It is aptly said that exploration is the essence of humankind and Port Blair is your nearest island to quench your thirst for exploration. Its many museums, exotic marine life, soothing sea breeze and rich flora and fauna set on an island with a deep history are like an alluring Pandora’s Box for the wanderlust soul.
You can get lost in the native tribal culture and rediscover your inner happiness with the captivating serenity of the crystal green waters of the Bay of Bengal. The challenging mountains and calm weather make Port Blair the ideal introduction to tropical island life for tourists.
Things to do at Port Blair
The Junglighat Jetty offers tourists a luxurious dinner cruise aboard the TGS Bella Bay, featuring mouthwatering delicacies and live music along with a DJ. For those seeing relaxation, there’s the Qua Spa that offers an exotic Balinese massage. Apart from these, there are water sports that one could indulge in as well.
Popular tourist attractions of Port Blair
The most popular is the Cellular Jail that today stands as a shrine to all the freedom fighters trapped here during the British colonial rule of India. Also, there are some other popular tourist attractions like the Anthropological Museum, Samudrika Naval Museum, Corbyn’s Cove Beach and Chatham Island that are worth visiting.
Places to shop at Port Blair
Shoppers are generally restricted to Port Blair as it has the highest concentration of local markets for tourists. People usually buy seashells, articles from the local mahua wood and trinkets made of bamboo. Besides these smaller shops, Sagarika Emporium is the biggest government-run handicrafts shop.
Best time to visit Port Blair
The usual tourist season would be from the months of November to the middle of May while the peak seasons are from the months of December to March. On the contrary, monsoons from June to September receive lesser footfalls.
Modes of transport
The most favoured mode of transport in and around Port Blair would be catamaran ferries when it comes to water and auto-rickshaws when it comes to land. Auto-rickshaw rides can get from rupees 50 to even 250 depending upon the distance. However, it can be quite an ordeal from the ergonomic point of view.
Weather at Port Blair
Port Blair receives substantial rainfall throughout the year except during the months of January, February and March. There is very little variation in the average weather other than this.
Airport at Port Blair
The Port Blair Airport was renamed Veer Savarkar International Airport (IATA: IXZ) in 2002 after the brave freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar who was a captive of the Cellular Jail at Port Blair for 10 years. It primarily operates as a civil enclave and shares its facilities with the Indian Navy.