Port Blair

Port Blair, officially renamed Sri Vijaya Puram in 2024, is the capital and main gateway of India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Built across hilly terrain facing the Bay of Bengal, it blends colonial landmarks, a working waterfront and lush tropical surroundings, making it the natural starting point for exploring the archipelago.

The city's best-known landmark is the Cellular Jail, a former colonial prison preserved as a national memorial, where evening sound-and-light shows recall the islands' role in India's freedom struggle. Nearby Ross Island, now Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island, and the Chatham Saw Mill reveal layers of the British-era past, while the Anthropological Museum and Samudrika Naval Marine Museum document indigenous communities and regional marine life.

Central neighbourhoods such as Aberdeen Bazaar and Haddo concentrate markets, hotels, restaurants and ferry terminals, while Corbyn's Cove offers a relaxed beach close to town. From Port Blair, travellers board ferries to popular islands including Swaraj Dweep (Havelock) and Shaheed Dweep (Neil), known for beaches, reefs and diving.

Port Blair also serves as the administrative and commercial heart of the union territory, handling trade, government offices and the islands' main air and sea connections. Its seafood-focused dining, local bazaars and year-round marine activities draw both leisure visitors and people travelling on business or official work.

As the entry point to one of India's most remote and biologically rich island groups, Port Blair offers a practical base where history, island logistics and tropical scenery come together.