Plan your island holiday with our local team based in Port Blair.
Plan your Andaman holiday with local experts based in Port Blair
Beyond its turquoise seas and tropical palm trees, the Andaman Islands hold an extraordinary place in Indian history. From the solemn brick wings of the Cellular Jail where freedom fighters suffered solitary exile to the overgrown Victorian ruins of Ross Island, the naval biodiversity collections of Samudrika, and ancient tribal heritage here are the must-visit museums and monuments.
National Memorial
9 AM - 5 PM | Show 5:15 PM
Built by the British between 1896 and 1906 with seven radial wings to enforce solitary confinement on Indian freedom fighters. Features Veer Savarkar's cell, the gallows, and a stirring evening Light and Sound show.
Open Air Museum
8:30 AM - 4 PM
The former administrative capital of the British penal settlement. Today, magnificent banyan tree roots wrap around ruins of a Victorian church, hospital, swimming pool, bakery, and officers' quarters.
Indian Navy Museum
9 AM - 5 PM (Mon Closed)
Operated with precision by the Indian Navy. Organised into five distinctive galleries showcasing island geography, indigenous tribal cultures, marine ecology, and a massive real Blue Whale skeleton.
Indigenous Heritage
9 AM - 4:30 PM (Mon Closed)
A cultural treasure chest showcasing the lives, survival skills, weapons, wooden canoes, body ornaments, and rituals of the Negrito and Mongoloid tribes inhabiting the archipelago.
Built in 1883
8:30 AM - 2:30 PM (Sun Closed)
One of Asia's oldest and largest operational timber mills, joined to Port Blair by a scenic bridge. Survives a WWII Japanese bombing crater and features exquisite wooden carvings in the Forest Museum.
Marine Biodiversity
9 AM - 4:45 PM (Mon Closed)
Located close to the Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex. Houses more than 350 species of marine life endemic to the Indo-Pacific waters, including sea anemones, giant clams, starfish, and live sea turtles.
Freedom Landmark
Open 24 Hours
A monumental 150-foot Indian tricolor flagpole overlooking the open sea. Commemorates December 30, 1943, when Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose hoisted the first Indian flag on liberated soil.
Pre-Cellular Prison
Boat Day Trips
The earliest site of British penal retribution in the Andamans (1867). Features the historic red brick gallows on top of a hill where freedom fighter Sher Ali was executed after assassinating Lord Mayo.
Almost all museums in Port Blair (Anthropological Museum, Samudrika, Fisheries, Chatham Saw Mill) are closed on Mondays and Government Holidays. We recommend scheduling your Ross Island boat trip or Cellular Jail memorial visit on Mondays, and visiting museums Tuesday through Sunday.
The Cellular Jail (Kala Pani National Memorial) in Port Blair is the most revered and iconic monument. Built by the British between 1896 and 1906, it housed India's bravest freedom fighters including Veer Savarkar, Batukeshwar Dutt, and Barindra Kumar Ghosh. The poignant evening Light and Sound show brings this struggle alive.
Most government-run museums including the Anthropological Museum, Samudrika Marine Museum, and Fisheries Museum are closed on Mondays and national public holidays. Cellular Jail remains open for visitors throughout the week, though museum galleries may have adjusted timings on Mondays.
The Light & Sound show takes place every evening with shows in Hindi and English. Tickets can be booked online via the official administration portal or on-ground through registered tour coordinators like Andaman Vacations. Hindi shows typically run at 5:15 PM, 6:20 PM, and 7:25 PM, and English shows on select days.
No. Interacting with, photographing, or approaching indigenous tribes (such as the Jarawas or Sentinelese) in the wild is strictly illegal under the Protection of Aboriginal Tribes (PAT) Regulation with severe penal penalties. The Anthropological Museum in Port Blair is the only authentic, respectful, and government-approved venue to learn about their ancient cultures, tools, and traditions.
You can comfortably cover Port Blair's top heritage and museum sites across 1 to 2 days. A typical Day 1 covers Cellular Jail, Ross Island, and Flag Point, while Day 2 easily accommodates Samudrika Naval Museum, the Anthropological Museum, and Chatham Saw Mill.