Port Blair Travel Guide

The small town has changed in the last three decades from one which saw a ship from the mainland once a month if the weather permitted to a place connected by flights from Chennai and Kolkata several times a week. It now has a hospital, a co-operative store schools, a college of higher education and a few museums in addition to resort hotels and water sports facilities. The central area of Aberdeen Bazar is where one will find most of the hotels the bus station and shops. The airport is a few kilometers south of Port Blair.

Places of attraction

Aberdeen War Memorial: A 3 mts. high structure built to commemorate the Battle of Aberdeen fought between the British and the Andamanese aborigines in 1859.

Andamans Water Sports Complex: It has facilities for both safe and adventure water sports, such as Rowing, Paddle and Sail Boats, Water Cycles, Scooters and Skis etc. Open 12.30 am to 5.00 (Sun and holidays)

Anthropological Museum : It depicts the life of the Paleolithic islands. The small museum on Ma Road displays tools clothing and photographs of the indigenous people of the islands. The captions are not informative and at times patronizing but apparently all this will change with the construction of a new museum close to the current side. There is a small but well-stocked library for researchers only. Open daily except Sunday and Holidays from 1.00 pm to 4.30 pm and 1.00 pm to 4.30 pm.

Cellular Jail: North of Aberdeen Jetty it was built between 1886-1906 by the British originally to house dangerous criminals and preserved as a shrine to India’s freedom fighters. Subsequently it was used to place Indian freedom fighters until independence in 1947; it could house 698 solitary prisoners in small narrow cells. This is a three storeyed prison dedicated to the nation as a national memorial. The Cellular Jail is a major tourist attraction and a record of a significant moment in the island’s history.

A well presented Sound and Light show on prison life followed by a film on the tribals of the Andamans (both in English and Hindi) is highly recommended. Besides there is a site Museum and Art Gallery where one could get an impression of the conditions within the prison in the early 1900s and the implements used in torture. Three of the original seven wings that extended from the central guard tower survive; the jail was renovated in 1998. Allow about one hour.

Chatham Saw Mill: This is one of the biggest and oldest in Asia. Open daily (except Sun and Holidays) 6.30 to 10.30 am and 11 am to 3 pm (with special permission). One of the oldest in Asia employing 1,000 workers. Tours take one through the different processes of turning logs into ‘seasoned’ Planks. There is also a museum. This government operation on Chatham Island 5 kms. north-west of Aberdeen Bazar is the largest wood processor in Asia. Commenced in 1836 by the British the mill employs about 2,000 people around the clock in three shifts. Most of the timber goes to the mainland.

Corbyn’s Cove Beach : 4 kms east of the airport and 7 kms south of the town is the nearest beach to Port Blair. It’s a long though pleasant and easy cliff-top stroll here from Port Blair. This is the most Picturesque sea beaches and is ideal for swimming as well as lazing under the coconut trees. Nearby Snake Island is surrounded by a coral reef.

Forest Museum : It has on display decorative pieces made of rare species of wood including the famed padauk. The museum is open from 8 am to noon and 2.30 pm to 5 pm daily except Sunday.

Gandhi Park ( Dilthaman Tank): Once the source of drinking water in Port Blair it is now developed into a park complex with a Children’s Park, Amusement Park, Water Sports facilities, Japanese Temple, Nature Walk, etc. Open daily from 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm.

Samudrika Marine Museum : Run by the Indian navy this museum features displays of the history and geography of the island. The museum is open from 9am to noon and 2 pm to 5.30 pm Tuesday to Sunday.

Zoo: Some of the 200 animal species unique to the islands can be seen at the small zoo. These include the Nicobar green imperial Pigeon and Andaman Pig the staple diet of some tribal groups. The Zoo’s saltwater crocodile breeding programme has been very successful and many have been returned to the wild. As with many zoos the animals here seem jaded. The zoo is open from 8 am to 5 pm Monday closed.

Aquarium: This interesting aquarium and museum (formerly known as the Fisheries Museum) displays some of the 350 species found in the Andaman Sea. It’s open from 9 am to 1.30 pm and 2 to 5.30 pm daily (closed Monday and holiday).

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