Port Blair is the capital city as well as the largest island of the Andaman Islands, a union territory of India.
Port Blair is one of the most sought after destinations for vacations in the country. It is the largest island as well as the capital city of the Andaman Islands, which is a union territory of India. Port Blair attracts a large number of tourists and visitors annually due to the diverse range of attractions. Moreover there are a lot of hotels in Port Blair to seek comfortable accommodation.
One of the most prominent places for which it is famous is the infamous Cellular Jail, which has stood as the witness to the barbaric and most brutally cruel atrocities to our freedom fighters. It has been declared as a National Memorial and has stood as a mute witness for a long time when our freedom fighters were tortured in this jail. One of the most important reasons behind its name as ”Cellular Jail” is due to its design which consists of individual cells for solitary and maddening confinement. Now it attracts a large number of visitors as it symbolizes the pain and struggle our freedom fighters went through to give us the freedom we have today. It is now like a pilgrimage for freedom-lovers. The Jail Museum opens from 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon and then from 1:30 PM to 4:45 PM. It is closed on Sundays.
If you are a history lover, you can head to the Anthropological Museum. It was started in the year 1975-76 and is an ethnographic museum. You can also head to Samudrika, the Naval Marine Museum, which offers a fantastic collection of corals, shells and several colorful fishes of the islands. There is also a Zoological Survey of India Museum is also situated near the Andaman Teal Museum, where you can see diverse varieties of butterflies, sponges, centipedes, and corals.
Port Blair is also famous for a large number of beaches. You can head to Corbyn’s Cove beach which is quite an ideal place for sun basking. It is a coconut palmed fringed beach and there are a lot of facilities such as restaurants, hotels and bars near the beach. You can also visit the historic remains of Japanese bunkers on the way here. Port Blair’s Ross Island which has less than a square km area and encompasses the entire culture of the Andamans in itself. This island in itself has served as the capital during late 1800s and early 1900s until it was occupied by the Japanese. One of the most historic remains that attract historians are the ruins of the Chief Commissioner’s House and the church, all lying in overgrown vines.
The Viper Island of the Andaman is also a show stealer with its e=rich history. It derived its name from the vessel “Viper” that met with an accident and was abandoned near the island. It is the vessel in which Lt. Archibald Blair came here in 1768. Further, you can see Gallows built on the top of a hillock that signifies death and is visible to all prisoners on the island. It is one of the most visited places to visit in Port Blair.