Hola Folks! It has been fourteen days past since I wandered with you in Andamans through my blog. Nevertheless, we shall explore yet again!

After covering Ross Island and its gorgeous history, we headed for the Cellular Jail in Port Blair famous for its infamous history.

Son-Et-Lumiere: The Light and Sound show in Cellular Jail

Cellular Jail also known as Kala Pani Jail (Black Water Prison), is a well-known prison which was a house to many distinguished Indian Activists during the struggle for India’s independence. Kala Pani jail is one of the duskiest chapters in Indian History.

The light and sound show was brilliantly showcased in the jail which happened to take me back in the time of atrocities our freedom fighters suffered, they were indeed made of steel to bare such barbarous acts. A feeling of morose surfaced my heart after watching this show.

Your mind, your thoughts and your voice will fall numb at the same time for some while after learning that what exactly our freedom fighters had to go through in this hell.

We were seated at our respective places, all lights switched off, towards my left was an old Peepal tree standing since the time of inception of the jail ready to narrate the incidence and towards my right was the jail. It was a two-storied building staring at the audience in grief.

The light and sound show is directed with an intense description and metaphor, where the Peepal tree weepingly narrates the whole occurrence during that time, the way our freedom fighters were tortured could make any living soul cry for death. Despite the  brutality they suffered nothing could deviate them from their goal. It seemed as if they were not normal human beings, bodies of steel, hearts of iron and the passion which could surpass any pain.

Location and ticket details are mentioned below:

Location: Near to G.B. Pant Hospital, Port Blair.

Timings: 09:00 am to 12:00 noon and 1:00 pm to 04:15 pm (Closed on Mondays and Public Holidays)

Ticket Details: Adult: INR 10/- per person & Child: Below 5 years no ticket.

Timings for Son-Et-Lumiere (The Light and Sound Show): Two Hindi shows all day at 6:00 pm and 7:15 pm except Monday. One English show on Wednesday & Friday at 7:15 pm.

Tickets: Entry fee for Adult is INR 50/-

One must visit this prison and watch the light and sound show before starting a journey to explore Andamans, as the dismal takes some time to sweep away from the head.

Afloat – Floating Restaurant

Keeping the mercenary feel alive and aside, let me aboard you all to the most amazing evening cruise, which serves as an entertaining and sumptuous outing – Afloat the floating restaurant in Port Blair. This pretty cruise is a culmination of food, drinks, music, live band, dance and the Bay of Bengal sea enclosing you. Pleasant salty sea breeze adds up more spice to your food. :-D. As far as some grub is concerned, they serve all kinds of cuisine from starters to the main course. So, basically, this place will make you FFM Frenzyfoodmaniac (combination of food+madness+fun)!

Unlike Hard Rock Cafe, the staff did not really perform YMCA for us, but the fun and frolic they disperse around made everyone tap a step or two. This kind of fun is contagious, in the start you tend to feel a bit shy, but when you see people dancing away to glory, umm well even a left foot like me wouldn’t mind hustling to and fro on some beats. :-D.

Cruise leaves the Junglighat Jetty daily (except Tuesday) at 5.00 pm and 7:00 pm and takes you along Port Blair harbor.

Entry Ticket: Adult INR 500/- & Child – Rs. 350/- (Inclusive all taxes)

Tickets available at: Megapode Resort, Air Ticketing Counter – Vikas Bhawan, IMFL Self-service shop – Delanipur, ANIIDCO petrol pump – Goalghar

Please do place your foot on Afloat, and trust me no kidding, even if you are alone, the surroundings itself will make you lively and merry!

I guess I have pretty much summed up the highlights of Port Blair. Other than the above, you can visit local markets and also the museums like Anthropological museum, Fisheries museum, and Samudrika Naval museum which showcase the Tribal chunk of Andamans and exhibit marine life. I am not a museum person but for a change especially the Anthropological museum in Andamans will really intrigue you, they will take you through Negrito tribe of Andaman viz the Jarawas, Sentinelese, Great Andamanese and the Onges and two mongoloid tribes of the Nicobarese and Shompens.

I am going a little off track here as far as the fun part is concerned, but I really wish to share my thoughts over the Jarawa Tribe which really impacted me during the trip. Apart from looking at the Jarawa lifestyle, weapons, culture, etc. in the museum, all I could, in reality, witness about this tribe was a flying arrow hitting the tree trunk during Great Andaman Trunk Road safari in between the jungles where this tribe dwells.

There is more to it and I will be back with some more scrawl on the Jarawa, the Andamanese Tribe based on my experience and the stories which I’ve heard from the local folks in Andamans.

Like I mentioned earlier the quest never ends, what distinguishes a traveler from a tourist is his/her probe to understand, live and feel the aestheticism of that particular place.

Till then stay tuned…. 🙂