Cellular Jail, Port Blair

Overview Standing tall on Atlanta Point in Port Blair, Cellular Jail is the single most powerful monument in Andaman’s history. Built by the British between 1896 and 1906, it once housed over 600 solitary cells, each designed so no prisoner could see or communicate with another.

The Story Behind It Known as “Kala Pani” (Black Waters), this jail was where the British exiled India’s fiercest freedom fighters, far from the mainland, to break their spirit through isolation and hard labour. Today, only three of its original seven wings remain, preserved as a national memorial to those who suffered and sacrificed here.

Highlights

• Walk through the solitary cells and central watchtower
• Visit the on-site museum showcasing photographs and artefacts
• Attend the evening Light and Sound Show, narrated poetically as if by an ancient peepal tree witnessing history unfold

Cost (Approximate) Jail entry is nominally priced; the Light and Sound Show costs around ₹300 per adult and ₹150 for children, with the show run separately in Hindi and English on different evenings.

How to Reach Located about 2 km from Port Blair’s city centre, easily reached by taxi, auto-rickshaw or hotel pickup within 10–15 minutes.

North Bay Island

Overview Famous for its coral reefs and clear turquoise waters, North Bay Island is Andaman’s most popular spot for snorkelling and glimpsing marine life without venturing far from Port Blair.

The Story Behind It Once a quiet coastal outpost, North Bay has grown into the gateway for visitors experiencing Andaman’s underwater world for the first time, thanks to its shallow, calm reef beds ideal for beginners.

Highlights

• Snorkelling amid colourful coral formations and reef fish
• Glass-bottom boat rides for non-swimmers
• Sea walking and underwater photography options

Cost (Approximate) Boat transfer is usually clubbed with Ross Island as a combined package; snorkelling and sea walk activities are charged separately, generally starting around ₹500–1,500 depending on the activity.

How to Reach Reached by boat from Aberdeen Jetty, Port Blair, often combined with a Ross Island visit in the same trip.

Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep)

Overview Smaller and quieter than Havelock, Neil Island is Andaman’s peaceful side — often called the “vegetable bowl” of the archipelago for its lush farmland, coral-fringed beaches and laid-back pace.

The Story Behind It Neil Island has long been the go-to escape for travellers wanting Andaman’s beauty minus the crowds, its natural bridge rock formation and coral beds drawing snorkellers and casual explorers alike.

Highlights

• Bharatpur Beach: Ideal for coral watching, swimming and water sports
• Laxmanpur Beach: Home to a striking natural rock bridge and spectacular sunset views
• Peaceful cycling trails through the island’s interior farmland

Cost (Approximate) Beach access is free; water sports and glass-bottom boat rides are priced separately, typically ₹500–2,000.

How to Reach Reached by ferry from Port Blair (around 2 hours) or Havelock Island (around 45 minutes to 1 hour).

1943 Netaji Flag Point

Overview A quiet but historically significant memorial marking the spot where India’s tricolour was first raised on free Indian soil — years before the country’s official independence.

The Story Behind It On 30th December 1943, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose hoisted the Indian flag here, declaring the Andaman Islands as liberated territory from British rule. It remains one of the most poignant heritage sites in the islands.

Highlights

• The commemorative flag mast and memorial plaque
• Sweeping sea views from the point
• A moving, lesser-crowded stop for history enthusiasts

Cost (Approximate) Free entry.

How to Reach Located near Corbyn’s Cove Beach, easily combined in the same half-day sightseeing trip from Port Blair.

Baratang Island

Overview A journey through dense rainforest and the Jarawa Tribal Reserve leads to Baratang, known for its limestone caves and bubbling mud volcanoes — a true off-the-beaten-path Andaman experience.

The Story Behind It Baratang remained largely inaccessible for years due to its location within tribal reserve land. Today, permitted convoy travel allows visitors a rare glimpse of the region’s geological wonders and mangrove-lined waterways.

Highlights

• Limestone caves reached via a scenic mangrove boat ride and short forest walk
• Active mud volcanoes, a rare natural phenomenon
• Convoy drive through the Jarawa Reserve Forest

Cost (Approximate) Forest and Jarawa permits are mandatory and included in guided packages; boat rides to the limestone caves are typically priced around ₹500–800 per person.

How to Reach Around 100 km (3–4 hours) by road from Port Blair, accessible only in escorted convoys at fixed timings for safety and tribal protection.

Diglipur & Ross and Smith Islands

Overview Andaman’s northernmost tourist frontier, Diglipur is home to Ross and Smith Islands — twin islands joined by a natural sandbar that seems to float between two seas.

The Story Behind It Far removed from the well-trodden southern circuit, Diglipur has remained one of Andaman’s best-kept secrets, offering dramatic landscapes, forest treks and pristine beaches largely untouched by mass tourism.

Highlights

• Walk the natural sandbar connecting Ross and Smith Islands
• Optional speedboat rides to explore the twin islands up close
• Saddle Peak, Andaman’s highest point, nearby for trekking enthusiasts

Cost (Approximate) Speedboat rides to Ross and Smith Islands are at own cost, generally ranging ₹800–1,500 per person depending on group size.

How to Reach Reached by road from Mayabunder or Rangat (around 2–3 hours), with onward local transfers to the island viewpoint and jetty.