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{{Short description|Capital city of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2019}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2013}}
{{Infobox settlement
{{Infobox settlement
|name          =  Port Blair
|name          =  Port Blair
|settlement_type        = City
|settlement_type        = City
| image_skyline                   = {{Photomontage
| image_skyline           = {{multiple image
| photo1a = Port Blair - View while landing (15731231295).jpg
| border                  = infobox
| photo2a = Corbyns cove beach,Port Blaire,Andaman - panoramio.jpg
| total_width              = 265
| photo2b = View from South Point, (Port Blair, India).jpg
| image_style              = border:1;
| photo3a = Andaman Nights.jpg
| perrow                  = 1/2/2/1
| size    = 280
| image2 = Corbyns cove beach,Port Blaire,Andaman - panoramio.jpg
| color  = transparent
| image3= PortBlair SeasideRoad.JPG
| border  = 0
| image1 = View from South Point, (Port Blair, India).jpg
| image4= Jaljeevshala-Aquarium at Port Blair - panoramio.jpg
| image6= Cellular Jail, Andaman and Nicobar.JPG
| image5 = Science Centre Port Blair 4150297.JPG
}}
}}
|image_caption = '''From upper left''': Aerial view of Port Blair, A Beach in Port Blair, View from South Point, Port Blair at night.
|image_caption = '''''Clockwise from top:''''' <br/>Aerial view of Port Blair, Seaside Road, Port Blair Science Centre, [[Cellular Jail]], Jaljeevshala Aquarium, Beach in Port Blair
|imagesize              =  
|imagesize              =  
|pushpin_map            = India Andaman and Nicobar Islands#Bay of Bengal
|pushpin_map            = India Andaman and Nicobar Islands#Bay of Bengal
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|subdivision_name4      =
|subdivision_name4      =
|government_type        = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–Council]]
|government_type        = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–Council]]
|governing_body        = Port Blair Municipal Council (PBMC)
|governing_body        = [[Port Blair Municipal Council (PBMC)]]
|leader_title          =  
|leader_title          =  
|leader_name            =
|leader_name            =
Line 51: Line 54:
}}
}}


'''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''' ({{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.{{clarify|date=May 2022}}


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 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>
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]] and so forth,<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]]
[[File:Andaman Club, Port Blair, India.JPG|thumb|Andaman Club in Port Blair]]


==History==
==History==
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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 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.
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]] 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>
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.{{Citation needed|date=April 2022}} 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=usurped |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.
As the [[Indian independence 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."
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>
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. From 1943–44, Port Blair served as the headquarters of the [[Azad Hind]] government under [[Subhas Chandra Bose]]. 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.
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.
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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 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}}
{{Weather box
|collapsed =
|location = Port Blair (1981–2010, extremes 1901–present)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
 
| Jan record high C = 32.7
| Feb record high C = 34.6
| Mar record high C = 35.4
| Apr record high C = 36.4
| May record high C = 36.4
| Jun record high C = 35.6
| Jul record high C = 32.8
| Aug record high C = 32.5
| Sep record high C = 35.4
| Oct record high C = 35.6
| Nov record high C = 34.0
| Dec record high C = 35.4
|year record high C = 36.4
| Jan avg record high C  = 30.7
| Feb avg record high C  = 31.4
| Mar avg record high C  = 33.1
| Apr avg record high C  = 33.8
| May avg record high C  = 33.3
| Jun avg record high C  = 31.3
| Jul avg record high C  = 30.8
| Aug avg record high C  = 30.5
| Sep avg record high C  = 30.7
| Oct avg record high C  = 31.1
| Nov avg record high C  = 31.2
| Dec avg record high C  =30.6
| year avg record high C = 34.0
| Jan high C = 29.5
| Feb high C = 30.2
| Mar high C = 31.3
| Apr high C = 32.3
| May high C = 31.2
| Jun high C = 29.8
| Jul high C = 29.4
| Aug high C = 29.2
| Sep high C = 29.2
| Oct high C = 29.7
| Nov high C = 29.8
| Dec high C = 29.5
| year high C = 30.1
| Jan mean C = 26.0
| Feb mean C = 26.3
| Mar mean C = 27.2
| Apr mean C = 28.2
| May mean C = 27.7
| Jun mean C = 26.9
| Jul mean C = 26.6
| Aug mean C = 26.5
| Sep mean C = 26.2
| Oct mean C = 26.4
| Nov mean C = 26.8
| Dec mean C = 26.4
|year mean C =
| Jan low C = 22.4
| Feb low C = 22.1
| Mar low C = 22.7
| Apr low C = 24.1
| May low C = 24.2
| Jun low C = 23.9
| Jul low C = 23.8
| Aug low C = 23.6
| Sep low C = 23.0
| Oct low C = 23.0
| Nov low C = 23.3
| Dec low C = 23.0
| year low C = 23.3
| Jan avg record low C  = 18.8
| Feb avg record low C  = 19.4
| Mar avg record low C  = 20.0
| Apr avg record low C  = 22.2
| May avg record low C  = 21.9
| Jun avg record low C  = 20.9
| Jul avg record low C  = 21.4
| Aug avg record low C  = 21.1
| Sep avg record low C  = 21.1
| Oct avg record low C  = 21.4
| Nov avg record low C  = 21.1
| Dec avg record low C  = 19.6
| year avg record low C = 18.1
| Jan record low C = 14.8
| Feb record low C = 15.9
| Mar record low C = 16.2
| Apr record low C = 17.3
| May record low C = 17.1
| Jun record low C = 14.6
| Jul record low C = 18.0
| Aug record low C = 17.4
| Sep record low C = 16.8
| Oct record low C = 17.8
| Nov record low C = 17.3
| Dec record low C = 16.2
|year record low C = 14.6
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 32.1
| Feb rain mm = 16.8
| Mar rain mm = 32.5
| Apr rain mm = 75.8
| May rain mm = 368.8
| Jun rain mm = 448.2
| Jul rain mm = 442.5
| Aug rain mm = 446.4
| Sep rain mm = 458.3
| Oct rain mm = 301.4
| Nov rain mm = 242.4
| Dec rain mm = 103.2
|year rain mm = 2968.3
| Jan rain days = 1.4
| Feb rain days = 1.0
| Mar rain days = 1.6
| Apr rain days = 4.1
| May rain days = 15.9
| Jun rain days = 18.8
| Jul rain days = 18.6
| Aug rain days = 19.1
| Sep rain days = 18.8
| Oct rain days = 15.5
| Nov rain days = 11.6
| Dec rain days = 4.5
|year rain days = 130.8
|time day = 17:30 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| Jan humidity = 74
| Feb humidity = 72
| Mar humidity = 72
| Apr humidity = 74
| May humidity = 81
| Jun humidity = 84
| Jul humidity = 84
| Aug humidity = 85
| Sep humidity = 87
| Oct humidity = 85
| Nov humidity = 82
| Dec humidity = 75
|year humidity = 80
| Jan sun = 266.6
| Feb sun = 265.6
| Mar sun = 266.6
| Apr sun = 237.0
| May sun = 158.1
| Jun sun = 90.0
| Jul sun = 102.3
| Aug sun = 99.2
| Sep sun = 117.0
| Oct sun = 167.4
| Nov sun = 189.0
| Dec sun = 241.8
|year sun =
| Jand sun = 8.6
| Febd sun = 9.4
| Mard sun = 8.6
| Aprd sun = 7.9
| Mayd sun = 5.1
| Jund sun = 3.0
| Juld sun = 3.3
| Augd sun = 3.2
| Sepd sun = 3.9
| Octd sun = 5.4
| Novd sun = 6.3
| Decd sun = 7.8
|yeard sun = 6.0
|source 1 = [[India Meteorological Department]]<ref name=IMDnormals>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205040301/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| title = Station: Port Blair Climatological Table 1981–2010
| work = Climatological Normals 1981–2010
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = January 2015
| pages = 619–620
| access-date = 10 February 2020}}</ref><ref name=IMDextremes>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042509/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| title = Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = December 2016
| page = M4
| access-date = 10 February 2020}}</ref><ref name=IMDcityweather>
{{cite web
| url = http://city.imd.gov.in/citywx/extreme/FEB/portblair2.htm
| title = Port Blair Climatological Table 1981–2010
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| access-date = 10 February 2020}}</ref><ref name=IMDsun>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042602/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Daily%20Normals%20of%20Global%20&%20Diffused%20Radiations%20%201971_2000.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Daily%20Normals%20of%20Global%20&%20Diffused%20Radiations%20%201971_2000.pdf
| title = Table 3 Monthly mean duration of Sun Shine (hours) at different locations in India
| work = Daily Normals of Global & Diffuse Radiation (1971–2000)
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = December 2016
| page = M-3
| access-date = 10 February 2020}}</ref>
|source 2 = Tokyo Climate Center (mean temperatures 1981–2010)<ref name=TCC>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200301162303/https://ds.data.jma.go.jp/gmd/tcc/tcc/products/climate/normal/parts/NrmMonth_e.php?stn=43333
| archive-date = 1 March 2020
| url = https://ds.data.jma.go.jp/gmd/tcc/tcc/products/climate/normal/parts/NrmMonth_e.php?stn=43333
| title = Normals Data: Port Blair - India Latitude: 11.67°N Longitude: 92.72°E Height: 79 (m)
| publisher = Japan Meteorological Agency
| access-date = 1 March 2020}}</ref>
|date=November 2010
 
}}
 
== Tourism ==
Port Blair being the capital city of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is the entry point for all tourism related activities. You will first have to arrive to Port Blair before moving any other islands in Andaman. At Port Blair, the major tourist places to visit is the Cellular Jail, Corbyns Cove Beach, North Bay Island, Ross Island renamed to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island, Chidiatapu, Wandoor and other museums that are present within city limits. Entry charges are applicable to some of the tourist places.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Port Blair Andaman Islands |url=https://www.experienceandamans.com/andaman-tourism/port-blair}}</ref>


==Demographics==
==Demographics==
Line 153: Line 366:
File:Jaljeevshala-Aquarium at Port Blair - panoramio.jpg|Jaljeevshala Aquarium
File:Jaljeevshala-Aquarium at Port Blair - panoramio.jpg|Jaljeevshala Aquarium
File:Aberdeen clock tower-1-port blair-andaman-India.jpg|Aberdeen clock tower
File:Aberdeen clock tower-1-port blair-andaman-India.jpg|Aberdeen clock tower
File:Tsunami Memorial In Port Blair.jpg|Tsunami memorial
File:Battle of Aberdeen Memorial In Port Blair.jpg|Memorial for the 1859 [[Battle of Aberdeen (Andaman Islands)|Battle of Aberdeen]]
File:Shree Munisuvrat Swami Jain Temple, Port Blair.jpg|Port Blair Jain temple
</gallery>
</gallery>


Line 177: Line 391:


[[Category:Port Blair| ]]
[[Category:Port Blair| ]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]<!--territorial capital-->
[[Category:Cities and towns in South Andaman district]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in South Andaman district]]
[[Category:South Andaman Island]]
[[Category:South Andaman Island]]

Revision as of 14:43, 31 May 2022


Port Blair
City
Clockwise from top:
Aerial view of Port Blair, Seaside Road, Port Blair Science Centre, Cellular Jail, Jaljeevshala Aquarium, Beach in Port Blair
Port Blair is located in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Port Blair
Port Blair
Location in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Port Blair is located in Bay of Bengal
Port Blair
Port Blair
Port Blair (Bay of Bengal)
Coordinates: 11°40′06″N 92°44′16″E / 11.66833°N 92.73778°E / 11.66833; 92.73778
Country India
Union Territory Andaman and Nicobar Islands
DistrictSouth Andaman
Government
 • TypeMayor–Council
 • BodyPort Blair Municipal Council (PBMC)
Area
[2][3]
 • Total41 km2 (16 sq mi)
Elevation
16 m (52 ft)
Population
 (2011)[2][3][1]
 • Total140,572[1]
Time zoneUTC+5.30 (IST)
ClimateAm

Port Blair (About this soundpronunciation (help·info)) 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 district of South Andaman and is the territory's only notified town.[clarification needed]

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.[4]

Port Blair is also famous for the historic Cellular Jail and other small islands like Corbyn's Cove, Wandoor, Ross Island, Viper Island and so forth,[5] 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.[6]

Andaman Club in Port Blair

History

The Ross Island Prison Headquarters, 1872

Pre-history

The indigenous inhabitants are the Andamenese. Radiocarbon dating studies of the 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,[7][8][better source needed] although they are likely to have diverged from the inhabitants of the mainland significantly earlier.

Modern history

In 1789 the Government of Bengal established a penal colony on 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 Andamans were often attacked and killed by the natives, alarming the British government. In 1855, the government proposed another settlement on the islands, including a convict establishment, but the Indian Rebellion of 1857 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 prisoners, suffered life imprisonment at hard labour under cruel and degrading conditions.[citation needed] 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.[9] These structures now lie in ruins.[10]

As the Indian independence 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 occupied by the Japanese on 23 March 1942 without opposition from the garrison. From 1943–44, Port Blair served as the headquarters of the Azad Hind government under Subhas Chandra Bose. British forces returned to the islands in October 1945.[11]

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.

Climate data for Port Blair (1981–2010, extremes 1901–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 32.7
(90.9) 		34.6
(94.3) 		35.4
(95.7) 		36.4
(97.5) 		36.4
(97.5) 		35.6
(96.1) 		32.8
(91.0) 		32.5
(90.5) 		35.4
(95.7) 		35.6
(96.1) 		34.0
(93.2) 		35.4
(95.7) 		36.4
(97.5)
Mean maximum °C (°F) 30.7
(87.3) 		31.4
(88.5) 		33.1
(91.6) 		33.8
(92.8) 		33.3
(91.9) 		31.3
(88.3) 		30.8
(87.4) 		30.5
(86.9) 		30.7
(87.3) 		31.1
(88.0) 		31.2
(88.2) 		30.6
(87.1) 		34.0
(93.2)
Average high °C (°F) 29.5
(85.1) 		30.2
(86.4) 		31.3
(88.3) 		32.3
(90.1) 		31.2
(88.2) 		29.8
(85.6) 		29.4
(84.9) 		29.2
(84.6) 		29.2
(84.6) 		29.7
(85.5) 		29.8
(85.6) 		29.5
(85.1) 		30.1
(86.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) 26.0
(78.8) 		26.3
(79.3) 		27.2
(81.0) 		28.2
(82.8) 		27.7
(81.9) 		26.9
(80.4) 		26.6
(79.9) 		26.5
(79.7) 		26.2
(79.2) 		26.4
(79.5) 		26.8
(80.2) 		26.4
(79.5) 		26.8
(80.2)
Average low °C (°F) 22.4
(72.3) 		22.1
(71.8) 		22.7
(72.9) 		24.1
(75.4) 		24.2
(75.6) 		23.9
(75.0) 		23.8
(74.8) 		23.6
(74.5) 		23.0
(73.4) 		23.0
(73.4) 		23.3
(73.9) 		23.0
(73.4) 		23.3
(73.9)
Mean minimum °C (°F) 18.8
(65.8) 		19.4
(66.9) 		20.0
(68.0) 		22.2
(72.0) 		21.9
(71.4) 		20.9
(69.6) 		21.4
(70.5) 		21.1
(70.0) 		21.1
(70.0) 		21.4
(70.5) 		21.1
(70.0) 		19.6
(67.3) 		18.1
(64.6)
Record low °C (°F) 14.8
(58.6) 		15.9
(60.6) 		16.2
(61.2) 		17.3
(63.1) 		17.1
(62.8) 		14.6
(58.3) 		18.0
(64.4) 		17.4
(63.3) 		16.8
(62.2) 		17.8
(64.0) 		17.3
(63.1) 		16.2
(61.2) 		14.6
(58.3)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 32.1
(1.26) 		16.8
(0.66) 		32.5
(1.28) 		75.8
(2.98) 		368.8
(14.52) 		448.2
(17.65) 		442.5
(17.42) 		446.4
(17.57) 		458.3
(18.04) 		301.4
(11.87) 		242.4
(9.54) 		103.2
(4.06) 		2,968.3
(116.86)
Average rainy days 1.4 1.0 1.6 4.1 15.9 18.8 18.6 19.1 18.8 15.5 11.6 4.5 130.8
Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST) 74 72 72 74 81 84 84 85 87 85 82 75 80
Mean monthly sunshine hours 266.6 265.6 266.6 237.0 158.1 90.0 102.3 99.2 117.0 167.4 189.0 241.8 2,200.6
Mean daily sunshine hours 8.6 9.4 8.6 7.9 5.1 3.0 3.3 3.2 3.9 5.4 6.3 7.8 6.0
Source 1: India Meteorological Department[12][13][14][15]
Source 2: Tokyo Climate Center (mean temperatures 1981–2010)[16]

Tourism

Port Blair being the capital city of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is the entry point for all tourism related activities. You will first have to arrive to Port Blair before moving any other islands in Andaman. At Port Blair, the major tourist places to visit is the Cellular Jail, Corbyns Cove Beach, North Bay Island, Ross Island renamed to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island, Chidiatapu, Wandoor and other museums that are present within city limits. Entry charges are applicable to some of the tourist places.[17]

Demographics

As of 2011 India census,[18] 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 is the most spoken language of the city, followed by Tamil, Hindi and Telugu.[citation needed]

Religion

Religion in Port Blair
Religion Percent
Hinduism
 
 74.3%
Islam
 
 12.4%
Christianity
 
 12.4%
Others
 
 0.9%
Sri Vettimalai Mutugan temple in Port Blair

The most common religion is Hinduism, followed by Christianity and Islam.[citation needed]

Literacy

Literacy in Port Blair
Literacy Percent
Male
 
 92.79%
Female
 
 86.73%
All
 
 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]

Education

B.Ed

  • Tagore Government College of Education

Degree

Engineering

Law

Medicine

Gallery

  • Statue of Rajiv Gandhi
    Statue of Rajiv Gandhi
  • Sunset in the bay
    Sunset in the bay
  • Gandhi statue, Gandhi park
    Gandhi statue, Gandhi park
  • Seaside Road
    Seaside Road
  • Cellular Jail
    Cellular Jail
  • Port Blair Science Centre
    Port Blair Science Centre
  • Jaljeevshala Aquarium
    Jaljeevshala Aquarium
  • Aberdeen clock tower
    Aberdeen clock tower
  • Memorial for the 1859 Battle of Aberdeen
    Memorial for the 1859 Battle of Aberdeen
  • Port Blair Jain temple
    Port Blair Jain temple

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Census of India Search details". censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Port Blair City".
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Port Blair Info" (PDF).
  4. ↑ "Andaman and Nicobar command". NIC. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  5. ↑ "Places to visit in Port Blair". Andamansguide. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  6. ↑ Khanna, Pretika (24 May 2016). "13 cities included in Phase 1 of Smart Cities Mission". LiveMint. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  7. ↑ Ghai, Rajat (27 November 2018). "Leave the Sentinelese alone". downtoearth.org.in. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  8. ↑ US Man's Body Should Be Left Alone, As Should The Andaman Tribe: Experts, NDTV, 27 November 2018.
  9. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 December 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) T. Ramakrishnan, "Notorious Once, It Stands Shrouded in Silence"
  10. ↑ http://www.galenfrysinger.com/ross_island.htm Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Ross Island
  11. ↑ Jayant Dasgupta (2002). Japanese in Andaman & Nicobar Islands: red sun over black water. Manas Publications. ISBN 978-81-7049-138-5.
  12. ↑ "Station: Port Blair Climatological Table 1981–2010" (PDF). Climatological Normals 1981–2010. India Meteorological Department. January 2015. pp. 619–620. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  13. ↑ "Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. December 2016. p. M4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  14. ↑ "Port Blair Climatological Table 1981–2010". India Meteorological Department. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  15. ↑ "Table 3 Monthly mean duration of Sun Shine (hours) at different locations in India" (PDF). Daily Normals of Global & Diffuse Radiation (1971–2000). India Meteorological Department. December 2016. p. M-3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  16. ↑ "Normals Data: Port Blair - India Latitude: 11.67°N Longitude: 92.72°E Height: 79 (m)". Japan Meteorological Agency. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  17. ↑ "Port Blair Andaman Islands".
  18. ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.

External links


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