Port Blair Travel Guide: Sri Vijaya Puram, the Cellular Jail and Island Trips

Sri Vijaya Puram is the official name. The Press Information Bureau reported in September 2024 that the Government had decided to rename the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as Sri Vijaya Puram, and Incredible India and the Airports Authority of India now describe the city as the former Port Blair. This guide uses Port Blair, because it is the name travellers still search for. The town sits on South Andaman Island and works as a base: the sights in and around it take two days, and the island trips begin here. For the whole archipelago, see our Andaman and Nicobar travel guide.

Cellular Jail National Memorial

The Cellular Jail, known as Kala Pani, was built by the British between 1896 and 1906. Incredible India says its cells, close to 700 in number, held prisoners in solitary confinement, that the original building had seven wings, of which three remain, and that it is now dedicated to the nation as a national memorial. A light and sound show runs in the evening: Incredible India lists a Hindi show at 5.50 pm every day and an English show at 6.50 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, so confirm the schedule at the jail. The Airports Authority of India puts the jail 3 km from the airport.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island (Ross Island)

Renamed in December 2018, this small island was formerly Ross Island. It is reached by a short ferry ride from the town, and its ruins include the Chief Commissioner's House and a Presbyterian church from the British period, together with Japanese bunkers from the Second World War. Incredible India says that a severe earthquake struck the island in 1941. It lists visiting hours of 9 am to 5 pm and a sound and light show at 5.30 pm on every day except Wednesday.

Chatham Saw Mill

On Chatham Island, a former penal settlement, the saw mill is described by Incredible India as one of the oldest in Asia. The Airports Authority of India puts it 4 km from the airport. Incredible India also says that British presence in the islands was established on Chatham Island, now the city of Port Blair.

Anthropological Museum

This museum shows tribal artefacts, and an open-air Anthropological Settlement Museum beside it displays traditional dwellings. Incredible India states that any attempt to engage with the Jarawa, who typically avoid outside contact altogether, is illegal, so do not try to approach tribal people.

Corbyn's Cove

Corbyn's Cove is a white-sand beach a few kilometres south of the town, and the Cellular Jail is a short drive away. Incredible India lists water sports there, including jet-skiing and speed boating, as well as boat rides around the cove, beach volleyball and shacks that sell snacks and drinks. It describes the water as peaceful and clear but gives no safety information on swimming, so ask locally before you go in.

Chidiya Tapu

At the southern tip of South Andaman, Chidiya Tapu is a birdwatching spot and a sunset viewpoint. Incredible India puts it around 28 km from the city, while the Airports Authority of India gives 25 km from the airport. The first lists more than 45 species of birds, among them the Andaman woodpecker, drongo, bulbul and treepie and the endemic Andaman green pigeon. You can hire a cab or drive there, and the page lists opening hours of 9 am to 4 pm.

Wandoor and the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park

Wandoor lies about 23 to 25 km south-west of the town, depending on whether you measure from the airport or the city. Its jetty is the gateway to the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, which Incredible India says spans 15 islands and about 281.5 sq km, with snorkelling and diving. The same page lists boats from Wandoor to Jolly Buoy Island, Red Skin Island and Alexandra Island, and glass-bottom boat trips. It does not give permit or closing-day information, so check with the forest department or the operator before you plan a boat trip.

Aberdeen Bazaar, Phoenix Bay and the town's places of worship

Aberdeen Bazaar is the town's market for souvenirs and food, and the Sagarika Government Emporium sells local crafts. At Phoenix Bay Jetty, the fishing harbour, the day's catch is landed. Incredible India also lists the wooden Gurdwara Dr. Diwan Singh in Aberdeen Bazaar, established in 1937; the Delanipur Jama Masjid, built in 1932; St Patrick's Cathedral, a Gothic Revival church of 1895 that it calls the oldest Catholic church in the islands; and the Holy Rosary Church, established in 1952.

Mount Harriet and North Bay

Incredible India lists Mount Harriet National Park for trekking and views, and says that North Bay, a short boat trip away and noted for its coral reefs, can be seen from Mount Harriet. Both are named in the Port Blair listings, but the page gives no distances or permit details, so ask locally for current access.

Beyond the town: Havelock, Neil and Baratang

Havelock Island, which Incredible India says has coral reefs for snorkelling and scuba diving, is a short ferry ride away; the Airports Authority of India puts it 39 km from the airport by sea. Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) offers beaches, cycling and limestone formations at Laxmanpur Beach. Baratang has limestone formations and mud volcanoes, and Barren Island, the only confirmed active volcano in South Asia according to the same page, is seen from a distance because safety precautions prevent landing. Our guides to Havelock and the Havelock tours and experiences cover the islands in more detail.