Port Blair – Coastal Paradise
Port Blair Airport Directory (IXZ)
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The capital city of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands archipelago, Port Blair, is surrounded by lush forests, green hills and pristine beaches. On the surface a laidback Indian town, Port Blair will surprise you with its hidden coves, excellent museums, haunted islands and fascinating history.
Best time to visit: The best time to visit Port Blair is from October to February, where you can spend a few days in Port Blair before heading off to the more popular islands — like Havelock or Neil.
How to reach
By Air: Veer Savarkar International Airport is the nearest airport, located at just 2km away from the south of the city. IndiGo operates over 20 weekly, nonstop flights between Port Blair and Kolkata, Chennai & Bengaluru.
Getting around: Auto-rickshaws are the economic and comfortable way to move around the city. Local buses are also available in the town to make travel more convenient.
Baggage Allowance
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Book flights to Port Blair
Places to visit in Port Blair
Places to eat in Port Blair
Lighthouse Residency, Atlanta Point
A favourite for seafood, take your pick from fresh tiger prawns, squid, crabs and lobsters from the tank and have them cooked as you like. This rooftop restaurant on MG Road is large and airy, and the excellent seafood can be washed down with local beer if you want. The grilled fish, served with buttered rice and French fries and a beer to accompany it, is the best way to spend an afternoon.
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Mandalay Restaurant, Marine Hill
The restaurant at the Fortune Bay Hotel, boasts of an outdoor section overlooking the Bay of Bengal, Ross Island and Harriet Peak is a good pick for those looking for options including Indian and continental fare in a charming setting. Try the Andamani fish curry; a local delicacy served with rice.
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Amaya Lounge, Marine Hill
Possibly the chicest rooftop lounge bar in Port Blair, Amaya at Sea Shell Hotel, offers a good selection of seafood and other fares which can be washed down with your favourite poison. Opt for the Amaya Seafood Platter and their signature cocktails, while listening to some live music and pamper your other half with a perfect candlelit dinner overlooking the North Bay.
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Gagan Restaurant, Aberdeen Bazaar
This small eatery is known for its Bengali food, seafood and sweets, ideal for a quick meal in between shopping. Must try dishes include the Nicobari fish, crab curries and coconut chicken.
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Excel Restaurant, Dignabad
With its bamboo decor and cane chairs, this is a laid-back eatery that serves up some of the best international dishes in town. Their Israeli dishes are worth a try, as are the burgers, but the wholesome breakfast is a favourite amongst travellers and locals.
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Corbyn’s Delight, Corbyn’s Cove
With thick bay windows, a sandy cove and the waves right outside, this soothing restaurant is the perfect place for a date, or to relax with delicious food and a good book. While the seafood on order, including red snapper and lobsters, are not to be missed, but the simple yet yummy buffet is worth digging into if you’re having trouble choosing from the menu. The restaurant is at The Peerless Sarovar Portico, which opens out onto the beach.
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Shopping in Port Blair
While Port Blair is not necessarily known as a shopping hub, the town does have a bazaar and a few government emporiums. Our first choice would be Aberdeen Bazaar for colourful fabrics, wood artefacts, jewellery, Port Blair T-shirts and more. Don’t forget to bargain. The Sagarika Government Emporium is also an excellent option for pearl jewellery, home decor accessories made from shells, coconut lampshades and bangles and papier mache tribal masks.
Nightlife in Port Blair
Sound and Light Show: Detailing out the dark history of the Andaman Islands, sufferings and pain of freedom fighters in Jail through light and sound, it’s a must watch. It is the most popular means of nighttime entertainment in Port Blair.
Sea Sip: The place offers a perfect setting to enjoy your evening on the beach under the moonlit sky. Taste their exotic cocktails and feel pampered by the superb service of their staffs.
Nico Bar: Overlooking the scenic Bay of Bengal, this exotic place serves rich cocktails in coconut shells. Enjoy your evening under a starry sky while sipping interesting drinks made by the performing bartenders at the bar.
Pink Fly Lounge Bar: It is one of the famous bars in Port Blair due to its panoramic views of the ocean. The place features incredible music with superb remixes depending on the party theme in a quirky ambience with real motorbikes hanging from the ceiling. Do try their delicious tandoori dishes and various cocktails.
Where to stay in Port Blair
Fortune Resort Bay Hotel The ITC run property brilliantly lies on the edge of a cliff overlooking the same bay, pictured on the 20-rupee note. The quiet locality and bar overlooking the water are huge plusses for this premium but older property.
Sea Shell Located in the same vicinity as Fortune Hotel, this hotel is a Port Blair favourite but a tad overpriced for what’s on offer. The redeeming feature is their lovely rooftop lounge and bar, Amara, which offers good food, a chic ambience and great views among all Port Blair hotels.
Sinclairs BayView Located on the beachfront, the hotel's circular design means that almost all its rooms have a decent sea view. Located on the outskirts of Port Blair close to Corbyn’s Cove, the hotel also has the unique distinction of having a World War II-era Japanese bunker outfitted with a cannon on-site! The ambience and views from the open-air restaurant and garden which overlook the bay are lovely.
J Hotel This mid-range boutique-ish property with a pleasant rooftop restaurant is located in the centre of town, close to the Cellular Jail and offers decent rooms at a good value.
Hotel Lalaji Bay View A budget pick in Port Blair, Lalaji with its clean rooms, central location and the open rooftop restaurant is a backpacker’s favourite. An ideal stop for overnight stays in Port Blair as you wait for your ferry connection to Havelock or further.
Wildgrass Another option is to stay at Wildgrass, a forest lodge run by a retired Naval Commander and his wife, deep in the forest of South Andamans, on the southernmost tip of Chidiya Tapu. Spend your time gazing at the lush wilderness, eat the fresh catch of the day and revel in the lap of nature.
More reasons to visit Port Blair
Chidiya Tapu: For one of the best sunset spots in Port Blair, head to Chidiya Tapu, though the best time to go is early morning to witness the different birds found here, and to avoid the crowds.
Viper Island: A bright, beautiful tourist destination situated near Port Blair's harbour, was the primary jail for British prisoners before the Cellular Jail, was built. It has ruins of the gallows atop a hillock and other abandoned buildings and local legend claim that the island is haunted.
North Bay Island and Jolly Buoy Island: If water activities are what you came for then head to North Bay Island and partake in an underwater sea walk to spot a variety of fish, coral and other sea life. For more forays into the fantastic world of underwater sea life, head to Jolly Buoy Island and ride a glass-bottom boat, a perfect family and group activity.
Places to visit near Port Blair
Wandoor: One of the gems of Port Blair is Wandoor, a tiny village 30km southwest of town, from where you can access the famous Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park. The park comprises 15 mangrove creeks, tropical rainforests and reefs, with two snorkelling sites that are alternated between, depending on the time of the year. It is also an excellent place for avian enthusiasts, who can spot the white-bellied sea eagle amongst other birds of the region. Also at Wandoor, tucked away on a small, forested incline fringed by fields and mangrove swamp is the little known but beautiful ANET (Andaman and Nicobar Islands Environmental Team), a research organisation set up in the late 1980s to study and conserve the unique biodiversity of the islands. The ANET campus with 10 wooden cottages, simple meals and extensive library, is the perfect place to understand and live amongst the diverse ecology and environment of the archipelago. As a bonus, they also offer diving and snorkelling expeditions.
Rangat, Mayabunder and Diglipur: If you really want to take the road less travelled, head to Rangat and Mayabunder (Middle Andaman) and Diglipur (North Andaman), towns from where you can access the deep tropical forests and other under-explored parts of the island or trek up Saddle Peak, the highest peak in the region. Ferries to these places tend to be erratic so check the government website for timings, as they change seasonally. You can also go up by road via the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR), but do note that the road goes through protected tribal zones and can be crossed only at certain times of the day, accompanied by an official convoy. From Diglipur head straight to the tranquil beach of Kalipur and prepare to be amazed at the sight of varieties of turtles nesting, including Olive Ridley, Green Sea, Hawksbill and Leatherback Turtles. Stay at the remote and beautiful Pristine Beach Resort and even assist with collecting and marking of turtle eggs. It is a fantastic nature show, best viewed between mid-December to early April.
6E & Cheeky
Havelock and Neil are the most well-known and visited of the Andamans Islands open to the public. A more pristine version of Goa, Havelock beach is the perfect place to go diving and explore marine life or spend time taking in the stunning natural beauty lying on the soft white sands. Don’t miss out on the experience of going on a sea walk at the famous Elephant Beach. Havelock has many beachfront properties, along with great food and a chilled-out vibe. You can choose from the very basic and cheap Sea View Beach Resort to the beautiful and luxurious Barefoot at Havelock Resort, and everything in between. Many resorts have on-site diving companies and offer excellent package deals worth looking into. Neil is a quieter but less luxurious alternative to Havelock. More laid-back and untouched, it’s also perfect for snorkelling and diving. Other islands worth exploring, if you have the time and patience, are the remote beaches, coves, mangroves and tropical forests of Little Andaman and Long Island. Watch out for the crocodiles though! And for the truly adventurous, a trip to Barren Island, India’s only active volcano is a must. You can charter a boat with permission from the Forest Department and visit the island. Be warned; the volcano last erupted in 2015.
