Cellular Jail Port Blair - Kala Pani.
India's Most Powerful National Memorial.

About Cellular Jail Kala Pani of the Andaman Islands

The Cellular Jail stands at Atlanta Point in Port Blair. Built by the British between 1896 and 1906, this massive three storeyed prison was specifically designed to exile Indian political prisoners and freedom fighters far from the mainland where they had no hope of escape or contact with the outside world.

The jail originally had seven wings radiating outward from a central watchtower, creating a structure where prisoners in one wing could not see or communicate with prisoners in any other wing. This deliberate isolation gave the jail its name. Each cell was designed for solitary confinement.

Today three of the original seven wings remain standing and the central watchtower continues to watch over them as it has for over a century.

Declared a national memorial in 1979, the Cellular Jail is today one of the most visited and most emotionally significant historical landmarks in India. Every Indian who visits leaves with a deeper understanding of what independence truly cost.

Quick Facts

• Veer Savarkar spent nearly 10 years imprisoned in Cellular Jail.
• The prison was built between 1896 and 1906 by the British colonial government.
• Cellular Jail originally had 698 solitary confinement cells designed to isolate freedom fighters.
• The prison earned the infamous name "Kala Pani" due to its harsh conditions and remote island location.
• Cellular Jail was declared a National Memorial of India in 1979.

The History of Cellular Jail
- A Story Every Indian Should Know

The story of Cellular Jail begins with the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Following the uprising the British established Port Blair as a penal settlement to exile political prisoners as far from the Indian mainland as possible. The Andaman Islands, surrounded by open ocean and located over 1400 kilometres from the mainland, were the perfect choice.

Construction of the Cellular Jail began in 1896 and was completed in 1906. The 696 individual cells, each measuring just 4.5 by 2.7 metres, were built for complete isolation. Prisoners were forbidden from communicating with each other. The walls were deliberately constructed to prevent any form of human connection between inmates.

Among the most notable prisoners held here were Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Batukeshwar Dutt and Yogendra Shukla. These were men who had fought for India's independence and were sent here as punishment. The conditions they endured, the forced labour, the isolation and the deliberate cruelty of the colonial administration, were designed to extinguish their spirit. They did not succeed.

During the Second World War the Japanese occupied the jail from 1942 to 1945 before it was returned to British control. After Indian independence in 1947 the jail was repurposed before being declared a national memorial in 1979 in honour of all those who suffered and sacrificed within its walls.

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The Cellular Jail Light and Sound Show
- Not to Be Missed

The evening Light and Sound Show at Cellular Jail is one of the most moving experiences available anywhere in the Andaman Islands. Held every evening except Mondays and national holidays, the show narrates the story of the Cellular Jail and India's freedom struggle through a powerful combination of lights, music, projection and narration.

Most visitors describe the show as deeply emotional and genuinely unlike any other cultural experience they have had in India. It is not entertainment in the conventional sense. It is history brought to life in a way that makes you feel the weight of what happened within these walls.

The show runs in Hindi and English on alternate evenings. Duration is approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. Advance booking is strongly recommended during peak season from December to February as seats fill quickly.

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Tips for Visiting Cellular Jail

• Arrive early in the morning when the jail opens to avoid the midday heat and the larger tourist crowds that build up by late morning.
• Wear comfortable footwear as the visit involves walking through multiple floors and climbing stairs to the watchtower.
• Consider hiring a local guide at the entrance. The stories and context a knowledgeable guide brings to the visit significantly enrich the experience beyond what the exhibits alone can convey.
• Plan your visit to Cellular Jail on the same day as the Light and Sound Show in the evening.
• Spend the morning at the jail and museum, explore other Port Blair attractions in the afternoon and return for the evening show. This is the most rewarding way to experience this landmark.
• Our team at AndamanVacation.com handles all transfers and arrangements for your Cellular Jail visit as part of your Port Blair itinerary. You focus on the experience. We take care of everything else.

Include Cellular Jail in Your Andaman Itinerary

Cellular Jail is a landmark that every visitor to Andaman should experience. Our team at Andaman Vacations India has been guiding travelers through Port Blair and the Cellular Jail for over 25 years. We include it in every Port Blair itinerary we plan and ensure our travelers have the time and context to experience it properly rather than just passing through.

Tell us your travel dates and we will build a Port Blair itinerary that includes Cellular Jail, the Light and Sound Show and everything else the capital island has to offer.