5 Noteworthy Museums You Should Include in Your Andaman Travel Itinerary

 

In most normal cases and for any casual tourist, must-visit locations in an exotic destination like that of Andaman Islands would be the beaches. Moreover, museums could be the last ones to be included in the travel itinerary of tourists holidaying here. However, once they visit these significant establishments of these islands, they will get to realise that all they had foreseen is wrong. These islands had been through both the ages of numerous indigenous tribes and foreign settlers, predominantly the British. Henceforth, the reminiscent and the studies were done on them are installed and explained in the well-maintained museums of Andaman. They are collected and preserved in a systematic way for posterity to see and analyse. Given below are the noteworthy museums you should include in your Andaman travel itinerary.

Cellular Jail Museum

Being one of the most notable names in almost every tour packages set up by popular operators, you would certainly have heard of this name during any instance of your travel. It was built by the British in the year 1906 to imprison the freedom fighters from the mainland. The three-storied structure was designed in such a way that none of these imprisoners would face one another. Apart from that, during their imprisonment, they had faced too much innumerable inhumane activities that were unimaginably brutal. It had exhibited many armoury and equipment that were used to hang the inmates, yet they are way different from the Fort St George Museum of Chennai.

But now, after converting them to a full-fledged museum, this 100-year-old structure had turned out to be a worthy information hub that would let its visitors be aware of the mishaps suffered by its past inmates with numerous exhibits and installations. Currently, this National Memorial does conduct power pact Light and Sound show, which would portray the history of the jail and the reason behind why they were known as ‘Kalapani’.

Location: Atlanta Point, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands – 744104.

Opening Hours: 08.00 am to 04.00 pm

Entry Fees: Rs.30 for Indians and Rs.100 for foreigners

Forest Museum

As they are situated in the premises of Chatham Saw Mill, one could predict that it could be in some way got to do with forests or woods. Those truly skilful artefacts installed here in the Forest Museum are carved out from the timbers of Padauk, Gurjan, Satinwood, Peuma and even Marble. These unique products in some way would be related to the culture and heritage of the Andaman Islands. So while you visit them, you may pick out any of those wooden products displayed for sale and take them back home as a valuable souvenir. Some of those products are sculpted by the workers of the Saw Mill.

Once venturing out, the tourists could roam around through the elegantly set garden, and witness numerous rare species of flora. Furthermore, in the proximity of the Forest Museum, you could also find a mini-zoo, where you could stop over. The museum is currently well maintained by the Forest Department of Andaman Islands.

Location: Chatham Saw Mill, Chatham Island, Foreshore Road, Haddo, Port Blair

Opening Hours: 10.00 am to 02.00 pm

Entry Fees: Rs.2

Zoological Survey of India Museum

The ZSI museum is another yet must-visit location to the tourists holidaying in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, owing to its significance and rich marine life possessed by them. Tourists who are also interested to hark the endemic species surviving in these islands will be having a great time while visiting the Zoological Survey of India Museum. Even the sight of flamboyant avian species flying to and fro across these green spaces could delight and rejuvenate you. Even otherwise, you could widen your knowledge about the popular fauna species to which the Andaman Islands are home.

Diverse kinds of butterflies, beetles, birds and mammals are also protected in this zoological museum. Besides that, various other aquatic creatures such as anemones, starfish, whales, corals and numerous dead fossils too are preserved here. The remnants of these underwater species are picked out from the very same Andaman Sea. As a result of which marine researchers often visit the museum for their studies, to acquire deep knowledge about these endemic creatures.

Location: Horticulture Road, Haddo, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands – 744102.

Opening Hours: 09.00 to 05.00 pm

Entry Fee: Free

Samudrika Naval Marine Museum

As its very name suggest, the Samudrika Naval Marine museum has got to do many things related to navy and marine creatures. They are owned and well maintained by the Indian Navy. It preserves aquatic species such as corals and deepwater fishes and to a greater extent, they had succeeded in their mission to protect the rich marine endemic species of Andaman. The Naval museum's exhibits include the dormant seashells and corals, which had been living in the Andaman Sea thousands of years ago.

Location: Opposite Teal House Guest House of Tourism, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands – 744102.

Opening Hours: 09.00 am to 05.00 pm

Entry Fee: Rs.20

Zonal Anthropological Museum

Unlike all other museums expounded here, the factor that makes Zonal Anthropological Museum a standout in the field in which it is specialised is Anthropology. When you are thinking about the group of humans that existed in these islands, they are not the present islanders of Andaman, but its indigenous tribes. The museum does briefly confer about the Jarawa tribe, North Sentinelese, Onges and Great Andamanese. Each of these tribes had got different sections in this unique gallery. Further, under the label of 'Mongoloids', two other tribes namely Nicobarese and Shompens are set up briefly in yet another part of the Anthropological museum. After analysing each of the exhibits and the installations arranged here, you will get to realise that the most dangerous and isolated tribe of the entire world is settled in the interior parts of the Andaman Islands. At the end of the day, visiting the Zonal Anthropological Museum will turn out to be the only source to know about them, as entry to their regions is completely banned.

Location: Phoenix Bay, Port Blair, Andaman

Opening Hours: 09.00 am to 04.30 pm

Entry Fee: Rs.10