Sightseeing at Andaman Island

ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS

Cellular Jail, Andaman and Nicobar Islands

PLACES OF INTEREST- IN AN AROUND PORT BLAIR:

CELLULAR JAIL (National Memorial):
Cellular Jail, located at Port Blair, is a mute witness to the tortures meted out to the freedom fighters, who were incarcerated in this Jail. The Jail, completed in the year 1906 acquired the name, 'cellular' because it is entirely made up of individual cells for the solitary confinement of the prisoners. It originally was a seven pronged, puce colored building with a Central Tower acting as its fulcrum and a massive structure comprising honey-comb like corridors. The building was subsequently damaged and presently three out of seven prongs are intact. The Jail now a place of pilgrimage for all freedom loving people, has been declared a National Memorial.

The penal settlement established here by the British after the First War of Independence-e in 1857 was the beginning of the agonizing story of the massive and awful Jail at Viper Island followed by the Cellular Jail. The patriots who raised their voice against the British Raj were sent to this Jail, where many perished.

Netaji Subash Chandra Bose hoisted the first Tri-Color on 30th December, 1943 at a place near this Jail. During the 50th year of India's Independence, the living freedom fighters and widows of the freedom fighters, who were incarcerated in the Cellular Jail were honored by the President of India on 30th December, 1997. A commemorative coin and a postal stamp on Cellular Jail were also released on this occasion.

The saga of the heroic freedom struggle is brought alive in a moving Son-et-Lumiere' shown daily at 6.00 PM (Hindi) and 7.15 PM (English). Also there is a Museum and an Art Gallery which is open on all days except Monday from 9.00 AM to 12 Noon and 2.00 PM to 5.00 PM.

ANDAMAN WATER SPORTS COMPLEX

This is a unique sports complex in India in its own kind. There are facilities for safe Water Sports such as Rowing Boats, Paddle Boats, Kayaks, Aqua-cycle, Aqua-glide, Bumper boats, etc., and Adventure water sports such as Water-skiing, Water scooters, Gemini boats, Para-sailing, Sail boats, Wind-surfers, Speed boats, Glass-bottom boats, etc., There are Saline Water Swimming Pool, Nature-walk, Change Room, Food Plaza, also. There is a Memorial built to commemorate the Battle of Aberdeen, fought between the British and Andamane aborigines in May, 1859, in which many Andamanese died. There is an artificial water-fall nearby.

CHILDREN'S TRAFFIC PARK

This park near Aberdeen Water Sports Complex, is set up by the Traffic Police to educate young children about the traffic rules. There is a Toy Train nearby.

GANDHI PARK Gandhi National Park, Port Blair, Andaman Islands

This beautiful Park at Port Blair has facilities like children's park, amusement park, entertainment park, deer and bird park, water sports, nature trail,, lake, garden, restaurant and Japanese temple, as well as a bunker. The erstwhile Dilthaman Tank, which was the only source of drinking water to Port Blair has been developed into Gandhi Park in an unbelievably short time of 13 days.

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