Places in Andaman, Andaman Tour Places, Andaman Travel & Andaman Cruise

Places of Importance

The beautiful Emerald Isles have so much to offer. From places of historical importance to those of educational value, in the Andamans there is never a shortage of things to do. Marine parks, stunning beaches and beautiful snorkeling trips are just some of the adventures that await you.
Why stand in a long queue to buy a ferry ticket with beads of sweat glistening on your forehead? Why haggle with a taxi driver for hours and why experience less when you can explore and enjoy so much more?

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Enjoy half day sightseeing tours, full day sightseeing tours and wonderful day trips all tailor made to suit your exact requirements.
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Sightseeing in and around Port Blair

The Cellular Jail	Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park
Son-et-Lumiere	Anthropological Museum
Ross Island	Sippighat
Viper Island	Chidiya Tapu
Andaman Water Sports Complex	Madhuban
Chatham Island & Sawmill	Mount Harriet

The Cellular Jail (National Memorial)

Cellular Jail located at Port Blair, stood mute witness to the torture meted out to the freedom fighters, who were incarcerated in this jail. The Jail, completed in the year 1906, acquired the name cellular, because it is entirely made up of individual cells for the solitary confinement of the prisoners.

Originally a seven-pronged, puce-colored building with a central tower acting as its fulcrum and a massive structure comprising honeycomb like corridors, the building was subsequently damaged and only three out of the seven prongs are intact today. The Jail, now a place of pilgrimage for all freedom loving people, has been declared a National Memorial.

Son-et-Lumiere (Sound and Light show)

The saga of the heroic freedom struggle is brought alive in a moving Son-et-Lumiere, shown daily inside the Cellular Jail compound with separate timings for English and Hindi shows.

Ross Island

Ross Island, the erstwhile capital of Port Blair during the British regime, is a tiny island standing as guard to Port Blair harbor (10 minutes journey from the Phoenix Bay Jetty, Port Blair). The island presently houses the ruins of old buildings like Ballroom, Chief Commissioner's house, Govt House, Church, Cemetery, Hospital, Bakery, Press, Swimming Pool and Troop Barracks, all in dilapidated condition, reminiscent of the old British regime.

During the British occupation, this island was the seat of power and was developed into a self-equipped township with all facilities required for a civilized colony. Dr Walker established the infamous and dreaded Penal Settlement with 200 convicts. The British persuaded the aborigines to come and live in some huts on Ross Island and even established Andaman House for them in 1863. Later on the services of the aborigines were used to catch escaping convicts from Ross Island.

The island is spread over 0.6 sq kms, is popular with tourists and the Indian Navy has established a museum on the island known as "Smritika".

For travellers keen on photography, this Island is intriguing and a ‘must visit’. The old buildings have nearly collapsed and bare skeletal structures remain. Held together by numerous sturdy tree roots growing into and over the structures, this is a sight not to be missed.

It is a long and tiring walk to see this island and although a small cafe is present it is advised to carry drinking water and snacks.

Viper Island

The tiny serene, beautiful island is situated inside the Port Blair harbor (20 minutes boat journey). The island derives its name from the vessel "Viper" in which Lt. Archibald Blair came to the islands in 1789 with the purpose of establishing a penal settlement. The vessel, it is believed, met with an accident and its wreckage was found near the island.

Viper Island witnessed the untold sufferings the freedom fighters had to undergo. Convicts found guilty of violating the rules of the penal settlement were put in fretters and made to work on the island. Famous freedom fighters who had been imprisoned on Viper Island include Nanigopal, Nandlal Pulindas and Sher Ali. The ruins of the jail as well as the gallows can be seen on the island.

Andaman Water Sports Complex

The Andaman Water Sports Complex offers facilities for safe water sports such as water skiing, water scooters, parasailing and glass bottomed boats. There is a saline water swimming pool, promenade for walking as well as changing rooms and a food plaza available near the complex.

Kindly note these activities are organized by the Government and sometimes all the activities may not be available. We request you to contact us for the activities that are available closer to your dates of travel.

Chatham Island & Sawmill

The Chatham Sawmill is one of the oldest and largest mills in Asia. Built on a tiny island by the same name and connected to Port Blair by a bridge, the island has the second largest wharf here and also houses a Forest Museum in its premises.

Owned by Forest department and dating back to 1836, it is a big store house for different varieties of wood including Marble, Padauk, Gurjan and Satin wood.

The mill cuts massive wood into different sizes and shapes of timber and functions as the main source of timber at moderate prices for Government and private agencies. This mill processes many types of ornamental wood suitable for making furniture and handicrafts.

This mill was bombed by the RAF during Japanese occupation. After the Supreme Court ruling banning commercial felling of trees in the Andaman Islands, activities have significantly reduced at the mill.

Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park

The Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park at Wandoor is at a distance of 29 kms from Port Blair covering an area of 281.5 sq kms. This marine park made-up of open sea, mangrove creeks and 15 islands, is one of the best marine parks anywhere in the world. Viewing of rare corals and underwater marine life through glass bottom boats, and snorkeling are extremely popular here.

Anthropological Museum

The Anthropological Museum is maintained and managed by the Anthropological Survey of India, and is located in Port Blair. It is an exquisite small museum showcasing a wide collection of tools and weapons used by the Andamanese tribes. It also exhibits photographs of different tribes and aborigines of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

A great treasure of island history, the museum also has a well maintained library. Many films depicting the life and culture of the Andamans are preserved here and the museum authorities arrange few documentary film shows for visitors.

Sippighat

Sprawling over an area of 80 acres is a Government farm. Research and Development programmes for cultivation of spices such as cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, coconut and pepper are conducted here. Research and demonstration farm of the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) is also located nearby.

Chidiya Tapu

Chidiya Tapu is the southern most tip of South Andaman. Located 25 kms from Port Blair, the lush green mangroves, forest cover with numerous chirping birds and the white sand beach make it an ideal picnic site as well as a great place for snorkeling. The forest guesthouse situated on top of a hillock provides a fabulous view of isolated islands, submerged corals and the breath-taking sunset.

Madhuban

Madhuban is 75 kms by road or 20 kms by ferry from Port Blair. It is primarily a trekking area, north east of South Andaman. Exotic endemic birds, animals, butterflies, and elephant lumbering are the most interesting part of the trek.

Mount Harriet

The summer headquarters of the Chief Commissioner during British Raj, this place is ideal for a nice and fascinating over view of the outer islands and the sea. Located 55 km, by road and 15 km by ferry from Port Blair, it is the highest peak in the South Andamans (365 meters high).

One can trek up to Madhuban from here through a nature trail and can find rare endemic birds, animals and butterflies. Conducted tours to Mt. Harriet are available from Andaman Teal House.