Zoo
There are over 100 species of animals on the Andaman Islands
found nowhere else in the world. Some of them are in this
zoo, including Andaman pigs and Nicobar pigeons. They have
a successful saltwater crocodile-breeding program. Open
daily except Mon 8 am to 5 pm. Admission Rs 1.
Chatham Sawmill and Forest Museum
Timber is processed at this sawmill. Open 8 am to 2.30 pm.
In the Forest Museum near the zoo, there is an exhibit
of woods grown in the Andaman Islands. Open Mon to Sat,
8 am to noon and 3 to 5 pm. Admission free.
Anthropological Museum
This small, interesting museum contains photos of indigenous
tribal people, native dress, and tools. Open Mon to Sat
9 am to noon and 1 to 4 pm. Admission free.
Fishery Museum
This interesting museum and aquarium contains over 300 species
found in the Andaman Sea, including exotic fish and coral.
Open daily 9 am to 12.30 pm and 1.30 to 5 pm.
Samudrika Marine Museum
In this museum there are exhibits of coral, shells, and
displays on the history of the island. It is opposite Andaman
Teal House. Open Tues to Sun 9 am to noon and 2 to 5.30
pm. Admission Rs 1.
Water Sports Complex
At this place, near the Fisheries Museum, visitors can hire
sailboats, rowboats, and windsurfing equipment (Rs 40 for
half an hour). Snorkels can be rented for Rs 20 per hour,
but you can use them only here. Water skiing costs Rs 60
for fifteen minutes.
Viper Island
Viper Island, at the mouth of Port Blair Harbor, is where
prisoners were kept before the Cellular Jail was built.
How to Get There
Air:
Port Blair, on South Andaman, is served by fights from Calcutta
(Kolkata) (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday) and Chennai
(Monday, Wednesday and Friday). Sea: It's also possible
to get to Port Blair by ship. The principle sailings leave
Calcutta (Kolkata) and Chennai every one of two weeks, and
Vishakapatnam once every month or so.
Tourists arriving by plane can pick up the permit necessary
to visit the islands on arrival at Port Blair airport; passengers
travelling on a ship should obtain on at a Foreigners' Registration
Office before leaving India.
Local Transport:
Walking is tiring and time-consuming in hilly Port Blair,
even taking into account the minimal amount of sightseeing
the place offers, making transport essential. Yellow-top
taxis gather opposite the bus stand and they all have meters.
They are the best option one can have for a trip from the
center of town to Corbyn's Cove. No rickshaws, auto-or otherwise,
operate on the island.
Local buses run in frequently from the bus stand in central
Port Blair to Wandoor and Chirya Tapu, and can be used for
day-trips, though it's best to rely on one's own transport
to get around South Andaman. Bicycles can be rented from
Aberdeen Bazaar, but the roads to the coasts are most easily
covered on a Vespa or Motorcycle, both available for rent.
The petrol pump is on the crossroads west of the bus stand,
and there's another on the road towards the airport. Fill
up before one leaves town, as gas is hard to come by elsewhere.
