Mundoo Island is a small, uninhabited island located in the Andaman Sea. It is part of the Chanda-Sri Ganges wildlife sanctuary, and is known for its biodiversity.
The island hosts a variety of wildlife including elephants, tigers, leopards, bears, and hyenas. The island is also home to rare birds such as the night heron and the white-bellied sea eagle.
It is a popular tourist destination for nature enthusiasts and birdwatchers.
Contents
All About Of Mundoo Island
History
Mundoo Island was first discovered by Europeans in the early 1800s. At the time, it was considered to be an uninhabited island and its location remained a mystery until 1912, when British naval officer Arthur Derrick spotted a small islet while sailing through the Andaman Sea.
The islet later received its name from Derrick’s ship, Mundoo. In 1937, two Indian fishermen discovered a small landing strip on Mundoo Island that could land small aircraft.
In 1950, another landing strip was built and this marked the beginning of regular landings on Mundoo Island from primitive lifeboats.
Climate
Mundoo Island has a tropical climate with temperatures averaging 29°C. Throughout the year, the island experiences four seasons: winter, spring, summer, and fall. The island normally does not experience any seasonal rainfall and receives most water from sea currents.
The average annual temperature for the island is 29°C and receives an average of 10.6 inches (27 cm) of rain each year, with no month that records more than 5 days without any significant precipitation.
Culture
Today, Mundoo Island is a small, uninhabited island that is home to a variety of wildlife including elephants, tigers, leopards, bears and hyenas.
The island also has a small population of Indian fishermen who cultivate fruit trees and fish in the surrounding waters. The island is a popular destination for jungle treks and bird watching expeditions.
Mosquito Beach is one of the few beaches on Mundoo Island that provides protection from deadly tropical diseases, such as Malaria mosquitoes or Aedes Aegypti.
Politics
Today, Mundoo Island is a part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Territory administered by the Indian Government. The island is not permanently inhabited and does not have any formal government infrastructure.
Aboriginal tribes reside on the island but because there is no formal government presence, most areas of the island remain unclaimed by India or Bangladesh.
These territories are not governed and maintained through any international treaty conventions such as those that govern various sovereign states around the world.
Government services
There are no government services available on Mundoo Island. The only medical assistance that is available on the island comes from a small Indian clinic that provides basic care to the local population.
The Indian military maintains a small airfield on the island for terminal or light cargo flights to Port Blair in India. There is a private jet service available from Manik, the closest inhabited island in India.
Traffic on Mundoo Island consists of ferry services and commercial traffic that provides visiting fishermen with transportation to Port Blair or The Nicobar Islands for their fishing expeditions.
Tourism
Mundoo Island is a popular tourist destination for jungle treks and bird watching expeditions. Domestic and international tour operators provide transportation to the island from different parts of India.
There are also several small lodges that offer room accommodations, fishing excursions, as well as activities such as yoga or meditation sessions on the beach.
The only government controlled business on the island is a small wooden jetty that provides authorities with fishing supplies, as well as goods and services which are supplied to visiting fishermen.
Transport
There is no formal transport infrastructure on Mundoo Island. Ferry services and commercial traffic provide the only means of accessing the island from different parts of India.
Shared jeeps and taxis provide the only means of transporting tourists from one point of interest to another. Any passenger through a resident, government or commercial vessels are not permitted to land on Mundoo Island for any reason without official sponsorship.
Cuisine
Mundoo Island is home to several traditional Tamil dishes such as rasam (a soup), idlis and dosai. The local fishing industry provides a bounty of seafood items including prawns, squid and crabs.
The traditional Tamil attire worn by the women on Mundoo Island include a cloth wrapped around their waist and chest called a malari. The men typically wear short pants and long shirts.
Wildlife
Mundoo Island is home to a number of endangered species including the Indian elephant, Bengal tiger and sloth bear.
Several national parks occupy portions of Mundoo Island including the Andaman and Nicobar National Park, Sundarbans National Park, Northeast Bay Islands Marine Sanctuary and Trinket Coast Wildlife Sanctuary.
The Bengal tiger and sloth bear are listed as near threatened by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) while Indian elephant is classified as endangered. Mundoo Island is recognized as a Marine Biosphere Reserve under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
Conclusion
Mundoo Island is an uninhabited island in the Andaman Sea, part of the Indian Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Administratively, Mundoo Island is under the jurisdiction of the Port Blair Police Station. The island is 1.5 km long, 0.7 km wide and has an area of 504 hectares.
The nearest inhabited place is Little Andaman which is separated from Mundoo Island by a channel about 1 km wide.
FAQs
1.What is the Currency in Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
Ans: The currency in Andaman and Nicobar Islands is the Indian Rupee. Other major currencies are the US Dollar, Pound Sterling and Euro.
2.What is the Temperature Range in Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
Ans: The average maximum temperature ranges from 30 °C to 40 °C during March–June and August–November. The minimum temperatures vary seasonally from 15-20 degrees Celsius.
The rainfall in Andaman & Nicobar islands averages .73 Kilm/hr; some of which occurs around May though June .
3.What is the Time Difference Between Andaman and Nicobar Island?
Ans: GMT +5.0 (UTC+5) and GMT – 5.0 (UT). South Arabian Standard Time ranges from 6:30 to 18:00 on Monday through Friday, while Indian Standard Time varies by state or territory in Nepal since it depends on International Date Line; UTC remains constant all over India.
4.Can I Bring My Pet Into Andaman & Nicobar Island?
Ans: Yes, we have seen a few people brought their pets into the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. It is not advised though since there are no veterinary facilities and stray animals can be dangerous so we advise getting your pet vaccinated at least before you enter country.
5.What Sort of Clothes Should I Wear in Andaman & Nicobar Island?
Ans: We recommend wearing sun-proof long sleeved shirts for touring both in summer hours as well as tropical heat during May–June shorts , desert worn footwear etc..
Please dress appropriately, you will find temperature chart at all our resort where we highly recommend to enjoy the climate and do not leave your hotel shop just because it was hot there.
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