Cellular Jail or Kala Pani – The Historical Colonial Prison
Cellular Jail in Port Blair is a national memorial situated in Andaman and Nicobar islands which was established in 1906. Also known as Kala Pani, this colonial prison was used by British to incarcerate political prisoners of the Indian independence movement. After independence, the Cellular Jail was declared a national monument and has now become a major tourist attraction in Port Blair and is visited by large number of tourists every year.
History of Cellular Jail , Port Blair
After the rebellion of 1857, the British regime used Andaman Islands as a prison for people who raised their voices against the British regime. In 1906, in the remote islands of Andaman, Cellular Jail was constructed where transported prisoners were subjected to a period of harsh treatment upon arrival. Cellular Jail was infamous for the inhumane treatment of the prisoners and brutality by the hands of British government officials.
Architecture of Cellular Jail
The Cellular Jail is a 3-storied building with 7 wings laid out in a starfish pattern. With 696 cells, one for each person, the dimensions of these cells was only 13.5 feet by 7 feet with 3 feet by 1 feet ventilator, nearly 10 feet high from the door provided to each cell. The seven wings were constructed in such a way that front of each wing faced the back of another, thus minimizing communication between inmates. Thus, Cellular Jail was a more of a solitary confinement that a regular prison. All seven wings converged at Central Tower which alone had the gate entrance and exit.
Things to Do at Cellular Jail
Son-et-Lumiere : One of the major tourist attractions at Cellular Jail is the light and sound show that brings alive the saga of heroic freedom struggle with the help of impressive light and sound effects. Two shows in Hindi on all days at 6:00 pm and at 7:15 pm except on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday when the second show is in English at 7:15 pm. The entry fee for this light and sound show Cellular Jail is INR 50/-.
Jail Museum : The Cellular Jail or Kala Pani at Andaman also has a museum which takes one back into that era when freedom fighters literally gave their life and blood for their motherland. The museum consists of photos of freedom fighters, exhibition gallery, art gallery and a special gallery dedicated to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. A library on the freedom movement is also present inside the Cellular Jail.
Cellular Jail Timings & Ticket Price
Cellular Jail in Port Blair is one of the most visited tourist attraction in Andaman and Nicobar. It is open all days except national holidays.
Cellular Jail and Jail Museum Timings : 09:00 am to 12:30 pm, 01:30 pm to 04:45 pm.
Ticket Price : The ticket to Cellular Jail costs 10 rupees per person. There is no ticket for children below 5 years of age. For photography, fees for video cameras is 100/- and for still cameras is 25/-.
Cellular Jail Location
The Cellular Jail is located near to G.B. Pant Hospital, Port Blair. If you have book a package than surely this destination will be on your sightseeing to which your tour operator will take you there. Otherwise reaching here is very easy from all around Port Blair. You can either hire a taxi or cab or you can travel via auto at budget rates.