50,000 year old tribes, WWII, a bloody Japanese invasion and an infamous prison – much is unforgettable about Andamans. Today it might be the scuba diving capital of India and hot destination for all types of people, it has a fascinating story.
Here are the 5 museums that will tell you various aspects of the story.
Cellular Jail – Historical Hotbed of Port Blair
Cellular Jail in Andaman serves as a powerful reminder of India’s fight for freedom. Built by the British between 1896 and 1906, this remarkable structure, also known as ‘Kala Pani,’ represents the sacrifices of countless freedom fighters who faced unimaginable suffering within its walls.
The jail’s isolated location made escape nearly impossible. Among the notable prisoners were Veer Savarkar and Batukeshwar Dutt, who, along with many others, suffered inhumane treatment, solitary confinement, cruel manual labor, and severe punishments.
Architecture
The jail’s architecture is pretty interesting, resembling the spokes of a wheel with seven wings spreading out from a central tower. This setup ensured maximum security back in the day. Nowadays, only three wings are still standing, carefully preserved to keep their history. The central tower has been transformed into a museum.
Museum Experience
Visiting the Cellular Jail Museum in Andaman is a deeply heartrending experience. The museum is split into several galleries, each focusing on different aspects of the jail’s history and the freedom movement. Some highlights include the Freedom Fighters Gallery, prisoner cells that let you feel what the prisoners’ living conditions were like, and an Art and Sculpture Gallery that represents scenes from the freedom struggle. One of the most compelling parts of the visit is the evening Light and Sound Show, which brings the jail’s heart-touching history to life through powerful narration.
Visitors Information:
Cellular Jail Entry Fee: INR 30 – Indian Nationals | INR 200 – Foreign Nationals
Timings: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm open all days except on National Holidays.
Light and Sound Show Entry Fee: INR 300
Timings: 6.00 pm to 7.15 pm
Location: Click here
Anthropological Museum – Who’s Land Is It Really?
Established in 1975, this museum showcases artifacts, tools, and exhibits that highlight the traditional lifestyles, customs, beliefs, and art forms of Indigenous tribes.
Museum Experience
Thematic exhibits showcase how tribal communities evolved alongside nature, featuring life-size replicas of homes, ancient tools, ceremonial outfits, and interactive displays illustrating their daily practices. Guides and audiovisual presentations enrich the experience, providing insights into anthropological studies of these tribes.
Beyond artifacts, the museum provides glimpses into the traditional lifestyles of the Jarawas, including their hunting and gathering practices, and showcases cultural artifacts such as musical instruments from the Onge tribe and intricate Nicobarese handicrafts.
Moreover, ongoing anthropological research focuses on preserving tribal languages and understanding sustainable resource management practices through collaborations with local communities. Fascinating, isn’t it?
Visitors Information:
Entry Tickets Fee: INR 10 – For Adults | INR Free- For Children below 10 years
Timings: 9.30 am to 5.00 pm open all days except on Mondays and National Holidays.
Location: Click here
Samudrika Museum – Enter to see a Blue Whale Skeleton
If you’re in Port Blair, don’t miss the Samudrika Naval Marine Museum. Located centrally, it’s a must-visit for marine enthusiasts, showcasing the rich marine life and conservation efforts around the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, managed by the Indian Navy.
Museum Experience
Inside, you’ll find vibrant coral reefs, exotic fish, and interesting artifacts from historic shipwrecks. Discover a vast collection of marine life specimens and learn about the rich biodiversity of the Andaman Sea and the Indian Ocean.
The museum features interactive displays that offer a hands-on learning experience about oceanography and marine ecosystems, making it a must-visit for both kids and adults. You’ll also gain insights into the island’s maritime history, including naval warfare and historic vessels. Don’t miss the massive blue whale skeleton at the entrance, an inspiring sight.
Visitors Information:
Entry Tickets Fee: INR 50 – For Adults | INR 25 – For Children
Timings: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm open all days.
Location: Click here
Forest Museum – The Islands Are 86% Rainforests, Imagine!
The Forest Museum in Andaman and Nicobar Islands near Chatham Sawmill, managed by the Forest Department, showcases wooden artifacts representing forest life and local flora and fauna. It’s a must-visit for woodworking enthusiasts and offers insights into the region’s history through skilled craftsmanship.
Museum Experience
Explore the extensive collection of wooden art and sculptures, the super detailed artifacts carved from Padauk, Marble, Peauma, Gurjan, and Satin wood crafted by the skilled workers at Chatham Saw Mill, showing off the island’s rich natural beauty and craftsmanship.
One of the highlights of the museum is the mini zoo, where kids and adults can enjoy observing endemic fauna up close. From colorful butterflies to exotic birds and small mammals, the mini zoo offers a delightful learning experience about the island’s unique wildlife.
Visitors Information:
Entry Tickets Fee: INR 2- For Adults | INR Free- For Children below 10 years
Timings: 9.30 am to 5.00 pm open all days except on Sundays and National Holidays.
Location: Click here
Fisheries Museum – Fishes and Other Marine Friends
Want to brush up your knowledge of fishes and other marine friends before you dive into the islands? Then visit the Fisheries Museum in Port Blair on your day here!
Museum Experience
Featuring around 350 specimens including corals, shells, fossils, and skeletal remain, this place is nothing but perspective giving. We came out of the ocean didn’t we? Learn about incredible species, preserved using techniques with glass and formalin, with special dark rooms for habitat purposes. The specimens are mainly from the Indo-Pacific and the Bay of Bengal.
At the Fisheries Museum, you can observe the marine creatures living in the Indo-Pacific Ocean and Bay of Bengal, like leatherback turtle, hawksbill turtle, rabbitfish, mangrove crabs, reef fishes, butterflyfish, clownfish, and more. That’s not all, it has a diverse collection of unusual fish, corals, and shells.
Visitors Information:
Entry Tickets Fee: INR 5- For Adults | INR 3- For Children
Timings: 9.30 am to 5.00 pm Open on all days
Location: Click here
Customer Happiness
Secure Payments
No Hidden Costs
Fast Confirmations
Stay updated with all the excitement that Andamans has to offer
If you have a flair for writing, write for us and get featured.
Get lost or never. You decide. Download our handy tour guides to plan your trip.
Why Choose Us?
Local Expertise
The Choicest Experiences
Tailor-make your own holiday
The kayaking experience was super fun and knowledgeable. Mr.Ali was very friendly and ensured we had a clam and a relaxing paddling experience and enriched us with facts about mangrove trees, it’s ecosystem and Abadman islands and clicked some cool pics 🙂
Ross Island is ideally a two part trip, the morning to evening portion includes going around the island looking at the ruins from the era of the British and Japanese rule. the late evening portion includes a spectacular sound, light & video show (yes you read it correctly!!) which has been created specially for Ross island by Revathi (the actress)
This is a over hyped, and not worth the time and money spent to reach here. It used to be called the “Paris of the East” when the British settled here. But everything is destroyed now.
The only good place here is a beach that is on the other side. You will need to climb down and up a lot of steps to get there.
It was a perfect location for family fun, the erstwhile Ross Island has all the history of a mini Paris, albeit at the cost of all Indian labour and is an example of the British opulence over poverty stricken India. Perfect for taking pics and the picturesque light house was delightful. We took the buggy as we were a large family with kids. There are deer and peacocks too.
