Museums

Museums in Port Blair (celebrated across India as the supreme cultural, tribal, and marine heritage repositories of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, comprising a distinguished cluster of specialized institutions including the Samudrika Naval Marine Museum, Anthropological Museum, Fisheries Museum, Chatham Saw Mill Forest Museum, and Kalapani Museum, world famous for their authentic displays of indigenous Negrito and Mongoloid tribal artifacts, Jarawas, Sentinelese, Great Andamanese, Onge, Nicobarese, and Shompen, preserved oceanographic specimens including blue whale skeletons and giant clam shells, 350 species of marine life, colonial penal settlement archives, and naval maritime defense history), located across central districts of Port Blair in Portblair in Andaman and Nicobar, stands as the union territory's premier educational and historical heritage circuit.

Established by various scientific, naval, and governmental bodies, including the Indian Navy, Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI), and Department of Fisheries, these world class museums offer visitors an authentic, respectful window into the 60,000 year human history and fragile coral reef biodiversity of the Andaman archipelago.

It's the home of the colossal blue whale skeleton and interactive touch pools at the Indian Navy's Samudrika Museum in Delanipur, the authentic hand crafted wooden canoes (Hodi), bone weapons, bark clothing, and ancient tool exhibits of the Paleolithic Jarawa and Onge tribes at the Anthropological Museum in Phoenix Bay, the live shark tanks, preserved dugong (sea cow) specimens, and giant crabs at the Fisheries Museum on Atlanta Point, the historic 1883 steam powered timber machinery and rare padauk woodwork exhibits at Chatham Island, and an intensely enriching, scholarly atmosphere where families, students, and history buffs discover the deep secrets of the Bay of Bengal.

It represents a rich Andaman indigenous anthropology, oceanic conservation science, and colonial freedom struggle heritage where naval museums, tribal research archives, marine aquariums, and Port Blair eco tourism unite in the Museums of Port Blair.

Conveniently clustered within a 4 kilometer radius across central Port Blair, spanning Delanipur, Haddo, Phoenix Bay, and Atlanta Point, these institutions sit just 3 to 6 km from Veer Savarkar International Airport (IXZ) and 2 km from Cellular Jail, easily accessible by auto rickshaw, taxi, or city bus.

Samudrika Naval Marine Museum & Ocean Biology

Managed by the Indian Navy, Samudrika features five dedicated galleries covering Island History, Tribal Culture, Marine Life, Rare Corals, and Indian Coast Guard Maritime Defense.

The highlight is a massive outdoor skeleton of a juvenile blue whale recovered along the Andaman coast, alongside aquariums displaying live clownfish, lionfish, and sea anemones.

Truth is, viewing the intricate cross sections of centuries old brain corals and sea turtle shells at Samudrika brings the underwater world to life.

Anthropological Museum & Indigenous Tribal Heritage

Tribal Culture Gallery: Showcases rare photographs, clay life sized dioramas, shell ornaments, hunting bows, and handwoven baskets of the six indigenous Andaman tribes.

Educational Documentaries: Short documentary films explain the delicate cultural balance, hunter gatherer traditions, and modern conservation efforts protecting tribal reserves.

Fisheries Museum & Chatham Saw Mill Forest Museum

Fisheries Museum: Houses over 350 marine species endemic to the Andaman sea, preserved dugong skeletons, and living touch pools for children.

Chatham Forest Museum: Asia's oldest operating sawmill on Chatham Island, displaying 140 year-old British timber milling machines and exotic polished padauk sculptures.

After touring the museums of Port Blair, visit Cellular Jail, watch the sunset at Corbin's Cove, or tour Portblair.