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Port Blair
| Nicobar |
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Location : 1190
kms. from Chennai
Altitude : 3 mts.
The small town has changed in the last three decades from one which
saw a ship from the mainland once a month if the weather permitted
to a place connected by flights from Chennai and Kolkata several
times a week. It now has a hospital, a co-operative store schools, a
college of higher education and a few museums in addition to resort
hotels and water sports facilities. The central area of Aberdeen
Bazar is where one will find most of the hotels the bus station and
shops. The airport is a few kilometers south of Port Blair.
Places of attraction :-
Aberdeen War Memorial:
A 3 mts. high structure built to commemorate the Battle of Aberdeen
fought between the British and the Andamanese aborigines in 1859.
Andamans Water Sports Complex:
It has facilities for both safe and adventure water sports, such as
Rowing, Paddle and Sail Boats, Water Cycles, Scooters and Skis etc.
Open 12.30 am to 5.00 (Sun and holidays)
Anthropological Museum:
It depicts the life of the Paleolithic islands. The small museum on
Ma Road displays tools clothing and photographs of the indigenous
people of the islands. The captions are not informative and at times
patronizing but apparently all this will change with the
construction of a new museum close to the current side. There is a
small but well-stocked library for researchers only. Open daily
except Sunday and Holidays from 1.00 pm to 4.30 pm and 1.00 pm to
4.30 pm.
Cellular Jail:
North of Aberdeen Jetty it was built between 1886-1906 by the
British originally to house dangerous criminals and preserved as a
shrine to India’s freedom fighters. Subsequently it was used to
place Indian freedom fighters until independence in 1947; it could
house 698 solitary prisoners in small narrow cells. This is a three
storeyed prison dedicated to the nation as a national memorial. The
Cellular Jail is a major tourist attraction and a record of a
significant moment in the island’s history.
A well presented Sound and Light show on prison life followed by a
film on the tribals of the Andamans (both in English and Hindi) is
highly recommended. Besides there is a site Museum and Art Gallery
where one could get an impression of the conditions within the
prison in the early 1900s and the implements used in torture. Three
of the original seven wings that extended from the central guard
tower survive; the jail was renovated in 1998. Allow about one hour.
Chatham Saw Mill:
This is one of the biggest and oldest in Asia. Open daily (except
Sun and Holidays) 6.30 to 10.30 am and 11 am to 3 pm (with special
permission).One of the oldest in Asia employing 1,000 workers. Tours
take one through the different processes of turning logs into
‘seasoned’ Planks. There is also a museum. This government operation
on Chatham Island 5 kms. North-west of Aberdeen Bazar is the largest
wood processor in Asia. Commenced in 1836 by the British the mill
employs about 2,000 people around the clock in three shifts. Most of
the timber goes to the mainland.
Corbyn’s Cove Beach:
4 kms east of the airport and 7 kms south of the town is the nearest
beach to Port Blair. It’s a long though pleasant and easy cliff-top
stroll here from Port Blair. This is the most Picturesque sea
beaches and is ideal for swimming as well as lazing under the
coconut trees. Nearby Snake Island is surrounded by a coral reef.
Forest Museum:
It has on display decorative pieces made of rare species of wood
including the famed padauk. The museum is open from 8 am to noon and
2.30 pm to 5 pm daily except Sunday.
Gandhi Park ( Dilthaman Tank):
Once the source of drinking water in Port Blair it is now developed
into a park complex with a Children’s Park, Amusement Park, Water
Sports facilities, Japanese Temple, Nature Walk, etc. Open daily
from 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm.
Samudrika Marine Museum:
Run by the Indian navy this museum features displays of the history
and geography of the island. The museum is open from 9am to noon and
2 pm to 5.30 pm Tuesday to Sunday.
Zoo:
Some of the 200 animal species unique to the islands can be seen at
the small zoo. These include the Nicobar green imperial Pigeon and
Andaman Pig the staple diet of some tribal groups. The Zoo’s
saltwater crocodile breeding programme has been very successful and
many have been returned to the wild. As with many zoos the animals
here seem jaded. The zoo is open from 8 am to 5 pm Monday closed.
Aquarium:
This interesting aquarium and museum (formerly known as the
Fisheries Museum) displays some of the 350 species found in the
Andaman Sea. It’s open from 9 am to 1.30 pm and 2 to 5.30 pm daily
(closed Monday and holiday). |
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