Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a Union Territory of India, lies in the Andaman district. Located on the east coast of South Andaman, Port Blair serves as the main entry point in a travel to the islands. Known as the Emerald islands, these islands are tropical paradises, many of them untouched by human inhabitation. The capital derives its name from Lieutenant Archibald Blair who tried to establish a colony here in 1789. Later it became a British penal colony, where Indian freedom fighters were incarcerated in the Cellular Jail or Kala Pani located on Ross Island. The island also served as the head quarters of Subhash Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army.

Other places of interest in Port Blair are The Naval Marine Museum (Samudrika) and the museums of Anthropology and Fisheries and Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, which is 29 kms from Port Blair. The Chatham saw Mill in the northern most edge of Port Blair is one of the oldest Mills in Asia. Corbyn’s Cove is a picturesque beach ideal for sea bathing.

For the lovers of water sports and those interested in marine flora and aquatic life, there is God’s plenty in these islands. The seas around the Andaman and Nicobar islands are relatively unexplored and unspoiled. Many of the species of fish and coral are unique to the area. Adventure sports like trekking, island camping, snorkeling, scuba diving, harbor cruises etc are some of the activities available here. For the nature lovers, the islands offer rich and varied delights with rare flora and fauna flourishing undisturbed in the thick green forests.