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Cellular Jail (Port Blair)

Cellular Jail (Port Blair)

heritage site · Andaman & Nicobar Islands

State
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Type
Heritage Site

The Cellular Jail in Port Blair, known as Kala Pani, is a colonial-era prison built by the British between 1896 and 1906 to hold Indian freedom fighters in solitary confinement. Its original seven wings radiated from a central tower like spokes; today the surviving structure is a national memorial to the independence movement.

When to go

October to May is the best season for the Andamans; the evening Light and Sound show is the highlight of a visit.

Why visit

Pay tribute at a poignant symbol of India's freedom struggle, walk the preserved cell wings and gallows, and watch the moving evening Light and Sound show on its history.

Cultural notes

The jail held many notable freedom fighters and is closely associated with Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, after whom the Port Blair airport is named.

How to reach

By Air: Port Blair's Veer Savarkar International Airport is about 4 km away. By Sea: Passenger ships connect Chennai, Kolkata and Visakhapatnam. Locally the jail is in central Port Blair, reached easily by taxi or auto.

Cellular Jail (Port Blair) guide & itineraries

Shopping

Port Blair's Aberdeen Bazaar and government emporiums offer shell craft, pearls and wooden handicrafts; buy responsibly and legally.

Frequently asked questions

Why was the Cellular Jail called Kala Pani?
Kala Pani, meaning black water, referred to the dreaded punishment of transportation across the sea to this remote island prison, cutting inmates off from the mainland.
What can visitors see today?
The surviving cell wings, central tower, gallows and a museum, plus an evening Light and Sound show recounting the prison's history.

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