After spending two weeks in Port Blair in June, we found the city slowly growing on us! Its noisy and busy – as any state capital city would be. But there’s a lot of things to see and do in Port Blair. From what we learnt and saw, we put together this photo blog to show you some interesting sights. In fact, you’ll find everything you need to know to plan a trip to Port Blair in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands of India in this blog post. In addition, this guide contains details on what to see in Port Blair, and where to stay, where to eat, getting around in the island and so much more!

What to see in Port Blair, the capital of Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Most visitors to Andaman and Nicobar Islands will enter the archipelago through Port Blair, whether by flights from mainland India or by ships. The schedule of inter island ferries makes it inevitable for visitors to spend at least one night in Port Blair, either on the day of arrival or the day of departure. But Port Blair is not a transit point alone – there’s so much to see and do in the city! 🏝️

So check out this list of things to do and places to visit in Port Blair, Andaman!

 1. Cellular Jail

No visit to Andaman is complete without a visit to the Cellular Jail in Port Blair! We explored the Cellular jail once in the morning and on another evening, when we went there exclusively for the Sound and Light show. Highly recommend this monument not just to spend time in Port Blair, but to learn about the intense history associated with it. The jail narrates many sad tales from the era of the freedom struggle, when Andaman was used as a penal correctional facility by the British rule. Most freedom fighters on mainland India and Burma were deputed to this torture house to subdue their voices and break their will. One such notable freedom fighter was Veer Savarkar and there were hundreds of other such prisoners who were locked up there.

The museum inside the jail has very vivid descriptions of how life was led by the prisoners. And visitors can freely explore the three of the seven columns of jail cells that remain today. The other columns no longer exist as they fell apart after  independence. From the jail, one can also see Ross Island where the British officers lived like royalty – a stark contrast to the life of the noble freedom fighters lodged in chains, in the cellular jail.

Tip: Club your visit to the museum and the sound and light show on the same day. English and Hindi show timings are posted online here along with the option to buy tickets digitally too.

2. Ross Island

The remains of Ross Island are very interesting to explore. Since the Indian Navy administers this island, there is no option of overnight stay on Ross Island. As a result, there are no shops, hotels or even restaurants.

Ross Island was home to the British officers and their families in the colonial times. The island was developed with beautiful Victorian houses, office buildings and a towering Church. There were many other special features like a sprawling lawn with a tennis court, a beautiful pier, a shopping complex row (which they later allowed Indians to to come sell in) and more! As a result, the island was considered to be a paradise.

Today, all these buildings are dilapidated. They have not been restored and trees and roots have grown all over the broken walls. It looks very similar to the ruins of Angkor Wat in Cambodia!

While the ticket prices are updated here by the Government, you will need to buy on-the-spot ferry tickets from Marina Park (during the day) and from Junglighat jetty (for the evening show). The boats are operated by ferry associations and you’ll find the prices similar regardless of which boat you sail in. 

3. Anthropological Museum and Samudrika Marine Museum

Andaman is diverse even in regard of the tribes that lived there for millennia. There are six tribes today. The Andamanese, Jarawas, Onges and the Sentinelese tribes live on the Andaman group of islands. They belong to the Negrito ancestry while the Nicobarese and Shompens, who continue to live in the southern Nicobar Islands belong to the Mongoloid ancestry. The Anthropological museum has been curated very well by the government and once can learn everything about the history of the island and its people! We personally enjoyed watching the documentary playing in the AV hall. Although shot in the 80s/90s, it tells a great story worth watching.

The Samudrika Marine Museum is curated by the Indian Navy. This museum houses incredible treasures from the Indian ocean including a giant skeleton of a baby whale that beached on Nicobar island. There is an aquarium with live fish too. 

Entry tickets are very reasonably priced and these attractions are a great way to learn about the Archipelago!

4. Chidiyatapu and Munda Pahad beach

While the best beaches of Andaman are located on Havelock and Neil Island (and on Diglipur), Port Blair also has a beaches within quick reach. They may not be as blue, but what you’ll enjoy is the thick forestry, the expansive scenery and how beautiful these places are at sunset.

Chidiyatapu is located an hour away from Port Blair by road. As the name suggests, its an open air bird sanctuary! If you are visiting during the winter season, you’ll come across many groups of migratory birds. Its indeed a sight to behold. There is a biological park which is home to Salt water crocodiles, wild boars, deers, a massive butterfly park and many more creatures. Chidiyatapu is most famous for the Munda Pahad trek (which you can do quite easily, if you have time) and the Munda Pahar beach. The beach is popular for its beautiful views and clear water. Snack vendors whip up some delicious Jhal Muri and Papadi chaat for cheap prices too! 

The best way of getting to Chidiyatapu is by GOGO bus from Port Blair bus stand in Aberdeen Bazaar. For under INR 150, you can comfortably travel to the beach, the zoo and the sunset spot at the right time and return to the city safely! We did this and highly recommend. You can alternatively rent scooters or a taxi from Port Blair for a higher price.

 5. Corbyn’s Cove and Marina Park

Corbyn’s Cove is also called Corbin cove, Carbin Cove by locals. The cove has a small coral-dark sand beach and is popular for two reasons. One is that it is just five minutes away from Port  Blair Marina Park. The other reason is that watersports are available here! Many vendors sell lots of snacks and souvenirs on the beach too. And for the Bollywood fan in you, this was also the beach where Kaho Na Pyar Hai was shot!

Marina Park is a favourite among locals and tourists alike. It is a concrete walkway along the waterfront which offers absolutely awesome views of the Andaman sea, particularly at sunset. Most visitors arrive at 4pm and enjoy the scenery and walk along the path until sunset while snacking on the street food. Then, they hit the Food Truck park right across the road! There are so many incredible food trucks with very unique dishes to feast on. 

You can easily get auto or tuktuk from there back to your hotel for INR 50-100 depending on the distance. You can walk it back too – its not unsafe!

6. Aberdeen Bazaar

Want to shop local? Looking for something you were supposed to bring in your baggage but forgot? Want to see a what the busiest market in Andaman looks like? Then you must go to Aberdeen Bazaar! In addition to the many shops and street vendors, you’ll also find many small restaurants catering to local patrons. One such cafe is called Kattabomman which is insanely popular for the dosas they cook! You can find numerous pure vegetarian cafes and restaurants around Clock Tower circle. Although there are hotels here too, we recommend not staying in this area as it is pretty crowded! Nearly all intercity buses start from Aberdeen Bazaar (in case you decide to venture out to North Andaman).

7. North Bay Island

All the under water activities are conducted at North Bay island. This means that if you want to go Scuba diving, snorkelling, under sea walk, parasailing, or jetskiing, get on a ferry to North Bay island! However, prices are not necessarily cheaper than doing these activities at Havelock Island or on Neil Island. Check out our other Andaman articles (linked at the end of this blog post) for more details on those islands. Most trips to North Bay Island are clubbed with a visit to Viper Island and Ross Island. The boats depart from Marina Park. You can get to Marina Park, enquire prices and choose the trip that works for you. Prices are set by the ferry operator association, but you can still bargain for a good deal.

Tip: Want to snorkel for free? Click here!

8. Wandoor Beach

Wandoor Beach is located about 1.5 hours away from Port Blair by road. There are regular buses from both Aberdeen Bazaar and Cellular jail bus stop if you choose to explore the lesser known beach near Port Blair. Since it is less touristy, you will mostly have the whole place to yourself unless it its sunset time! This is when most locals and some tourists visit the beach. It is located on the western coast of the island and hence ideal for sunset. There are very few shacks and shops, so carry food along.

All you need to know to travel to Port Blair in Andaman

This section has details on accommodation, eating out, local transport, bike rentals and the best time to visit Port Blair in Andaman. Prices are comparable/slightly higher than mainland India. This is on account of the remote location of the island and since most consumables (including food) are imported from mainland India or other neighbouring islands. For a two day visit, expect to spend around INR 7,500 (USD 100) for a mid-range experience, while around INR 4,000 (USD 60) for a truly budget experience.

Food/eating out in Port Blair, Andaman

Just like any other city on mainland India, Port Blair offers a great variety of cuisines and ambiences. Its also cheaper to eat out in Port Blair than on the neighbouring islands. There is a great food delivery service like Swiggy. Check out Andamanfoods.com (we used it and it was all good experiences). Street food is also very easily available in Port Blair, especially at the Marina Park where many Food Trucks gather every evening.

Getting around/transport in Port Blair, Andaman

Public transport is very efficient in Port Blair. We used the local bus to travel from our hotel to most parts of the city including the market and clock tower area, the Cellular Jail, the museums and the beach at Corbyn’s cove. We also took the public bus from Port Blair to ChidiyaTapu which was way cheaper than an auto or taxi. Its also perfectly timed for tourists to move around for sunset. Tickets cost less than INR 20 (USD 0.25) for most routes under 20 kms. Some non-AC buses are cheaper, while AC bus tickets are 20% to 30% more on the same routes (but worth it in the hot weather). Autos charge around INR 25 per kilometer (2x at night) – bargain with the auto driver / ask a few other drivers to get a sense of the price. Most auto drivers don’t overcharge in Andaman. Taxis charge much higher prices and wouldn’t recommend them over the autos. If you’re heading to the islands, the jetty to take the government/private ferries is also close to the city centre. The Public Bus terminus at Aberdeen Bazaar is the starting point for the buses heading to middle and north Andaman (Diglipur) via the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR) which is an amazing experience in itself!

How to get to Port Blair in Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Regular direct flights connect mainland Indian cities like Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata to Port Blair airport (Veer Savarkar International Airport). The airport is also undergoing works to majorly expand operations by late 2022 / early 2023. Indigo, Vistara, Spicejet and Go First Airlines operate many daily flights to Andaman and prices are usually reasonable (unless its summer holidays). Ships also sail from Kolkata, Vishakapatnam and Chennai to Port Blair. The journey takes over 50 to 70 hours and is best avoided in the monsoon service. You can check schedules to the Andaman ships here: dss.andaman.gov.in/ShipSchedule 

Want to see more of Andaman & Nicobar Islands? We’ve got some more blog posts for you, from some really picturesque places! And if you enjoyed reading this post, or found the travel guide to be helpful, please share it with your friends!

Useful links

Here are some useful resources to plan and book your next trip. These are the same websites and apps that we use for our own bookings! We may earn a small commission if you make your booking using the below link, at no extra cost to you. 🤓