Cellular
Jail
Built
over twelve years
from 1896 to 1908
and home to hundreds
of freedom fighters
whose names are now
engraved on the walls
of its watch tower,
the Cellular Jail
stands as a symbol
of colonial oppression,
cruelty and untold
suffering. Situated
in the northeast corner
of Port Blair, it
is a national memorial
now. The prison fanned
out in seven wings,
stands three stories
high and contained
a total of 698 cells.
Three wings have been
now destroyed to make
way for a hospital,
but a visit to the
remaining can only
give an indication
of the horrors of
incarceration. Daily
work routines for
the prisoners included
the crushing of thirty
pounds of coconut
and mustard oil; being
unable to meet the
quota would result
in severe punishment
shackling and flogging.
There are no records
of how many died or
were executed.
Mahatma
Gandhi Marine National
Park
The
Mahatma Gandhi Marine
National Park at Wan
door is at a distance
of 29 Km. from Port
Blair covering an
area of 281.5 Sq.Kms.
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 Snorkeling
are a lifetime experience
for anyone here.
Water
Sports Complex
Every
afternoon, between
2 and 5pm, the Water
Sports Complex, in
northwest Port Blair,
close to the Cellular
Jail, comes alive
with the purr of outboard
motors. This is where
you can rent a water
scooter or speedboat,
and rides the waves
towards Ross Island,
or even is launched
into the air on a
parasail for a fantastic
view of the harbor.
Children can be left
in the safer haven
of a calm seawater
swimming pool.
Fisheries
Museum
The
Fisheries Museum near
the Water Sports Complex
houses nearly 350
species of marine
life, including live
coral, sharks, polyps
and starfish.
Chatham
Saw Mill
Chatham
Island, at the north
tip of Port Blair,
houses Asians largest
saw mill. Dating back
to 1836, the enormous
workshops are built
in the durable (and
expensive) pad auk
wood. Since the 1970s,
logging on the islands
has been banned and
most of the wood now
comes by ship from
Malaysia, Myanmar
and Thailand. A guide
will take you through
the entire process
of the logs being
unloaded, sorted,
cut, planed and finally
stored in vast go
downs to be shipped
off to the mainland.
Huge saws, with 200
to 300 teeth, grind
their way for two
to three hours before
their teeth need to
be sharpened again
Samudrika
Museum
The
Samudrika is a museum
run by the navy. It
is divided into five
sections: history
of the islands, their
geography, people,
marine life and archaeology.
It houses an impressive
display of coral and
shells, and a large
relief map of the
islands topography
Anthropological
Museum
The
Anthropological Museum,
at Haddo in north
Port Blair, was set
up in 1975. It displays
tribal essentials
and artifacts such
as boats, weapons,
baskets, clothing,
photographs, models
and records of exploratory
expeditions undertaken
over the years. A
well-stocked library
provides the scholar
with invaluable references
to tribal culture.
Forest
Museum
Situated
at Haddo (near to
the Zoo), this museum
offers an insight
into forest activities
through scale models
and displays decorative
pieces made of famous
woods like Pad auk,
Marble, Peauma, Gurjan,
Satin Wood, etc.,
Open on all working
days.
Marina
Park
Just
adjacent to the Water
Sports Complex is
the new amusement
park offering rides
for children and adults
alike: giant wheels,
paratrooper and dragon
coaster. There is
also a miniature botanical
garden and a statue
of Netaji Subhas Bose
here.
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
to Port Blair, and
the area around it
has been developed
into Gandhi Park in
an unbelievably short
time of 13 days.
Sippighat
Agricultural Farm
Sprawling
over an area of 80
acres is a Government
farm. Research &
Development programmers
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.
Mount
Harriet
The
summer headquarters
of the Chief Commissioner
during the British
Raj, this highest
point near Port Blair
is an ideal place
for a picnic or a
trek. About 55 km
from Port Blair by
road (15 km by ferry
and road), Mount Harriet
has a Forest Guest
House with lovely
huts at a height of
365 m. Nice for sunrises
and sunsets.
Viper
Island:
Viper
Island is very near
to Port Blair and
was the old Jail were
British's used to
harbor convicts. It
has ruins of gallows
atop a hillock. The
Jail was abandoned
when the Cellular
Jail was constructed
in 1906.
Ross
Island
A
short boat ride from
Phoenix Bay Jetty,
Ross Island, was the
seat of the British
Administration. Important
ruins include a Church,
Cemetery, Swimming
Pool and Chief Commissioner's
residence. A small
museum of Indian Navy,
Smritika, has a good
collection of old
records. Boats are
available from Phoenix
Bay Jetty, Port Blair
daily except Wednesday. |
