Landmarks in Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram)
- 01
Cellular Jail
A British-built penal colony where Indian freedom fighters were held in solitary cells; now a national memorial with a museum and an evening sound-and-light show.
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 hours for the museum; add 45 minutes for the evening show
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Morning, soon after the 9 am opening, before the heat builds; the show runs at sunset on show days
- Tickets
- Entry is ticketed daily except Monday, with the museum closing for an hour at lunch. The Hindi and English sound-and-light shows run on specific evenings each week and are ticketed separately; confirm the current days, showtimes and prices with the jail or your hotel before planning your evening around it.
- 02
Chatham Saw Mill
Asia's oldest and largest sawmill, established by the British in 1883 on its own small island, with working machinery and a forest museum inside.
- Time needed
- 1 to 1.5 hours
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Morning, before the midday closure at 2.30 pm
- Tickets
- Entry is ticketed at a low fee, with a modest extra charge for a guided walk through the mill. The site is closed on Sundays and public holidays; confirm current timings before travelling out.
- 03
Corbyn's Cove Beach
Port Blair's closest beach, a crescent of sand backed by coconut palms about six kilometres from town, with food shacks and simple water sports.
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning or late afternoon into sunset, October to May
- Tickets
- No entry fee. Water sports such as jet skiing, parasailing and banana boats are paid activities available from vendors on the beach; agree the price before starting.
- 04
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep (Ross Island)
Once the British administrative headquarters for the Andamans, this small island is now a walkable ruin of colonial buildings reclaimed by tree roots and roaming deer.
- Time needed
- 1.5 to 2 hours on the island, plus ferry time
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Morning departures, when the light is softer and the island is less crowded
- Tickets
- There is no separate entry fee for the island itself; you pay for the ferry crossing from Aberdeen Jetty. An evening sound-and-light show runs on most days except Wednesdays and is ticketed and timed separately, usually requiring a later boat.
Read the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep (Ross Island) guide →
Day trips in Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram)
- 05
Chidiya Tapu Sunset Point
A quiet cape about 25 km south of Port Blair, popular for birdwatching, its biological park and one of the best sunset views on South Andaman.
- Time needed
- Half a day including the drive, or 1–2 hours for the sunset point alone
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Late afternoon into sunset; the Biological Park keeps morning hours (8 am–2 pm)
- Tickets
- The sunset point itself is free to visit. The Biological Park, a short distance away, has a modest entry fee and is closed on Mondays; confirm current hours before combining the two.
- 06
Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park
A marine national park of roughly 281 sq km of islands, fringing reef and sea channels off Wandoor, south-west of Port Blair, reached by boat from Wandoor jetty for snorkelling and glass-bottom boat rides.
- Time needed
- Half a day to a full day including the road to Wandoor and the boat trip
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- November to April for calmer seas and clearer water; mornings are best
- Tickets
- Entry to the islands needs a forest department permit, usually bought at the Wandoor counter or arranged by the boat operator. Daily numbers and the island that is open vary by season, and fees are not listed here; confirm with the forest office or your operator. Plastic is not allowed on the islands and bags may be checked.
- 07
Mount Harriet National Park (Mount Manipur)
A forested hill park across the harbour from Port Blair, once the colonial chief commissioner's summer retreat, with a summit viewpoint over North Bay and walking trails through evergreen forest.
- Time needed
- Half a day including the ferry and road leg
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- October to mid-May; mornings for views and cooler walking
- Tickets
- Entry and vehicle charges are not published here and may change; confirm with the forest department or your taxi driver. Trekking routes may need forest guidance, so ask before setting out on foot.
Read the Mount Harriet National Park (Mount Manipur) guide →
Museums in Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram)
- 08
Anthropological Museum
A small museum on MG Road documenting the six indigenous tribes of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands through tools, clothing, hunting equipment and photographs.
- Time needed
- 30 to 45 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning session (9 am–1 pm) or afternoon (1.30 pm–4.30 pm), avoiding the midday closure
- Tickets
- Entry is ticketed at a low fee. The museum closes for lunch between 1 pm and 1.30 pm; confirm current hours and fees locally, as displays and timings have changed over the years.
- 09
Samudrika Naval Marine Museum
A small Indian Navy-run museum covering the geography, tribes and marine life of the Andamans, built around a full blue whale skeleton and a modest coral and shell aquarium.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes to 1 hour
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Any time during opening hours; mornings are quieter
- Tickets
- Entry is ticketed at a modest fee, with a higher rate for foreign nationals. The museum is closed on Mondays and public holidays; confirm current fees and hours before visiting.
Places of worship in Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram)
- 10
Gurudwara Dr Diwan Singh (Police Gurudwara)
A Sikh gurdwara in the heart of Aberdeen Bazaar, established in 1937 and named after Dr Diwan Singh Kalapani, a physician and Cellular Jail prisoner honoured as a martyr.
- Time needed
- 10 to 20 minutes; longer if you join the langar
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning or early evening, when prayers and langar service are typically underway
- Tickets
- Free entry, as at any gurdwara. Cover your head with a scarf or cloth, remove your shoes, and avoid alcohol or tobacco before visiting; photography inside the prayer hall should be approached with sensitivity.
Read the Gurudwara Dr Diwan Singh (Police Gurudwara) guide →
Experiences in Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram)
- 11
North Bay Island
A small coral-fringed island off Port Blair, reached by boat, with the closest snorkelling and glass-bottom boat rides to the city and a lighthouse famous from the old ₹20 note.
- Time needed
- 3 to 4 hours including the boat crossing and time on the island
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- October to May, when the sea is calmer and visibility is better; morning departures avoid afternoon winds
- Tickets
- Ferry and island entry fees are modest and usually bundled into a package price with snorkelling or watersport add-ons; confirm current rates with your hotel or a boat operator at Aberdeen Jetty, and ask exactly what the package includes before paying.
Temples in Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram)
- 12
Sri Veer Hanuman Temple
A well-known Hanuman temple in Aberdeen Bazaar, a working neighbourhood shrine that draws steady local devotion rather than large crowds of visitors.
- Time needed
- 10 to 15 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning or early evening aarti times, when the temple is most active
- Tickets
- Free entry, as at any working Hindu temple. Remove footwear before entering, dress modestly, and avoid photography inside the sanctum unless clearly permitted.
