Port Blair - Travel and Tourism

How to reach

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Port Blair Transportation

By Air transportation
Port blair is connected with Chennai and Calcutta by air. Presently flights are operated by Alliance Air/Indian Airlines and Jet Airways.

Alliance Air: City Office: Middle Point, Port Blair, Tel: 233108 Airport: 232983

Ship transportation
Regular passenger ship services are available to Port Blair from Chennai, Calcutta and Vishakhapatnam and back. There are three to four sailings every month from Calcutta and Chennai to Port Blair and vice-versa. There is one sailing from Vishakhapatnam in a month. The voyage takes about 50 to 60 hours and the ship normally berths at Port Blair for about two to four days.

Local transportation
Port Blair has a local network of buses, taxis and a few auto rickshaws. Buses to key locations are available from the Port Blair bus stand. It is advisable to have own transportation to explore the island. Motorcycles, mopeds, scooters and bicycles are available. Regular ferry services connect Port Blair to near by sight seeing islands and places.

All foreign nationals can stay in the islands for 30 days. This can be extended by another 15 days with permission. They require a permit to stay from the immigration authorities
Indian nationals need no permit to visit Andamans. However, permits are required to visit Nicobar Islands and other tribal areas, which are given in exceptional cases

For more futher information including how to get ship ticket and and ship and air fare please visit this page

Government site : http://tourism.andaman.nic.in/travel . tips.htm

Prohibited things:
Foreign nationals may not enter the islands without permit. Do not enter the National Parks without permission nor take pictures of the airport, government, dockyard, defence establishments, naval wharf, Dhanikari Dam and Chatham Saw Mill. Do not Light fire in Protected Areas as it not only destroys forests but also damages wildlife habitat, Do not swim after consuming liquor and also in unsafe water during mansoon.

Map of Port Blair

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Free Maps of port blair india

chidiya tapu Corbyn's Cove

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Corbyn's Cove - Indian tourism

Corbyn's Cove is the nearest beach to Port Blair, it is a simply a pleasure to be here. The nearby Snake Island is surrounded by coral reefs. Currents in the water here are pretty strong and swimming can be dangerous.
Sippighat FarmLocated 15 km from Port Blair en route to Wandoor, this Government owned farm is used for research in various kinds of agricultural products. Research predominantly in spices has developed new varieties of cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg and clovesSprawling over an area of 80 acres is a Government farm. Research & Development programmes for cultivation of spices like cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, coconut and pepper are conducted here. Research and Demonstration farm of the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) is nearby.

Chidiya Tapu (25 kms. from Port Blair) Indian travels

Chidiya Tapu is situated along the southern most tip of South Andaman islannds. This island is full with natural beauty. The lush green mangroves, forest cover with numerous chirping birds and the Sylvan Sands and Munda pahar beaches make it an ideal picnic site. The forest guesthouse situated on top of a hillock provides a fabulous view of isolated islands, submerged corals and the breath-taking sunset. Conducted tours are available from Andaman Teal House, Port Blair, a tiny fishing village with mangroves, shell-strewn beaches, sharp rocks and vast coral reefs. South of the island is a beach well known for snorkelling.

Madhuban

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Madhuban is some 15kms from Port Blair. It provides a sea beach in front, hills behind and is being used as a training ground for elephants by foresters. Ferries from Phoenix Bay Jetty to Bamboo Flat and a short bus ride gets you to Madhuban a felling area where elephants work alongside men. Private vehicles can be ferried from Chafham jetty to Bamboo Flat, which saves a long drive over poor roads on the route from Port Blair. Madhuban (75 kms. by road/20 kms. by ferry and road from Port Blair)
This place is a trekking area, north east of South Andaman. Exotic endemic birds, animals, butterflies, and elephant lumbering are the most interesting part of the trek.

Mini zoo

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Mini zoo forset museum

The small zoo has 200 species of animals and birds which include the Nicobar Pigeon, the Andaman Pigand and the rare agile luminous-green Andaman gekko. A salt-water crocodile farm that breeds and releases crocodiles into the coastal mangrove swamps is a part of the zoo. Near the zoo is the museum maintained and run by the forest department. This unusual museum displays local types of wood used in the timber industry such as padauk which has both light and dark colours present in the same tree, rosewood and marble wood. Lumbering methods are clearly explained here. Mini Zoo Situated at Haddo (Delanipur - Chatham road), it houses some of the rare species of endemic birds and animals found in these islands.

Time: 8.00 AM - 5.00 PM Monday closed.
Entry fee – adult –Rs. 2/-, child – Re.1/-

MhGandhi Marine National Park

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Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park

The park was created 24 May 1983 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 to protect marine life such as the corals and nesting sea turtles prevalent in the area. It is national park of India in Wandoor on the Andaman Islands. Situated 29 km. from Port Blair, the park covers 281.5 km² made up of 15 islands and the open sea creeks running through the area.
This Marine Park made-up of open sea, creeks and 15 small and large islands, is one of the best found anywhere in the world. Viewing of rare corals and underwater marine life through glass bottom boats,SCUBA diving and Snorkelling are a lifetime experience for anyone.
There is a chance for ecotourism on the islands Jolly Boys and Red Skin which are open during some seasons offering glass bottom boats, scuba diving and snorkeling as a way to see the park's coral reefs and marine life.

Mt Harriet

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Mount Harriet
Is a natural spot for persons whi like to view natural beauty it is about 365 m in height which is one of the highest points in South Andaman. A natural trail leads to the summit. Permission to climb the nature trails that weave through dense forest must be obtained from the Chief Wildlife Warden in Haddo.Open to tourists during the day, permission of the warden at Port Blair has to be taken to stay overnight in the forest rest house. Towards the north is the Mt Harriet National Park where one can watch elephants being trained to carry logs. One can take a ferry service or taxi from the Chatnam wharf to Bamboo flat. The summit , 7 km from here is an enjoyable walk but the route is devoid of drinking water. Taxis and jeeps are also available

The Mount Harriet Island National Park is a national park located in Ferrargunj tehsil in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Union Territory. The park covers about 46.62 km².
Mt harriet was the summer headquarters of the Chief Commissioner during British Raj, this place is an ideal for a nice and fascinating over view of the outer islands and the sea. One can trek upto Madhuban through a nature trail and can find rare endemic birds, animals and butterflies. Conducted tours to Mt. Harriet are available from Andaman Teal House.

Entry fee Rs.10/

Samudrika Marine Museum

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Samudrika Marine Museum established in the year 1992

Samudrika’ means pertaining to Sea, the perpetual treasure house of life.
It is run and maintained by the Indian Navy, the marine museum has tanks brimming with exotic fish and coral from the islands' reefs. It was established to give the visitors an insight to the vast marine eco-system. The museum is unique due to the integrated depiction of life forms. It exhibits and explains various strata of oceanic life through Geology, Geography, Habitation and the history of settlement. This wide spectrum covered makes ‘Samudrika’ the star attraction for the visitors in Port Blair
The five sections of this unique museum display history and geography of the Andaman & Nicobar islands. Displays include miniature models of islands, pictures of tribals and their life-style and archaeology.

Water Sports complex

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Water Sports complex :

This is a unique sports complex in whole India in its own kind. There are facilities for safe water sports such as Rowing Boats, Paddle Boats, Kayaks, Aqua-cycle, Aqua-glide, Bumper boats, etc., and Adventure water sports such as Water-skiing, Water scooters. Germini boats, Para-sailing, Sail boats, Wind-surfers, Speed boarts, Glass-bottom boarts, etc., There are Saline Water Swimming Pool, Nature-walk, Change Room, Food Plaza, also. There is a Memorial built to commemorate the Battle of Aberdeen, fought between the British and Andamane aborigines in May, 1859, in which may Andamanese died. There is an artificial water-fall nearby.Situated in the heart of the Port Blair town, this area is a beautiful picnic spot. A water sports facility is available in the still waters of the Dilthaman tank. The attractions are pedal boats and rowing boats. With the addition of water sports, this area has become a center for attraction especially for student groups and tourists.

Tourist Places - Cellular Jail

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Cellular Jail(1896)

Cellular Jail,(National Memorial) From 1896 the construction of Cellular Jail was started and it was completed in 1906, connected to this were the three storey high seven wings with 698 isolated cells.This memorial, is a mute witness to the tortures meted out to the freedom fighters, who were incarcerated in this Jail. The Jail was constructed with seven wings, spreading out like a seven-petal flower. In its centre it had a tower with a turret. This is why it is called the Cellular 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.
It originally was a seven pronged, puce coloured building with a Central Tower acting as its fulcrum and a massive structure comprising honey-comb like corridors. The building ws subsequently damaged and presently three out of seven prongs are intact. The Jail now a place of pilgrimage for all freedom loving people, has been declared a National Memorial.
The penal settlement established here by the British after the First War of Independence in 1857 was the beginning of the agonizing story of the massive and awful Jail at Viper Island followed b y the Cellular Jail. The patriots who raised their voice against the British Raj were sent to this jail, where many perished.
On 30th December, 1997 President of India honoured the living freedom fighters and widows of the freedom fighters, who were incarcerated in the Cellubar Jail . A commemorative coin and a postal stamp on Cellular Jail were also released on this occasion.
The saga of the heroic freedom struggle is brought alive in a moving Son-et-Lumiere, shows daily at 6.00 PM (Hindi) and 7.15 PM (English). Also there is a Museum and an Art Gallery which is open on all days except Monday from 9.00 AM to 12 Noon and 2.00 PM to 5.00 PM.Port Blair's only firm reminder of its gloomy past, the sturdy brick Cellular Jail or Kala Pani overlooks the sea from a small rise in the northeast of town. Seven wings originally radiated from the central tower out of which only three remain, the rest being destroyed by the Japanese.
Its dingy solitary cells were quite different and far worse than the dormitories in other prison blocks erected earlier. The prisoners were given various kind of tortures, and were kept in extremely grim conditions in the dirty and ill-ventilated cells where drinking water was limited to two glasses per day and the convicts were expected to wash in the rain as they worked, clearing forests and building prison quarters. Food was stored in vats where the rice and pulses became infested with worms; more than half the prison population died long before their twenty years' detention was up. Frequent executions took place in full view of the

Port Blair Information

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Port Blair

It is the largest town in the Andaman Islands and the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands union territory of India. It lies on the east coast of South Andaman Island and is the main entry point to the islands.
It is also the headquarters for the Indian district of Andaman, and the local administrative sub-division (tehsil), which is also called Port Blair.
The city lies on the hilly southeastern coast of South Andaman Island. It is a market town with a sawmill, several local museums, and an airport. Pop. (2001) 99,984.

Named after The town is named for Archibald Blair of the British East India Company, who founded a nearby penal colony in 1789. Port Blair was founded by the British in 1858, the Cellular Jail surviving from this period

Port Blair
Geographic information : Climatic information
coordinates: 11°40′N 92°45′E)Population 2001 - 99,984.Port Blair Location: Port Blair is located in the south east of South Andaman Island.Rainfall in Port Blair: 318 cm. (July to September)Climate of Port Blair: Summer: 30 °C and 25 °CWinter: 24 °C - 18 °C