Katchal Island
One of the many beautiful yet secluded islands of the Nicobar archipelago, Katchal Island is one of the remotest. Brimming with a historical origin story, a tale of a tragic past, and an almost unexplored stretch of natural beauty, the virgin island of Katchal awaits its curious tourists in serenity.
The island has only recently been declared open. Before that, permission had to be taken from the Port Blair administration to enter Katchal.
The hills of Katchal are made of calcareous sandstone and marble slates and are covered with lush tropical forests. The forests hide a plethora of endemic flora and fauna, including a spectacular opportunity for birdwatching. Sunrises and sunsets are breathtaking out here at Katchal.
What is Katchal Island all about?
History of Katchal Island
One of the restricted islands of Nicobar, Katchal, previously known as Tihanyu, is an Aboriginal Tribal Reserve Area and foreign individuals needed special permission to visit the island. Even for Indian tourists, it is only a day-tour destination. No residence was allowed either, except for the government employees who were posted there.
Recently, some islands were opened up by the Ministry of Home Affairs in India for potential tourists and Katchal was among the 29 inhabited islands which made it to the list. It would no longer be under the rules of Restricted Area Permit that was applicable for foreign tourists until the end of 2022 as of yet, to develop tourism in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Katchal is home to both indigenous and non-indigenous people. As per history, Katchal was part of the overseas kingdom of the Cholas of Tanjore, Tamil till the Danish explorers started coming over, and then finally the British Empire took over the island in 1869. Later with India's independence, Katchal Island became a part of Andaman and Nicobar and was included in the country's administration.
Apart from occasional events, Katchal is an island that prefers to stay hidden with its little world. It got a bit of a crowd on January 1, 2000, when eminent people had gathered for the millennium's first sunrise.
Native Nicobari tribes reside here in Katchal, and so do migrant Tamil people. The tribal people from West Bay Katchal believe that the current population of the island came from the worms who survived the great flood of ancient times. In the urban areas, there is a jetty, post office, police station, schools and residential houses, and a PWD Guest House for those who visit the island. There is no hotel as of yet, as the island is yet to be commercialized.
Rebirth of Katchal Island
Katchal was one of the islands in the Indian Ocean which were devastated by the 2004 Tsunami. On the early morning of 26th December, surging waves caused by tectonic plate movements washed the entire island. Among the 5000 people missing from the whole of Andaman and Nicobar, more than 1500 were from Katchal itself. The few who survived did so by taking refuge in the hills of the island.
After the restorations were done, the natives regrouped and formed five tribal villages, by the name of E-Wall, Meenakshi Ram Nagar, Japan Turkey, Sallo Turkey, and Upper Katchal. Slowly and steadily, the island has managed to come back to its former glory.
