View source for Car Nicobar

{{other uses}}
{{short description|One of the Nicobar Islands}}
{{Infobox islands
| name             = Car Nicobar
| native_name      = {{lang|caq|Pū}}
| native_name_link =  Car language
| native_name_lang =
| sobriquet        = 
| image_name       = Car Nicobar NASA Geocover 2000.jpg
| image_size       = 
| image_caption    = Car Nicobar NASA Geocover 2000 image
| image_alt        = 
| map              = India Andaman and Nicobar Islands#Bay of Bengal
| map_caption      = Location in the [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]] and in the [[Bay of Bengal]]
| coordinates      = {{coord|9.17|N|92.78|E|region:IN-AN_type:isle_dim:50000_source:GNS-enwiki|display=inline,title}}
| etymology        = 
| location         = [[Bay of Bengal]]
| archipelago      = [[Nicobar Islands]]
| waterbody        = [[Indian Ocean]]
| total_islands    = 1
| major_islands    = {{hlist|Car Nicobar}}
| area_km2         = 126.9
| area_footnotes   = <ref name="cit">{{cite web|url=http://andssw1.and.nic.in/ecostat/basicstatPDF2013_14/1.Demogrpahy.pdf|title=Islandwise Area and Population - 2011 Census|publisher=Government of Andaman|access-date=2016-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828015509/http://andssw1.and.nic.in/ecostat/basicstatPDF2013_14/1.Demogrpahy.pdf|archive-date=2017-08-28|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rank             = 
| length_km        = 15
| width_km         = 12
| coastline_km     = 51
| elevation_m      = 10
| highest_mount    = 
| country          = {{flag|India}}
| country_admin_divisions_title     = [[List of districts in India#Andaman and Nicobar (AN)|District]]
| country_admin_divisions           = [[Nicobar district|Nicobar]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1   = [[Island group]]
| country_admin_divisions_1         = [[Nicobar Islands]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_2    = [[Subdivisions of India]]
| country_admin_divisions_2          = Car Nicobar Subdivision
| country_admin_divisions_title_3    = [[Tehsils of India|Taluk]]
| country_admin_divisions_3          = Car Nicobar Taluk
| country_largest_city = [[Malacca, Car Nicobar|Malacca]]
| country_largest_city_population = 1,637
| population       = 17841
| population_as_of = 2014
| population_footnotes = 
| population_rank = 
| population_rank_max = 
| density_km2      = 140.5
| density_rank     =
| density_footnotes = 
| ethnic_groups    = [[Hindu]], [[Nicobarese people|Nicobarese]]
| timezone1        = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1      = +5:30
| timezone1_DST    = 
| utc_offset1_DST  = 
| postal_code_type        = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]  
| postal_code             = 744301
| area_code_type          = Telephone code
| area_code               = 03193
| website          = {{URL|http://www.and.nic.in/}}
| iso_code_type = [[ISO 3166-2:IN|ISO code]]
| iso_code      = IN-AN-00<ref>Registration Plate Numbers added to ISO Code</ref>{{better reference|date=January 2023}}
|additional_info  = {{Infobox|child=yes
| label2 = Literacy | data2 = 84.4%
| label3 = Avg. summer temperature| data3 ={{convert|30.2|°C|°F}}
| label4 = Avg. winter temperature| data4 ={{convert|23.0|°C|°F}}
| label5 = [[Human sex ratio|Sex ratio]]| data5 =1.2[[male|♂]]/[[female|♀]]
| label7 = Census code| data7 = 35.638.0001
| label8 = Official languages| data8 = [[Hindi language|Hindi]], [[English language|English]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]] <br /> [[Car language|Car]] (regional)}}
}}

'''Car Nicobar''' ('''{{lang|caq|Pū}}''' in [[Car language]]) is the northernmost of the [[Nicobar Islands]].  It is also one of three local administrative divisions of the [[Districts of India|Indian district]] of [[Nicobar district|Nicobar]], part of the [[India]]n [[union territory]] of [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]].<ref name="census">{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-VillageDirectory/Directory/short_code_rural_35.pdf|title=Village Code Directory: Andaman & Nicobar Islands|publisher=Census of India|accessdate=January 16, 2011}}</ref>
Annual rainfall is {{convert|2800|mm|in|-1|disp=or}}.

==History==
The seafarers of the region referred to the island as the "northern land of the nake" i.e. '''Car Nakkavar''' which is perhaps the direct predecessor of the current name '''Car Nicobar'''. 

===2004 tsunami devastation===
The island was severely affected by the [[tsunami]] that was caused by the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake]], which led to many deaths and damaged infrastructure. Car Nicobar lies {{convert|750|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the [[epicenter]] of the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake]], and the ensuing [[tsunami]]s struck it with great force. Witnesses reported the waves were as high as 30&nbsp;ft (9 m). As of December 30, 2004, the number of casualties remained unknown, but were estimated to be high. One survivor told the [[Associated Press]]: "There's not a single hut which is standing. Everything is gone. Most of the people have gone away from the shore and Indian govt has made many relief programmes here such as temporary shelters, subsidize their every primary needs etc."{{update inline|date=November 2021}}

==Aviation==

Car Nicobar hosts a strategically important Indian Air Force base, which evolved from a wartime strip built by the British in the 1940s. The IAF later expanded it into a permanent staging base for operations across the eastern seaboard and island territories.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gupta |first=Anchit |title=Car Nicobar: The Island That Became an Accidental IAF Staging Post |url=https://iafhistory.in/2022/09/22/car-nicobar-the-island-that-became-an-accidental-iaf-staging-post/ |website=IAFHistory |date=22 September 2022 |access-date=5 May 2025}}</ref>

==Geography==
Car Nicobar falls in between [[Little Andaman]] and [[Nancowry Island|Nancowry]]. The area south to the [[Ten Degree Channel|Ten-degree channel]] comes under Car Nicobar headquarters. Car Nicobar is remarkably flat except for some cliffs in the north and small hilly areas in the interior. It is bordered by a silvery beach and areas of flat ground consisting of coraline diluvium.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://db.and.nic.in/nicobar/Profile/geographical.htm |title=Nicobar Geographical Features |date=2013-05-26 |accessdate=2013-05-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207230707/http://db.and.nic.in/nicobar/Profile/geographical.htm |archivedate=2016-02-07 }}</ref> It is a flat fertile island covered with clusters of coconut palms and enchanting beaches with a roaring sea all around.

Compared to the [[Middle Andaman]] and [[South Andaman]], Car Nicobar is a small island, having only {{convert|126.9|km2|abbr=on}}.

The soil analysis revealed a high content of sand & clay hindering the growth of agricultural crops.  The area of Car Nicobar is suitable for the plantation crops, and [[coconut]] and [[arecanut|areca nut]] are the major products, which are grown in the area.

===Climate===
The climate of Car Nicobar is a [[tropical monsoon climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Am''), as it is just 9 degrees from the equator, with an annual rainfall of {{convert|2600|mm|in|-1|disp=or}}. The data of past thirty years shows that the mean relative humidity in the island is 79 percent, the mean maximum temperature is {{convert|31.4|C|F|1|disp=or}}, and mean minimum temperature is {{convert|23.8|C|F|1|disp=or}}.

{{Weather box
| location = Car Nicobar (1991–2020, extremes 1952–2020)
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| width = auto
| Jan record high C = 35.0
| Feb record high C = 38.0
| Mar record high C = 36.0
| Apr record high C = 37.2
| May record high C = 38.0
| Jun record high C = 37.0
| Jul record high C = 37.0
| Aug record high C = 37.5
| Sep record high C = 36.0
| Oct record high C = 38.1
| Nov record high C = 37.0
| Dec record high C = 36.2
|year record high C = 38.0
| Jan high C = 31.2
| Feb high C = 31.7
| Mar high C = 32.2
| Apr high C = 32.5
| May high C = 31.5
| Jun high C = 30.9
| Jul high C = 30.8
| Aug high C = 30.8
| Sep high C = 30.3
| Oct high C = 30.6
| Nov high C = 31.0
| Dec high C = 30.9
| year high C = 31.2
| Jan low C = 24.3
| Feb low C = 23.7
| Mar low C = 23.3
| Apr low C = 23.6
| May low C = 24.2
| Jun low C = 24.4
| Jul low C = 24.2
| Aug low C = 23.9
| Sep low C = 23.2
| Oct low C = 23.2
| Nov low C = 23.7
| Dec low C = 24.1
| year low C = 23.8
| Jan record low C = 11.0
| Feb record low C = 12.0
| Mar record low C = 10.9
| Apr record low C = 15.4
| May record low C = 16.4
| Jun record low C = 15.6
| Jul record low C = 15.6
| Aug record low C = 15.8
| Sep record low C = 14.2
| Oct record low C = 15.0
| Nov record low C = 13.4
| Dec record low C = 11.9
|year record low C = 11.0
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 90.0
| Feb rain mm = 35.9
| Mar rain mm = 70.5
| Apr rain mm = 109.2
| May rain mm = 333.2
| Jun rain mm = 316.8
| Jul rain mm = 249.4
| Aug rain mm = 267.6
| Sep rain mm = 382.8
| Oct rain mm = 282.1
| Nov rain mm = 267.1
| Dec rain mm = 174.7
|year rain mm = 2579.4
| Jan rain days = 4.3
| Feb rain days = 2.5
| Mar rain days = 3.1
| Apr rain days = 5.9
| May rain days = 14.3
| Jun rain days = 13.6
| Jul rain days = 12.4
| Aug rain days = 12.6
| Sep rain days = 15.8
| Oct rain days = 14.3
| Nov rain days = 12.0
| Dec rain days = 7.5
|year rain days = 118.2
|time day = 17:30 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| Jan humidity = 79
| Feb humidity = 77
| Mar humidity = 76
| Apr humidity = 77
| May humidity = 84
| Jun humidity = 85
| Jul humidity = 85
| Aug humidity = 86
| Sep humidity = 88
| Oct humidity = 89
| Nov humidity = 86
| Dec humidity = 83
|year humidity = 83
|source 1 = [[India Meteorological Department]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Climatological%20Tables%201991-2020.pdf
| title = Climatological Tables of Observatories in India 1991-2020
| publisher = [[India Meteorological Department]]
| access-date = April 8, 2024
}}</ref><ref name=IMDnormals>
{{cite web
| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205040301/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| archivedate = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| title = Station: Car-Nicobar Climatological Table 1981–2010
| work = Climatological Normals 1981–2010
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = January 2015
| pages = 171–172
| accessdate = 8 February 2020}}</ref><ref name=IMDextremes>
{{cite web
| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042509/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| archivedate = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| title = Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = December 2016
| page = M1
| accessdate = 8 February 2020}}</ref>
}}

==Administration==
Car Nicobar, along with neighboring [[Battimalv Island]], is a ''[[tehsil]]''.  There are two more Tehsils of [[Nancowry tehsil|Nancowry]] and [[Campbell Bay (Great Nicobar)|Campbell Bay]] to administer all the other islands of the district.  The administrative capital is near the [[Indian Air Force]] station [[Car Nicobar Air Force Base]], known as 'Headquarters' which is the largest junction in this small island with some shops, a hospital, a bank, a post office, Office of Superintendent of Police, Office of Deputy Commissioner and some other government offices. The official pin code of Car Nicobar is 744301.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.india-codes.com/pincodes/a-n-islands-pin-code |title=A&N Islands - Pincodes |date=2013-05-26 |accessdate=2013-05-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323224041/http://www.india-codes.com/pincodes/a-n-islands-pin-code |archivedate=2014-03-23 }}</ref>

Although the area of Car Nicobar is less than 7% of the area of the Nicobar group, in the census of 2011 its population of<ref>{{cite web|title=Census of India|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/PopulationFinder/Sub_Districts_Master.aspx?state_code=35&district_code=02}}</ref> 17841 was 48% of the total population of Nicobar.

==Flora and fauna==
The Car Nicobar islands do not have any evergreen forests, which dominate the central and southern islands of the Nicobars.<ref name="flora">{{cite web |url=http://www.and.nic.in/archives/andaman/flora.php |title=A&N Islands - Flora & Fauna |date=2013-05-26 |accessdate=2013-05-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317114453/http://www.and.nic.in/archives/andaman/flora.php |archivedate=2016-03-17 }}</ref> Most of the island is covered with coconut plantation and natural flora is present only in the interior areas.

===Important Bird Area===
The island has been designated an [[Important Bird Area]] (IBA) by [[BirdLife International]] because it supports populations of various [[endemic bird area|restricted-range]] or [[threatened]] bird species. These include [[Nicobar sparrowhawk]]s, [[Nicobar serpent-eagle]]s, [[Andaman wood pigeon]]s, [[Andaman cuckoo-dove]]s, [[Andaman boobook]]s, [[white-headed starling]]s and Nicobar [[green imperial pigeon]]s.<ref name=bli> {{cite web |url=http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/car-nicobar-iba-india|title= Car Nicobar|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2020|website= BirdLife Data Zone|publisher= BirdLife International|access-date= 13 December 2020|quote=}}</ref>

==Transport==
Car Nicobar the district headquarters is {{convert|260|km|0|abbr=on}} from [[Port Blair]].  Ship service is available between Port Blair and Nicobar district. Normally ship is available twice in a week.  One can obtain the ship ticket from the office of the Director, Shipping services (03192-245555) at Port Blair.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://db.and.nic.in/nicobar/profile/How%20To%20Reach.htm |title=Nicobar Islands - How to reach |date=2013-05-26 |accessdate=2013-05-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213181323/http://db.and.nic.in/nicobar/profile/How%20To%20Reach.htm |archivedate=2012-02-13 }}</ref>

Andaman and Nicobar Islands Administration in cooperation with [[Indian Air Force]] operate charter services between Port Blair's [[Veer Savarkar International Airport]], [[Campbell Bay (Great Nicobar)|Campbell Bay]] and [[Car Nicobar Air Force Base]]. There is also regular service of [[Pawan Hans]] helicopter available between Car Nicobar and Port Blair and other islands of the Nicobar district.

== Demographics ==
[[File:Landscape in Car-Nicobar Village of Sawi.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Landscape of Sawai village in 1884|Landscape of Sawai village in 1884]]
There are 21 villages, the largest of which is named U-rèk-ka (called "Malacca-Perka" for tourists), with a population of 4,200.

The villages are:

{{col-list|colwidth=22em|
*Ha-nyôch ([[Mus, Car Nicobar|Mus]])
*Tö-kuö-nö Sē-ti ([[Small Lapati|Small Lapathy]])
*Tö-ki-röng Sē-ti ([[Big Lapati|Big Lapathy]])
*Höng-chu ([[Tapoiming]])
*Pum-pai ([[Chuckchucha|Chukchucha]])
*Sa-rā-ki ([[Kinyuka]])
*Tim-lö ([[Tamaloo|Tamalu]])
*Kè-è-rô ([[Perka, Car Nicobar|Perka]], West Malacca)
*U-rèk-ka ([[Malacca, Car Nicobar|Malacca]])
*[[IAF Camp]]
*Sa-pë-ha ([[Kakana, Car Nicobar|Kakana]])
*Ratana
*Öt-ra-höön ([[Kimois|Kimius]])
*Aukchong
*Foul Point
*Ha-ran ([[Arong, Car Nicobar|Arong]])
*Arong Beach
*Öt-ka-sip ([[Sawai, Car Nicobar|Sawai]])
*Rit-töp ([[Teetop|Titop]])
*Passa
*Töt-chak ([[Kinmai]])
}}

The names in brackets are often used for tourists and other outsiders, as the local names in [[Nicobarese languages|Nicobarese]] are difficult for outsiders to pronounce.

Each village has a {{lang|caq|tuhet}} meaning "elderly heads", the number of which varies. From each of these elders three are elected as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd captain to look after the day-to-day affairs of the village.

According to the [[2011 census of India]], Car Nicobar Island has 4250 households. The effective literacy rate (i.e. the literacy rate of population excluding children aged 6 and below) is 100%.<ref name="census_2011"/>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Demographics (2011 Census)<ref name="census_2011">{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/3500_PART_B_DCHB_ANDAMAN%20&%20NICOBAR%20ISLANDS.pdf |title=District Census Handbook - Andaman & Nicobar Islands |work=[[2011 Census of India]] |publisher=Directorate of Census Operations, Andaman & Nicobar Islands |accessdate=2015-07-21 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801173328/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/3500_PART_B_DCHB_ANDAMAN%20%26%20NICOBAR%20ISLANDS.pdf |archivedate=2015-08-01 }}</ref>
! !! Total !! Male !! Female
|-
| Population || 17841|| 9735|| 8106
|-
| Children aged below 6 years || 1929 || 982 || 947
|-
| [[Scheduled caste]] || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
| [[Scheduled tribe]] || 15027 || 7659 || 7368
|-
| Literates || 12627|| 7436|| 5191
|-
| Workers (all) || 8844|| 5964|| 2880
|-
| Main workers (total) || 3664|| 2916|| 748
|}

==Administration==
The island belongs to the [[Subdivisions of India|township]] of [[Car Nicobar Subdivision|Car Nicobar]] of [[Car Nicobar Subdivision|Car Nicobar]] [[Tehsils of India|Taluk]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://andssw1.and.nic.in/ecostat/basicstatPDF2013_14/1.Demogrpahy.pdf |title=Tehsils |access-date=2016-05-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828015509/http://andssw1.and.nic.in/ecostat/basicstatPDF2013_14/1.Demogrpahy.pdf |archive-date=2017-08-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref> of Nicobar District. District Administration is headed by Deputy Commissioner (Nicobar) while the Sub Division Car Nicobar is headed by an assistant commissioner.

==Image gallery==
<gallery widths=180>
File:Andaman and Nicobar Islands - Car Nicobar.PNG|Location of Car Nicobar island
File:Map of Nicobar Islands-en.png|Map
</gallery>
==See also==
* [[Car Nicobar Air Force Base]]
== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
{{commons category|Car Nicobar}}
{{Portal|India}}
*{{wikivoyage-inline|Andaman and Nicobar Islands}}
{{Nicobar district |state=collapsed}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Car Nicobar}}
[[Category:Islands of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]
[[Category:Tehsils of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]
[[Category:Nicobar district]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]
[[Category:Nicobar Islands]]