About Cellular Jail
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands' Cellular Prison, commonly known as Kala Pani (literally, "Black Water"), was a British colonial jail. Criminals and political prisoners were sent to the prison by the colonial authority of India. During the fight for India's independence, many prominent independence activists were detained here, including Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Diwan Singh Kalepani, Yogendra Shukla, Batukeshwar Dutt, Shadan Chandra Chatterjee, Sohan Singh, Hare Krishna Konar, Shiv Verma, Allama Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi, and Sudhanshu Dasgupta. The building complex now functions as a national memorial.
How to reach:
The Veer Savarkar Airport, an International Airport is located in the capital town of Port Blair, the gateway to Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Port Blair, is connected with Chennai, Kolkata, and New Delhi by air. Air India, Jet Airways, Jet lite, Go Air & Spice Jet Airlines operate regular flights.
No Train facilities are available
The Cellular Jail is located at Atlanta Point in the city of Port Blair. Private Cab is the only option in port Blair city.
Highlights:-
We do, however, advise everyone traveling to the Andaman Islands to take this excursion. Particularly on the day of arrival since the majority of travelers arrive on the islands in the late afternoon. A must-see sight, Cellular Prison is a national memorial that serves as a reminder of the struggles that our country's freedom warriors endured in order to secure the freedom we enjoy today.
After the First War of Independence, the British exploited the Andaman Islands to send infamous offenders into exile. The Cellular Prison, formerly known as "Kalapani," is situated in Port Blair's capital.
The Cellular Prison witnesses the suffering and suffering that our freedom fighters endure. The jail suffered deterioration and fell victim to demolition after independence. Afterward, the government arranged it, and it is presently maintained and kept open for visitors. Patriots and those who value freedom visit this prison on a pilgrimage.
Laser Light Show Timings:-
The Cellular Prison holds a special place in the hearts of Veer Savarkarji's devotees, and every time they go there, they pay respects to the cell where Veer Savarkar was held. Because it contains the most tragic episodes in the lives of the prisoners who battled for the country's freedom, the jail has significant historical significance. The Cellular Prison is situated near Port Blair's Atlanta Point.
Cellular Jail in 1941 Earthquake
With the passage of time, the Cellular Prison experienced several damages caused by both man and nature. The building has sustained significant damage as a result of the earthquake in 1941 and the invasion by the Japanese. After being damaged, the Central Tower's initial square design was replaced with a new tower that had a round shape. Two of the seven wings were destroyed by the Japanese (who used the bricks to build bunkers and other structures), while the other two were demolished to make room for the Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital. The watch tower and wings 1, 6, and 7 have been retained.
At Last
In 1975, a group of "pilgrim voyagers" traveled to the Andaman Islands and Cellular Prison. They stayed in a wooden guest house—now known as "Teal House"—that was a half-kilometer from my home in Anarkali, Delaneypur. We were taken there by my grandfather to meet them, and as youngsters, we touched their feet to ask for their blessing. Also, it was suggested that a suitable location close to Cellular Prison receive a plot of land allocation for the construction of a permanent "Pilgrim" Rest House. Bangeshwar Roy, General Secretary of the Ex-Andaman Political Prisoners' Fraternity Circle, the next year in 1976.
In December 1976, January 1977, and February 1977, Calcutta sent out three batches of "pilgrim voyagers," or former political prisoners who had been held in the Cellular Jail in connection with the freedom movement, to visit the Andaman Islands and the Cellular Jail. Each batch consisted of 20 people. Bangeshwar Roy's squad traveled on the M.V. Harshavardhana to get there. Then-Chief Commissioner S.M. Krishnatry gave a banquet in Raj Niwas on January 22 in honor of the independence fighters. On January 23, 1977, they participated in the unveiling of Netaji's statue. Several INA members were among these liberation warriors as well.
The Cellular Prison was proclaimed a 'National Monument' when it was inaugurated by Morarji Desai, the then Prime Minister of India on 11 February 1979. The reason why it took more than ten years to establish the Cellular Prison as a National Memorial is currently a severe mystery, given that the first application was made in 1967, was followed by other submissions and was supposedly approved in 1969.