Port Blair

¤ The Capital of Andaman Islands

Port Blair has only a handful of places to visit, but like most islands it has superb beaches, a fascinating marine life and ample opportunities for watersports, bird watching and fishing. Its brilliant tropical flora, evergreen rain forests and mangrove swamps on the water’s edge present a delectable spectacle. The sparkling, clear water is excellent for snorkelling as well as scuba diving. Furthermore, Port Blair is an ornithologist’s delight – it houses no less than 242 species of birds. In addition, it has 58 species of mammals and 83 of reptiles.


¤ Major Attractions

The Cellular Jail
The infamous Cellular Jail was originally built by the British to house dangerous criminals. Subsequently it was used to house Indian freedom fighters who were fighting against imperialism. In the British era, Kalapani or ‘black water’ as the islands were known – referred to the contribution made by Indian nationalists, to rid India of colonial bondage. The most famous prisoner at Kalapani was Veer Sarvarkar – the strident Hindu nationalist who was arrested at Marseille by the British in contravention of international norms and deported to the Andaman. Currently, the site boasts of a museum, where you can get an impression of prison life in the early 1900s.

The Sound & Light Show
There is also a Sound and Light Show that takes place everyday, which gives you a valuable insight into the life and times in the Andaman in the early 20th century.

Museum
Port Blair also houses an Anthropological Museum, which has a small but interesting collection of photographs and artefacts – records of expeditions undertaken in the distant past.