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Port Blair

Pop: 78,000 Area Code: 03192

Port Blair is the capital and the only decent-sized town on the islands. It is a pleasant town located on the east side of South Andaman Island.
The Island Tourism Festival is a cultural event lasting ten days. It is held at the end of February.

Orientation
Port Blair is spread out over several hills, so it is difficult to walk around. Most of the hotels, boat docks, and bus stations are in the main bazaar area called Aberdeen Bazaar. The closest beach is Corbyn’s Cove, 8km south of the center of town. The airport is 3km south of Aberdeen Bazaar.

Information
The helpful Government of India Tourist Office (ITDC) (33006) is in the Super Shoppe complex, near the airport (Mon to Fri 9 am to 5 pm). The office provides a printout of useful practical information.

The Andaman and Nicobar Tourist Office (32694) is near the GPO (Mon to Sat 10 am to 5 pm). They have information on tours and ferry schedules.

There is a tourist counter at the airport, which provides information about accommodations and sites on South Andaman Island.

The Chief Wildlife Warden (31371) in Haddo, west of the Phoenix Bay Jetty, can give information on wildlife, and travel to places such as Chirya Tapu and Mount Harriet.

You can reserve rooms in APWD guesthouses at the APWD Office (30215), near the Shompen Hotel.

The Superintendent of Police, in Aberdeen Bazaar, can extend permits.

Camping equipment can be rented from Andaman Teal House (A&N Tourism) in Port Blair.

Reference books about the Andaman Islands are available at the State Library, near the GPO (noon to 7 pm).

Travel Agencies and Tours
Well-established travel agents are A&N Tourism (32642) at Andaman Teal House; Island Travels (21358) at Aberdeen Bazaar; and Shompen Travels (32360) in the Shompen Hotel. Sunshine Tours arranges good tours of Port Blair.
Island Travel (33358) is an agent for Indian Airlines and Thai Airways. They also do foreign exchange and rent cars.

KLM Travels (32111; fax 34255) gives good environmental freely tours of the islands.
A tour boat departs daily at 3 pm from the Phoenix Bay jetty for a 1½ hr ride around the harbor. It stops briefly at Viper Island. You book it at the Marine Dept (20725).

Money
The State Bank of India changes cash and travelers checks (9 am to 1 pm). Island Travels (33358), near Sampat Lodge, Aberdeen Bazaar, changes money efficiently daily except Sun 2 to 4 pm. The higher-class hotels usually change money.
At the present time there is no where to get cash advances using a credit card. Most hotels do not take them.

Post and Faxes
The GPO is about 1km south of Aberdeen Bazaar. Next door, at the Telegraph Office (fax 21318), visitors can send and receive faxes.
Cellular Jail National Memorial

The British built this jail at the beginning of the 1900s. It once had seven wings, but only three remain. Many Indian freedom fighters were imprisoned here. It has a small museum. Open daily 9 am to noon and 2 to 5 pm. Admission free. There is a Sound and Light Show in English on Wed, Sat and Sun at 7 pm. (Rs 15).

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 the 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.

Where to Stay—Lower
Checkout time is often as early as 7 am in the morning, so you may want to ask about this.
The Youth Hostel (32459) has dorm beds for Rs 30 (Rs 50 for nonmembers) and a few private rooms.
Sampat (33752), Aberdeen Bazaar, has basic rooms with common bath for Rs 70/110 and with bath for Rs 125/175. The rooms with balconies are best.
Central Lodge (33632), Middle Point, is a popular, inexpensive hotel with basic rooms with common bath for Rs 70/90 and Rs 125 with bath. There is camping in the garden for Rs 25.
Hotel Jai Mathi (30836) has rooms with bath for Rs 120/140.
Jagannath Guest House (32140), Moulana Azad Rd, has good, clean rooms with bath for Rs 100/150. It is a well-managed, friendly place. It is a good value. Recommended.
Shah and Shah (32331), near Aberdeen Bazaar, has large clean rooms. It is a new, nice, recommended place.

Where to Stay—Middle
Hotel Shalimar (33953), on the road to Haddo, has rooms with bath for Rs 200/225 and Rs 350 with A/C. You can ask for a discount.
Hornbill Nest Yatri Nivas (A&N Tourism) (32018), around 1km north of Corbyn’s Cave, has clean rooms with two/four/six beds for Rs 300/350/450. It has a great location with good views. It can be booked at the tourist office. There may be a security problem.
Hotel Shompen (32360; fax 32425), 2 Middle Pt, has rooms for Rs 400 and Rs 800 with A/C.
Hotel Abhishekh (33565) has clean rooms with bath for Rs 250/300 and Rs 350/400 with A/C. It is a friendly, well-managed place.
Andaman Teal House (A&N Tourism) (32642), on the road to Haddo, has clean double rooms with bath for Rs 300 and Rs 450 with A/C. It has good views. Off-season discounts
Hotel Dhanalaxmi (33953), in Aberdeen Bazaar, has large rooms with bath for Rs 250/350 to Rs 550/550. The rooms in front can be noisy.
Holiday Resort (30516), Premnagar, has clean rooms with bath and TV for Rs 250/300 and Rs 350/450 with A/C. It is a good place.
Megapode Nest (32207; fax 32702), at Haddo, has spacious double rooms with bath, a TV and A/C for Rs 600. It is peaceful, has a good view from the terrace, and is a good value.
Nicobari Cottages (20207), next door, has rooms with bath and a good view for Rs 900. It is a good place and has a good restaurant.

Where to Stay—High
Sinclairs Bay View (32937; fax 31824), on the road to Corbyn’s Cove, has clean rooms with a good view of the sea for Rs 1700/1900 and Rs 1700/2200 with A/C. It has a good Indian restaurant. Located here is the Samudra Diving Centre.
Peerless Resort (33461; fax 33463), Corbyn’s Cove, is located in a quiet area next to the beach. It has A/C rooms for Rs 1800/2500 and A/C cottages for Rs 2900. Discounts available during the off-season.
Andaman Beach Resort (32463), Corbyn’s Cove, is in a great location surrounded by palm trees, next to a nice beach. It has rooms with balconies and nice cottages.
Welcomgroup Bay Island Hotel (32112; fax 32555), Marine Hill, has rooms for Rs 3100/4500, which includes meals. It has a nice garden, a good view and a pool.

Where to Eat
Islet Restaurant serves good Chinese and Indian food.
New India Cafe, on the ground floor of the Hotel Jai Mathi, serves inexpensive thalis.
Dhanalaxmi Restaurant is a popular place with good vegetarian food.
Delhi Cafeteria, across from Mountbatten Talkies, is a good, inexpensive place.
Ananda Restaurant, near the Hotel Dhanalaxmi, has low-priced thalis.
China Room (30759), near the Phoenix Bay Jetty, serves good Chinese food. Should be booked in advance.
Chinese Restaurant is a good outdoor place. Recommended.
Annapurna Cafe, Aberdeen Bazaar, is a popular place with great dosas and good breakfasts. Recommended.
The Waves, Corbyn’s Cove, is a good place.
Mandalay Restaurant, in the Bay Island Hotel, is a pleasant place to eat with good food.

Local Travel
Taxis wait at the west end of Gandhi Rd, across from the bus station. A taxi to Corbyn’s Cove should cost about Rs 60. There are regular buses to Wandoor (1½ hr).

Shompen Travels (32360), at the Shompen Hotel, can charter a boat for about Rs 10,000 per day.
Riding a bicycle can be difficult because of the hills. You can hire a bike at Aberdeen Bazaar for Rs 20 per day. Jagannath Guest House rents bikes.

Motorcycles can be rented from TSG Travels (32894), Babu Lane, in the center of Aberdeen Bazaar. Suzuki 100s or scooters are Rs 150 to Rs 200 per day. Jagannath Guest House and Singh Travels (33757) in Aberdeen Bazaar, rent motorcycles for Rs 150 to Rs 200 per day. There is a petrol station on the road to the airport, and also one west of the bus stand.

Ferry  The Marine Department (32742) and the Phoenix Jetty Boating Office have the schedules for boats and ferries going to other islands. The daily newspaper publishes ferry schedules. Snacks are sold on board.

There are boats to Havelock, Rangat Bay, Aerial Bay and Mayabunder. The boats to Rangat Bay go on two different routes—via Neil, Havelock, and Strait Islands, and via Baratang, Kadamtala, and Long Island.

Harbor ferries go from Phoenix Jetty to Bamboo Flats, Hope Town, and Ross Island. From Chatham Jetty, boats go to Bamboo Flats and Dundas Pt about every hour. There is a car ferry at 9 am.

Travel
Air Indian Airlines (34744, 33108; Airport: 32983; fax 31483), near the GPO, has flights from Calcutta ($200) to Port Blair four days a week. There are flights from Chennai ($200) to Port Blair four days a week on Indian Airlines. There are daily flights to Chennai ($200) on Jet Air (36911/22/33; Airport: 35911). Flights are often heavily booked and persons on waiting class do not usually get on. During the high-season flights can be booked out months in advance, so it is a good idea to book your return flight before coming to the islands. If your permit has almost expired, you may be able to go to the airline manager and be put on a priority waiting list. The office is open Mon to Sat 9 am to 1 pm and 2 to 4 pm.

Shompen Travels (20360), at the Shompen Hotel, books East-West flights.

The airport is 5km south of Port Blair. There is a bus run by the tourist office going to most hotels in Port Blair for Rs 20. From the airport to Aberdeen Bazaar by taxi should cost about Rs 40

Boat  There are usually two to four boats a month between Chennai or Calcutta and Port Blair. Boats are operated by Shipping Corporation of India (SCI). There is also a monthly boat from Visakhapatnam to Port Blair (may not depart).
The SCI office in Chennai is at Jawahar Building, Rajaji Salai (opposite the Customs House) (044 522-6873; 044 522-0841) and the SCI office in Calcutta is on the first floor at 13 Strand Rd (033 248-2354; fax 033 248-0377). The SCI office in Visakhapatnam is at AV Bhanoji (0891 565-597), near the main gate of the port.

In Port Blair the SCI office for the Calcutta boat is in Aberdeen Bazaar (33347). You may have to go to Phoenix Bay to book the Chennai boat.

To book a boat in Chennai or Calcutta, you must have three photos and the appropriate forms. You are supposed to book the boat at least four days before the boat departs. You may be required by the SCI to have a permit to visit the islands. It is best to arrange the return ticket from Port Blair before departing from Chennai or Calcutta. Bookings should be reconfirmed two days before the boat’s departure.

The trip from Chennai takes three or four days; and from Calcutta five days. Bunk class costs Rs 1100, but foreigners are usually not permitted to take this class. There is second class (four to six-berth) for Rs 2600, first class (two to four-berth) for Rs 3000, and deluxe (two-berth) for Rs 3600.
Meals costs about Rs 120 a day (usually a thali served three times a day). You may want to bring something extra, such as fruit and bottled water.

Bus  The bus station (32278) is in the center of town. Buses go to various places in the area.
There are buses to Rangat and Mayabunder in the morning. Tickets for these buses must be bought the day before departure at the office near the Phoenix boat jetty. Tickets go on sale at 2 pm, but you should be lined up early because the demand is heavy.

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