Page 624 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

622  SOUTH INDIA

Samudrika Marine Museum,
run by the Indian Navy, has five
galleries devoted to the history,
geo graphy and anthropology
of the islands, and has a superb
display on marine life. The tiny
zoo at Haddo has successfully
bred saltwater crocodiles and
returned them to the wild.
Chatham Sawmills on Chatham
Island, 5 km (3 miles) north, is one
of the oldest and largest saw mills
in Asia. Established by the British
in 1836, this is where many of
the islands’ fast­disappearing
An aerial view of the capital, Port Blair species of trees, including the
towering padauk (Andaman
1 Port Blair “Black Waters”, reflecting the redwood), are processed.
atrocities that awaited the
South Andaman Island. 1,190 km
(739 miles) E of Chennai. * 100,200. prisoners. It remains Port Blair’s Environs
~ 3 km (2 miles) S of town centre, most prominent landmark. The nearest beach from Port Blair
then bus or taxi. g n Govt of India Of the original seven wings is the crescent­shaped Corbyn’s
Tourist Office, Junglighat Rd, (03192) laid out around a central Cove, 6 km (4 miles) south of the
236 348; Department of Information, watchtower, only four remain; capital. Viper Island, named after
Publicity and Tourism (INPT), (03192) three have been converted into a 19th­century British shipping
232 694. Travel permits: required for a hospital and are lined with vessel that was wrecked off its
the Andaman Islands (see pp734–5). cells, each 3 by 3.5 m (10 by 11 ft) shore, can be reached via a cruise
_ Island Tourism Festival (Dec/Jan). in size. Daily rations consisted of from Port Blair. Its sinister history
∑ andamans.gov.in two cups of drinking water and involves the local prison, which
two cups of rice. Executions was built in 1867 and whose
The capital, Port Blair, is located were frequent, and many were macabre gallows and torture
to the southeast of South made to undergo hard labour. posts can still be seen. Only
Andaman Island. The town Japanese troops, who occupied daytime visits are allowed as the
is a good base from the Islands during island has no inhabitants. About
which to travel World War II, 14 km (9 miles) from Port Blair lies
around the destroyed part of the Sippyghat Farm, where many
archipelago, and is prison. In 1945, the varieties of spices and indigenous
well equipped with British moved back, plants and shrubs are grown.
hotels, banks, tour re­established their
operators and headquarters at Port P Cellular Jail
sports complexes. Blair and closed Open 8:45am–12:30pm, 1:30–5pm
The town’s the jail. It is now Tue–Sun. Son et Lumière: 6pm &
tumultuous history a memorial to the 7:15pm daily (Hindi); 7:15pm Mon,
began in 1789, when political prisoners; Wed, Fri (English). &
Lieutenant Archibald a moving sound and
Blair of the British A row of tiny cells, light show is held
East India Company Cellular Jail here every evening.
conducted a survey The town’s other
to identify a safe harbour for the places of interest are scattered
Company’s vessels. He chose the around Aberdeen Bazaar, on
site of what is now Port Blair. Fifty the east side of town. The
years later the islands became a Anthropological Museum, west
penal colony. Those incarcerated of the bazaar, sheds light on the
were political activists involved islands’ tribal inhabitants and has
in the Indian Mutiny of 1857 (see a collection of rare photographs
p57); by 1864, the number of taken in the 1960s. The Aquarium,
prisoners had grown from 773 to also known as the Fisheries
3,000. In 1896, the construction Museum, at the eastern end of
of the Cellular Jail began; it soon MG Road, showcases hundreds
became an infamous symbol of of species of unusual fish, corals
colonial oppression. Designed and shells. Next door, the
specifically for solitary confine­ Andaman Water Sports Complex
ment, it earned the Islands the hires out rowing boats, jet skis The day’s catch, a boatful of fresh fish,
dreaded name of Kala Pani or and paddle boats. The clams and crayfish
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p703 and p718

622-623_EW_India.indd 622 26/04/17 11:49 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
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Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm