VANAMCOVE 
Cellular Jail and the Andaman gateway
Why this weekend?
The day-by-day plan
Day 1 · The capital
- Cellular Jail morning
- Anthropological museum
- Ross Island ferry
- Corbyn's Cove sunset
Day 2 · Harbour or island
- North Bay corals
- Flag island (Netaji) and Cai bay
- Evening light show alternative
Geography & terrain
Port Blair hugs the harbour of South Andaman island, India's union-territory capital — a hilly palm-and-bay city on the Andaman Sea, with the imposing Cellular Jail on its east, the flag-islands of Ross and the promenade of Aberdeen Bazaar strung along the waterfront.
History & culture
The town was founded as the British penal settlement of the Andamans in 1858 — the Cellular Jail (1906) became the empire's most infamous prison for the freedom-fighters, and the old settlement's churches, cantonment streets and the islands' war history (Japanese occupation 1942–45) layer the capital's past; the Indian flag's first hoisting sites at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island and the Anthropological Museum keep the national memory vivid.
Where to stay
Budget
₹1,500–3,500/night
Mid-range
₹3,500–7,000/night
Comfort
₹7,000+/night
Things to do
- Cellular Jail
- Ross Island
- North Bay corals
- Corbyn's Cove
- Harbour views
Eat & drink
- Grilled reef fish
- Coconut and seafood curries
- Tropical fresh fruit platters
Getting there
- Fly
- Veer Savarkar Airport (IXZ), Port Blair
- Train
- No rail — island chain served by ferries
- Road from Port Blair
- road + ferry hub for all islands
- Getting around
- Autos and scooters on the islands; ferries between them
Budget snapshot
- Total
- ₹6,000–14,000 (2 days)
- Per day · Stay
- ₹1,500–7,000/night
- Per day · Food
- ₹600–1,000
- Per day · Transport
- ₹600–1,000
- Per day · Activities
- ₹1,000–1,400
Month by month
- Jan · Best
- 23–30°C · None rain
- Feb · Best
- 23–30°C · None rain
- Mar · Good
- 24–31°C · None rain
- Apr · Good
- 25–32°C · Light rain
- May · Hot
- 25–32°C · Moderate rain
- Jun · Monsoon
- 25–30°C · Heavy rain
- Jul · Monsoon
- 25–29°C · Heavy rain
- Aug · Monsoon
- 25–29°C · Heavy rain
- Sep · Monsoon
- 25–30°C · Heavy rain
- Oct · Good
- 24–30°C · Moderate rain
- Nov · Best
- 23–30°C · Light rain
- Dec · Best
- 23–30°C · None rain
Practical info
- Language: Hindi / Bengali / Tamil (multi-language islands) (English understood in tourist spots)
- Best window: Oct–Mar
- Connectivity: Patchy off the main islands — download offline maps
- UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops
Practical tips
- The ferry schedules to the islands run early — book return legs in advance
- Port Blair is best as a 2-day base before the outer islands
- October–March for the season; the monsoon restricts the boats
Frequently asked questions
How many days should I spend in Port Blair?
Two days cover the jail, the museum, Ross and a beach; the outer islands need the rest of the trip.
Is the Cellular Jail worth the time?
Absolutely — the wings, the museum cells and the evening light show make it the emotional core of any Andaman trip.
How do I reach the islands?
Flights to Port Blair from Chennai, Kolkata and Delhi; the ferries fan out to the islands.
Cellular Jail and the Andaman gateway
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