Andaman! The largest union territory of India. Andaman is one pride of The Incredible India. Andaman is filled with beauty and surprises. In this part we will talk about two islands.
ROSS ISLAND
"Ross Island" is one of the magnificent island of Andaman. Recently it has been named as "Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose" Island. This island is situated 3 km east from central Port Blair by seaway. You have to book your seats in boats to visit islands. Our journey began through sea by boat. It was thrilling and full of excitement for us. Also we were apprehensive deep down.
As told earlier Andaman is filled with surprises. and we were ready to be amazed. Ross island will leave your mouth wide open. This island is home to over 100 dears . And surprisingly they are not afraid of the tourists/visitors. They roam freely all over the island. According to the guide of the island that we hired she said, during the time of tsunami in India in 2004 these dear were the saviours to the islanders. The animals had sensed it earlier, they gave signals to the islanders and signed them to run to the top of the hill.
And Guess what when tsunami hit the island people actually got saved. Not a single one died. Currently nobody lives here except dears, birds, peacocks.
The lady on this picture is the only guide of Ross island. She belongs to a tribal group of Andaman but she can speak English and Hindi. To our astonishment she is the only one who can communicate with the dears and birds of the islands in a alien language and sound. She had infact named the animals and call them by their name. In the noon she called them all together and fed them.
The dear in the pic is blind, his name is Raja. He only follows the guides voice and doesn't leave her side even for a minute.
Not only dears but peacocks also roam freely around the tourists/visitors. If you wish to feed them they will not be afraid and you are allowed to do it.
Even the ducks of the Ross Island have got their individual names. Given by the guide.
Though this island is surrounded by sea but it has a natural source of sweet and drinkable water. Before independence when India was under the British rule they made Ross island as their living place. They build up some machines to convert the sweet water into drinkable water.
Still now you may found those machines there but unfortunately they do not working anymore.
The British people even had made their own power house to generate electricity all over the island.
This is the church , which was build by the British peopleliving there at the time. It is at top of the hill of Ross island. During the tsunami of 2004 the islanders and the animals took shelter here and got saved.
The church is completely abandoned now.
There is one of the most beautiful beach in the Ross island where different movie shootings have happened. But after tsunami this beach is nearly destroyed but even now it has it's beauty in it's own way. According to us, Ross island is one of the beautiful of Andaman. It has to be a must visit if you are going to Andaman.
VIPER ISLAND
Viper island is another island of Andaman which is has witnessed of the bravery of Indian freedom fighters. This island is 4 km west of Port Blair by sea. The Journey by boat to this island is beautiful and filled greenery. When we visited this island it seemed as if all the trees of this island were standing tall carrying the freedom history of India.
Talking about the history of freedom of India. The only the name that strike us is Cellular jail. But many of us do not know that the jail in Viper island was build many years eariler than the cellular jail. The jail at Viper Island was used by the Britishers to inflict the worst form of torture and hardship on those freedom fighters who had served India.
People of Andaman said that for period of time the women freedom fighters were also imprisoned here but this jail was abandoned after the cellular jail was constructed.
Many travelers/visitors do not know about Viper island. But from our experience we were awestruck by the place.
So quite and serene. Filled with greenery. And you get know some unknown facts which we haven't read in our history books. This also counts on the list of must visit place in Andaman.
Journey by sea
Boat on the sea, my boat, Eager and frail! Sweet skies, smile as you look On that fairy sail. Waves, great waves, many years You have worked your will. Just while she passes through, Kind waves, be still. Winds and I may not ask That you never blow, But spare her the moaning note That the old boats know.
- Ethel Turner
Photo Credit - Aditi Nandi
Writing - Aditi Nandi & Medha Nayak
Edited- Medha Nayak