans and largely covered by rainforests comprising of a variety of wildlife.

Some amazing facts associated with Indira Point

• Indira Point was earlier known as the Pygmalion Point since the time of its inception.

• 2-It was renamed as the Indira Point by the Lt. Rajiv Gandhi, ex-prime minister of India, after his mother, following her visit to the Great Nicobar Island and the popular point.

• 3-The Indira Point has light house, which establishes the true sense of the term point for the destination. It is one of the most important points for trade ships, naval ships and even local fishing ships that are guided by it day in and out.

• 4-The Indira Point had subsided by about 4.25 meters under water lowering the light house along with, during the 2004 tsunami. But miraculously the waters are gradually subsiding while the point is gradually rising back to its original position.

• 5-A very little known fact about the place is that, it was visited by the Great scholar Swami Shri Vivekanand, who had ended his voyage of entire India in search of enlightenment at this tip after visiting Kanyakumari. He meditated here, for days, as the voracious waters of the sea splashed all over him.

• 6-The Indira Point is not only the southernmost tip of the Great Nicobar Island, but is also the southernmost tip of the main land of India, although prior to this, the southernmost section of the coast of Kanyakumari was considered to be the southernmost tip of India.

These facts along with the beautiful view, the rich flora and fauna which the island has to offer are some of the things that make it a great tourist spot. The rainforests lining the coast of the Sumatra, are great for picnics and trekking as they are less dense compared to other forests of several other island within the Andaman and Nicobar Islands territory. It is a must visit place for every visitor as a long history and several events are associated with the place.