arge stretches of white sand, coral reefs teeming with marine life… the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a haven for tourists and holiday makers. Although this tropical archipelago consists of about 300 islands, only 39 of them are inhabited. Unspoiled and untouched by the vagaries of modern life, these islands are truly the perfect tropical paradise.

The harbour town of Port Blair, and also the main entry point to the islands as well as the state capital, lies on the east coast of South Andaman. It is a small but picturesque place spread over a number of hills from Haddo across Secretariat Hill to Aberdeen Bazaar and South point. There are neat villages like Pahargaon, Shadipur and Garacharme.

The territory have a natural heritage, with evergreen moist deciduous and swamp forests. Today, Port Blair have grown and tourism is being developed to entice more people to enjoy the clean beaches and unpolluted waters that are already attracting divers and snorkellers.

Places to see:

Cellular Jail : Cellular Jail located in Port Blair was built by the British to jail Indian freedom fighters and other convicts brought to the island to serve their sentences. Construction of the building started in 1890 and took 18 years to complete. Individual cells were built in the jail for solitary confinement of the prisoners and thus it acquired the name 'cellular'.

The jail is now a memorial and a National Museum. A moving sound and light show, narrating the saga of the freedom struggle is staged every day.

Chatham : A small island connected to Port Blair by a bridge; it is famous for a sawmill, considered to be on of the oldest and the largest in Asia. The mill was built by the British in 1836 and today employs more than 2000 people. The island also has the second largest wharf in the Andamans.


Mini Zoo : The mini zoo at Hadoo has hundreds of species of birds and animals unique to these islands. The zoo is also famous for its crocodile-breeding program. It is closed on Mondays.

Anthropological Museum : Tools, clothing, photographs and models of the aborigines of Andaman and Nicobars are on display at the Museum situated on M G road. The museum remains closed on Mondays and holidays.

Aquarium : The aquarium or fisheries museum near the Andaman Water Sports Complex, exhibits more than 300 marine species peculiar to the islands and those found in the Indo-Pacific and the Bay of Bengal. The aquarium is closed on Mondays and holidays.

Samudrika (Naval Marine Museum): The museum has on display shells, corals and many species of fish, and historical and geographical information on these islands. It is run by the Indian Navy and is located near Teal House.

Zsi Museum : Run by the Zoological Survey of India, the museum has on display a variety of sponges, corals, butterflies and centipedes, besides other animals. Situated near the Andaman Teal House, it also has a research library.

Forest Museum : The museum displays scale models of forest activities and many decorative items made of wood found in the Andaman forests (like Padauk, Marble and Satin wood). The museum is situated in Haddo and remains open on all working days.