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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 north-east 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.
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Mahatma
Gandhi Marine National Park
The Mahatma Gandhi Marine
National Park at Wandoor is at a distance of 29 Kms. 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.
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Water Sports Complex
Every
afternoon, between 2 and 5pm, the Water Sports Complex, in
north-west Port Blair, close to the Cellular Jail, comes alive with
the purr of outboard motors. The is where you can rent a water
scooter or speedboat, and ride the waves towards Ross Island, or
even be launched into the air on a parasail for a fantastic view
of the harbour. Children can be left in the safer haven of a calm
seawater swimming pool.
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Fisheries Museum
The
Fisheries Museum near the Water Sports Complex houses nearly 350
species of marine life, including live coral, sharks, polyps and
starfish.
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Chatham Saw Mill
Chatham
Island, at the north tip of Port Blair, houses Asias largest
saw mill. Dating back to 1836, the enormous workshops are built in
the durable (and expensive) padauk 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 godowns 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.
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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.
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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.
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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 Padauk, Marble, Peauma,
Gurjan, Satin Wood, etc., Open on all working days.
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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.
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Gandhi
Park
This beautiful park at Port Blair has facilities like
amusement rides, safe water sports, 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.
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Sippighat Agricultural Farm
Sprawling
over an area of 80 acres is a Government farm. Research &
Development programmes 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.
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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.
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Chidiya Tapu
Chidiya
Tapu is the southern most tip of South Andaman. The lush
green mangroves, forest cover with numerous chirping birds
and the Sylvan Sands and Munda pahar beaches make it an
ideal picnic site. The forest guesthouse situated on top of
a hillock provides a fabulous view of isolated islands,
submerged corals and the breath-taking sunset.
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Mini
Zoo
Situated at Haddo (Delanipur - Chatham road), it houses some
of the rare species of endemic birds and animals found in
these islands.
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A&N
Islands Tours & Travels