Ross Islands

Named after Daniel Ross, Ross Islands is situated a few kilometers from Aberdeen jetty, Port Blair. The island has so thick vegetation that a distant view gives the impression of lifelessness, that is, of no human inhabitants on the island. To some extent, this is true. Ross Islands is a place of ruins of churches, bungalows, cemetery, bunkers made by the Japanese in the IInd World War, ballrooms and a dismal dungeon.

With an area of 200 acres, Ross Islands was a small but fully furnished world in itself. But in 1942 with the shifting of the Chief Commissioner's Office and the cracks on the shore, the land became deserted. In March 1942, the island was occupied by the Japanese. In October 1945, it was reoccupied by the British.

During the rule of the Britishers, Ross Islands of Andaman and Nicobar Islands had been the headquarters of the Indian Penal Settlement for about 80 years. At that time, the place had everything needed for survival: hospital, bazaar, church, printing press, water treatment plant, cemetery. But today, Ross Island lives only with the memories of those facilities. A museum in Ross Islands named "SMITIKA" presents us with various antiques and photographs to reminisce the bygone days.

Once the administrative headquarters of the British in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Ross Islands is now a land of undergrowths and forests. But it still remains an interesting tourist spot for its historical significance. To access the island the tourists have to reach Port Blair and take local transport to reach Phoenix Bay jetty, from where a boat takes the tourists to their destination. Other facilities like porters, guides, escorts or package tours, everything is available to the tourists.

The languages spoken in Ross Islands are Hindi, Tamil and Bengali.