Port Blair Tours Package

With one's own transport it's easy to find one's way along the narrow bumpy roads that connect small villages, weaving through forests and coconut fields, and skirting the swamps and rocky outcrops that form the coastline. Port Blair, a characterless cluster of tin-roofed buildings tumbling towards the sea in the north, east and west and petering into fields and forests in the suit, merits only a short stay.

ISLANDS
Ross Island
Once the seat of British power and capital of Andaman Islands, it stands now as a ruin of the bygone days with the old structure almost in debris. A small museum named 'Smritika' holds photographs and the other antiques of the Britishers relevant to these islands.

Viper Island
The Britishers used to harbour convicts here. The first jail was constructed here which was abandoned after the construction of Cellular Jail. It has a gallows atop a hillock, where condemned prisoners were hanged. Sher Ali, who killed Lord Mayo, the Viceroy of India in 1872, was also hanged here.

Andaman Water Sports Complex
This is a unique sports complex of its kind. Facilities for safe water sports and adventure water sports such as Water Skiing, Water Scooters, Gemini Boats, Parasailing, Sail Boats, Wind Surfers, Speed Boats and Glass Bottom Boats For Coral/ Ship Wreck Viewing, etc. are available here. Saline water swimming pool, promenade for morning/evening walk, change room & Food Plaza are available near to the complex. There is a memorial built to commemorate the battle of Aberdeen, fought between the British and Andamanese aborigines in May 1859 in which many Andamanese died.

BEACHES
CORBYN'S COVE
Corbyn's Cove, the coconut palm fringed beach, ideal for sun basking, is 7-kms away from Port Blair town. Facilities like hotel, restaurant and bar, changing room etc., are available near to the beach. Historical remains like Japanese bunkers can be seen here. Snake Island situated nearby is famous for Scuba Diving .

CHATHAM
The Chatham Saw Mill, one of the oldest and largest mills in Asia, is built on a tiny island connected to Port Blair by a bridge. It is a storehouse of timber like Padauk, Gurjan, Marble, Satin Wood, etc. This island has the second largest wharf of these islands, where island mainland ships can berth. The island is near the Haddo wharf, which is the largest wharf in the islands.

Gandhi Park
This beautiful park near to the Raj Niwas 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.

MUSEUMS
Anthropological Museum
This museum at Phoenix Bay depicts the life of the Paleolithic Islanders. It also houses the models of the aborigines and their tools.

SAMUDRIKA (NAVAL MARINE MUSEUM)
Situated opposite to Andaman teal house, Delanipur this museum is meant to create awareness on various aspects of oceanic environment. A good collection of shells, corals and a few species of colourful fishes found in these islands are on display.

Zoological Survey Of India Museum
Situated near to Andaman teal house, this museum and research library exhibit a good variety of sponges, corals, butterflies, centipedes etc., Open on all working days.

Forest Museum
Situated at Haddo, this museum offers and insight into forest activities through scale models and displays decorative pieces made of famous woods like Padauk, Marble, Peauma, Gurjan, Satin Wood, etc.

ZOO/ AQUARIUM
MINI ZOO
Situated at Haddo (Delanipur - Chatham Road), it houses some of the rare species of endemic birds and animals found n these islands.

AQUARIUM (FISHERIES MUSEUM)
Situated near Andaman water sports complex, it exhibits species of marine life peculiar to the islands and found in the Indo-Pacific Ocean and the Bay of Bengal.

OTHERS
Cellular Jail
Port Blair's only firm reminder of its gloomy past, the sturdy brick Cellular Jail, overlooks the sea from a small rise in the northeast of town. Built between 1896 and 1905, its tiny solitary cells were quite different and far worse than the dormitories in other prison blocks erected earlier. Only three of the seven wings that originally radiated from the central tower now remain. Visitors can peer into the cells (3m by 3.5m), and imagine the grim condition under which the prisoners existed. The Sound ad Light show outlines the history of the prison, and a small museum by the entrance gate exhibits lists of convicts, photographs and grim torture devices.

ISLANDS
Cinque Islands (39-km. By Sea From Port Blair)
Declared as a sanctuary, these are enchanting islands with rare corals and under water marine life and tropical rain forest. There is a beautiful sand bar joining the north Cinque and South Cinque Islands. Private boat services are also available to this island and are suitable for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling.

CITIES
Mount Harriet (55-km, By Road 55-km/15-km By Ferry And Road From Port Blair)
One can take a ferry service from the Chatnam wharf to Bamboo flat. From there one can take a vehicle to Mt Harriet, which is 365m. A natural trail takes to the top and one can have a comfortable stay at the forest guesthouse. Towards the north is the Mt. Harriet National Park and Madhuban. One can watch the elephants being trained to carry logs over here.

Chidiya Tapu (25-km. By Road From Port Blair)
Chidiya Tapu is the southern most tip of South Andaman Island. The lush green mangroves, forest cover with numerous chirping birds and the sylvan sands and Munda Pahar beaches make it an ideal picnic site. One can witness breathtaking sunsets over here.

Sippighat Farm (14-km. By Road From Port Blair)
This farm sprawling over an area of 80 acres, conducts research and development programmes for cultivation of spices like Cloves, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Coconut and Pepper. Research and demonstration farm of the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CAIR) is nearby.

Collinpur (36-km. By Road From Port Blair)
Situated near to Tirur, this place has a beautiful sandy beach with shallow water. Suitable for swimming, sun basking and viewing sunset.

Madhuban (75-kms. By Road/20-kms By Ferry And Road From Port Blair)
Madhuban is a trekking area on northeastern side of Mount Harriet in South Andaman Island. Exotic beach, endemic birds, animals, butterflies, and elephant lumbering are the most interesting part of the trek.

Havelock Island (50-kms. By Sea From Port Blair - Via Neil Island 62-km)
This island, near to Neil Island, offers beautiful sandy beaches and lush green forest. Radhanagar Beach, 12-km from the jetty on the western side of the island, is one of the most sought after tourist destinations in the islands. One can enjoy quite holidays in the lap of Mother Nature over here.

North Passage Island (70-km. By Sea From Port Blair)
Famous for Merk Bay - Coral white sandy, shallow beach suitable for Snorkeling, Swimming and Sun Basking. The sea around the island is famous for playful Dolphins. The island is not connected by regular boat services. One has to hire boats from Long Island or Eratta Jetty - Rangat to reach Merk Bay. It's a suitable for a day visit to enjoy the glorious solitude.

Long Island (82-kms. By Sea From Port Blair)
Connected by boat four times a week from Phoenix Bay Jetty, this island offers an excellent sandy beach at Lalaji Bay, unpolluted environment and evergreen forests. The sea around the island is frequented by dolphin convoys. Lalaji Bay, 6-km away from the boat jetty, is accessible by 15 minutes journey in Doonghies or trekking through the forest. Island camping (tent accommodation) is available seasonally over here.

Baratang Island (100-km. By Road From Port Blair)
This island between South and Middle Andamans has a beautiful beach. Andaman trunk road to Rangat and Mayabunder goes through this island. Mud volcanoes can also be seen in this island. Mud volcano is a hole or vent in the ground that gives off volcanic gases.

Rangat (170-km. By road And 90-km. By Sea)
One can enjoy the quiet village life and solitude of virgin nature here. You can also breathe unpolluted air, a rare commodity for the city dweller. Cutbert bay beach is a turtle nesting ground. One can view the nesting of turtles during December - February season.

Mayabunder (242-km. By Road And 157-km. By Sea)
Situated in the northern part of Middle Andaman Island, Mayabunder offers excellent scenic beauty and beautiful beaches. Inhabited by the settlers from Burma, East Pakistan and ex-convicts, Mayabunder has a distinct culture. Beach at Avis Island, Karmatang Beach and mangrove-lined creeks are some of the main attractions over here.

Diglipur (290-km By Road/185-km. By Sea)
Situated in North Andaman Island, Diglipur provides a rare experience for eco friendly tourists. It is famous for its oranges, rice and marine life. Saddle peak the highest point in the islands is nearby. Kalpong, the only river of Andaman flows from here.

Barren Island (139-km. By Sea From Port Blair)
This is the only active volcano in India. Erupted twice in recent past, once in 1991 and again in 1994-95, after remaining dormant for about 177 years. This island, about 3-km in diameter, has a big crater of the volcano, about half kilometer away from the shore. Barren Island can be visited by special boats and the visit is restricted to on board vessels only. Landing ashore is not allowed.

Little Andaman Island (120-km. By Sea From Port Blair)
Little Andaman Island offers a perfect mix of white sandy beaches bewitching waterfalls, boating through the creeks, exciting elephant safari, elephant safari, elephant lumbering, elephant calls training, surfing etc. All the places of tourist interest are approachable by the road, leading northwards from the Hutbay by Jetty.

Tourists arriving by plane can pick up the permit necessary to visit the islands on arrival at Port Blair airport; passengers travelling on a ship should obtain on at a Foreigners' Registration Office before leaving India.

Local Transport:
Walking is tiring and time-consuming in hilly Port Blair, even taking into account the minimal amount of sightseeing the place offers, making transport essential. Yellow-top taxis gather opposite the bus stand and they all have meters. They are the best option one can have for a trip from the center of town to Corbyn's Cove. No rickshaws, auto-or otherwise, operates on the island.