Port Blair on South Andaman Island is the capital city of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, an Indian territory in the Bay of Bengal. Its seafront Cellular Jail, completed in 1906, hints at its past as a British penal colony and is now a memorial to Indian independence activists. Inland, the Samudrika Marine Museum showcases local marine life. The Anthropological Museum focuses on the islands’ indigenous tribes.
Cellular Jail is one of the most historically significant monuments in the Andaman Islands, as it used to be the place where Britisher officers used to send prisoners for exile, during the period of their rule. The walls of this jail hold many stories of the brave Indian freedom fighters and prisoners who have withstood torment in the cells of this very building. The jail is also referred to as Kala Pani, meaning black water in Hindi, and what was the term for prison cell confinement during that period.
Chidiya Tapu is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Andaman, and if you are on a trip to the islands, do not forget to spend a few hours at this wonderful place. Chidiya Tapu is mainly popular for its wide range of birds and is a haven for bird watchers. Indigenous and migratory birds can be seen decorating the skies here, enticing nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts visiting the place.
This island in Andaman is also a treasure trove of thick forests and stunning views of the ocean. At almost every turn, the mesmerizing views of a thick green blanket and azure sea waters await you.
Adventurous water sports, alluring coral reefs, and panoramic landscapes, North Bay Island has everything that makes it a popular destination among the travel buffs. Whether you are a nature buff, a true water sports lover or a beach baby, this island has something for everyone. Spend your day enjoying the enthralling water sports of Andaman such as jet skiing, scuba diving, and snorkelling or soak in the charm of its captivating beaches, there are numerous ways to keep yourself engaged during your trip to Andaman.
There are various companies which offer dives and a chance to get stunning photographs of the underwater world. Apart from its popular underwater corals, this island serves you with some really exciting boat ride trips too.
Reckoned as one of the best well-maintained museums, Anthropological Museum of Port Blair is one of the must visit destinations in Andaman & Nicobar for those who want to get acquainted with the history of local community tribes. Besides being a historical delight, tourists label this place worthy for sightseeing where one can explore the Paleolithic Islander’s Life. Jarawa Chest Guard and shamanic sculptures are significant exhibits of this place. Other minor displays are inclusive of handicrafts, arts and crafts, tools, photographs, implements, and clothing.
Whatever displays you find here at Anthropological Museum, dates back to the era when the six major local tribes were prominently present here.
This popular tourist place in Andaman run by the Indian Navy, Samudrika Marine Museum is one of its kinds in Port Blair showcasing marine life and its vivid forms. It has a huge collection of corals, seashells, fishes and different species of sea animals in distinct hues and sizes. The museum has been divided into five prominent sections as marine archaeology, history of Andaman, marine life, geographical information and people of Andaman. A major objective of the museum is to generate awareness towards the oceanic environment and marine life.
The major attraction of the museum is the skeleton of a baby blue whale that was washed ashore on the coast of Andaman & Nicobar. A tiny zoo within the museum premises boasts of a few saltwater crocodiles in Haddo of Andaman.
Resting in the northern end of beautiful Andaman and Nicobar Islands is the sinfully picturesque Diglipur which is a haversack of visual beauty and silence. This town keeps tourists engaged from all around the world because of its exclusivity of letting the only river on this island, River Kalpong, pass through it. Diglipur is an ecotourism place that holds large spreads of greenery and marine life; the oranges here are a must try and it is one of the must-visit places in Andaman.
Trekking takes place in abundance in Diglipur because it houses the highest peak in this archipelago. You might come across exotic wildlife in this town and during your trek that augments your trip experience here.
Viper Island, is an extremely tranquil Island in Andaman and Nicobar. It has featured in the pages of Indian history many a time due to the Jail in the Island built by the British a few hundred years ago. This Island is frequented regularly by Indian and International tourist due to the striking amalgamation of history and nature.
The ruins of the jail, gallows and the cells narrate several incidents of an era bygone, sordid tales of a torturous rule that the country had to undergo. One can get a bird’s eye view of the neighboring islands, the seven-point harbor and the mighty ocean in its splendid shades.