Port Blair - Revision history

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← Older revision		Revision as of 11:05, 4 May 2026
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	\| website = {{URL\|https://pbmc.gov.in/}}		\| website = {{URL\|https://pbmc.gov.in/}}
	\| footnotes = As per the [[2011 Census of India\|2011 census]], Port Blair had a population of 108,058.<ref name="Census">{{cite web\|title=Census of India\|url=https://www.census2011.co.in/data/town/804041-port-blair-andaman-and-nicobar-islands.html\|work=[[2011 Census of India]]\|access-date=10 May 2015}}</ref> The municipal limits were expanded from {{cvt\|17.74\|km2}} to {{cvt\|41.22\|km2}} in 2015, and the corresponding population as per the revised limits was given as 140,572 (as per the 2011 census).<ref name="pbmc"/>		\| footnotes = As per the [[2011 Census of India\|2011 census]], Port Blair had a population of 108,058.<ref name="Census">{{cite web\|title=Census of India\|url=https://www.census2011.co.in/data/town/804041-port-blair-andaman-and-nicobar-islands.html\|work=[[2011 Census of India]]\|access-date=10 May 2015}}</ref> The municipal limits were expanded from {{cvt\|17.74\|km2}} to {{cvt\|41.22\|km2}} in 2015, and the corresponding population as per the revised limits was given as 140,572 (as per the 2011 census).<ref name="pbmc"/>
	~~\| demographics1_info1 = {{hlist\|[[Hindi]]\|[[Indian English\|English]]}}~~
	\| population_total = 140572		\| population_total = 140572
	\| population_density_km2 =		\| population_density_km2 =
	~~\| demographics_type1 = [[Language]]s~~
	~~\| demographics1_title1 = Official~~
	\| timezone = [[Indian Standard Time\|IST]]		\| timezone = [[Indian Standard Time\|IST]]
	\| utc_offset = +5.30		\| utc_offset = +5.30
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	The town is home to the [[Veer Savarkar International Airport]], the only major airport in the islands, and [[Port Blair Port]], and serves as the major gateway for the islands. It is connected with [[mainland India]] by both air and sea, with a two to three-hour flight from mainland India and a three to four days voyage by sea from Chennai, Kolkata, or [[Visakhapatnam]]. It is home to the air base [[INS Utkrosh]] and the naval base [[INS Jarawa]] of the [[Indian Navy]], and the [[Andaman and Nicobar Command]], the only integrated tri-command of the [[Indian Armed Forces]]. It also hosts various sea and air bases of the [[Indian Coast Guard]] and the [[Andaman and Nicobar Police]].		The town is home to the [[Veer Savarkar International Airport]], the only major airport in the islands, and [[Port Blair Port]], and serves as the major gateway for the islands. It is connected with [[mainland India]] by both air and sea, with a two to three-hour flight from mainland India and a three to four days voyage by sea from Chennai, Kolkata, or [[Visakhapatnam]]. It is home to the air base [[INS Utkrosh]] and the naval base [[INS Jarawa]] of the [[Indian Navy]], and the [[Andaman and Nicobar Command]], the only integrated tri-command of the [[Indian Armed Forces]]. It also hosts various sea and air bases of the [[Indian Coast Guard]] and the [[Andaman and Nicobar Police]].

	The indigenous inhabitants of the region were the [[Andamanese peoples\|Andamanese]]. In the late 18th century CE, the [[British East India Company\|British]] colonised the [[Andaman Islands]], and established a [[naval base]], and a [[penal colony]], which was abandoned two years later. On 22 February 1858, the British re-established a colony at Port Blair, and a new [[Ross Island Penal Colony\|penal colony]] was established on the [[Ross Island, South Andaman district\|Ross Island]] near Port Blair, mainly to house the prisoners of the [[Indian rebellion of 1857]]. In 1872, the [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]] were united under a single command and administered by a chief commissioner based ~~out of~~ Port Blair. The [[Cellular Jail]] was completed in 1906, and used to house [[political prisoner]]s and [[Indian Independence movement\|independence activists]]. During [[Second World War]], the [[Empire of Japan\|Japanese]] captured Port Blair on 23 March 1942, and it was retaken by the British on 7 October 1945. After the [[Indian Independence Act, 1947\|Indian Independence]] in 1947, the Andaman and Nicobar islands became part of the [[Dominion of India]], and later a [[union territory]] with the capital at Port Blair.		The indigenous inhabitants of the region were the [[Andamanese peoples\|Andamanese]]. In the late 18th century CE, the [[British East India Company\|British]] colonised the [[Andaman Islands]], and established a [[naval base]], and a [[penal colony]], which was abandoned two years later. On 22 February 1858, the British re-established a colony at Port Blair, and a new [[Ross Island Penal Colony\|penal colony]] was established on the [[Ross Island, South Andaman district\|Ross Island]] near Port Blair, mainly to house the prisoners of the [[Indian rebellion of 1857]]. In 1872, the [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]] were united under a single command and administered by a chief commissioner based at Port Blair. The [[Cellular Jail]] was completed in 1906, and used to house [[political prisoner]]s and [[Indian Independence movement\|independence activists]]. During [[Second World War]], the [[Empire of Japan\|Japanese]] captured Port Blair on 23 March 1942, and it was retaken by the British on 7 October 1945. After the [[Indian Independence Act, 1947\|Indian Independence]] in 1947, the Andaman and Nicobar islands became part of the [[Dominion of India]], and later a [[union territory]] with the capital at Port Blair.

	The city was ~~originally~~ named after [[Archibald Blair]], an officer of the [[Royal Indian Navy]], who colonised the region in the late 18th century CE. On 13 September 2024, the [[Government of India]] officially renamed the city to Sri Vijaya Puram.		The city was named after [[Archibald Blair]], an officer of the [[Royal Indian Navy]], who colonised the region in the late 18th century CE. On 13 September 2024, the [[Government of India]] officially renamed the city to Sri Vijaya Puram.

	==History==		==History==

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Reverted edits by 2405:201:6805:129:E0EC:A0E8:468F:6C97 (talk) to last version by 2402:8100:30AE:4208:D42C:1D7E:C624:1ECE

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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2019}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2013}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Port Blair
|settlement_type = City
| image_skyline = {{Photomontage
| photo1a = Port Blair - View while landing (15731231295).jpg
| photo2a = Corbyns cove beach,Port Blaire,Andaman - panoramio.jpg
| photo2b = View from South Point, (Port Blair, India).jpg
| photo3a = Andaman Nights.jpg
| size = 280
| color = transparent
| border = 0
}}
|image_caption = '''From upper left''': Aerial view of Port Blair, A Beach in Port Blair, View from South Point, Port Blair at night.
|imagesize =
|pushpin_map = India Andaman and Nicobar Islands#Bay of Bengal
|pushpin_label_position = right
|pushpin_map_caption = Location in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
|subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
|subdivision_type1 = [[States of India|Union Territory]]
|subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon image|Andaman and Nicobar Administration Banner.png}} [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[Districts of India|District]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[South Andaman district|South Andaman]]
|subdivision_type3 =
|subdivision_name3 =
|subdivision_type4 =
|subdivision_name4 =
|government_type = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–Council]]
|governing_body = Port Blair Municipal Council (PBMC)
|leader_title =
|leader_name =
|established_title =
|established_date =
|area_footnotes = <ref name='pbmc'>{{cite web|title=Port Blair City|url=https://testpbmc.andaman.gov.in/about}}</ref><ref name='Port Blair Info'>{{cite web|title=Port Blair Info|url=http://amrut.gov.in/upload/saap/5a5f11b5d1473AndamanNicobarIslands.pdf}}</ref>
|area_total_km2 = 41
|population_as_of = 2011
|population_footnotes = <ref name='pbmc'/><ref name='Port Blair Info'/><ref name="2011 census data">{{cite web|title=Census of India Search details |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=707966|publisher=censusindia.gov.in|access-date=10 May 2015}}</ref>
|population_total = 140572<ref name="2011 census data"/>
|population_density_km2 =
|timezone = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
|utc_offset = +5.30
|coordinates = {{coord|11|40|06|N|92|44|16|E|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes =
|elevation_m = 16
|blank_name = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
|blank_info = [[Tropical monsoon climate|Am]]
|footnotes =
}}

'''Port Blair''' ({{Audio|Port_Blair.ogg|pronunciation}}) is the capital city of the [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]], a [[union territory]] of [[India]] in the [[Bay of Bengal]]. It is also the local administrative sub-division (''[[tehsil]]'') of the islands, the headquarters for the [[Districts of India|district]] of [[South Andaman]] and is the territory's only notified town.

Port Blair serves as the entry point for visiting the [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]. Port Blair is connected with [[mainland India]] by both air and sea. It is a 2-to-3-hour flight from mainland India to Port Blair's [[Veer Savarkar International Airport]], and 3–4 days by sea to reach [[Kolkata]], [[Chennai]], or [[Visakhapatnam]] from Haddo Wharf in Port Blair. It is home to several museums and a major naval base [[INS Jarawa]] of the [[Indian Navy]], along with sea and air bases of the [[Indian Coast Guard]], [[Andaman and Nicobar Police]], [[Andaman and Nicobar Command]], the first integrated tri-command of the [[Indian Armed Forces]] and the [[Indian Air Force]].<ref name="nicanc">{{cite web|title=Andaman and Nicobar command|url=http://ids.nic.in/ancommand.htm|publisher=NIC|access-date=1 July 2013}}</ref>

Port Blair is also famous for the historic [[Cellular Jail]] and other small islands like Corbyn's Cove, Wandoor, [[Ross Island, South Andaman district|Ross]] Island, [[Viper Island]] etc.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Places to visit in Port Blair |url = http://www.andamansguide.com/place-to-visit-in-port-blair|website = Andamansguide|date = 21 September 2016|access-date = 2016-10-13}}</ref> which were once home to British colonists. Port Blair has been selected as one of the cities to be developed as a [[smart city]] under the [[Smart Cities Mission]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/kMLIQKW3xIqOUzFJ5sZadN/Smart-cities-More-names-of-cities-to-be-announced-today.html|title=13 cities included in Phase 1 of Smart Cities Mission|last=Khanna|first=Pretika|date=2016-05-24|newspaper=[[LiveMint]]|access-date=2017-01-04}}</ref>

[[File:Andaman Club, Port Blair, India.JPG|thumb|Andaman Club, Port Blair]]

==History==
[[File:Port Blair 1872 Ross Island Penal HQ.jpg|thumb|200px|left|The Ross Island Prison Headquarters, 1872]]

===Pre-history===
The indigenous inhabitants are the [[Andamanese peoples|Andamenese]]. [[Radiocarbon dating]] studies of the [[Midden|kitchen refuse dumps]] from the mounds excavated by the [[Anthropological Survey of India]] at Choladari near Port Blair indicate human occupation for at least 2,000 years,<ref name=wiresen4>{{cite web | url=https://www.downtoearth.org.in/interviews/environment/-leave-the-sentinelese-alone--61317 | title=Leave the Sentinelese alone | first=Rajat | last=Ghai | publisher=downtoearth.org.in | date=27 November 2018 | access-date=3 February 2019 }}</ref><ref name=wiresen5>[https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/call-off-search-for-us-mans-body-on-sentinelese-island-in-andamans-conservationists-to-police-1953876 US Man's Body Should Be Left Alone, As Should The Andaman Tribe: Experts], [[NDTV]], 27 November 2018.</ref>{{Better source needed|date=December 2020}} although they are likely to have diverged from the inhabitants of the mainland significantly earlier.

===Modern history===
In 1789 the Government of [[Bengal Presidency|Bengal]] established a penal colony on [[Chatham Island (Andaman and Nicobar Islands)|Chatham Island]] in the southeast bay of [[Great Andaman]], named Port Blair in the honour of [[Archibald Blair]] of the [[East India Company]]. After two years, the colony moved to the northeast part of Great Andaman and was named Port Cornwallis after Admiral [[William Cornwallis]]. However, there was much disease and death in the penal colony, and the government ceased operating it in May 1796.

In 1824 Port Cornwallis was the rendezvous of the fleet carrying the army to the [[First Anglo-Burmese War]]. In the 1830s and 1840s, shipwrecked crews who landed on the [[Andaman Islands|Andamans]] were often attacked and killed by the natives, alarming the [[British Raj|British government]]. In 1855, the government proposed another settlement on the islands, including a convict establishment, but the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857|Indian Rebellion]] forced a delay in its construction.

However, since the rebellion provided the British with a lot of new prisoners, it made the new Andaman settlement and prison an urgent necessity. Construction began in November 1857 at the renovated Port Blair, avoiding the vicinity of a salt swamp which seemed to have been the source of many of the old colony's problems. The penal colony was originally on [[Viper Island]]. The convicts, mostly [[political prisoner]]s, suffered [[life imprisonment]] at [[Penal labour|hard labour]] under cruel and degrading conditions. Many were hanged, while others died of disease and starvation. Between 1864 and 1867 a penal establishment was also built with convict labour on the northern side of Ross Island.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/features/andaman/stories/2004081500270300.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2008-12-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227180955/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/features/andaman/stories/2004081500270300.htm |archive-date=2008-12-27 }} T. Ramakrishnan, "Notorious Once, It Stands Shrouded in Silence"</ref> These structures now lie in ruins.<ref>http://www.galenfrysinger.com/ross_island.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304105737/http://www.galenfrysinger.com/ross_island.htm |date=4 March 2016 }} Ross Island</ref>

As the [[Indian independence movement|Indian freedom movement]] continued to grow in the late 19th century, the enormous [[Cellular Jail]] was constructed between 1896 and 1906 to house Indian convicts, mostly political prisoners, in [[solitary confinement]]. The Cellular Jail is also known as ''Kala Pani'' (translated as "Black Waters"), a name given to it due to the torture and general ill-treatment towards its Indian convicts.

The airport at Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar's capital, has been named [[Veer Savarkar International Airport]]. The commemorative blue plaque on India House fixed by the Historic Building and Monuments Commission for England reads "[[Vinayak Damodar Savarkar]] 1883–1966 Indian patriot and philosopher lived here."

In [[World War II]] the islands were [[Japanese occupation of the Andaman Islands|occupied by the Japanese]] on 23 March 1942 without opposition from the garrison. British forces returned to the islands in October 1945.<ref>{{cite book|author=Jayant Dasgupta|title=Japanese in Andaman & Nicobar Islands: red sun over black water|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aw5uAAAAMAAJ|year=2002|publisher=Manas Publications|isbn=978-81-7049-138-5}}</ref>

From 1943–44 during [[World War II]], Port Blair served as the headquarters of the [[Azad Hind]] government under [[Subhas Chandra Bose]].

Although affected by the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami]], Port Blair survived sufficiently to act as a base for relief efforts in the islands.

==Climate==
Port Blair has a [[tropical monsoon climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Am''), with little variation in average temperature and large amounts of precipitation throughout the year. All months except January, February and March receive substantial rainfall.

{{Port Blair weatherbox}}

==Demographics==
{{As of|2011}} [[2011 Census of India|India]] [[census]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-date=2004-06-16|title= Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|access-date=2008-11-01|publisher= Census Commission of India}}</ref> Port Blair had a population of 100,608. Males constitute 52.92% (53,247) of the population and females 47.07% (47,361). 9.3% of the population is under the age of 6 years.

===Language===

[[Bengali language|Bengali]] is the most spoken language of the city, followed by Tamil, Hindi and Telugu.{{citation needed|date=July 2019}}

===Religion===
{{bar box
|title=Religion in Port Blair
|titlebar=#fcd666
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism]]|orange|74.3}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam]]|green|12.4}}
{{bar percent|[[Christianity]] |red|12.4}}
{{bar percent|Others|grey|0.9}}
}}

[[File:Sri Vettimalai Mutugan temple in Andaman.jpg|thumb|Sri Vettimalai Mutugan temple in Port Blair]]

The most common religion is Hinduism, followed by Christianity and Islam.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}

===Literacy===
{{bar box
|title=Literacy in Port Blair
|titlebar=#ddd
|left1=Literacy
|right1=Percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Male]]|lightblue|92.79}}
{{bar percent|[[Female]]|lightpink|86.73}}
{{bar percent|All|lightgrey|89.76}}
}}
Port Blair has an average literacy rate of 89.76%, higher than the national average that is 74.04%. In Port Blair, male literacy is 92.79%, and female literacy is 86.34%.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}

==Education==
===B.Ed===
*Tagore Government College of Education

===Degree===
*Andaman and Nicobar college
*[[Jawaharlal Nehru Government College]]

===Engineering===
*[[Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Institute of Technology]]

===Law===
*[[Andaman Law College]]

===Medicine===
*[[Andaman and Nicobar Islands Institute of Medical Sciences]]

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="134">
File:Port Blair, Andamans, Statue of Rajiv Gandhi.jpg|Statue of Rajiv Gandhi
File:Port Blair, Andamans, Sea bridge.jpg|Sunset in the bay
File:Gandhi statue-3-gandhi park-port blair-andaman-India.jpg|[[Mahatma Gandhi|Gandhi]] statue, Gandhi park
File:PortBlair SeasideRoad.JPG|Seaside Road
File:Cellular Jail, Andaman, Port Blair, India.jpg|[[Cellular Jail]]
File:Science Centre Port Blair 4150297.JPG|Port Blair Science Centre
File:Jaljeevshala-Aquarium at Port Blair - panoramio.jpg|Jaljeevshala Aquarium
File:Aberdeen clock tower-1-port blair-andaman-India.jpg|Aberdeen clock tower
File:Tsunami Memorial In Port Blair.jpg|Tsunami memorial
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Cellular Jail]]
*[[Charles James Lyall]]
*[[Vinayak Damodar Savarkar]]
*[[Ross Island, South Andaman district|Ross Island]]
*[[Havelock Island]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{wikivoyage-inline|Port Blair}}
{{Commons category|position=left}}

{{South Andaman district |state=collapsed}}
{{Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands}}
{{State and Union Territory capitals of India}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Port Blair| ]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in South Andaman district]]
[[Category:South Andaman Island]]
[[Category:Indian union territory capitals]]
[[Category:Ports and harbours of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1789]]
[[Category:1789 establishments in India]]
[[Category:1789 establishments in British India]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]