A Sail Down To Ross Island : Where Ancient Relics Are Seen Under The Sky

Officially known as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island, Ross Island takes you into the ancient relics of nineteenth century as you Island-hop around Andaman and Nicobar territory.

Situated three kilometers east from Port Blair, the island is named after Marine Surveyor, Daniel Ross.

I arrived at Port Blair and without wasting a single minute once everyone of my crew member has freshen up, we sailed off to the Ross Island in our speed boat. As far as most of the itineraries of travel guides I'm concerned with, almost all tourists who Island-hop in Andaman and Nicobar islands, between Port Blair and Havelock tend never to miss out on this corner of the South Andaman Administrative district.

Ross Island has a history dating back to late as nineteenth century. As the revolt of 1857 forced the British to speed up their establishment of penal settlement in Andaman, around 800 convicts have already been shifted from Singapore to Port Blair and about 200 of mutineers were brought from Calcutta in 1858. Now, its already cleared the Andaman and Nicobar territory remained under British preoccupation and the Ross Island remained the administrative headquarters for as long as 85 mighty years!

There were rugged leftovers of the settlement and so a dramatic coastline. The ruins of the settlement were quite interesting to figure out as you could ever have imagined to see with bare eyes.

British preoccupation with bakery, stores, water treatment plants, church, tennis court, swimming pool, printing press, all left shaggy and surrendered to open air. Also, the government House which served the official residence of British empire in the territory and troop barracks which sheltered then soldiers are all left in deteriorating conditions.

Misery has gotten its awe over this once lush life it used to be. When earthquake rocked this place in 1941, the island has to be abandoned until only after Japanese took over and occupied it for a period of 1942-45. It was during that period when Subhash Chandra Bose, with the help of Japanese fought against British for reclaiming the Indian authority. Bose's bravery was well served and an Indian imprint, a national tricolor was left over the government house. And so did the Japanese left theirs - it was such a wild sight to see those huge bunkers used as watch points to safeguard the island from any invasion.

But finally, there has to be a one sided fair deal! Arrived 1979 and the island was handed over to the Navy which set up a small post, INS Jarawa, named after one of the indiginous tribes of Andaman group of Islands.

Light and sound show at Ross Island

All such magnificent history of Ross Island can well be enjoyed through a mesmerising light and sound show which happens every evening at the island itself. Try not to miss the show and you are taken back at time as history unfolds before your eyes.!

Although no civilian settlement is currently allowed at the island by the authorities, sight of spotted deers and peacocks hovering around is quite usual which happens to be a friendly deal as you could greet and serve food to them. 

And did you ever know, where the first photo voltaic panels were introduced in India? You might not be wrong if you are thinking about these islands. Yes, the very 10m high circular lighthouse tower (which imprints at the back of twenty colored Indian note) just about fifty metres away from the shore line owns that credit. It served the batteries for the operation of light.