Port Blair: Capital of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Port Blair at a Glance

• Status: Capital & largest town of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands Union Territory.
• Location: East coast of South Andaman Island.
• Population: ~140,000 (2021 est.).
• Role: Administrative HQ, sole commercial airport (IXZ), main port, tourism gateway.

Historical Significance

• 1789: British penal colony established (named after Captain Archibald Blair).
• 1858: Major penal settlement after 1857 Revolt — Cellular Jail (Kālā Pānī) built 1896–1906.
• 1942–45: Japanese occupation; Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose raised flag 1943.
• 1947: Became part of independent India.

Today

Port Blair blends colonial history (Cellular Jail National Memorial, Ross Island ruins) with tropical tourism (Corbyn's Cove, Chidiya Tapu, North Bay, Havelock/Neil ferries). It's the mandatory entry point for all visitors to the archipelago.