North Sentinel Island
North Sentinel Island is a small, forested island in the Bay of Bengal. It is part of India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands and covers about 60 square kilometers (around 23 square miles). The island sits among coral reefs and has no natural harbor. A narrow white-sand beach runs around the shore, with higher land rising inland.
The people who live there are the Sentinelese, an indigenous group that has chosen to live in voluntary isolation and avoid contact with the outside world. They have often defended their privacy with force when outsiders approach.
To protect the Sentinelese and reduce the risk of disease, India keeps the area around the island off-limits. A regulation passed in 1956 bans travel within five nautical miles of the island, and the surrounding waters are monitored by the Indian Navy. Outsiders are not allowed to land, and the government generally avoids attempts to make contact.
There have been a few notable incidents when people tried to reach the island. In 2006, two Indian fishermen were killed after drifting too close. In 2018, a U.S. missionary was killed during an illegal attempt to reach the Sentinelese. That year, India did relax some rules to allow pre-approved researchers to visit near the islands, but direct access to the island remains highly restricted.
Ecology and environment around the island include a large coral reef, mangroves, and a variety of wildlife such as coconut crabs, sea turtles, birds, sharks, and dolphins. The island is mostly covered by tropical forest, with Constance Islet nearby forming part of the surrounding area.
North Sentinel Island is one of the last places where an indigenous community has chosen extensive isolation. India continues to protect the island and its people by keeping outsiders at a safe distance.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 18:54 (CET).