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Port Blair
Port Blair is the capital of the Union Territory Andaman and
Nicobar Islands. It is a small but picturesque place spread over a number of
hills from Haddo across Secretariat Hill to Aberdeen Bazaar and South point.
There are neat villages like Pahargaon, Shadipur and Garacharme.
The territory have a natural heritage, with evergreen moist
deciduous and swamp forests. Today, Port Blair have grown and tourism is being
developed to entice more people to enjoy the clean beaches and unpolluted waters
that are already attracting divers and snorkellers.
Chatam Island
The centre of activity of the Forest Department is Chatham
Island. It has perhaps the biggest Saw Mill of its kind in Asia. Burma Nallah is
about 17kms from Port Blair. Here logs are extracted with the help of elephants.
The forest here is a feast to the eyes with most colourful and rare varieties of
orchards and beauty of other flora and fauna.
Mount Harriet
Mount Harriet lies on the other side of Ross Island. It is
the highest hill around South Andaman and is about 365m (1200feet). Formerly it
was the headquarters of the Chief Commissioner. The hill top provides an
excellent view of the Port Blair city and the environs with the outline of
Havelock Islands and Ross Island.
Ross Islands
Ross Islands was the seat of British Administration. It is
situated North of Port Blair just across a narrow stretch of sea. This island
with an area of about 200 acres was a small world in itself with chief
commissioners residence. The place came into decay with the shifting of the
Chief Commissioner's Office in 1942 as areas close to the shore had developed
serious cracks and it was felt that the building was not safe. The Japanese
occupied the Island in March 1942. In October 1945 the Islands were reoccupied
by the British. Today the Island is deserted.
Madhuban
Madhuban is some 15kms from Port Blair. It provides a sea
beach in front, hills behind and is being used as a training ground for
elephants by foresters.
Havelock Island has some of the first coral reefs of all
shapes and colours.
Neil Island
Neil Island has a long shallow beach and is used for timbering
operations. There is also a lake.
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