How to Reach Cellular Jail in Port Blair

Public transport is sparse across Port Blair, so getting to the jail is simple but almost always private: a cab, an auto or your own two-wheeler. Below is the distance and time from every arrival point (the airport, the town centre and the inter-island ferry jetty), with rough fares for each mode. For the full story of the jail and the freedom fighters held here, read our history of Cellular Jail, Port Blair.

How Far Is Cellular Jail and How Long Does It Take?

Cellular Jail is one of the most central sights in Port Blair, so no arrival point is far. The airport, the main market and the passenger ferry jetty all sit within about 4 km. The table below shows the ride from wherever you're starting.

All figures are approximate and should be confirmed locally; Port Blair runs a pre-paid taxi counter at the airport, and drivers everywhere know the jail.

From Veer Savarkar Airport (IXZ) to Cellular Jail

Veer Savarkar International Airport (IXZ) is the only airport in the Andamans, and your starting point if you're flying in from Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, Bengaluru or Mumbai. From the terminal, Cellular Jail at Atlanta Point is about 4 km away, 10–15 minutes by road. Use the airport pre-paid taxi counter for a fixed fare (around INR 150–300), or step outside for a metered auto-rickshaw at roughly INR 100–150. Many travellers drop their luggage at the hotel first, since most Port Blair hotels also sit within a few kilometres of the jail.

From Port Blair City / Aberdeen Bazaar

If you are already in town, you are almost there. Aberdeen Bazaar, the main market and the hub for autos, is only about 1.5 km from the jail, a 5–10 minute auto ride (INR 50–100) or a 20–25 minute walk along the seafront via G.B. Pant Road. Cellular Jail is signposted and sits beside Marina Park, so it is easy to find on foot. There is no regular tourist bus to the gate; local buses run from the Mohanpura bus stand but are infrequent and not built for sightseeing, so an auto is the practical choice.

By Taxi, Auto-Rickshaw, Bus or Scooter

Port Blair has no metro, no app-cabs and no tourist shuttle, so it comes down to four options:

• Taxi / private cab: the most comfortable option, ideal if you are combining the jail with Corbyn's Cove or the Samudrika Museum. Airport pre-paid taxis are fixed; in town, agree the fare first (roughly INR 150–300 for a short hop).
• Auto-rickshaw: the cheapest door-to-door ride, about INR 100–150 from most of central Port Blair and INR 50–100 from Aberdeen Bazaar. Fares are negotiable, so settle the price before you set off.
• Scooter / two-wheeler hire: popular with independent travellers at around INR 400–500 per day; parking near the jail is easy. Carry your licence.
• Local bus: government buses run from the Mohanpura bus stand for INR 10–20, but routes and timings suit residents, not sightseers, fine for the budget-minded, slow for everyone else.

Arriving by Ferry from Havelock or Neil

If you are coming from Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) or Neil (Shaheed Dweep), your inter-island ferry docks at Phoenix Bay jetty in Port Blair; larger government ferries and cruise vessels use Haddo jetty nearby. From either jetty, Cellular Jail is about 3–4 km, a 10–15 minute auto or taxi ride for INR 150–250. Auto-rickshaws wait outside both jetties, and the route runs straight through the town centre past Aberdeen Bazaar.

Timings and the Best Time to Reach

Cellular Jail is open Tuesday to Sunday, roughly 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM to 4:45 PM, and is closed on Mondays and national holidays, so plan your ride so you are not turned away at the gate. Aim to arrive by mid-afternoon if you also want to stay for the evening Light & Sound show (Hindi around 6:00 PM, English around 7:15 PM). For the full ticket prices and show schedule see our Cellular Jail entry fee, ticket & Light & Sound show guide, and check the Cellular Jail timings page before you set out.

Planning Your Port Blair Sightseeing

Most travellers see Cellular Jail on their first day in Port Blair and pair it with Corbyn's Cove, Ross Island and the Samudrika Naval Marine Museum. You can have the transfers, ferries and permits handled for you with a customisable Andaman tour package, or browse the wider Andaman travel guide to plan the rest of your trip.