Port Blair
About the city
A breathtaking sea front, endless miles of soft white sand under your feet, swaying coconut palms, a beautiful blue sky smiling at you and a gentle breeze ruffling your haira holiday in Port Blair promises you this and more. You could call this beautiful and secluded capital, one of the world's best kept secrets, after the Da Vinci Code of course! A tropical paradise, the Island attracts many honeymooners. A turquoise blue sea, lush green spread and ethereal tranquility will all be trademarks of your stay here. You can go scuba diving or snorkelling into the deep waters of the sea, explore the infinite marine life, roam evergreen forests and deserted beaches, and see history upclose.Capital of the archipelago of 350 islands
The capital of the 350 odd islands of andaman and Nicobar, Port Blair is located at about 1,200 kilometres from Kolkata and Chennai. The superb beaches and fascinating marine life on the reefs coupled with the opportunities for water sports, bird watching or fishing makes Port Blair one of the most interesting and enchanting tourist destinations in the country.It was in 1789 that Captain Archibald Blair of the Bombay Marine (the East India Company's Navy) established a penal colony on this site, naming it Port Cornwallis. The first European settlement on the islands was established in 1858 near the site of the old penal colony. The colony was named Port Blair in honour of Captain Blair.
The islands andaman and Nicobar are home to some of the oldest tribal communities in the world. Though most of the tribes out here have modernized, some of them still continue to exist in the ‘primitive' stage and are hostile to outside interference.