North Sentinel Island – The World’s Hardest Place to Visit
North Sentinel Island is one of the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal. The island belongs to the South Andaman administrative district, part of the Indian union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
North Sentinel Island is circled by spectacular clear sapphire water, a secure ring of submerged coral reefs and completely covered by a thick mangrove jungle that ends at the powdery white beaches. This outcast paradise, removed from all civilization, is surrounded by more mystery than any science fiction film.
Located far into the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean, North Sentinel Island is one of the most isolated places on earth. Approximately the size of Manhattan, this remote island is home to the Sentinelese tribe, the most dangerous tribe in the world. I was recently traveling in the area and was struck by the beauty of the region, but also shocked by how quickly development and tourism is encroaching on these unexplored islands.
The North Sentinel island made headlines in 2006 after the tribe murdered two fishermen who had illegally approached the island. After the incident, a 3 mile zone has been imposed around the island, and the Sentinelese have since kept a low profile.
