Ross Island Andaman - The Abandone
British Capital Reclaimed by Nature

About Ross Island - Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep

Ross Island, officially renamed Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep in December 2018 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, sits approximately 3 kilometres east of Port Blair and is accessible by a short boat ride from the Aberdeen Jetty. The island is small enough to explore on foot in a comfortable half day and is car free which adds to its uniquely quiet and unhurried atmosphere.

Named after British marine surveyor Daniel Ross, the island served as the administrative headquarters of the British in the Andaman Islands from 1858 until 1941. At its peak it was home to officers quarters, a church, a bakery, a printing press, a hospital, tennis courts, a ballroom and a club. The colonial administrators who lived here called it the Paris of the East and the lifestyle they maintained on this tiny island was by all accounts remarkably luxurious given its remote location.

Today the Smritika Museum on the island holds a collection of antique pieces and photographs that document its fascinating history from colonial times through to independence.

The History of Ross Island
- From Paris of the East to Nature's Canvas

The British established Ross Island as their administrative base in 1858 following the Indian Rebellion of 1857. For the next eight decades it functioned as the seat of colonial power in the Andaman Islands. The contrast between the luxurious lifestyle of the British administrators on Ross Island and the horrific conditions endured by Indian political prisoners in the Cellular Jail just across the water is one of the most striking and sobering aspects of Andaman's colonial history.

In 1941 a major earthquake caused significant damage to the island's structures. The British began evacuating and in March 1942 Japanese forces occupied the Andaman Islands during the Second World War. Ross Island became a Japanese strategic headquarters for the duration of the occupation from 1942 to 1945. The Japanese built bunkers and gun emplacements across the island several of which are still visible today.

In December 1943 Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose visited the Andaman Islands for a day as part of his efforts in the fight against British colonial rule. On 30th December 2018, exactly 75 years later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi renamed the island in his honour.

After Indian independence in 1947 the island was gradually abandoned. Nature moved in steadily and over the decades the jungle reclaimed the ruins creating the hauntingly beautiful landscape that visitors experience today.

The Ross Island Light and Sound Show

Ross Island also hosts an evening Light and Sound Show that narrates the history of the island and the broader story of the Andaman Islands through lights, music and narration. The show is best combined with a daytime visit to the island so you can explore the ruins during the day and experience the show as the sun goes down over the Bay of Bengal.

Our team at AndamanVacation.com will provide you with current show timings, handle your bookings and ensure your Ross Island day is planned to make the most of both the daytime exploration and the evening show.

Tips for Visiting Ross Island

• Combine your Ross Island visit with a trip to North Bay Island (Bharatpur Beach) on the same day. Both are accessible by boat from Aberdeen Jetty and most visitors cover both comfortably in a single well planned day trip from Port Blair.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes as the island is explored entirely on foot across uneven terrain. Carry water and sunscreen as shade on some parts of the island can be limited during midday hours.
• Visit in the morning when the light is best for photography and the crowds are thinner. The golden morning light filtering through the banyan roots and colonial ruins makes for some of the most striking photographs you will take anywhere in Andaman.
• Our team at AndamanVacation.com arranges all boat transfers and combines Ross Island with North Bay Island as part of your Port Blair day itinerary so you make the most of every hour you spend in the capital island.

Include Ross Island in Your Port Blair Itinerary

Ross Island is one of those rare places that genuinely surprises every traveler who visits it. The combination of colonial history, wartime ruins, nature reclaiming man made structures and freely roaming wildlife creates an experience that is unlike anything else in the Andaman Islands.

Our team at Andaman Vacations India includes Ross Island in every Port Blair itinerary we plan. Tell us your travel dates and we will build a day plan that covers Ross Island, the Light and Sound Show and everything else Port Blair has to offer.