Places to Visit in Port Blair
Port Blair, the capital city of Andaman, attracts a considerable chunk of tourists on a regular basis, and there are multiple reasons behind that, too. With clean and clear beaches, crystal clear water, historical locations, and temples, Port Blair is like a hub waiting for you to explore. Not just the central city, even the tiny islands nearby that you can visit from Port Blair are also significant attractions here. It is one such location that has something for all kinds of travellers. Even if you are wanderlust, an enthusiastic adventurer, a lazy bum or a history buff, you will find something for yourself here. So it would help if you had an idea about the places to visit in Port Blair. If you plan a trip there, this is the article you need to read.
In this article, I will mention some of the best places to visit in the Port Blair. It is unique because Port Blair is one such location that is perfect for solo travelers, big groups, family, friends, and even couples. So, if you are a couple, I will also mention some romantic places for couples to visit in Port Blair. So keep on reading this article, as this will be a helpful read for you. Read all the information about places to visit in Port Blair City and enjoy a hassle-free trip there.
1 : Cellular Jail
Timings: 9 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 5 pm on all days except Mondays. Mondays and National Holidays are closed days
Entry fee: The entry fee is Rs. 30. For a camera, there is an additional fee of Rs. 200, and for a video camera, it is Rs. 1000
Ideal duration for visit: 3 to 4 hours
Also popular as the Kala Pani Jail, this is like a silent testimony to the sacrifice of great Indian Freedom Fighters. It is one of the top 10 places to visit in Port Blair. This is like a national memorial, but at some point, this was a jail during the colonial period. Construction of this Jail began in 1896 and was completed in 1906. The British force used to keep the Indian Freedom Fighters captive here. Many notable personalities like Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Batukeshwar Dutt and Yogendra Shukla had stayed here. You will see a museum, a photo gallery and a library inside the Cellular Jail.
Light and Sound Show
One of the major attractions here is the light and sound show, which the authorities initiated in memory of the brave martyrs. The whole Jail becomes a stage for live performances. With a heart-wrenching narrative and the use of lights and sounds, this is a must-attend programme. Because of the show, Cellular Jail is also one of the best places to visit in Port Blair in the evening.
Timings of light and sound show: There are two shows every day at 6 pm in Hindi and 7:15 pm in English. You cannot carry cameras here.
Entry fee for light and sound show: Rs. 30 for Indians and Rs. 100 for foreigners
2: Sri Vetrimalai Murugan Temple
Timings: 5 am to 12 pm and again from 4 pm to 9 pm
Entry fee: There is no entry fee
Ideal duration for a visit: 1 hour
Again, This is one of the best places to visit in Port Blair and one of the most visited places. It is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites dedicated to Lord Murugan. What makes this temple more attractive is the beautiful fusion of the Dravidian style of architecture with the South Indian style of architecture. It is an essential site of worship for people belonging to Tamil Nadu, and the Tamil inhabitants are incredibly devoted to the deity here. You can visit the temple during the evening to attend the aarti here. This temple becomes a centre of festivities and exhibits a lot of grandeur during festivals. This is one of the places to visit in Port Blair at night, so make sure you see it.
3 : Ross Island / Subhash Chandra Bose Island
Timings: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Ideal duration for a visit: Half a day
In the past, this island was dedicated to the Marine Surveyor Daniel Ross, and on the basis of that, the name of the island was Ross Island. In the recent past, however, the name of this island was changed to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island. The reason behind this is that the British controlled this island during colonial times. However, Netaji landed here on this island with the help of Japanese troops in December 1934 and hoisted the tricolour flag here to show resistance towards British rule. You can find traces of World War II here with remnants of colonial rule. There is a light and sound show here as well that happens at 5 pm, which you can watch if you want.
4: Corbyn Cove Beach
This beautiful beach in Port Blair is one of the famous places to visit. It is most popular for its variety of water sports, including jet skiing, scuba diving, parasailing, and speed boating. The beach is also ideal for swimming. So, if you are an adventure enthusiast, this beach is a must-visit.
5: Chidiya Tapu
As the name suggests, Chidiya Tapu is the place most famous for birds. It is one of the best places to visit in Port Blair, and a small 2 km trek through a forest is delightful. Along with the pristine views here, more than 40 different species of birds, including native and migratory birds, are present here. Also, this location is famous as Sunset Point, and people mainly visit here to witness the sunsets. With dense mangrove forest, a captivating trekking trail, a pristine beach and spectacular views, this is ideally one of the most beautiful places to visit in Port Blair.
6: Samudrika Marine Museum
Timings: 10 am to 5 pm on all days except Sundays. Sundays are closed
Entry fee: Rs. 50 for adults and for children it is Rs. 25
Ideal duration for visit: 1- 2 hours
For people interested in the marine world, this is one of the most fascinating and best places to visit in Port Blair. It is an ideal spot to visit with your children as well, as they will find it very educational and interesting at the same time. One of the main attractions here is the giant skeleton of a whale enclosed within a glass shell. The Indian Navy is in charge of this museum, and they run it. Audio visual devices are also present here, which you can use to learn about the varied flora and fauna. A small shop inside the museum sells coral shells and other marine products. This is a great spot to explore with your whole family, so visit here.
7: Chatham Saw Mill
Timings: 8:30 am to 2:30 pm
Entry fee: Rs. 10
Ideal duration for a visit: 1 hour
This is a sawmill, and it is one of the historic places in Port Blair. What makes this sawmill most memorable is the fact that this sawmill is still functional even today. Also, this is one of the largest and oldest sawmills you can find in Asia. The British established this sawmill in 1883 to meet the need for timber in the area. This sawmill is located in Chatham Island and will take you back to old colonial days. It is not one of the most popular places in Port Blair, though. But a location like this that tells the stories of the colonial past surely needs more attention. It would help if you visited Port Blair here.
8: Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park
Timings: 9 am to 3 pm
Entry fee: Rs. 50 for adults, Rs. 25 for children for Indians, and Rs. 500 for foreigners
If you are a marine enthusiast, this is the location you need to visit. Since the 1980s, this national park has been one of the most popular places in Port Blair. It is a cluster of open seas, 15 small and big islands, and creeks in Wandoor Village. One of the major attractions here is to travel to two islands, Jolly Buoy and Red Skin Island. Both islands are famous for the presence of exquisite colourful coral underwater and in the marine world. You can enjoy all that in glass-bottomed boats. Activities like snorkelling and scuba diving are also popular here. A small auditorium inside the park hosts audiovisual programmes explaining the varied flora and fauna.
Wrapping Up!
Port Blair is a location offering multiple things to its visitors. You can choose these places to visit in Port Blair Andaman according to your preference. If you plan to visit Port Blair, keep this list of places handy. These are some of the best places that you need to visit. Overall, the city of Port Blair is beautiful and offers gorgeous views. You can get soaked into Port Blair’s beauty if you see these locations. The extended coastline, captivating history, and lush vegetation in Port Blair make it an ideal spot for tourists. You must take advantage of this location, so plan your trip soon.
Let me know if this article is helpful for you when planning a trip to this beautiful location. Also, let me know which places mentioned here intrigued you the most.
