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Ross Island

Ross Island

Half a dayBest: Oct–MarIslands#ruins#ferry#history
Half a day Oct–Mar

British-era ruins reclaimed by forest

Why this weekend?

Colonial ruinsPeacocks & deerFerry ride
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The day-by-day plan

Day 1Half day · The ruined colony
  1. Morning ferry
  2. Commissioner's house
  3. Bakery & church
  4. Peacock walks
  5. Gun emplacements
  6. Return ferry

Geography & terrain

Ross Island (Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Island) sits in Port Blair's harbour mouth, South Andaman — a 5-sq-km hill-island of colonial ruins being reclaimed by the forest, reached by a 20-minute ferry from the Aberdeen jetty.

History & culture

The British made Ross their Andaman headquarters from the 1850s — an imperial outpost of governors' bungalows, a church, a bakery and printing works, all abandoned after the 1941 earthquake; the Japanese then occupied the island and built coastal guns on it during World War II, and today the ruins — the chief commissioner's house, the church, the swank bakery — stand as one of the world's most evocative imperial-ghost towns, with the island renamed in homage to Netaji's 1943 flag-raising.

Where to stay

Budget

₹1,500–4,000/night

Mid-range

₹4,000–9,000/night

Comfort

₹9,000+/night

Things to do

Colonial ruins
🌟

Colonial ruins

Fig-engulfed houses
🌟

Fig-engulfed houses

Peacocks & deer
🌟

Peacocks & deer

Japanese guns
🌟

Japanese guns

Harbour views
🌟

Harbour views

Eat & drink

  • Grilled reef fish
  • Coconut and seafood curries
  • Tropical fresh fruit platters

Getting there

Fly
Veer Savarkar Airport (IXZ), Port Blair
Train
No rail — island chain served by ferries
Road from Port Blair
road + ferry hub for all islands
Getting around
Autos and scooters on the islands; ferries between them

Budget snapshot

Total
₹8,500–18,500 (2 days)
Per day · Stay
₹1,500–9,000/night
Per day · Food
₹600–1,000
Per day · Transport
₹1,200–1,600
Per day · Activities
₹1,800–2,200

Month by month

Jan—
Feb—
Mar—
Apr—
May—
Jun—
Jul—
Aug—
Sep—
Oct—
Nov—
Dec—

Practical info

  • Language: Hindi / Bengali / Tamil (multi-language islands) (English understood in tourist spots)
  • Best window: Oct–Mar
  • Connectivity: Patchy off the main islands — download offline maps
  • UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops

Practical tips

  • Ferries run on fixed morning schedules — be early or skip the day
  • The ruins are uneven — grip footwear and water are essential
  • The island closes early afternoon in some seasons — check the boards

Frequently asked questions

Yes — as one of the most photogenic ruined-colony island tours anywhere, perfect for a half-day.

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Ticket counters at the Aberdeen jetty run the morning departures.

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No — the island is a day-visit only.

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British-era ruins reclaimed by forest

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