The Andaman & Nicobar Islands are a group of 572 islands in the Bay of Bengal and are a Union Territory of India. Only 38 of these are inhabited, with the majority of the population residing in the Andaman group of islands. Port Blair is the capital city of the Andaman & Nicobar group of islands.
A Brief History of Andamans
The history of the British in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands began in 1788. The British Government thought of establishing a penal settlement here. In March 1858, the first penal settlement was established, with 200 prisoners, mostly rebels from the Indian Army. Initially, the convicts were kept in a jail at Viper Island. The foundation of the infamous Cellular Jail was laid in 1896. The building was completed in 1906. Place soon known as Kaala Pani because of Cellular Jail. This place became a favourite tourist place after 2000. Veer Savarkar International airport is the only airport in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Best Places for Tourists to Visit in Andaman

5 Popular Islands to Visit

1. Havelock Island (Renamed as Swaraj Dweep)

Havelock Island is one of the primary destinations of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is famed for its pristine beauty that goes unmatched when it comes to untouched and unexplored natural beauty and virgin forests of earth. It is a striking contrast of verdant greenery, sandy whiteness and blue vast ocean body. Due to its more than fair share of popularity among tourists and travelers,

A tour to Andamans would definitely be incomplete without a visit to the Elephant Beach and Radhanagar Beach of Havelock Island. 

2. Neil Island (Renamed as Shaheed Dweep)

Neil Island is another very scenic natural paradise with captivating white sandy beaches and lush green forests. Neil Island can be reached easily from Port Blair or from Havelock via regular ferry services of various categories.

Neil Island offers its own special appeal with some very popular beaches and crystal clear waters that resonate with millions of teeming wildlife and exquisite corals. Neil Island came to be inhabited in the late 1960s. Apart from snorkeling and scuba diving, Neil Island also offers glass bottom boat rides to its guests who are not adventurous enough to enter the waters but would still want to enter the visually ecstatic world of corals and fishes.

3. Ross Island (Renamed as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island)

Ross Island carries the rich heritage of the British legacy since the time when India was under the British Rule. It was named after Daniel Ross who was a British Marine Surveyor. As you go through the historical and architectural ruins, you easily get transported to the world of the pre-independence Indian era.

Ross Island is definitely a must visit if you are in Andaman and Nicobar islands. The sojourn of the Ross island becomes extremely interesting as you walk through British era Church, Hospital, Bakery, Press, Swimming Pool, Troop Barracks, Ballroom, Chief Commissioner’s House and Government House. Rest in the shade of palm-lined beaches and watch the pipeline of waves crashing on the shores and look around for deer, peacock and ducks all around you.

4. North Bay Island

5. Jolly Buoy Island

Jolly Buoy Island is another exquisite destination for tourists and travellers visiting Andamans. The beach is scattered with dry tree trunks that create amazing contrast with the white sands of the beach. The waters of the ocean across the beach is magnificently clean and clear with a lot of underwater corals. Snorkelling and scuba diving are the two most popular and thrilling activities that this beach offers to its guests.

The Jolly Buoy Island also nestles some of the greenest of the green tropical forests and mangrove swamps along with feathery white sandy beaches and beautiful coral reefs. The glass bottom boats operating around the island offer a good chance to enjoy the corals underwater without having to get soaked in the sea. Jolly Buoy Island is protected to save the living corals and so is closed at certain times of the year.

3 Best Beaches to Visit around Port Blair

1. Corbyn’s Cove Beach

Corbyn’s Cove Beach in spite of being so close to the capital city, is a secluded and unspoilt beauty. It is a prominent sightseeing place in Andaman. The beach is blessed with a sandy gentle shore line, pleasant blue sea water and lush green coconut palms lining the coast.

This coconut palm fringed beach is also a perfect location for sunbathing, swimming or simply sitting at the beach front on benches aesthetically added to the beach gazing at the blue seas. You can also spot the war bunkers that had been built by the Japanese Army during the vicious World War II. The tourists have ample opportunity to relax and enjoy the various water sports offered at the beach. The common adventure sports to be enjoyed at Corbyn’s Cove Beach are scuba diving, surfing, speed boat rides and boating.

2. New Wandoor Beach

The famous Wandoor beach is known for its scenic beauty and is very popular amongst tourists. The long stretch of beach along with the virgin forests is worthy of being strolled. Tourists visit the Wandoor Beach also to witness the breathtaking sunsets. Such dynamic colors of the sky is mesmerising & leaves an unforgettable impression in everyone’s heart & mind. 

Wandoor beach is surrounded by natural flora and fauna from all the three sides. The wide range of corals, colourful fishes and the variety of floral beauty is captivating.

3. Chidiyatapu Beach

“Chidiya” in Hindi means bird. And as is implied by the name, Chidiya Tapu is the ideal place for bird watchers for viewing rare migratory birds and also the common indigenous birds, which are the attractive feathered residents of the island. Chidiya Tapu harbours a very exquisitely beautiful beach and attracts tourists in large numbers.

The spot offers captivating views of sunrises and sunsets. The mix of dense deep evergreen forests on one side and the beauty of stunted hills on the other side flanked by mesmeric beaches make this spot idyllic. One can view at least 46 varieties of endangered species of birds and animals in the vicinity. The mix of seasonal orchids and other varieties of plants along with the Sylvan Sands and the Munda Pahar Beaches provide an exquisite panoramic view. There are also provisions for staying in the forest guesthouse. The forests greet the guests with wonderful mellowed cacophony of a multitude of bird species.

5 Important Places to Visit

1. Cellular Jail

The Cellular Jail has seen a lot of bloodsheds – it was made by the freedom fighters so that they can be tortured here. In the daily life of prisoners, executions were frequent, and many were made to undergo hard labor. In 1906, the jail was completely constructed and was named as ‘Cellular’ because there cells were made for each prison rather than accommodating them in one dormitory.

Each cell of the prison is 13.5 feet high 7 feet wide and housed one convict in solitary confinement. Without a doubt, this structure is one of the most historically prominent buildings in India. This jail reflects one of the murkiest chapters in the colonial rule’s history. For this reason and intent, Cellular Jail is a must-visit spot while on the trip to Andaman.

2. Kalapani Museum

This is the only private history museum in the islands. A 3-storeyed building, with a vast collection of rare archival photographs, paintings, rare original documents from the British colonial and Japanese periods, as well as documentaries and films related to the Andamans and the Indian freedom struggle. Open every day, it brings history alive through its miniature and life size models and dioramas.

3. Anthropological Museum

The Anthropological Museum is of extreme interest for curious travellers who are keen on knowing about the Andaman Islands’ tribes and their way of living. It is majestically depicted in the various sections of the museum. It summarizes in a very interesting manner a lot of insights regarding the four very enigmatic tribal communities living in the archipelago for centuries. The Jarawas, Sentinelese, Great Andamanese and Onges are of extreme interest to the civilized world as they have been able to retain their primitive ways of living down through the ages without being affected by the modernity of the rest of the world. This museum showcases the essence of culture and traditions of the major tribes living in Andaman.

4. Mahatma Gandhi Marine Park

Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is a national park of India near Wandoor on the Andaman Islands. The park was created on 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 was placed under the protection of the Chief Wildlife Warden of the forest department of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and its open creeks running through the park area are a special attraction.

5. Chatham Saw Mill

The Chatham Government Saw Mill, established in 1883 is Asia’s largest and oldest saw mill. Tucked away at the far end of the plot, the saw mill is missed by most who do not know about it (or do not ask about it). Once spotted, it is not hard to see why it is the largest saw mill. Though not a treat to the ears, taking a look inside the mill and following the journey of wood- from being brought in on boats, sorted, cut and stored in warehouses to being transformed into final wooden planks and sent to various destinations- is an interesting experience that one shouldn’t miss.

The bomb pit here, though not much to see, tells another not-so-industrious story of the darker days that the saw mill has seen. In 1942, during the World War II, the mill fell victim to British bombs. A pit was thus created which is now filled with water.The Forest Museum maintained by the Forest Department is a helpful guide to the curious soul.It also has on display wood carvings made of padauk wood, wooden furniture and other woodwork showpieces like balancing dolls and saltwater crocodiles.

5 Awesome Places to Visit

1. Red Skin Island, Wandoor

Red skin Island is one the most beautiful travel destinations of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Red skin island has always been one of the favorite and dream travel destinations of thousands of travelers around the world. Red Skin Island is known for its beautiful beaches and clear & fresh water, amazing and natural views, also famous for water sports & activities. The island is located inside the Marine National Park in the village of Wandoor on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

2. Biological Park, Chidiyatapu

The Chidiya Tapu Biological Park (Bird Island Biological Park) came into existence in 2001 with the aim to conserve and study endemic and endangered species of animals found in the Andaman and Nicobar islands. Since then the park has been a center for biodiversity and conservation where one can catch a glimpse of the rich fauna of the islands.

A green and dense jungle-like environment cleverly recreates the natural habitat of the animals here. Sprawled over 40 hectares, the park is covered with a variety of plants, right from the majestic Mahuas to the exquisite Padauks. While walking through this jungle, one would be able to catch a glimpse of a variety of birds flying around freely. Other than birds you could spot wild pigs as well as barking deer and spotted deer. Those fascinated with reptiles would enjoy the saltwater crocodile spotting.

3. LimeStone Cave Baratang Island

The Limestone cave formations at Nayadera and the vast mangrove-covered creeks are the main attractions for tourists in Baratang. The island is known for limestones, which deposit themselves either above the soil or under the ground forming interesting formations and layers. You can easily get a boat at the Nilambur jetty, which will take you to the famous caves. On the way, you can admire the scenic coastline covered with mangrove forests and you even pass through mangrove-covered canals making the ride more exciting.

The walls of caves here are covered with massive formations dangling from the ceiling like chandeliers. The water is constantly dripping from the ceiling making the stalactites and stalagmites shine and glow. The sad part of this site is that people visiting the caves are destroying these wonders of nature by littering and signing names on the ancient formations.

4. Mud Volcano of Diglipur

Mud volcanoes make for another natural wonder that pulls huge crowd to this remote island. These mud volcanoes emit a large amount of de-pressurized pore water and some natural gases such as methane. There are as many as 25 such mud volcanoes scattered throughout the island. The greyish mud oozing or bubbling out deep inside the earth is a real phenomenon to be watched in awe. The fresh air all around, the scent of tropical flora, the sighting of exotic fauna, the sea and dense mangrove, the quiet life of the inhabitants, the adventure of crossing the Jarawa tribal protected regions together create an unforgettable magic.

5. Active Volcano of Barren Island

Barren Island of Andaman carries a geographical significance across the world. This island is of special interest as it possesses in its heart the only Active Volcano in India which is also the only active volcano along the entire ring from Sumatra to Myanmar. 

The Barren Island receives a huge number of tourists who cross the seas just to have a thrilling look at the natural fire belly. As the name implies, Barren Island is mostly bereft of vegetation. Only a few goats and some birds, bats and flying foxes are known to survive miraculously in these extreme climatic conditions of the island. Scientists have studied the ongoing eruption and have concluded that the current spewing of ash and lava is actually benign. That actually makes this island visit safe from a measured distance.

3 Beautiful Parks in Port Blair

1. Marina Park

The most beautiful aspect of Marina Park is that it is located at the seashore. So you can enjoy both the scenic view of the ocean with waves washing your feet and also the enjoyments in the park. There are a lot of children playing instruments installed in the park like swings, slides etc. A stall by the sea side walk lane in marina park is worth taking in the evening with all street lights lit up on both sides. Ross Island could be seen from here. There is no entrance fee for Marina Park.

2. Jogger’s Park

Jogger’s park in Port Blair is a small yet an extremely well maintained park. There is nothing touristy about this park except for the fact that it is located at an elevation and has probably the best view from the town. The park serves a perfect view for the runway but make sure you know the schedule of flights before your visit to the park. You can just sit and relax on the benches and wait for an aircraft to land/takeoff from the airport. 

3. Gandhi Park

This beautiful park at Port Blair has facilities like amusement rides, safe water sports and nature trail around the lake, garden, restaurant and historic remains like Japanese temple as well as a bunker. The erstwhile Dilthaman tank, which was the only source of drinking water for Port Blair and the area around, has been developed as Gandhi Park in an unbelievably short time of 13 days. It is open all days.

3 Best Gymnasiums in Port Blair

1. ShapeUp

Shape Up in Port Blair is one of the leading businesses in the Gyms. Also known for Dance Classes For Bollywood, Gyms, Fitness Centres, Women Gyms, Personal Gym Trainers, Men Gyms, Aerobic Classes, Dance Classes and much more.

2. Padal Fitness Studio

Padal Fitness Studio is a premium unisex gym with a wide variety of equipments ranging from treadmills, battleropes, sledge hammers. etc. The gym also facilitates personal trainers & diet & nutritional guidance.

3. UFC

The UFC Gym is the biggest gymnasium in Port Blair. Beside housing dozens of equipment,, the gym is spacious enough to accommodate a large number of people without getting suffocated. It also offers personal trainers.