While Andaman is a popular tourist destination, Nicobar Islands are forbidden for common people by the Indian government to protect the indigenous tribes of the region. With the unknown comes the stories of mystery and intrigue.
Nicobar Islands is a mystery which many would like to unravel or know more about. People cannot travel to the Island unless it is for government projects or research projects approved by the government. While there have been unauthorised attempts in the past by the crazy and adventurous, none have been successful. In this article we will look at some of the mysteries around the Nicobarese and Shompen tribes of the Nicobar Islands and their unique environment.
1. The Nicobarese people believe in a variety of nature spirits, including those associated with the sea, forests, and animals. These spirits are often invoked during traditional ceremonies and are believed to influence the weather, the success of crops, and even health of the people.
2. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami had a profound impact on the Nicobar Islands. Many Nicobarese have claimed they received premonitions or spiritual warnings before the disaster. From what has been reported, some tribals had dreams or heard sounds that they interpreted as warnings from the spirits, leading them to higher ground before the tsunami struck, thus saving many lives.
3. During the same 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, there were reports that animals in the Nicobar Islands exhibited strange behaviour before the tsunami struck. Many animals reportedly fled to higher ground before the waves arrived. This has led to theories about their ability to sense seismic or atmospheric changes long before humans could.
4. The 2004 tsunami significantly altered the topography of the Nicobar islands. It submerged some areas and raised others. There are reports, even though unconfirmed, of landmasses or features appearing or disappearing after the disaster, particularly in remote parts of the archipelago, adding to the mystery surrounding the event.
5. In some parts of the Nicobar Islands, particularly in remote areas, mysterious stone structures and circles have been discovered. These megalithic structures have puzzled archaeologists and researchers. Some of the stone circles and arrangements found in the Nicobar Islands seem to have no clear purpose or explanation. Some believe they could have been used for ancient tribal rituals, while others think they may have astronomical or navigational significance.
Read: All About the Indigenous and Isolated Nicobarese and Shompen Tribes of the Nicobar Islands
6. The dense rainforests of the Nicobar Islands may harbour species of plants, insects, and animals that remain unknown to science. Due to remoteness and limited access, much of the wildlife and flora of the interior regions, particularly in Great Nicobar, have yet to be explored fully and documented.
7. Throughout history, there have been references to other tribes or populations in the Nicobar Islands that have since disappeared or become assimilated into the Nicobarese. Some speculate that other small groups, like the Shompen, may exist in even more remote areas of the islands, uncontacted and undiscovered.
8. The Shompen tribe of Great Nicobar Island remains one of the least understood indigenous groups in the world. They are largely isolated and uncontacted. Very little is known about their cultural practices, language, and social structure. Even though anthropologists have tried to study them, they have remained a mystery.
9. Some researchers speculate that the Shompen may have arrived in the Nicobar Islands thousands of years ago, possibly migrating from Southeast Asia. However, their exact origins remain unclear due to the lack of genetic studies and historical data.
10. The Nicobar Islands lie along ancient maritime trade routes connecting India with Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and beyond. The islands were mentioned in ancient chronicles, but there is no knowledge of how much contact these isolated islands had with external civilisations.
11. Some ancient texts suggest that the Nicobar Islands may have been known to early Southeast Asian empires, such as the Srivijaya Kingdom, and even to Arab traders. However, there is little archaeological evidence to support or refute these claims, leaving a gap in the historical record.
The Nicobar Islands, with their isolated tribes, unexplored forests, and ancient maritime history, remain one of the most unexplored and enigmatic regions of India. Since much about the islands and their inhabitants remains unexplored, there is immense room for further discoveries and mysteries to unfold.
