Visit Andaman To Have A Brush With Adventure . .

Last autumn break, my family decided to tread the unbeaten path and we took a trip to the Andaman Islands. It sure was a great trip.The roads in Andaman are wide, clean, congestion and pollution free. The very first day we went to the Fisheries Museum where we saw a wide variety of rare fishes, corals and shells. There were live specimens as well as preserved ones.

In the evening we went to the infamous Cellular Jail, also known as the Kala Pani, where hundreds of political prisoners were sent during freedom struggle of India. The name Kala Pani probably derives from the fact the sea surrounding the islands looks black for seven months in the year due to overcast skies leading to a ‘Black Sea’. The jail was built in 1906 and had seven wings opening out like a seven pettaled flower. It had 698 isolated cells. The jail takes its name ‘Cellular Jail’ from the isolated cells. Now only two wings of the jail have been presented as a museum. The rest have made way for a large hospital. A poignant light and sound show in the evening in the jail premises made us realize the sacrifices our heroes have made to get our country free.

Our next stop on the next day was the Ross Island. This has the ruins of the headquarters of the British rulers. The amount of planning that had gone in the Island was clearly visible from the printing press that the British had made there was also the water treatment/filtration plant, small power plant and other institutions comprising the cantonment.The Viper Island and the North Bay Island had us mesmerized. The approach to the North Bay Island was via a glass bottomed motor boat through which the enchanting sea life was clearly visible. Here, along with my brother had a brush with adventure when we both went snorkelling. The thrill of such adventure is difficult to pen down.We had the chance to see the Jarawa tribals in their natural foundations that reminded us of Ganesha, a mother with a child on her lap, shells etc.

The Mud Volcano was another experience altogether. We took a walk on the volcano with our feet bare and felt mud ooze out of the various mouths of the volcano. To our pleasant surprise this was very cold! Next we visited the Havelock Island that has the Radhanagar Beach that has been rated the best beach in Asia in Time Magazine. The British built the Chatahm Saw Mill on Chaham Island in 1833. It is still functional. The forest museum inside the mill is replete with rare pieces of wood. The Anthropological Museum depicts the lives of Palaeolithic Islanders and displays the models of Aborigines and their tools. In our way to Corbin’s Cove, we saw many fighting bunkers built during the Japanese occupation of these islands from March 1942 to October 1995.

On the last day we managed to squeeze in a visit to Samudrika, the Naval Museum and the Science Museum. Those visits were highly engrossing too. The lighting memory of the visit would be the emerald waters of the sea, the silver sandy beaches and the laid back relax attitude of the locals. It truly is a must visit. These little islands are not only endowed with scenic beauty but are also rich in history.

BY SNIGDHA SIDHRA