India is a wonderfully unique country with a diverse range of landscapes. India's terrain is immensely varied, ranging from majestic mountains to flowing rivers, expansive deserts to lush forests. Further, India is also known for the number of islands as well.
These islands, dispersed throughout the seas and oceans around the country, enhance its geographical diversity and natural beauty.
These islands are significant to India's culture, environment, and geopolitical interests in addition to their aesthetic value. Not only are they important for their biodiversity, but they also add to India's legacy and global status.
What Are Islands?
Before learning about the number of islands in India, it is important to understand what exactly are islands? A portion of land that is completely surrounded by water is known as an island. These vary widely in size and shape; some are very small, while others are very vast.
They may be empty and undisturbed, or they can be populated by people and wildlife. Islands can be found in rivers, lakes, seas, and oceans, and each has its own special qualities.
Britannica mentions: “Island, any area of land smaller than a continent and entirely surrounded by water. Islands may occur in oceans, seas, lakes, or rivers. A group of islands is called an archipelago.”
How Many Islands Does India Have?
There are 1,382 officially recognized offshore islands in India. These islands are dispersed throughout the nearby waterways, and add to the varied landscapes and wildlife of the nation. The two notable island groups in India are the Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal. In addition to their ecological diversity and natural beauty, these island groups are a vital part of India carrying its legacy. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands consist of hundreds of islands, many of which are uninhabited, while the Lakshadweep Islands are a smaller group but equally captivating with their coral atolls and pristine beaches.
Major Groups of Islands in India
India has two main groups of islands:
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are located in the Bay of Bengal and they have 572 islands. The Nicobar Islands in the south and the Andaman Islands in the north make up the two main sections of these islands. Only 38 of these 572 islands are inhabited. The islands are renowned for their extensive marine life, stunning natural scenery, and presence of several tribal cultures. The largest city in the area is Port Blair, which also acts as the primary administrative and tourism centre.
Spotted the truly stunning North Brother Island today from the air en route from the Andaman to the Nicobar islands. Uninhabited, nearly circular, a rain-fed lake in the middle, wreathed by a ribbon of white beach and the bluest water on earth. Painfully beautiful. ♥️ pic.twitter.com/oHxUuTjna8
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) December 21, 2024
Lakshadweep Islands
The Lakshadweep Islands are located in the Arabian Sea and it has 36 tiny islands. These cover an area of roughly 32 square kilometres and consist of atolls, reefs, and small islands. Kavaratti is the capital for these islands.
Lakshadweep is a union territory of India and the islands are divided into three main groups: Minicoy Island to the south, the Laccadive Islands in the centre, and the Amindivi Islands in the north. The islands are roughly 220 to 440 kilometres away from the Malabar Coast of mainland India, and are situated between the Arabian Sea on the west and the Laccadive Sea on the east.
Visiting Lakshadweep is a tropical dream come true! Dive into crystal-clear waters, explore vibrant marine life, or relax on pristine beaches under clear blue skies. From snorkelling and scuba diving to picnics, every moment here is pure bliss. So, what's stopping you from… pic.twitter.com/LDh7Zj2z9K
— Incredible!ndia (@incredibleindia) December 22, 2024
Islands of India: Complete List
Here is the complete list of islands of India with their names and location:
| Island Group/Location | Islands |
| Andaman Islands | Great Andaman Islands, North Andaman Island, Cleugh Passage Group, Landfall Island, East Island, West Island, Peacock (Pocock) Island, Table-Smith Group, Table Island, Smith Island, Beach Island, Tatle Island, Aerial Bay Islands, Ross Island, Chatham Island, Ox Island, Thornhill-Paget Group, Thornhill Island, White Cliff Island, Prem Usha (Jalgara or Aquaman) Island, Reef Island, Sand Bank Island, Paget Island, Point Island, North Reef Island, Latouche Island, Shark Island, Stewart Sound Group, Jadunath Island, Curlew Island, Stewart Island, Dotrel Island, Sound Island, Orchid Island, Karlo Island, Swamp Island, Aves Island, Interview Group, Interview Island, Bird Island, Anderson Island, Kartara Island, Helicopter Island, Murga Island, Bennett Island, South Reef Island, Tufi Island, Captain Karam Singh Dweep, Khetarpal Dweep, Manoj Park Island, Bana Dweep, Hoshiyar Dweep, Albert Ekka Island, Middle Andaman Island, Hump Island, Flat Island, Baratang Group, Baratang Island, East Baratang Group, Porlob Island, Long Island, Guitar Island, Colebrooke Island, North Passage Island, Strait Island, West Baratang Group, West Baratang Island, Parrot Island, Boning Island, Sutarpara Island, Talakaicha Island, Spike Island, Bluff Island, Belle Island, South Andaman Island, Napier Bay Islands, James Island, Petman Island, Kyd Island, Aksharaa Island, Port Meadows Islands, Defence Islands, Defence Island, Petrie Island, Clyde Island, Port Blair Islands, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island, Snake Island, Chatham Island, Viper Island, Garacharma Island, Flat Bay Island, Ranger Island, Pitman Island, Ritchie's Archipelago, Button Islands, North Button Island, Middle Button Island, South Button Island, Outram Island, Henry Lawrence Island, John Lawrence Island, Sir William Peel Island, Wilson Island, Nicholson Island, Swaraj Dweep, Shaheed Dweep, Rose Island, Rutland Archipelago, Rutland Island, Labyrinth Islands, Red Skin Island, Alexandra Island, North Hobday (Dhan Singh) Island, Hobday Island, Maly Island, Pluto Island, Parissa Island, Chester Island, Tarmugli Island, Belly Island, Snob Island, Boat Island, Jolly Bouy Island, North Sentinel Island, Twin Islands, East Twin Island, West Twin Island, Cinque Islands, North Cinque Island, South Cinque Island, The Sisters, East Sister Island, West Sister Island, Passage Island, Little Andaman Group, Little Andaman Island, South Sentinel Island, The Brothers Islands, North Brother Island, South Brother Island, East Volcano Islands, Narcondam Island, Barren Island |
| Nicobar Islands | Car Nicobar, Battimalv, Chowra, Chaura or Sanenyo, Teressa or Luroo, Bompuka or Poahat, Katchal, Camorta, Trinket, Nancowry or Nancowrie, Tillangchong, Laouk or "Isle of Man", Great Nicobar, Little Nicobar, Kondul Island, Pulo Milo or Pillomilo, Meroe, Trak, Treis, Menchal, Kabra, Pigeon, Megapod |
| Andhra Pradesh | Bhavani Island, Diviseema, Konaseema, Hope, Irukkam, Sriharikota, Venadu |
| Assam | Dibru Saikhowa Island, Majuli Island, Umananda Island |
| Bihar | Raghopur Diyara Island |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | Diu Island |
| Goa | Calvim, Corjuem, Raneache Zuem, Anjediva Island, Cancona Island, Chorão, Cumbarjua, Divar, St Estevam, Vanxim, Ilha de Grande, Ilha de Pequeño, São Jacinto, Ilha de São Jorge |
| Gujarat | Bet Dwarka, Gangto Bet Island, Islands of the Gulf of Kutch, Islands of Eastern Indus Delta, Kutch Island, Nanda Bet Island, Piram Island, Pirotan Island, Shiyalbet Island |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Char Chinar (Ropa Lank), Zainul Lank |
| Karnataka | St. Mary's Islands, Basavaraj Durga Island, Kurumgad Island, Netrani Island, Nisargadhama, Pavoor Uliya, Srirangapatna, Uppinakudru |
| Kerala | Chavara Thekkumbhagom, Dharmadam Island, Edayilakkad, Ezhumanthuruthu, Gundu Island, Kavvayi Islands, Kothad, Kuruvadweep, Moolampilly Island, Munroe Island, Nedungad, Panangad, Kochi, Parumala, Pathiramanal, Pizhala, Poochakkal, Pulinkunnoo, Ramanthuruth, Sathar Island, Vallarpadam, Venduruthy, Vypin, Willingdon Island |
| Lakshadweep Islands | Aminidivi Islands (Amini Island, Bitrā Island, Byramgore, Chetlat Island, Cherbaniani, Kadmat Island, Kiltān Island, Perumal Par), Laccadive Islands (Agatti Island, Bangaram Island, Kavaratti Island, Pitti Island, Suheli Par, Kalpatti Island, Androth Island, Kalpeni Island), Minicoy Island, Minicoy Island, Viringili Island |
| Maharashtra | Ambu Island, Butcher Island, Cross Island, Elephanta Island, Gowalkot, Hog Island, Khanderi Island, Madh Island, Marve Island, Middle Ground Isle, Murud-Janjira, Oyster Rock, Panju Island, Salsette Island, Sinoy Hill Island, Suvarnadurg Island, Underi Island, Yeshwantgad Island, Pankhol juva Island, Seven Islands of Mumbai, Isle of Mumbai, Colaba Island, Old Woman's Island, Mahim Island, Mazagaon Island, Parel Island, Worli Island |
| Manipur | Keibul Lamjao Island, Floating Islands (Phumdi) |
| Meghalaya | Nongkhnum River Island |
| Odisha | Abdul Kalam Island (Wheeler Island), Cattle Island, Hukitola, Kalijai Island, Kanika Sands, Nalbana Island, Parikud Island |
| Tamil Nadu | Hare Island (Muyal Theevu), Krusadai Island, Nallathanni Theevu, Pamban Island, Pullivasal Island, Srirangam Island, Upputanni Island, Vivekananda Rock, Quibble Island, Kattupalli Island, The Island, Chennai, Vaalai Theevu, Kilakarai Tamil Nadu, Appa Theevu, Kilakarai, Tamil Nadu, Whale Island, Chennai, Battle of Adyar Island, Chennai |
| West Bengal | Bhutni Island, Sundarbans (Bakkhali Island, Bhangduni (Bob) Island, Dalhousie Island, Ghoramara Island, Gosaba Island, Haliday Island, Henry Island, Jambudwip, Kakdwip, Lohachara island, Lothian Island, Marichjhanpi, Mousuni Island, Namkhana island, Nayachar island, New Moore island, Patharpratima island, Sagar island, Tin Kona island |
In conclusion, India is home to a variety of islands. They are scattered across seas, oceans, and rivers. These islands are not just geographical features but also hold ecological, cultural, and strategic importance. Protecting and preserving these islands is crucial for the environment and the country’s heritage.
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