Port Blair is the capital of the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Due to its airport, it serves as a gateway to the islands and is the largest city in the territory. Ideally, tourists must spend at least a couple of days in the capital city before visiting other islands in the group. Here are 10 places you shouldn’t miss while visiting Port Blair. This guide also explains all you need to know before exploring the city.
10 Places To Visit In Port Blair, Andaman
Table of Contents
How to Reach?
As an island, the city of Port Blair is accessible either through waterways or airways.
By Ferry
Regular passenger ship services are available between Port Blair and the mainland of India, namely Chennai, Kolkata, and Visakhapatnam. Three to four ferries reach Port Blair monthly from Kolkata and Chennai and one per month from Visakhapatnam. Refer to the transportation guide for information on ship tickets, tariffs, and schedules. Ticket bookings can be done online via the official site.
By Air
Veer Savarkar International Airport (IATA Code: IXZ) is the primary airport in the Andaman and Nicobar group of islands. This aesthetically pleasing shell-shaped airport operates flights only to the mainland of India. The airport is well connected to the city through frequent buses and taxis available outside the premises.
Commute Around
Only Ola taxi service is available in Port Blair, not Uber. You can also hire a tuk-tuk to hop between places. Public buses connect every corner of the city. The buses to more remote places are less frequent. You can rent two-wheelers or cars from many rental shops found in Port Blair.
Go-Go Bus Services
The transport department has introduced a GO-GO (Get On-Get Off) bus service by deploying environmentally friendly air-conditioned electric buses. This initiative has greatly boosted tourism due to its ease of covering the major attractions. Although infrequent, you can book a seat on the bus for a whole day for just INR 150. The buses wait for some time at each attraction so that the visitors can get off to explore.
Where to Eat?
Zomato and Swiggy delivery services are available in Port Blair. The city is home to many restaurants serving North and South Indian cuisines. However, it is very rare to find restaurants serving Western cuisines. You can check the reviews on Google and choose to go to a nearby restaurant.
Where to Stay?
There are different options for accommodations in the city. As the capital, Port Blair has limited power fluctuations. There are very few hostels in the city, and most accommodations are either homestays or hotels catering to different budgets and other requirements. We stayed at Ocean Terrace. Here are a few other recommendations.
- SeaScape Port Blair ($)
- Island Cliff ($)
- BayLeaf Inn ($$)
- Hotel Idhaya ($$)
- Symphony Samudra Beachside Jungle Resort and Spa ($$$)
- Welcomehotels by ITC Hotels, Bay Island, Port Blair ($$$)
Network Connectivity
Airtel, Jio, and BSNL work in Port Blair. However, in the more remote areas, BSNL offers better coverage than Jio or Airtel.
Languages Spoken
Due to the many migrants from the mainland of India living in Port Blair, Hindi, Marathi, and Tamil are widely spoken.
10 Places to Visit in Port Blair
1. Munda Pahar Beach & Viewpoint
Munda Pahar Beach and Viewpoint is a pristine, untouched beach located about 25 Km from the city. Although swimming on the beach is prohibited due to the presence of crocodiles, it is a nice place to hang around and relax with the backdrop of clear turquoise-blue water and white sand. A short, beginner-friendly hike can be found just off the shore of the Munda Pahar beach, which reaches an altitude of 60 m. Refer to the blog that has more information about Munda Pahar Beach and Viewpoint.
You can also visit Wandoor Beach, a beach found off the beaten track. This beach might be your best bet if you want to relax away from the crowds and enjoy stunning sunset views.
2. Cellular Jail
The Cellular Jail, or the Kaala Paani, is a prison complex from the British-occupied period in India. Today, it is a national memorial. The jail has housed several noteworthy Indian freedom fighters, including Veer Savarkar. The walls of the prison tell the story of our brave ancestors, who gave their blood and sweat to gain independence from the British. This jail is a must-visit. Every day, a light and sound show is available in the jail complex. Refer to the blog that contains more details about the cellular jail.
3. Corbyn’s Cove Beach
The most popular beach in Port Blair is Corbyn’s Cove Beach. It is well known for its water activities, including swimming, jet skiing, speed boating, and paragliding. The prices for the water activities are not fixed, and you can negotiate your way around.
The beach gets really crowded in the afternoon. Visit this beach during sunrise to escape the crowds. Although famous, it was not our personal favorite. The way to reach Corbyn’s Cove beach is truly breathtaking. After visiting the beach, hit Corbyn’s Cove Road, overlooking Ross Island. The ride is scenic, with beachfront benches for the visitors to relax and breathe in the beauty.
4. Ross Island
Also known as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose (NSCB) Island, Ross Island is located just 800 m away from the capital city of Port Blair. This tiny island occupies an area of just 0.31 Sq. Km. You can visit this Island on a day trip from the Aberdeen Jetty or Rajiv Gandhi Watersports complex. The ferry waits at the island for approximately 1.5 hours so the visitors can disembark and go sightseeing.
The island contains many ruins from World War 2, including British colonial buildings, the houses of the higher officials, canyons, Japanese fortifications, bunkers, and a lighthouse. Description boards are placed at all the significant places. A guide can also be hired to learn about the glorious past in depth. A sound and light show also takes place on the island.
- Entry fee for the sound and light show: INR 300 per adult and INR 75 for children aged between 5 and 11 years.
- Sound and light show timings: 5:30 – 6:30 PM. The boat for the sound and light show departs at 4:30 PM from the Aberdeen Jetty.
- Round-trip ferry price from Aberdeen Jetty to Ross Island: INR 370 per person.
- The golf cart charges to explore Ross Island: INR 80 per person for a 25-minute journey covering all the prime spots on the island.
5. Museums at Port Blair
There are many museums at Port Blair. A few significant ones include the Anthropological Museum, which portrays the lives of prehistoric inhabitants of the island, the Fisheries Museum, which showcases over 350 species of marine life, and the Samudrika Museum, which is a collection of shells and marine creatures. Each museum is unique, and you should consider visiting it. They have separate opening times and an entry fee.
6. 20 Rs Note Viewpoint and Mount Manipur National Park
On your way to Mount Manipur National Park, stop at the 20 Rs Viewpoint at North Bay. This is named as the spot was featured at the back of the old ₹20 currency note.
Take a ferry from Chatham Jetty to the Bamboo Flats Jetty. Vehicles, both cars and two-wheelers, can be transported via ferry. If you don’t have a vehicle, you can walk to the viewpoint from the jetty or hop on a shared jeep to the Manipur National Park.
Manipur National Park hosts many hiking activities and is dotted with numerous viewpoints that offer panoramic views of the island. The area is also rich in flora and fauna.
- Manipur National Park Entry Fee: INR 50 for Indian adults, Free for Indian children up to 12 years of age. INR 500 for foreign adults and INR 200 for foreign children.
- Timings: 7 AM – 4:15 PM
- Additional fees are payable for camera and parking
7. Stargazing at Chidiya Tapu
We cannot praise the Andaman skies enough. Due to its low levels of light pollution, Andaman has some of the best spots in India for stargazing. Located a bit away from Port Blair city, Whistling Woods is a property near Chidiya Tapu with a telescope in an ideal location for budding astronomers. You can wish upon a shooting star or see the galaxy we call home. If you like to understand more about the stars and planets, this is your place. You can also go on a bird-watching tour of the surroundings.
8. Island Hopping
Several islands are close to Port Blair in addition to Havelock and Niel Islands. Although Ross Island is popular among tourists, several other beautiful islands are nearby. They are accessible by private or Government-run ferries.
Viper Island is a historic island with many ruins, old gallows, barracks, and the remains of an era gone by. Red Skin Island and Jolly Buoy Island are renowned for their corals and marine life. They are accessible from Wandoor Jetty.
9. The North Bay
The North Bay, located close to Port Blair, is the best place to enjoy watersports such as snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing, sea walking, touring in semi-submarines, dolphin boating, and touring in glass-bottom boats. North Bay is accessible via a ferry from Aberdeen Jetty or Rajiv Gandhi Watersports complex. North Bay attracts many tourists, and so tourist facilities such as lockers and changing rooms are available in abundance.
10. Baratang Island
Baratang Island can be visited as a day trip from Port Blair. The Jarawa tribes reside deep in the forests between the Jirkatang checkpost and Baratang. However, if you’re lucky, you may be able to spot the tribes on the side of the road when you pass through a convoy. Photography of the tribals or stopping the vehicles in between are strictly prohibited.
Baratang is also popular for its limestone caves, mud volcanoes, and mangrove tours. The mangrove tours start and end at the Baratang Island Jetty or Nilambur Jetty. If you’re a bird-watching enthusiast, you can also visit Parrot Island. To know more about these places, refer to the Andaman Beyond Beaches guide.
- Sharing boat trip timings: 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
- Individual boat trip timings: 6:30 AM – 1 PM
- Sharing boat trip cost: INR 900 per person
- Individual boat trips cost: INR 9000 for 10 persons.
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