Ross Island

Ross Island in Port Blair (officially renamed Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep and celebrated across global travel chronicles as the erstwhile 'Paris of the East' and administrative capital of the British penal settlement in the Andaman Islands from 1858 to 1941, positioned guard at the entrance of Port Blair harbor just 3 kilometers east of Phoenix Bay, world famous for its haunting Victorian colonial ruins wrapped in giant ficus and banyan tree strangler roots, historic Chief Commissioner's Grand Bungalow, Gothic Presbyterian Church, British ballroom and swimming pool ruins, free roaming spotted deer and dancing peacocks, Japanese World War II bunker network, and spectacular evening Light and Sound Show narrated by veteran lyricist Gulzar), located at the mouth of Port Blair harbor in Portblair in Andaman and Nicobar, stands as the union territory's premier living history monument and heritage island.

Covering 0.31 square kilometers, this historic islet served as the luxurious residential seat of high British officials while thousands of Indian freedom fighters suffered harsh penal servitude across the harbor, creating a stark historical contrast that came to an abrupt end with the 1941 earthquake and subsequent Japanese military occupation during World War II.

It's the home of the historic Chief Commissioner's Mansion with Italian tiled floors, the haunting Gothic Church ruins held together by colossal banyan tree roots reminiscent of Angkor Wat, the herds of tame spotted deer (chital) and wild peafowl wandering along shaded brick pathways, the preserved Japanese bunker networks, and an intensely nostalgic island ambiance where nature has gracefully reclaimed colonial stone architecture.

It represents a rich Indian National Army (INA) freedom history where Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose hoisted the National Tricolor in December 1943 declaring the islands the first liberated Indian territory, British colonial architecture, and nature conservation where strangler ficus roots, Victorian ruins, spotted deer sanctuaries, and Port Blair eco tourism unite in Ross Island.

Located just 3 km east of Port Blair mainland, Ross Island is reached via a scenic 15 minute passenger ferry ride from the Water Sports Complex / Aberdeen Jetty, sitting 6 km from Veer Savarkar International Airport (IXZ) and 2 km from Cellular Jail, easily accessible as a morning or afternoon half day excursion.

The 'Paris of the East' & Banyan Enveloped Ruins

During its colonial zenith, Ross Island boasted grand ballrooms, manicured tennis courts, bakery ovens, water distillation plants, printing presses, and a swimming pool filled with seawater.

Today, massive banyan tree roots and ficus trunks have wrapped entirely around the colonial brick masonry, creating a striking blend of human architecture and wild nature.

Truth is, walking through the ruined stone nave of the Gothic Presbyterian Church while sunbeams filter through towering banyan branches is completely unforgettable.

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Tricolor & INA History

Historic Flag Hoisting: On December 30, 1943, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose hoisted the Indian National Tricolor at Port Blair and established the Azad Hind provisional government on the island.

Japanese WWII Bunkers: Heavily fortified concrete pillboxes and gun emplacements built by the Imperial Japanese Army (1942, 1945) remain standing along the rocky eastern shore.

Spotted Deer Wildlife & The Evening Light & Sound Show

Tame Wildlife Sanctuary: Hundreds of spotted deer, peacocks, rabbits, and parakeets roam freely across the island, protected under Indian Navy administration.

Gulzar's Light & Sound Show: A high tech digital projection and sound show in the evening brings the history, glory, and fall of Ross Island vividly to life under starry skies.

After exploring the Victorian ruins on Ross Island, cruise to North Bay Island, visit Cellular Jail, or tour Portblair.