The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a group of islands at the juncture of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. The archipelago encompasses some of the country’s most beautiful and remote tropical shores – of almost 600 islands and islets, less than 40 are inhabited and only nine are open to tourism. The region’s attractions are manifold: a laid-back atmosphere, verdant rainforests, pristine beaches and sublime seafood, not to mention the world-class snorkelling and diving to be had in its temperate turquoise waters. The Nicobar Islands were declared a World Biosphere Reserve in 2013.