The Government of India and the UT Administration are leaving no stone unturned to revive tourism in these strategically located ecologically fragile islands. An eye-catching advertisement inserted by the Ministry of Tourism in many national newspapers and magazines depicting the magnificent sea with palm-fringed serene beach captioned “Vitamin Sea” speaks a thousand words to persuade a prospective tourist to visit the Andamans for a quiet holiday amidst the bounties of the nature.
While nature has showered its blessings upon the picturesque lush green islands, the same very nature had played havoc on that fateful day of December 26. But, interestingly, the awe-inspiring scars left behind by the tsunami waves have become objects of tourists’ attraction, too. So much so, the sub-continent’s lone live volcano at Barren Island, 75 nautical miles north-east of Port Blair that came alive after remaining dormant for more than a decade, has also become a major tourist attraction. A ship sails every Friday evening from Port Blair enabling tourists for a night view of the Barren volcano spewing red hot lava, flames and smoke. A life time opportunity for the tourists, of course.
Besides nature, these islands have the marvels of history too. Many monuments stand mute witness to the heroic freedom struggle in the face of atrocities perpetrated on the freedom fighters by the British and the Japanese under their respective yokes here. It is here that Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose first hoisted the tri-colour to proclaim Independence on December 30, 1943.
Places of interest in and around Port Blair:
Cellular Jail
National Memorial Cellular Jail located at Port Blair, stands a mute witness to the tortures 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. It was originally a seven-pronged building with central tower acting as the fulcrum. Presently only three out of the seven prongs are intact. The saga of heroic freedom struggle is brought alive in a moving Son-et-lumiere, shown inside the jail compound at 6. p.m. (Hindi) and 7.15 p.m. (English). Also there is a museum and a photo gallery, which are open on all days except on Monday from 9 am to 12 pm and 2 pm to 5 pm.
Viper Island
Just a 10-minute boat ride from Port Blair, this tiny island witnessed the untold sufferings the freedom fighters had to undergo. Dangerous convicts found guilty of violating the rules of the Penal Settlement, were put in fetters and forced to work in this island. The island derives its name from the vessel “Viper” in which Lt. Archibald Blair came to the islands in 1768 to establish a Penal Settlement. Gallows built atop a hillock signified death.
Ross Island
The erstwhile capital of Port Blair during the British regime is a tiny island standing guard to Port Blair Harbour. The island presently houses the ruins of old buildings reminiscent of the old British regime. The seat of power of the British, the island was developed into a self-equipped township with all facilities required for a civilized colony.
A 15 minute boat ride from Port Blair, the island is open for tourists three times during the day.
Mount Harriet
The summer headquarters of the Chief Commissioner during British Raj, this place 55 kms by road/15 kms by ferry and road from Port Blair is ideal for a nice and fascinating overview of the outer islands and the sea. It is the highest peak in the South Andamans (365 mtrs). One can trek upto Madhuban through nature trail and can find rare endemic birds, animals and butterflies.
Chidya Tapu
Chidya Tapu, 25 kms from Port Blair, is the southernmost tip of South Andaman. The lush green mangrove cover and beaches make it an ideal picnic site. The place provides a beautiful view of the sunset.
Beaches
The world class sandy beaches of these islands are famous for turtle nesting. Important species of turtles include Leatherback Turtle, Green Sea Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle and Olive Ridley Turtle. Water Monitor Lizard, Salt water Crocodiles, Reticulate Python etc. are also seen here. Some of the important beaches are:
Carbyn’s Cove Beach: About 6 kms from Port Blair, this beach is one of the most picturesque sea beaches. Ideal for sea-bathing and sun-basking, it provides a kaleidoscopic view of the blue water front.
Radhanagar Beach: Rated as one of the best in the world, this beach is a major tourist attraction for its silvery sands, waves formation and unpolluted environment. Located at Havelock Island, it is a two hour voyage from Port Blair.
Harminder Bay Beach: This beautiful beach is situated at Hut Bay Island at a distance of 100 kms from Port Blair and is connected by inter island shipping services.
Karmatang Beach: This famous turtle nesting ground is situated at Mayabunder, North Andaman, 240 kms by road and 136 kms by boat from Port Blair.
Other Places of Interest
There are many places of interest in this last frontier of the Indian Union. To mention a few:
Neil Island, 36 kms from Port Blair; Long Island, 82 kms from Port Blair; Rangat, 170 kms, by road and 90 kms by sea; Mayabunder, 242 kms. By road/136 kms, by sea; Diglipur, 290 kms by road/180 kms by sea and Little Andaman Island, 120 kms by sea.
Anthropological Museum at Port Blair provides an insight into the world of stone age tribes – Great Andamanese, Jarawas, Sentinels, Onges, Shompens and the Nicobarese – Marine Museums bring alive the underwater world of many marine species. Then there are zoo, crocodile farm, and parks with a difference.
How To Reach Andamans
By Air
Port Blair is connected with Chennai and Kolkata by air. Presently flights are operated by Alliance Air and Jet Airways. While Alliance Air operates on Chennai-Port Blair-Chennai and Kolkata-Port Blair-Kolkata sectors, the Jet Airways operates only on Chennai-Port Blair-Chennai Sector.
By Sea
Regular passenger ship services are available to Port Blair from Chennai, Kolkata and Vishakapatnam and back. There are three to four sailings every month from Kolkata and Chennai to Port Blair and vice-versa. There is one sailing from Vishakapatnam in a month. The voyage takes about 50 to 70 hours.
While nature has showered its blessings upon the picturesque lush green islands, the same very nature had played havoc on that fateful day of December 26. But, interestingly, the awe-inspiring scars left behind by the tsunami waves have become objects of tourists’ attraction, too. So much so, the sub-continent’s lone live volcano at Barren Island, 75 nautical miles north-east of Port Blair that came alive after remaining dormant for more than a decade, has also become a major tourist attraction. A ship sails every Friday evening from Port Blair enabling tourists for a night view of the Barren volcano spewing red hot lava, flames and smoke. A life time opportunity for the tourists, of course.
Besides nature, these islands have the marvels of history too. Many monuments stand mute witness to the heroic freedom struggle in the face of atrocities perpetrated on the freedom fighters by the British and the Japanese under their respective yokes here. It is here that Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose first hoisted the tri-colour to proclaim Independence on December 30, 1943.
Places of interest in and around Port Blair:
Cellular Jail
National Memorial Cellular Jail located at Port Blair, stands a mute witness to the tortures 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. It was originally a seven-pronged building with central tower acting as the fulcrum. Presently only three out of the seven prongs are intact. The saga of heroic freedom struggle is brought alive in a moving Son-et-lumiere, shown inside the jail compound at 6. p.m. (Hindi) and 7.15 p.m. (English). Also there is a museum and a photo gallery, which are open on all days except on Monday from 9 am to 12 pm and 2 pm to 5 pm.
Viper Island
Just a 10-minute boat ride from Port Blair, this tiny island witnessed the untold sufferings the freedom fighters had to undergo. Dangerous convicts found guilty of violating the rules of the Penal Settlement, were put in fetters and forced to work in this island. The island derives its name from the vessel “Viper” in which Lt. Archibald Blair came to the islands in 1768 to establish a Penal Settlement. Gallows built atop a hillock signified death.
Ross Island
The erstwhile capital of Port Blair during the British regime is a tiny island standing guard to Port Blair Harbour. The island presently houses the ruins of old buildings reminiscent of the old British regime. The seat of power of the British, the island was developed into a self-equipped township with all facilities required for a civilized colony.
A 15 minute boat ride from Port Blair, the island is open for tourists three times during the day.
Mount Harriet
The summer headquarters of the Chief Commissioner during British Raj, this place 55 kms by road/15 kms by ferry and road from Port Blair is ideal for a nice and fascinating overview of the outer islands and the sea. It is the highest peak in the South Andamans (365 mtrs). One can trek upto Madhuban through nature trail and can find rare endemic birds, animals and butterflies.
Chidya Tapu
Chidya Tapu, 25 kms from Port Blair, is the southernmost tip of South Andaman. The lush green mangrove cover and beaches make it an ideal picnic site. The place provides a beautiful view of the sunset.
Beaches
The world class sandy beaches of these islands are famous for turtle nesting. Important species of turtles include Leatherback Turtle, Green Sea Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle and Olive Ridley Turtle. Water Monitor Lizard, Salt water Crocodiles, Reticulate Python etc. are also seen here. Some of the important beaches are:
Carbyn’s Cove Beach: About 6 kms from Port Blair, this beach is one of the most picturesque sea beaches. Ideal for sea-bathing and sun-basking, it provides a kaleidoscopic view of the blue water front.
Radhanagar Beach: Rated as one of the best in the world, this beach is a major tourist attraction for its silvery sands, waves formation and unpolluted environment. Located at Havelock Island, it is a two hour voyage from Port Blair.
Harminder Bay Beach: This beautiful beach is situated at Hut Bay Island at a distance of 100 kms from Port Blair and is connected by inter island shipping services.
Karmatang Beach: This famous turtle nesting ground is situated at Mayabunder, North Andaman, 240 kms by road and 136 kms by boat from Port Blair.
Other Places of Interest
There are many places of interest in this last frontier of the Indian Union. To mention a few:
Neil Island, 36 kms from Port Blair; Long Island, 82 kms from Port Blair; Rangat, 170 kms, by road and 90 kms by sea; Mayabunder, 242 kms. By road/136 kms, by sea; Diglipur, 290 kms by road/180 kms by sea and Little Andaman Island, 120 kms by sea.
Anthropological Museum at Port Blair provides an insight into the world of stone age tribes – Great Andamanese, Jarawas, Sentinels, Onges, Shompens and the Nicobarese – Marine Museums bring alive the underwater world of many marine species. Then there are zoo, crocodile farm, and parks with a difference.
How To Reach Andamans
By Air
Port Blair is connected with Chennai and Kolkata by air. Presently flights are operated by Alliance Air and Jet Airways. While Alliance Air operates on Chennai-Port Blair-Chennai and Kolkata-Port Blair-Kolkata sectors, the Jet Airways operates only on Chennai-Port Blair-Chennai Sector.
By Sea
Regular passenger ship services are available to Port Blair from Chennai, Kolkata and Vishakapatnam and back. There are three to four sailings every month from Kolkata and Chennai to Port Blair and vice-versa. There is one sailing from Vishakapatnam in a month. The voyage takes about 50 to 70 hours.
Cellular Jail.
Rose Island.
Church at Ross Island.
Mount Harriet.
Aerial view of Aberdeen Bazar area, Port Blair.
Water fall at Hutbay, Little Andaman.
Dolphin Yatri Niwas at Havelock Island.
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