Page 625 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

AND A M AN ISLANDS  623

E Anthropological Museum 3 Ross Island
Tel (03192) 232 291. Open Fri–Wed. Ross Island. 2 km (1 mile) E of Port Snorkelling and
Closed Mon & public hols. Scuba Diving
Blair. g from Aberdeen Jetty. Travel
E Fisheries Museum permits: required for the Andamans
Tel (03192) 231 848. Open 9am–1pm, (see pp734–5). Only day trips allowed.
2–4:45pm. Closed 2nd Sat of month,
Wed & public hols. & A short ferry ride from Port
Blair leads to Ross Island, which
 Andaman Water served as the admin istrative
Sports Complex capital for most of the
Tel (03192) 232 694. Andaman Islands from 1858
Open daily.
until 1941. Ross Island’s
E Samudrika history, however, is
Marine Museum much older, for it
Tel (03192) 248 327 (ext. 2437). was the home of the
Open Tue–Sun. & indigenous Great
Chatham Sawmills Andamanese (see p627).
Open 8:30am–2:30pm Mon– Orchid in bloom Within 20 years of British
Sat, mornings are best. ^ occupation, diseases
such as syphilis and measles Snorkelling, a popular way to explore
2 Mount Harriet virtually wiped out the tribe, marine life
whose numbers dropped from
National Park 5,000 to just 28. Ross Island Snorkelling
was also the base for the British Snorkels can be hired out
South Andaman Island. 70 km for around ₹100 per day from
(43 miles) N of Port Blair. g From administrators of the penal numerous tour operators.
Chatham Wharf or Phoenix Bay colony in Port Blair, and was Popular venues are Corbyn’s
Jetty (Fisheries Jetty) in Port Blair to equipped with swimming pools Cove, Wandoor, Chidiya Tapu
Bamboo Flats Jetty, then taxi to park and bungalows. In 1941, the and Neil and Havelock islands.
entry point. Tickets for day visits Japanese converted the site
are available at entrance. & into a POW camp, and built war Scuba Diving
installations, remnants of which There are several registered
Some of the Andamans’ can still be seen. It now lies dive centres on Havelock
highest peaks are in Mount deserted, and the few signs Island. Andaman Bubbles,
Harriet National Park, lying of its colonial glory, such as the (03192) 282 140, is well
across the inlet from Phoenix chief commissioner’s house established, and charges
Jetty in Port Blair. Mount and the Anglican church, are ₹3,000 for a couple of dives
Harriet, at 365 m (1,198 ft), dilapidated and overgrown. near Port Blair, ₹3,500 for areas
is surrounded by evergreen The area is now under the further than Wandoor. It also
forests that support a Indian Navy, whose museum, runs diving courses. Andaman
remarkable biodiversity, Smritika, records the lives of Dive Club, (09474) 224 171,
predominantly birds such those imprisioned here. also offers diving courses.
as the great black In addition, Gold India,
woodpecker and the (993322384), Dive India
green imperial pigeon. (8001122205) and Barefoot
Well-marked hiking Scuba (9474263120) are also
trails include the 2-km registered diving centres on
the island. The Andaman
(1-mile) walk to Scuba Club, also on Havelock
Kalapathar, and the Island, is a pretty resort on
16-km (10-mile) trail the beach. www.andaman
to Madhuban Beach, scubaclub. com
where elephants are
trained for lumbering. Eco-Friendly Diving
Beware of leeches Coral reefs are sensitive
during the monsoon. and even the gentlest touch
The Forest Guest can kill them. It is important
House, on top of Mount that you avoid touching or
Harriet, offers fine views treading on them, and be
of Port Blair and Ross careful with your fins. Practise
Island. Visits and overnight des cending into the sea before
stays are possible with the actual dive, as descent
permission from the is often too fast, leading to
Chief Conservator of collision with reefs. Do not
use anchors near reefs.
the Forest, (03192) 230
152 or 233 270. The rare Narcondam hornbill

622-623_EW_India.indd 623 26/04/17 11:49 am