Destination Guide · Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Ross Island heritage area Travel Guide: Ross Island — the Ruined Colonial Capital in the Harbour
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For over eighty years this small island in Port Blair's harbour was the 'Paris of the East' for the penal colony's rulers — commissioner's bungalow, ballroom, church, bakery, printing press, tennis courts — until an earthquake and the Japanese occupation ended it, and the jungle began its slow reclamation. Today Ross Island is the Andamans' most atmospheric walk: great banyan and peepal roots splitting the Commissioner's house, the roofless church standing in dappled light, spotted deer and peacocks wandering the lawns where the band once played.
Subhas Chandra Bose hoisted the flag of free India here in December 1943, and the island now bears his name. The light-and-sound show and the little museum fill in the story; the island itself — 20 minutes by boat from the capital — tells it better. Go late in the afternoon for the long light through the ruins.
Ross Island heritage area at a Glance
| State / UT | Andaman & Nicobar Islands |
| Region | Islands India |
| Known for | Ross Island — the Ruined Colonial Capital in the Harbour |
| Best time to visit | October to May; late afternoons photograph best, and the island closes as the last boats leave before dark |
| Nearest gateway | Boat from Port Blair jetty |
| Good for | Islands, Beaches, Diving, Coral Reefs and History |
| Famous food | Seafood curries, Coconut-based dishes and Tropical fruits |
| Full state guide | Andaman & Nicobar Islands Travel Guide |
Highlights: Best Things to Do in Ross Island heritage area
The ruins circuit
Walk the island loop — Chief Commissioner's house, the church, bakery, press and the Japanese bunkers of the second occupation.
The deer & peacock lawns
Ross's tame residents wander everywhere — the island's gentle surrealism.
Museum & light-and-sound
The small museum's photographs of the island's grand days, and the evening show staged among the ruins.
Harbour views & the lighthouse end
The island's tip for the panorama of Port Blair's harbour and North Bay across the water.
Pair with North Bay or Viper Island
The harbour's classic boat circuit links the islands — an easy full day from the capital.
Best Time to Visit Ross Island heritage area
October to May; late afternoons photograph best, and the island closes as the last boats leave before dark.
That window is when Ross Island heritage area shows its best side. It also matches the wider season for Andaman & Nicobar Islands — the Andaman & Nicobar Islands guide sets out the state's full calendar, festivals included, so you can time Ross Island heritage area alongside Port Blair/Sri Vijaya Puram and Swaraj Dweep (Havelock) on one trip.
How to Reach Ross Island heritage area
Boats run through the day from Port Blair's Phoenix Bay/Aberdeen jetty (about 15–20 minutes); tickets at the jetty.
Most travellers route into Andaman & Nicobar Islands through Port Blair / Sri Vijaya Puram or the nearest transport hub and continue by road; local taxis and shared transport cover the last stretch in season. Build in buffer time for hill and island routes, and confirm festival and permit rules for Andaman & Nicobar Islands before you set out.
Ross Island heritage area — Transport at a Glance
| Nearest airport | Port Blair Airport (IXZ); boats from the Phoenix Bay/Aberdeen jetty take ≈ 15–20 mins |
| Nearest railway station | No railway — boats run through the day from Port Blair's jetties, tickets at the jetty |
| By road | Ross Island (Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep) is reached only by water |
| Getting around | The ruined capital is walked end to end — peacocks and deer have the run of it |
Where to Stay in Ross Island heritage area
You cannot sleep on Ross Island — it is a day-visit ruin kept by the Navy/forests, emptied by the last boat. Base in Port Blair, five minutes across the harbour: hotels around Aberdeen Bazaar and Marine Hill put the jetty at your door for the first boat out. Stays here run to Port Blair's hotels — Ross is a day visit only. The honest way to choose is live, because the season moves prices fast — the buttons below pull today's listings with photos and guest ratings from Google Maps, and live rates from Booking.com, for Ross Island heritage area itself. Plan the base around the sights: travellers come to Ross Island heritage area for The ruins circuit, The deer & peacock lawns and Museum & light-and-sound — the areas above keep the first of these within easy reach, which matters most on short trips.
See live hotels & ratings — Google MapsCompare prices — Booking.com
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Markets & Shopping in Ross Island heritage area
Shop in Port Blair; Ross sells only the past. For the full bazaar run, base it in Port Blair/Sri Vijaya Puram — there, the name to know is Aberdeen Bazaar and the Sagarika emporium. Look for Shell and coconut craft, Andaman padauk woodwork, spices and mother-of-pearl jewellery. Sagarika (the government emporium) benchmarks island craft honestly; Aberdeen is the working bazaar around it. Before a big purchase, it is worth comparing the same craft at a state handicraft emporium or the makers' own workshop — bazaars usually win on price, emporiums and makers on assurance. Take some home on a plate, too: Ross Island heritage area's edible signatures start with Seafood curries and Coconut-based dishes and Tropical fruits — try them at the source, and ask the food stalls what packs well for the journey. Keep small notes handy as well: bargaining is expected on craft in the bazaars, while food and emporium counters usually hold fixed prices.
A Taste of Andaman & Nicobar Islands
No stop in Andaman & Nicobar Islands is complete at the table. The state's kitchen is best met through Seafood curries, Coconut-based dishes and Tropical fruits — look for them in Ross Island heritage area's own markets and eateries, where the cooking is at its most local. Each dish has a full page in the Food Atlas: Seafood curries · Coconut-based dishes · Tropical fruits · Grilled fish.
More Destinations in Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Ross Island heritage area is one of 5 destinations in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands atlas. The others pair with it naturally — each has its own full guide page.
Port Blair/Sri Vijaya Puram
gateway and museums.
Swaraj Dweep (Havelock)
beaches and marine activities.
Shaheed Dweep (Neil)
beaches and coral landscapes.
Baratang
mangroves and limestone caves.
Offbeat Andaman & Nicobar Islands: Beyond Ross Island heritage area
When the headline sights are done, Andaman & Nicobar Islands keeps a quieter register — Long Island · Little Andaman · North Bay · Chidiya Tapu are the state's lesser-known corners, profiled in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands guide. Expect fewer facilities and more of the state as its own people know it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ross Island heritage area famous for?
The heritage area of Ross Island (Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island) is the Andamans' lost capital — the British administrative seat of 1858–1941, now romantic ruins in banyan and lawn, a short boat ride from Port Blair.
What are the best things to do in Ross Island heritage area?
The essential experiences in Ross Island heritage area are The ruins circuit, The deer & peacock lawns, Museum & light-and-sound and Harbour views & the lighthouse end. Walk the island loop — Chief Commissioner's house, the church, bakery, press and the Japanese bunkers of the second occupation.
What is the best time to visit Ross Island heritage area?
October to May; late afternoons photograph best, and the island closes as the last boats leave before dark.
How do I reach Ross Island heritage area?
Boats run through the day from Port Blair's Phoenix Bay/Aberdeen jetty (about 15–20 minutes); tickets at the jetty.
How many days do I need in Ross Island heritage area?
Plan a half day — the harbour's essential excursion in Ross Island heritage area. It pairs naturally with the other Andaman & Nicobar Islands stops in this atlas, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands state guide links them into one route.
Every Place. Every Flavour.
Ross Island heritage area is one of 188 destinations in this atlas — with 154 offbeat places and 213 regional dishes, each with its own full guide page.
Andaman & Nicobar Islands Travel Guide Read the blog