Cellular Jail: A Journey Through India's Freedom Struggle

If you arev1 looking for a place to learn about the history and culture of India, especially the struggle for independence from the British rule, then you should definitely visit the Cellular Jail in Port Blair, the capital city of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This former colonial prison, also known as Kala Pani (Black Water), was used by the British government to exile and torture political prisoners, many of whom were freedom fighters and revolutionaries. Today, the Cellular Jail serves as a national memorial and a museum, where you can witness the stories of courage and sacrifice of the inmates, and pay tribute to their legacy.

How to Reach the Cellular Jail

The Cellular Jail is located in the heart of Port Blair, and is easily accessible by public transport or private vehicles. You can also book a taxi or a cab from your hotel or the airport. The nearest airport is the Veer Savarkar International Airport, which is about 4 km away from the jail. The Cellular Jail is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM and from 1:30 PM to 4:45 PM. The entry fee is Rs. 30 per person, and you can also hire a guide for Rs. 200 to get a detailed tour of the jail.

What to See and Do at the Cellular Jail

The Cellular Jail is a three-storeyed building with seven wings, each connected by a central tower. The jail has 696 cells, each measuring 13.5 by 7.5 feet, with a small ventilator and a wooden plank for sleeping. The cells were designed to isolate the prisoners from each other and prevent any communication or interaction. The jail also has a gallows room, where many inmates were hanged to death by the British authorities.

The jail has several exhibits and galleries that showcase the history and the life of the prisoners, such as photographs, documents, artifacts, weapons, and personal belongings. You can also see the names of the inmates engraved on the walls of the cells, and read their biographies and stories. Some of the notable prisoners who were incarcerated in the Cellular Jail were Veer Savarkar, Batukeshwar Dutt, Yogendra Shukla, Barindra Kumar Ghosh, Ullaskar Dutta, and many others.

One of the main attractions of the Cellular Jail is the light and sound show, which is held every evening at 6:00 PM and 7:15 PM in Hindi, and at 8:30 PM in English. The show narrates the history of the jail and the freedom struggle, with the voice of the legendary actor Om Puri as the narrator. The show is a moving and emotional experience, as you can see the jail illuminated with different colors and hear the sounds of the prisoners' cries and the British officers' orders.

Another thing that you can do at the Cellular Jail is to visit the nearby Ross Island, which was the administrative headquarters of the British government in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The island has the ruins of several colonial buildings, such as the church, the hospital, the bakery, the bazaar, the swimming pool, and the tennis court. You can also see the wildlife and the nature of the island, such as deer, peacocks, rabbits, and coconut trees. You can take a ferry from the Aberdeen Jetty in Port Blair to reach Ross Island, which takes about 15 minutes. The island is open from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and the entry fee is Rs. 30 per person.

Why You Should Visit the Cellular Jail

The Cellular Jail is not just a historical monument, but a symbol of the spirit and the resilience of the Indian people, who fought for their freedom and dignity against the oppressive British rule. The jail is a place where you can learn about the sacrifices and the struggles of the freedom fighters, who endured unimaginable hardships and torture in the cells of Kala Pani. The jail is a place where you can pay your respects and homage to the martyrs, who gave their lives for the cause of the nation. The jail is a place where you can feel proud and inspired by the legacy and the heritage of the Indian freedom movement. The Cellular Jail is a place that you should visit at least once in your lifetime, to witness the history and the culture of India.

Port Blair

Port Blair is the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is a tehsil in South Andaman District and one of the historical place in the islands.