Port Blair

Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram)

Quick Links to Port Blair

About Port Blair
How To Reach
By Flight
By Ship
Entry Formalities
Places To Visit
Weather
Reaching Other Islands From Port Blair

About Port Blair

Port Blair is the capital city of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a union territory located in the Bay of Bengal, India. The islands have gained popularity among the folks of India and of International nationality. Tourism and its related activities are there only in Andamans. Nicobar is part of these islands but it is a tribal restricted area and hence is not allowed for Tourist visits. Port Blair is the only entry point to the Andaman Islands. The only commercial airport in Andaman is located in Port Blair.

In this article we have brought to you an introduction and detailing on the capital town of A & N Islands – the Port Blair. Port Blair is the gateway to the entire island and Port Blair can be accessed by air and sea.

How to reach Port Blair?

The capital city of the Andaman Islands, Port Blair can be reached by air and sea. There are flights and ships available from different points in mainland India.

By Flights:

For travelers visiting for a fixed duration/on a planned holiday, flights are the only suggested option to reach these islands. An approximate distance of 1300 Kms from Mainland India to the island by air, in a non-stop flight, is covered in 2.5 Hrs maximum.

Airlines such as Air India, Spicejet, Vistara, Go Air, and Indigo fly to Andaman and Nicobar Islands and will land in Port Blair. Currently, Port Blair has the only commercial airport. Direct flights are operating from Chennai, Bangalore, Delhi, and Kolkata. Flights from Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad are operational during the season time by Go Air/Indigo. Please check the official website of the airlines to know more about the flights to Port Blair (IXZ)

By Ship:

Andaman Islands can be reached by sea as well; some ships are available to the islands. The major ports have ships that sail to Andamans from Chennai, Kolkata, and Vizag. There are government-operated ship services that can be availed. The tickets for the ships can be booked through the Directorate of Shipping/ Shipping Corporation of the concerned ports. If the weather is clear the journey usually takes up to 2.5-3 days to reach the Andaman Islands. The frequency of sailing to and fro from Kolkata is usually once or twice in a month, in Chennai and Vizag it is just a single sailing per month. (And all the journeys depend on the weather conditions.). Schedule of the latest sailing can be referred at Ship schedule to Port Blair

We always recommend the tourists to take flights to Andaman Islands as it is time-saving and convenient. Ships can also be taken to the islands if the tourists are coming on a long vacation it will be a different experience to sail, we usually do not suggest ship journeys due to the long journey and weather conditions that might become an issue during the journey.

Are there any entry formalities to enter Port Blair?

No entry formality has to be followed to enter the Andaman Islands for Indian Nationals.

Foreign Nationals

All the foreign nationals/ NRIs / OCI Card Holders have to mandatorily produce their original passport copies at the immigration counter on reaching the Port Blair airport or Sea Port for verification. All the foreign nationals require a permit (RAP – Restricted Area Permit) to visit the Andaman Islands, which is easily available on arrival at Port Blair by flight or ship from the Immigration Authorities for 30 days subject to availability of valid visa. Currently, the compulsion of RAP has been removed from 30 Islands. Details of the same can be referred to on the official website of Andaman Tourism entry for foreigners.

Indian Nationals

A visa is not required for Indian Nationals to visit Andamans. A valid ID proof issued by competent authorities is required. PAN Card is not accepted as an ID proof. No specific permit is required for the Indian Nationals to visit these islands, however, entering the tribal areas that are restricted are strictly prohibited. To enter the areas occupied by Defense/ Paramilitary forces and any other sensitive areas require proper permissions from the authorized agencies.

Andaman islands is a strategic location, entry formalities to the islands may change at very rare occasions. In such cases reach us to understand any recent changes to the entry formalities and fees while entering Port Blair.

Places to Visit in Port Blair

Port Blair has a lot of places to visit, if you compare all the islands with Port Blair then Port Blair actually has the most number of places to visit in Andaman. From historical places to beaches, Port has a lot to explore and experience. Below is the list of places to visit :

1) Visit the Historical Cellular Jail and the Light and Sound Show

Cellular Jail is one of the best places to visit on Day 1 of your tour plan in Andaman. This place can be visited both during the day and evening. In the evening, only the light and sound show will be operational and the Jail visit is closed.

2) Visit the Coral Island of Port Blair, North Bay Island

North Bay Island is one of the best places for water sports activities in the Andaman Islands. All kinds of activities are available here for water sports lovers. From Snorkeling, Scuba Diving, Sea Walking, Parasailing and Glass bottom boat rides all activities are available here at this place.

3) Ross Island a.k.a Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island

Ross Island was the first administrative settlement of the British in the islands. If you are looking for a historical experience at Port Blair then this is another must-visit place in Port Blair. A ferry ride from the water sports complex has to be taken to reach this place.

4) Corbyns Cove Beach

Corbyns Cove beach is one of the closest beach to the capital city Port Blair. This beach can easily be reached via cab. Activities such as Jet Ski Ride, Sea Kart, Boat Ride and Parasailing is available at this beach. The road to reach this beach is beautiful.

5) Chidiatapu

Sunset at Chidiatapu is one of the most visited places in Port Blair. Evening at Chidiatapu is something people love to experience. Around 30 kms from the main city Port Blair, Chidiatapu provides a very calming experience. You can also trek to Mundapahad from Chidiatapu.

6) Baratang Island

Now, from Port Blair, you can travel to the middle Andaman Islands easily. Baratang Island in the middle Andaman is one of the places that offers a very unique experience to travelers. From tribal reserver, limestone caves, mangrove boat ride to mud volcano you can experience all of these in one single place.

7) Jolly Bouy Island

Jolly Bouy Island under the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National reserve is another amazing place to visit. The rich marine life at Jolly Bouy Island cannot be compared to any other locations around Port Blair. Permits have to be procured to visit this location in Port Blair.

8) Museums and Parks

Port Blair also has various museums and parks that can be visited during the day.

9) Flag Point

Flag point is a historic place where Netaji Subhash Chandra bose hoisted a tricolor flag on Indian soil for the first time in 1943. This place has become a major tourist place where people come and spend their time.

Weather in Port Blair, Andaman Islands

The climate in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a warm tropical climate which is why the weather is pleasant most of the time. Port Blair has humid weather and no winter season, the monsoon lasts up to 120 days and the rainfall varies from medium to heavy. The Monsoon sets in towards the end of May. There is no fury of hot summer or the chilling winter, nor water clogging or traffic jams due to monsoon. For those who want to enjoy nature, beaches, sightseeing and a pleasant holiday, throughout the year it’s a good season for vacation. The mean temperature ranges from 25-27°C.

Brief History of Port Blair

“Port Blair” got its name from the Bombay Marine lieutenant Archibald Blair who discovered this place. The city does not have all the facilities that are available in mainland India, but still, Port Blair is the lifeline of the entire group of islands. People from all the corners in this island are dependent on the capital town for the urban facilities – at least for the reason that the services or commodities brought in as imports from mainland India, is easily available here.

The famous Battle of Aberdeen took place in Port Blair that was fought between the native Andamanese and the British. The islands were captured by the Marathas and the Cholas for a while before the British took control over the islands and exercised their rule on the islands until independence. The Japanese too has occupied the island forcefully during World War II and moved out later. In 1943 the first flag hosting took place in Port Blair. This same location now has been developed and tourists can see the flag point when they visit.

How to reach other islands from Port Blair?

Port Blair is the only point from where all the other islands in Andamans can be accessed and there are various ferries, boats, and available cruises. Transfers from Port Blair to Havelock Island and the other islands are possible through the following ways:

Government ferries:

Regular government ferry services are available from Port Blair to almost all the major islands. The sailing schedule for these ferries is published in the Administration’s News Paper i.e. The Daily Telegrams and Dweep Samachar or on the official website. But the ticket booking has to be done offline at the STARS counters in the Phoenix Bay harbor or from the government authorized Common Service Centers nearby. The tickets have to be booked three days before departure or on the day of sailing due to the high demand.

Private ferry:

There are private luxurious cruises that carry out from Port Blair’s Phoenix Bay Harbor & Haddo Wharf for Swaraj Dweep (Havelock) & Shaheed Dweep (Neil) daily. These cruises mention their sailing schedules and offer pre-booking facilities of tickets on their respective websites which makes the transfers definite well in advance. The cruise operators to these islands are Makruzz, Sea Link Cruise, Green Ocean Cruise, and ITT Majestic. All ferry bookings to Andaman can be done online.

By Road:

Only the Middle and North part of Andaman can be visited from Port Blair by road. The islands in the North Andamans are halfway connected via road and private car rentals are available for hire in Port Blair. You can visit Diglipur, Mayabunder, Rangat and Baratang from Port Blair via road way.

Best Locations & Hotels to Stay in Port Blair

Port Blair has a wide range of accommodation options located at various locations and corners. But it is always suggested that you choose to stay close to the prime locations of the city such as Phoenix Bay, Junglighat, Foreshore Road, Marina Park and Aberdeen Bazaar. Numerous properties are offering great accommodation at Port Blair with good services. The hotels and resorts in Port Blair fall under different categories for all kinds of tourists, whether it is a luxury hotel or a pocket-friendly hotel you can find properties as per your budget in this city.