Mahatma Gandhi Marine National
Park
The Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park at Wandoor
is at a distance of 29 Kms. from Port Blair covering
an area of 281.5 Sq.Kms. This Marine Park made-up
of open sea, creeks and 15 small and large islands,
is one of the best found anywhere in the world. Viewing
of rare corals and underwìde.
Every afternoon, between 2 and 5pm, the Water Sports
Complex, in north-west Port Blair, close to the Cellular
Jail, comes alive with the purr of outboard motors.
The is where you can rent a water scooter or speedboat,
and ride the waves towards Ross Island, or even be
launched into the air on a parasail for a fantastic
view of the harbour. Children can be left in the safer
haven of a calm seawater swimming pool.
Fisheries Museum
The Fisheries Museum near the Water Sports Complex
houses nearly 350 species of marine life, including
live coral, sharks, polyps and starfish.
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Chatham Saw Mill
Chatham Island, at the north tip of Port Blair, houses Asias
largest saw mill. Dating back to 1836, the enormous workshops
are built in the durable (and expensive) padauk wood. Since
the 1970s, logging on the islands has been banned and most
of the wood now comes by ship from Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand.
A guide will take you through the entire process of the logs
being unloaded, sorted, cut, planed and finally stored in
vast godowns to be shipped off to the mainland. Huge saws,
with 200 to 300 teeth, grind their way for two to three hours
before their teeth need to be sharpened again.
Samudrika Museum
The Samudrika is a museum run by the navy. It is divided
into five sections: history of the islands, their geography,
people, marine life and archaeology. It houses an impressive
display of coral and shells, and a large relief map of the
islands topography. Anthropological Museum
The Anthropological Museum, at Haddo in north Port Blair,
was set up in 1975. It displays tribal essentials and artifacts
such as boats, weapons, baskets, clothing, photographs, models
and records of exploratory expeditions undertaken over the
years. A well-stocked library provides the scholar with invaluable
references to tribal culture.
Forest Museum
Situated at Haddo (near to the Zoo), this museum offers an
insight into forest activities through scale models and displays
decorative pieces made of famous woods like Padauk, Marble,
Peauma, Gurjan, Satin Wood, etc., Open on all working days.
Marina Park
Just adjacent to the Water Sports Complex is the new amusement
park offering rides for children and adults alike: giant wheels,
paratrooper and dragon coaster. There is also a miniature
botanical garden and a statue of Netaji Subhas Bose here.
Gandhi Park
This beautiful park at Port Blair has facilities like amusement
rides, safe water sports, nature trail around the lake, garden,
restaurant and historic remains like Japanese Temple as well
as a bunker. The erstwhile Dilthaman tank, which was the only
source of drinking water to Port Blair, and the area around
it has been developed into Gandhi Park in an unbelievably
short time of 13 days.
Sippighat Agricultural Farm
Sprawling over an area of 80 acres is a Government farm.
Research & Development programmes for cultivation of spices
like cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, coconut and pepper are conducted
here. Research and Demonstration farm of the Central Agricultural
Research Institute (CARI) is nearby.
Mount Harriet
The summer headquarters of the Chief Commissioner during
the British Raj, this highest point near Port Blair is an
ideal place for a picnic or a trek. About 55 km from Port
Blair by road (15 km by ferry and road), Mount Harriet has
a Forest Guest House with lovely huts at a height of 365 m.
Nice for sunrises and sunsets.
Chidiya Tapu
Chidiya Tapu is the southern most tip of South Andaman. The
lush green mangroves, forest cover with numerous chirping
birds and the Sylvan Sands and Munda pahar beaches make it
an ideal picnic site. The forest guesthouse situated on top
of a hillock provides a fabulous view of isolated islands,
submerged corals and the breath-taking sunset.
Mini Zoo
Situated at Haddo (Delanipur - Chatham road), it houses some
of the rare species of endemic birds and animals found in
these islands.
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