To the very south east of India, lies a clustered bunch of 300 odd islands collectively known as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The capital of these magnificent islands is Port Blair, located in the south eastern Andaman. These islands were later annexed as a Union Territory of India in the year 1956. Port Blair is well known for its sandy beaches and crystal water.
Port Blair is also known for the aborigine tribes that live on the islands. Most of the tribes have little or no contact with the outside world.
These islands were known to have cannibalistic tribes existing in the early times. The Chinese adventurer XuanZang in the 2nd century and many other travellers around the world have written about the aggressive, man eating tribes on the islands. One of the first colonial powers to land on the islands were the French, who made numerous attempts to spread Christianity, although in vain. The Dutch followed, with the same consequences as of the French.
The mighty Maratha warriors also tried to establish rule on the islands, with not much more success. The worst fate was however of the crew of the trading ships that came to the islands, as they were very brutally abducted and later killed.
Finally, in the late 18th century, a very strict colony was established by Captain Archibald Blair, a naval captain in the East India Company. The British settlements were established in the mid 19th century, and were named Port Blair after the captain. A prison was built in the Andaman Islands. Murderers, smugglers, thieves, and political freedom fighters were all inmates in the jail on the island. It was known as Kala Pani meaning “black water”.
A popular Port Blair attraction is the jail, or Kala Pani as it’s known. When it was first built, it had seven wings, but now only three remain. The jail has miniscule cells in which the prisoners were kept and subjected to brutal treatment. Originally a black chapter in Indian history, visiting the jail has become a major thing to do in Port Blair. Another Port Blair thing to do is to visit the Mini-Zoo and Forest Museum. The zoo has more than 200 species of animals, most of them are endangered species. There is as crocodile farm inside the zoo, which breeds and releases the animals into the salt-water mangroves. The museum has a one-of-a-kind display of timber and forest weeds. The Aquarium is another popular draw for Port Blair tourism. It has 350 species of marine life found mostly in the sea around the islands. The Water Sports Complex is a boon for water sports enthusiasts. Wind surfing, boating and scuba diving are popular activities. Corbyn’s Cove is one the most beautiful beach in India, with clear water, white sands, and thick coconut groves. It is a perfect dive location. Trekking through the unexplored regions of the islands is a very popular thing to do in Andaman and Nicobar. About 29 kilometers away is a collection of 15 islands in Wandoor. With many inhabited stunning beaches, and the Gandhi Marine National Park, it’s a perfect getaway for the weary. It also has one of the most beautiful corals reefs in the world. Long Island and Neil Island are also worth visiting. Another popular Andaman and Nicobar attraction is the island of Little Andaman, which is about 120 kilometers away. Here you’ll find lots of sandy beaches, and a healthy population of elephants.
Port Blair is not exactly a shopper’s paradise. One of the major shopping areas of the city is Aberdeen Bazaar. There are many small souvenir shops, selling lots of timber artefacts. The famous Nicobar mats, pearl necklaces, and shell ashtrays are some of the more popular items purchased by tourists.
The city has a very multi-cultural society, so the range of cuisines ranges from continental food to Chinese food to authentic Bengali food. Here, sea food is a speciality, with a variety of tiger prawn, lobster, fish, and crab dishes.
Any place in the island is a personal night club. The beaches are pretty isolated, so travellers can relax on the beach in the night with their booze. There are usually a couple of secret rave parties to be found on the beaches, but you’ll have to find someone who can get you there. One of the more popular drinking holes is the Sea Sip on Corbyn’s Beach. |
