The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory of India, comprise 572 islands, of which only 38 are inhabited. The name “Andaman” likely derives from Handuman, linked to Hanuman from the Ramayana, while Nicobar originates from the Tamil Nakkavaram, meaning “open land.” The islands were referenced in historical records by Ptolemy, Marco Polo, and Chinese sources.