Under The Colonial Rule
Ever since Dr. James Pattison Walker arrived in Port Blair
aboard the East India Company's steam frigate 'Semiramis'
on 10th March 1858, this island remained under British occupation
till 1942. From 1942 to 1945, the island was under the occupation
of Japanese. However, the British reoccupied the island
in 1945 and later abandoned it.
During British occupation, this island was the seat of
power of the Britishers. It was developed into self-equipped
town ship with all facilities required for a civilized colony.
Dr. Walker, Chairman of the Andaman Committee, established
the infamous and the dreaded penal settlement with 200 convicts.
The Britishers persuaded the aborigines to come and live
in some huts at Ross Island and even established an Andaman
home for them in 1863. Later on the services of these Andamanese
were used to catch the escaping convicts from Ross Island.
Prime Attraction
The island with historical background and preservable
ruins is spread along an area of 0.6-sq-kms. With the ruins
and also with the historical background, the island has
gained a lot of popularity among the tourists. Navy has
also established a museum on the island known as ''Smritika''
depicting the history of the island
How to Get There
Ross Island is open for the tourists to visit during daytime
except Wednesday. Boat services are available from the Phoenix
Bay Jetty at 8.30 am, 10.30 am, and 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm.
It's a 10 minutes boat journey from the Phoenix Bay Jetty,
Port Blair to reach the islands.
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