System for Museums & Archives for Research and Access to Knowledge
| Place | Port Blair |
|---|---|
| State | Andaman and Nicobar Islands |
| Virtual Museum | No |
| Year of Establishment | 1906 |
| Museum Type | National Memorial / Site Museum / Heritage |
| National Importance Museum | Yes (Dedicated to th |
| Address | Atlanta Point, Sri Vijaya Puram, Andaman and Nicobar Islands 744104 |
| Visiting Time | 09:00 AM to 12:00 PM & 01:30 PM to 04:45 PM (Open all days except National Holidays) |
| Entry Fee | Indians: ₹30 Still Camera: ₹200 Video Camera: ₹1000 Light & Sound Show: ₹300 |
Built by the British between 1896 and 1906, the Cellular Jail was used to exile political prisoners to "Kala Pani." It is famous for its Panopticon architecture, designed for solitary confinement to suppress communication between inmates. It was declared a National Memorial by Prime Minister Morarji Desai on February 11, 1979.
The museum galleries house declassified British administrative records, old photographs of the penal settlement, and portraits of revolutionaries. It includes a specialized section on the Japanese occupation of the islands during WWII.
Savarkar’s Cell: The original cell (No. 123) where Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was imprisoned for 10 years, featuring his carved verses on the walls. The Gallows area, where three prisoners could be executed simultaneously, remains preserved as a somber historical exhibit.
| Archaeological Survey of India | No (The ASI provides |
|---|---|
| Notes | Originally a seven-winged structure, only three wings remain today; the others were damaged during WWII or demolished post-independence to make room for the GB Pant Hospital. An Eternal Flame ("Swatantrya Jyot") burns in the memorial courtyard. |
| Artifacts | Original iron fetters and neck-rings; Oil grinding machine (Kohlu) used as punishment; Japanese steel helmet from WWII; Original keys and locks of the cells; Hand-written books and poetry of prisoners; Scale model of the 7-winged original prison. |
| Highly Descriptive | Yes (The most iconic |
| Contact Details | +91 3192 230225 (Directorate of IP&T) |
| Email ID | thedirectortourism@gmail.com |
