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 →
Museums in Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram)
- 05
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.
- 06
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.
Day trips in Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram)
- 07
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.
Places of worship in Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram)
- 08
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)
- 09
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)
- 10
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.
