Andaman ActivitiesAndaman Heritage walk is a 3 hours guided walking programme covering the Heritage buildings Cellular Jail, Clock Tower, Police Gurudwara, Police temple and Police Masjid.
“To communicate the truths of history is an act of hope for the future” – Daisaku Ikeda
We travel to learn. We travel to discover a new place and in the process discover a little more about ourselves.
Andaman is steeped in history – events that have left their mark as a reminder of some good and some bad times, of tragedy and hope, of atrocity and courage in the face of it, of great acts of sacrifice and bravery. So much so that your trip will be incomplete if your don’t visit these historical monuments.
Most people think of beautiful white sand beaches when it comes to Andaman. But here’s a glimpse of what’s beyond the beaches when you take a Andaman Heritage Walk
The Cellular Jail: The infamous Kala Pani which was home to political prisoners and freedom fighters during India’s quest for independence has seen unbelievable atrocities, heartbreaking sacrifices and astounding stories of courage. It derived its name from ‘Kal’ meaning time or death and pani meaning water and was created to serve as a place to mend out harsh treatment to new arrivals.
The seven wing prison was constructed with a central tower to keep an eye on the inmates who were mostly kept in isolation. Some famous inmates of the Cellular Jail were Diwan Singh Kalepani, Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi, Yogendra Shukla, Batukeshwar Dutt, Maulana Ahmadullah, Movli Abdul Rahim Sadiqpuri, Maulvi Liaquat Ali, Babarao Savarkar,Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Bhai Parmanand, Shadan Chandra Chatterjee, Sohan Singh, Vaman Rao Joshi and Nand Gopal.
Several atrocities like meting out beating with a whiplash and force feeding those on hunger strike eventually led to political intervention and having some of the prisoners transported back to mainland.
One of the lesser known facts: The Empire of Japan invaded the Andaman islands in 1942 and drove out the British. The Cellular Jail then became home to British prisoners.
On celluloid: The movie ‘Kaalapani’ starring Mohanlal and Amrish Puri is regarded as one of the evergreen classics in Indian cinema.
The Clock Tower / Ghanta Ghar Port Blair: The clock tower in Andaman is located in heart of Port Blair’s hectic Aberdeen Bazaar. Also popularly known as the ghanta ghar in Andaman, it is a reminder from the British era. It also showcases one of the commendable steps taken by the Port Blair municipal council to promote international tourism. Contradictory to the people believing that the clock shows the wrong time, the four watches on each side of the clock tower shows different timings as per four different time zones! Have you noticed this?
The Police Gurudwara: Gurdwara Dr. Diwan Singh is a Sikh shrine located in the heart of Port Blair in the Andaman Islands. This Gurdwara was established in 1937 by Dr. Diwan Singh Kalapani a well known independence martyr. This Gurdwara is built with wood on a foundation of iron pillars. This is one of the oldest Gurdwaras in Port Blair. The Gurdwara is in the Aberdeen Bazaar and caters to the Punjabi community of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The ‘New Gurdwara’ was run by a unique Committee consisting of 25 members from all faiths. It included 12 Sikhs, 10 Hindus, 2 Muslims and 1 Christian
The Police Temple: This is again one of the popular tourist stops during the heritage walk where the temple hosts satsangs and contributes to local cultural diversity
The Police Masjid: The police masjid in Port Blair is also one of the religious attractions of Andaman that is a must visit during your Andaman heritage walk.
Do you want to include the Andaman Heritage Walk in your package for FREE? Check out our off season Andaman package offers and contact us today!
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