Port Blair, India: travel guide
Capital of the Andamans — the Cellular Jail of colonial memory, crystal-clear waters, coral reefs, and jumping-off point to Havelock and Neil Islands.
- Country
- India
- Currency
- INR
- Time zone
- Asia/Kolkata
- Nearest airport
- IXZ
Top places to visit in Port Blair
Cellular Jail National Memorial
Heritage · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · entry INR 100
The sombre colonial "Kala Pani" prison where India's freedom fighters were exiled; its surviving wings, gallows and museum are a moving national memorial.
Corbyn's Cove Beach
Beach · 4.2 rating · about 1.5 h
Port Blair's nearest coconut-fringed beach, a curve of sand good for a swim, water sports and a sunset drive along the seafront.
Ross Island (Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep)
Heritage · 4.4 rating · about 2 h
The former British administrative capital, now atmospheric ruins of a church, bakery and ballroom reclaimed by banyan roots and roaming deer, reached by a short ferry.
North Bay Island
Beach · 4.3 rating · about 3 h
A coral-rich island off Port Blair famed for snorkelling, glass-bottom boats, sea-walking and scuba — the reef pictured on the ₹20 note.
Samudrika Naval Marine Museum
Museum · 4.2 rating · about 1 h · entry INR 50
A Navy-run museum on the archipelago's marine life, corals, shells and tribal ecology — a good orientation before island-hopping.
Chidiya Tapu (Sunset Point)
Viewpoint · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h
A forested cape 25 km south known for spectacular sunsets, a biological park and birdwatching among mangroves and mudflats.
Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex
Nature · 4.1 rating · about 1 h · entry 20
A breezy seafront park and water-sports complex on Marina Park, offering jet-ski, speedboat and paddle rides with views across to Ross Island.
Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Wandoor
Nature · 4.4 rating · about 4 h · entry INR 1,000
A protected marine park off Wandoor with islands like Jolly Buoy and Red Skin, prized for pristine coral gardens and glass-bottom-boat snorkelling.
Anthropological Museum
Museum · 4.1 rating · about 0.8 h · entry INR 50
A compact museum documenting the Andaman and Nicobar aboriginal tribes — the Jarawa, Sentinelese, Onge and Great Andamanese — through artefacts and photographs.
Mount Harriet National Park
Nature · 4.3 rating · about 2.5 h · entry 250
The archipelago's highest accessible hill (the view on the ₹20 note), with rainforest nature trails, endemic birds and panoramas over the island-dotted sea.
Things to do
- Cellular Jail Light & Sound Show Cultural · 1 h · from INR 300 per person
- North Bay Coral Snorkelling & Sea Walk Activity · 4 h · from INR 3,500 per person
- Ross Island Heritage Ferry Tour Cultural · 2.5 h · from INR 600 per person
- Chidiya Tapu Sunset & Birding Tour Nature · 3 h · from INR 1,200 per person
Day trips and tours
- Ross & North Bay Islands Boat Tour 8 h · from INR 2,500
- Port Blair City & Cellular Jail Tour 6 h · from INR 1,500
- Wandoor Marine Park & Chidiya Tapu Day 9 h · from INR 2,800
Where to stay in Port Blair
- Port Blair Town about INR 3,500 per night
Main town center with hotels, restaurants, and services
Hotels
- Natures Nook Andaman 2-star · INR 1,200 to INR 1,600 per night
- Le Luminous, Home Stay 2-star · INR 1,530 to INR 2,000 per night
- Urbban Castle Homestay 2-star · INR 1,426 to INR 1,900 per night
- Sea Shore Residency 2-star · INR 1,599 to INR 2,100 per night
- Ananya Residency 3-star · INR 1,349 to INR 1,900 per night
- Continental Homestay 2-star · INR 1,200 to INR 1,600 per night
Where to eat
- Annapurna Cafeteria South Indian, North Indian · about INR 250 per person
- Excel Restaurant Seafood, North Indian, Chinese · about INR 550 per person
- Amaya (SeaShell) Seafood, North Indian, Chinese · about INR 900 per person
- Icy Spicy South Indian, Chaat, Fast Food · about INR 200 per person
- Mandalay (Fortune Resort Bay Island) Seafood, North Indian, Continental · about INR 1,600 per person
- Anju-Coco Resto Seafood, Continental, Israeli · about INR 700 per person
- New Lighthouse Residency Seafood, North Indian · about INR 700 per person
- Gagan Restaurant North Indian, Chinese, Biryani · about INR 300 per person
Getting around
- Auto Rickshaw main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Ferry main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.
Safety and scams to avoid
Pre-paid taxi "broken meter"
Airports, train stations, popular squares
Driver insists meter is broken, quotes ~3x the fair price; or detours via "shopping" stops earning commission.
How to avoid it: Use pre-paid taxi counter at airport, or Uber/Ola/Rapido apps. Insist on meter or agree price upfront.