Places of Interest in Port Blair
Cellular jail (National Memorial)
Cellular
Jail, located at Port Blair, is a mute witness to the tortures meted out to
the freedom fighters, who were incarcerated in this 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.
Netaji Subash Chandra Bose hoisted the first Tri-Colour on 30th December, 1043
at a place near this Jail. During the 50th year of India's Independence, the
living freedom fighters and widows of the freedom fighters, who were incarcerated
in the Cellubar Jail were honoured by the President of India on 30th December,
1997. 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.
ANDAMAN WATER SPORTS COMPLEX
This is a unique sports complex in 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.
CHILDREN'S TRAFFIC PARK
This park near Aberdeen water sports Comlex, is set up the Traffic police to
educate young children about the traffic rules. There is a Toy Train nearby.
GANDHI PARK
This beautiful park at port Blair has facilities like children's park, amusement
park, entertainment park, deer and bird park, water sports, nature trail, lake,
garden, restaurant and Japanese temple, as well as a bunker. The erstwhile Dilthaman
Tank, which was the only source of drinking water to Port Blair has been developed
into Gandhi Park in unbelievably short time of 13 days.
CORBYN'S COVE TOURISM COMPLEX
Corbyn's Cove, 7 Kms., from the town, is the coconut palm fringed beach, ideal
for swimming, surfing and sun basking. Facilities like water sports, restaurant
and bar, change room, etc., are also available.
CHATHAM
The Chatham Saw Mill, one the oldest and largest mills in Asia, built on a tiny
island, is connected to Port Blair by a bridge. It is a store house of timber
like Padauk, Gurjan, Marble, Satin Wood, etc. The island has the second largest
wharf of these islands, where island-mainland ships can berth.
MINI ZOO
Situated in Haddo, Port Blair, it houses some of the rare species of endemic
birds and animals found in these islands.
ANTHROPOLOGICAL MUSEUM
This museum depicts the life of the Paleolithic Islanders. It also houses the
models of the aborigines and their tools. Monday and holidays closed.
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