Gandhi Park - Andaman.
Heritage Greens & Sunset Views

About Gandhi Park of the Andaman Islands

Gandhi Park is built around the Dilthaman tank, a large artificial water body that was historically the sole source of drinking water for Port Blair and the surrounding area during the British colonial period. When the city developed more modern water infrastructure, the tank was repurposed, the surrounding land was landscaped into a public park, developed in just 13 days according to official Andaman administration records.

The park sits on RGT Road in the Shadipur area, roughly 1 km from Aberdeen Market and the main jetty. It is as central as any attraction in Port Blair gets. A large statue of Mahatma Gandhi occupies the middle of the park, with gardens, shaded walking paths, and the lake surrounding it. The atmosphere is calm on weekday mornings; evenings and weekends are busier with local families and children.

What makes Gandhi Park more interesting than a standard city park is the layer of World War II history sitting quietly on its grounds. The Japanese occupied the Andaman Islands from 1942 to 1945, and the bunker and temple ruins they left behind are still visible here, not behind glass or in a display case, but as physical structures you walk past on the nature trail. They are easy to miss if you do not know to look for them, but worth examining if you are building a broader picture of Andaman's wartime history alongside a visit to the Cellular Jail.

The History of Gandhi Park
, From Colonial Water Tank to WWII Occupation and Public Park

The Dilthaman tank at the centre of Gandhi Park was not originally a recreational feature. During the British colonial administration of the Andaman Islands, it functioned as the primary, and for a long period, the only, source of drinking water for Port Blair. The tank was managed as critical infrastructure rather than a public amenity, and the land around it was not open to general use.

During the Japanese occupation of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from 1942 to 1945, the area around the tank became a site of Japanese military activity. A bunker was constructed for defensive use, and a temple was built for the Japanese garrison stationed in Port Blair. Both structures still stand within the park grounds today, their original purpose clearly visible in the construction style despite decades of weathering.

After Indian independence, Port Blair developed its water supply infrastructure beyond the Dilthaman tank, which reduced its operational importance. The land was eventually converted into a public park. The development reportedly happened fast, official government records describe the park being built in just 13 days, an unusual timeline for a project of its scale. The Mahatma Gandhi statue was installed at the centre as the park's main landmark.

Today the park functions as a community space for Port Blair residents and a low-key sightseeing stop for visitors wanting a city-centre break from the ferry terminals and island logistics that occupy most of an Andaman itinerary.

Gandhi Park as Part of a Port Blair City Day

Gandhi Park works best as one stop on a broader Port Blair city sightseeing plan rather than a standalone destination. The park itself takes 1 to 2 hours to cover properly, the lake walk, the WWII ruins, and boating if you have children with you. What makes it useful is its location: it sits close to the Aberdeen Market area, which means it fits naturally into a Port Blair morning that also includes the Anthropological Museum and Marina Park, both nearby.

The food options outside the park gates are worth knowing about. Pani puri stalls, ice cream carts, and basic snack counters are set up along the approach road, a practical detail if you have children or want something light before or after the walk. There are also a few restaurants within easy walking distance on RGT Road.

If you are in Port Blair for only one or two days, Gandhi Park is worth fitting in if you have a free morning hour before a ferry or afternoon ferry departure. It is not a half-day commitment, it is a genuine hour-long stop that adds historical and local texture to a Port Blair visit without requiring any advance booking or logistics.

Tips for Visiting Gandhi Park

• Go on a weekday morning. Evenings and weekends draw large local crowds, particularly around the amusement rides and boating area. The park is noticeably quieter, and more pleasant to walk, before 11:00 AM on weekdays.
• Look specifically for the Japanese bunker and temple ruins on the nature trail. They are easy to walk past if you are not looking for them, and they are the most historically interesting part of the park.
• Carry small change for boating and amusement ride tickets. Digital payments are not reliably accepted at the activity counters inside the park.
• Combine Gandhi Park with the Anthropological Museum and Marina Park, all three are within 2 km of each other in central Port Blair and together make a solid half-day city sightseeing circuit.
• The food stalls outside the park gates are worth stopping at. Options include pani puri, ice cream, and Chinese fast food, useful before a long afternoon ferry or island visit.
• The park is open all days of the week. Unlike many Port Blair attractions that close on Mondays, Gandhi Park has no regular weekly closure day, confirm locally if you are planning a Monday visit.

Include Gandhi Park in Your Andaman Itinerary

Gandhi Park is a one-hour stop with free entry that fits into a Port Blair city day without adding cost or logistics. The Dilthaman Lake, the WWII bunker ruins, and the central location make it worth including alongside the Cellular Jail and Aberdeen Market on a full Port Blair sightseeing day.

Our team at Andaman Vacations India builds Port Blair city itineraries that cover the right places in the right order without wasted travel time. Tell us your schedule and we will put together a Port Blair day plan that covers Gandhi Park, the Cellular Jail, and your island departures cleanly.