Andaman Monument & Museums

Located at Port Blair, stood 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 central tower acting as its fulcrum and a massive structure comprising honeycomb like corridors. The building was subsequently damaged and presently three out of the seven prongs are intact. The Jail, now is a place of pilgrimage for all freedom loving people, has been declared as a National Memorial.The penal settlement established in Andaman by the British after the First War of Independence in 1857 was the beginning of the agonizing story of freedom fighters in the massive and awful jails 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.

During the British Rule convicts found guilty of violating the rules of the Penal Settlement, were put in fetters and were forced to work with their fetters on in this island. Freedom fighters like Nanigopal and Nandlal Pulindas, who had resorted to hunger strike at the Cellular Jail, were imprisoned at Viper Island. The jail at Viper, where prisoners deported from the mainland were confined, was built by the British under the supervision of Major Fort. Work on the prison was started in 1867. Owing to the working conditions, the jail earned the notorious name Viper Chain Gang Jail. Gallows built on top of a hillock, visible to all prisoners in the island, signified death.

The Anthropological Museum at Port Blair presents culture of Andaman Tribes. It was started in 1975-1976, the museum is an ethnographic museum. It illustrates the four Negrito Tribes of the Andamans, viz.., the Jarawas, Sentinelese, Great Andamanese and the Onges and two Mongoloid tribes of the Nicobar viz the Nicobarese and the Shompens. One can view the tools and model of weapons used by the Andaman and Nicobar islands and also encloses many photographs of different tribes and aborigines of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Forest museum maintained by Dept. of Forst & Environment offers an insight into forest activities through scale models and displays decorative pieces made of famous woods like Padauk, Marble, Peauma, Gurjan, Satin Wood, etc. The museum very typical in its contents displays the artifacts made out of timber. The Museum helps the visitor to get some insight in the forestry and related activities. One can see many attractive models in timber showcased here.

Chatham Saw Mill is one of the oldest and the largest in Asia. The Mill is situated in a small Island call Chatham connected to Port Blair by a bridge. It. The mill was built by the British in 1836. The mill cuts massive wood into different sizes and shapes of timber and is functioning as the main source of timber for government and private agencies at a moderate price. This mill processes many types of ornamental wood suitable for making furniture and handicraft.

The museum has a good collection of shells & Corals found in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is runned by the Indian Navy and is located near Andaman Teal House at Port Blair. This museum is aimed at generating awareness among the visitor about the environment in the ocean and the marine life. The Samudrika Marine Museum has five sections dealing with history of Andaman Islands, Geographical information, people of Andaman, Archeology and finally the Marine life.

Mini Zoo Situated at Haddo (Delanipur - Chatham road), it houses some of the rare species of endemic birds and animals found in these islands. The Zoo is credited with about 200 species of birds and animals and Salt water Crocodile, Andaman pig and Nicobar pigeon are two rare species of animals which can be spotted here.

 

Fisheries Museum (Aquarium) is located at Port Blair City Centre near Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex. This museum is an ideal place to visit for the tourists who are interested in marine life which displays the various species of marine life found in the Bay of Bengal and the Indo-Pacific Ocean. These varieties of marine life are exclusive to the Andaman Islands includes sharks, live corals, starfish and polyps, etc.