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The capital city of Andamans, Port Blair, has several hidden mysteries. One such is how the city came into being. Port Blair is a place built as a penal colony much like Hitler's concentration camps.
Formation of Cities
In the South of Andaman, Port Blair serves as the main entrance to the islands and has the only International airport for the entire archipelago. This Port Blair is the capital of Andaman which has now become a tourist place. To reach this district, there are two options, either by sea, with the touch of the moisturized water tipping the fingers; or by air, with the view of this entire island as a play toy. Well-connected roots are available from Vizag, Chennai, and Kolkata.
The word Andaman leaves most Indians numb. It is because of the history of sucking the nationalistic blood of the Indian freedom fighters. The Cellular jail that haunts every Indian is located in Port Blair. But before that, the place was a normal island that had its own inhabitants of Onges, the Sentinels, the Jarawas, the Shompens, and the Great Andamanese. It is believed that Andaman was named after Hanuman, which eventually became Andaman.
At that time Port Blair was not the capital of Andaman. A war broke out between the Andamans and the British in Port Blair, and later, after independence only, Port Blair became the capital. Before that, Ross Island was the major connection. It has seen many invaders, especially the Marathas, which later invited the occupants of the British.
In the 17th century, Captain Archibald Blair, a British naval officer, established the Navy Base over Andaman with kitchens and cottages. On the instruction of the Bengal government, a penal colony was established and named Port Blair after him. But disease and death started to spread, and they had to shut it down. Now the Britishers needed another place for the solitary confinement of the Indian freedom fighters and leaders. They built the cellular jail on Viper Island, north of Andaman, which has an unconditional climate, a major reason for many prisoners' deaths, and named it Port Cornwallis.
In 1868, Europeans started to settle near the jail. During the Second World War, Port Blair was under the control of Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1947, the Government started a rehabilitation program and brought many people from Bengal. The island has also become one of the seven Union Territories of India after independence. In 2004, Port Blair faced the Indian Ocean earthquake effectively.
Though the place has a dejected historical background, today it is one of the famous tourist spots that have pleasing islands with beautiful scenic treats. As it has seen many invaders, the place is a mixture of different people and their cultures. Temples for Lord Muruga and Vinayaga are also built. The Gandhi Marine National Park, various museums, and other surrounding islands are some of the heart-soothing places to see and relax. It is best to visit between November and mid-May and December to March to enjoy its fullest. The island offers you local transport and vehicles for rent to make your trip comfortable. Last but not the least, Do not miss to experience the water sport activities to make your trip contented.
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