Dubare Elephant Camp

The Samudrika Naval Marine Museum, located in the Haddo area of Portblair in Andaman and Nicobar, is run by the Indian Navy and stands as the premier marine biology, oceanic conservation, and tribal heritage center in the Bay of Bengal.

Designed to create public awareness about the fragile aquatic ecosystems and rich cultural anthropology of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, this popular museum features five thematic galleries housing hundreds of marine species, coral specimens, and naval defense artifacts.

It's the home of a massive complete Blue Whale skeleton greeting visitors at the entrance lawn, colorful living coral reef aquariums teeming with clownfish and sea turtles, an extensive shell repository displaying over 350 rare deep sea mollusks, and fascinating ethnographic displays on the indigenous tribes of the islands.

It represents a rich educational landmark where maritime security history, volcanic island geology, marine ecological research, and ancient hunter gatherer tribal customs unite in central Port Blair.

Situated opposite the Andaman Teal House in Haddo, it sits 6 km northwest of Veer Savarkar International Airport, 4 km from Phoenix Bay Jetty, and 3 km from the historic Cellular Jail.

The Blue Whale Skeleton & Thematic Galleries

The centerpiece of the museum is the colossal skeleton of a young Blue Whale that washed ashore along the Nicobar coast. Reconstructed bone by bone on the front lawns, this skeleton gives visitors an impressive look into the gigantic scale of oceanic mammals.

Inside, the museum is thoughtfully divided into five distinct rooms: Room 1 details the geographical formation and volcanic history of the islands, including Barren Island and Narcondam Island.

Truth is, Room 2 is dedicated entirely to the oceanic environment, featuring preserved specimens of deep sea corals, starfish, sea urchins, and rare giant clams (Tridacna gigas) that can live for over a century on pristine coral reefs.

Aquariums & Rare Marine Biodiversity

Room 3 houses living aquatic exhibits with glass aquariums displaying indigenous marine life from Andaman's coastal waters. Visitors can observe colorful clownfish swimming through waving sea anemones, parrotfish, lionfish, stonefish, and juvenile sea turtles being nurtured for rehabilitation.

Room 4 presents one of India's largest curated shell collections, containing over 350 species ranging from glossy cowries and giant conches to intricate chambered Nautilus shells.

Tribal Heritage & Naval Souvenir Shop

Indigenous Tribal Gallery: Room 5 provides rare ethnographic insights into the six indigenous tribes of the islands: the Negrito tribes of the Andamans (Great Andamanese, Onge, Jarawa, Sentinelese) and the Mongoloid tribes of the Nicobars (Shompen, Nicobarese), displaying their handcrafted wooden outrigger canoes, fishing spears, and body adornments.

Naval Souvenir Boutique: A curated gift shop operated by the Navy sells authentic pearl jewelry, cowrie shell handicrafts, naval memorabilia, and educational books on Andaman marine ecology.

Combine your museum visit with afternoon trips to the Anthropological Museum, Chatham Saw Mill, and Corbyn's Cove Beach for an informative introduction to Port Blair before heading to the outer islands.