Port Blair

File:Port Blair 1872 Ross Island Penal HQ.jpg

The indigenous inhabitants are the Andamanese. Radiocarbon dating studies of the kitchen refuse dumps from the mounds excavated by the Anthropological Survey of India at Choladari near Port Blair indicate human occupation for at least 2,000 years,{{cite web | url=https://www.downtoearth.org.in/interviews/environment/-leave-the-sentinelese-alone--61317 | title=Leave the Sentinelese alone | first=Rajat | last=Ghai | publisher=downtoearth.org.in | date=27 November 2018 | access-date=3 February 2019 }}[https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/call-off-search-for-us-mans-body-on-sentinelese-island-in-andamans-conservationists-to-police-1953876 US Man's Body Should Be Left Alone, As Should The Andaman Tribe: Experts], NDTV, 27 November 2018.{{Better source needed|date=December 2020}} although they are likely to have diverged from the inhabitants of the mainland significantly earlier.

In 1789 the Government of Bengal established a penal colony on Chatham Island in the southeast bay of Great Andaman, named Port Blair in the honour of Archibald Blair of the East India Company. After two years, the colony moved to the northeast part of Great Andaman and was named Port Cornwallis after Admiral William Cornwallis. However, there was much disease and death in the penal colony, and the government ceased operating it in May 1796.

In 1824 Port Cornwallis was the rendezvous of the fleet carrying the army to the First Anglo-Burmese War. In the 1830s and 1840s, shipwrecked crews who landed on the Andamans were often attacked and killed by the natives, alarming the British government. In 1855, the government proposed another settlement on the islands, including a convict establishment, but the Indian Rebellion of 1857 forced a delay in its construction.

However, since the rebellion provided the British with a lot of new prisoners, it made the new Andaman settlement and prison an urgent necessity. Construction began in November 1857 at the renovated Port Blair, avoiding the vicinity of a saltwater swamp that seemed to have been the source of many of the old colony's problems. The penal colony was originally on Viper Island. The convicts, mostly political prisoners, suffered life imprisonment at hard labour under cruel and degrading conditions. Many were hanged, while others died of disease and starvation. Between 1864 and 1867 a penal establishment was also built with convict labour on the northern side of Ross Island.{{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/features/andaman/stories/2004081500270300.htm |title=The Hindu : Notorious once, it stands shrouded in silence now |access-date=27 December 2008 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227180955/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/features/andaman/stories/2004081500270300.htm |archive-date=27 December 2008 }} T. Ramakrishnan, "Notorious Once, It Stands Shrouded in Silence" These structures now lie in ruins.http://www.galenfrysinger.com/ross_island.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304105737/http://www.galenfrysinger.com/ross_island.htm |date=4 March 2016 }} Ross Island

As the Indian independence movement continued to grow in the late 19th century, the enormous Cellular Jail was constructed between 1896 and 1906 to house Indian convicts, mostly political prisoners, in solitary confinement. The Cellular Jail is also known as Kala Pani (translated as "Black Waters"), a name given to it due to the torture and general ill-treatment of its Indian convicts.

In World War II the islands were occupied by the Japanese on 23 March 1942 without opposition from the garrison. From 1943 to 1944, Port Blair served as the headquarters of the Azad Hind government under Subhas Chandra Bose. British forces returned to the islands in October 1945.{{cite book|author=Jayant Dasgupta|title=Japanese in Andaman & Nicobar Islands: red sun over black water|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aw5uAAAAMAAJ|year=2002|publisher=Manas Publications|isbn=978-81-7049-138-5}}

Although affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, Port Blair survived sufficiently to act as a base for relief efforts in the islands. In 2017 it was selected as one of the cities to be developed as a smart city under the Smart Cities Mission.{{Cite news|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/kMLIQKW3xIqOUzFJ5sZadN/Smart-cities-More-names-of-cities-to-be-announced-today.html|title=13 cities included in Phase 1 of Smart Cities Mission|last=Khanna|first=Pretika|date=24 May 2016|newspaper=LiveMint|access-date=4 January 2017}}

Port Blair has a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen climate classification Am), with little variation in average temperature and large amounts of precipitation throughout the year. All months except January, February, and March receive substantial rainfall.

Highest recorded temperature: {{Convert|36.8|C|F|abbr=on}} on 20 April 2013{{cite web |title=WMO Climate Normals for 1991-2020: Port Blair |url=https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/India/XLS/PORT_BLAIR_43333.xlsx |website=ncei.noaa.gov |publisher=NOAA |access-date=22 March 2024 |format=CSV |quote=WMO Station Number: 43333}}

Lowest recorded temperature: {{Convert|14.6|C|F|abbr=on}} on 5 June 1986

{{Weather box

|collapsed =

|location = Port Blair (1991–2020, extremes 1901–present)

|metric first = Yes

|single line = Yes

| Jan record high C = 33.0

| Feb record high C = 34.6

| Mar record high C = 36.0

| Apr record high C = 36.8

| May record high C = 36.4

| Jun record high C = 35.6

| Jul record high C = 32.8

| Aug record high C = 32.7

| Sep record high C = 35.4

| Oct record high C = 35.6

| Nov record high C = 34.0

| Dec record high C = 35.4

|year record high C = 36.8

| Jan high C = 29.9

| Feb high C = 30.6

| Mar high C = 31.7

| Apr high C = 32.5

| May high C = 31.5

| Jun high C = 30.0

| Jul high C = 29.6

| Aug high C = 29.5

| Sep high C = 29.5

| Oct high C = 30.2

| Nov high C = 30.5

| Dec high C = 30.1

| year high C = 30.5

| Jan mean C = 26.5

| Feb mean C = 26.9

| Mar mean C = 27.6

| Apr mean C = 28.7

| May mean C = 28.2

| Jun mean C = 27.2

| Jul mean C = 27.0

| Aug mean C = 26.9

| Sep mean C = 26.6

| Oct mean C = 27.0

| Nov mean C = 27.4

| Dec mean C = 27.0

|year mean C =

| Jan low C = 23.0

| Feb low C = 22.7

| Mar low C = 23.4

| Apr low C = 24.7

| May low C = 24.9

| Jun low C = 24.6

| Jul low C = 24.2

| Aug low C = 24.2

| Sep low C = 23.7

| Oct low C = 23.8

| Nov low C = 24.3

| Dec low C = 23.9

| year low C = 24.0

| Jan record low C = 14.8

| Feb record low C = 15.9

| Mar record low C = 16.2

| Apr record low C = 17.3

| May record low C = 17.1

| Jun record low C = 18.8

| Jul record low C = 18.0

| Aug record low C = 19.8

| Sep record low C = 16.8

| Oct record low C = 17.8

| Nov record low C = 17.3

| Dec record low C = 16.2

|year record low C = 14.6

| rain colour = green

| Jan rain mm = 48.9

| Feb rain mm = 14.2

| Mar rain mm = 32.7

| Apr rain mm = 78.0

| May rain mm = 407.2

| Jun rain mm = 484.2

| Jul rain mm = 448.5

| Aug rain mm = 460.2

| Sep rain mm = 505.2

| Oct rain mm = 300.9

| Nov rain mm = 221.8

| Dec rain mm = 111.4

|year rain mm = 3113.4

| Jan rain days = 2.2

| Feb rain days = 0.9

| Mar rain days = 1.8

| Apr rain days = 4.2

| May rain days = 15.9

| Jun rain days = 18.7

| Jul rain days = 19.3

| Aug rain days = 19.1

| Sep rain days = 20.0

| Oct rain days = 14.9

| Nov rain days = 10.4

| Dec rain days = 4.9

|year rain days = 132.3

|time day = 17:30 IST

| Jan humidity = 75

| Feb humidity = 71

| Mar humidity = 72

| Apr humidity = 74

| May humidity = 83

| Jun humidity = 86

| Jul humidity = 86

| Aug humidity = 86

| Sep humidity = 89

| Oct humidity = 87

| Nov humidity = 82

| Dec humidity = 77

|year humidity = 81

| Jan sun = 266.6

| Feb sun = 265.6

| Mar sun = 266.6

| Apr sun = 237.0

| May sun = 158.1

| Jun sun = 90.0

| Jul sun = 102.3

| Aug sun = 99.2

| Sep sun = 117.0

| Oct sun = 167.4

| Nov sun = 189.0

| Dec sun = 241.8

|year sun =

| Jand sun = 8.6

| Febd sun = 9.4

| Mard sun = 8.6

| Aprd sun = 7.9

| Mayd sun = 5.1

| Jund sun = 3.0

| Juld sun = 3.3

| Augd sun = 3.2

| Sepd sun = 3.9

| Octd sun = 5.4

| Novd sun = 6.3

| Decd sun = 7.8

|yeard sun = 6.0

|source 1 = India Meteorological Department (sun 1971-2000)

{{cite web

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205040301/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf

| archive-date = 5 February 2020

| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf

| title = Station: Port Blair Climatological Table 1981–2010

| work = Climatological Normals 1981–2010

| publisher = India Meteorological Department

| date = January 2015

| pages = 619–620

| access-date = 10 February 2020}}

{{cite web

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042509/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf

| archive-date = 5 February 2020

| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf

| title = Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)

| publisher = India Meteorological Department

| date = December 2016

| page = M4

| access-date = 10 February 2020}}

{{cite web

| url = http://city.imd.gov.in/citywx/extreme/FEB/portblair2.htm

| title = Port Blair Climatological Table 1981–2010

| publisher = India Meteorological Department

| access-date = 10 February 2020}}

{{cite web

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042602/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Daily%20Normals%20of%20Global%20&%20Diffused%20Radiations%20%201971_2000.pdf

| archive-date = 5 February 2020

| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Daily%20Normals%20of%20Global%20&%20Diffused%20Radiations%20%201971_2000.pdf

| title = Table 3 Monthly mean duration of Sun Shine (hours) at different locations in India

| work = Daily Normals of Global & Diffuse Radiation (1971–2000)

| publisher = India Meteorological Department

| date = December 2016

| page = M-3

| access-date = 10 February 2020}}

|source 2 = NOAA(extremes), Tokyo Climate Center (mean temperatures 1991–2020)

{{cite web

| url = https://ds.data.jma.go.jp/gmd/tcc/tcc/products/climate/normal/parts/NrmMonth_e.php?stn=43333

| title = Normals Data: Port Blair - India Latitude: 11.67°N Longitude: 92.72°E Height: 79 (m)

| publisher = Japan Meteorological Agency

| access-date = 1 March 2020}}

|date=November 2010

}}

Port Blair is the entry point for all tourism-related activities. Tourists first have to arrive at Port Blair before progressing on to any other islands in Andaman. At Port Blair, the major tourist places to visit are the Cellular Jail, Corbyns Cove Beach, North Bay Island, Ross Island renamed to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island, Chidiatapu, Wandoor, Samudrika Naval Marine Museum, and other museums that are present within city limits. Entry charges apply to some of the tourist places.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

{{Historical population

| source = Government of India{{cite web |title=Census Tables |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/census.website/data/census-tables |website=censusindia.gov.in |access-date=6 January 2024}}

|1951 | 7789

|1961 | 14075

|1971 | 26218

|1981 | 49634

|1991 | 74955

|2001 | 99984

|2011 | 108058

|align = left

}}

{{As of|2011}} India census,{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-date=16 June 2004|title= Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|access-date=1 November 2008|publisher= Census Commission of India}} Port Blair had a population of 100,608. Males constitute 52.92% (53,247) of the population and females 47.07% (47,361). 9.3% of the population is under the age of 6 years.

Port Blair is a multilingual city.

Largest language's population are

Tamil 40,323

Telugu 32,628

Hindi 31,520

Bengali 28,063

Malayalam 13,670

Sadri 3,479

Kurukh 3,459

Necobarese 2,308.

{{cite web |title=C-16 Population By Mother Tongue |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-3500.XLSX|work=Census of India 2011 |publisher=Office of the Registrar General }}

{{Pie chart

|thumb = right

|caption = Port Blair tehsil in 2011 census

|label1 = Tamil

|value1 = 24.33

|color1 = Blue

|label2 = Telugu

|value2 = 19.68

|color2 = gold

|label3 = Hindi

|value3 = 19.02

|color3 = Yellow

|label4 = Bengali

|value4 = 16.93

|color4 = Red

|label5 = Malalyalam

|value5 = 8.25

|color5 = Green

|label6 = Sadri

|value6 = 2.10

|color6 = Orange

|label7 = Kurukh

|value7 = 2.09

|color7 = Purple

|label8 = Nicobarese

|value8 = 1.39

|color8 = violet

|label9 = Others

|value9 = 6.21

|color9 = Grey

}}

{{bar box

|title=Religion in Port Blair City (2011)

|titlebar=#fcd666

|left1=Religion

|right1=Percent

|float=right

|bars=

{{bar percent|Hinduism|darkorange|74}}

{{bar percent|Islam|green|12.7}}

{{bar percent|Christianity |blue|12.4}}

{{bar percent|Others|black|0.9}}

}}

The most common religion is Hinduism, followed by Christianity and Islam.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}

{{bar box

|title=Literacy in Port Blair

|titlebar=#ddd

|left1=Literacy

|right1=Percent

|float=right

|bars=

{{bar percent|Male|lightblue|92.79}}

{{bar percent|Female|lightpink|86.73}}

{{bar percent|All|lightgrey|89.76}}

}}

Port Blair has an average literacy rate of 89.76%, higher than the national average that is 74.04%. In Port Blair, male literacy is 92.79%, and female literacy is 86.34%.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}

The Port Blair Municipal Council, officially known as Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council abbreviated as PBMC, officially SVPMC is the ruling civic body administering the city of Port Blair, the capital and the largest city in the Indian union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The council came into existence on 2 October 1957 after the assent by the President of India to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Municipal Board's) Regulation, 1957 Act on 11 March 1957. The council comprises a total of 24 wards after the recent delimitation and the expansion of the city limits with the merger of a few other villages to the existing 18 wards previously.{{Cite web |last=Sanjib |date=5 March 2015 |title=Port Blair city all set for expansion; PBMC to have 24 wards |url=http://www.andamansheekha.com/29724/ |access-date=17 March 2023 |website=ANDAMAN SHEEKHA |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Port Blair City Limit to be Expanded |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2011/oct/14/port-blair-city-limit-to-be-expanded-300361.html |access-date=17 March 2023 |website=The New Indian Express|date=16 May 2012 }}

The recent elections for the council were held in 2022.{{Cite web |title=Panchayat, Municipal Polls In Andaman and Nicobar Islands On Sunday |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/panchayat-municipal-polls-in-andaman-and-nicobar-islands-on-sunday-2805859 |access-date=10 November 2022 |website=NDTV.com}}{{Cite web |title=Panchayat and Municipal Elections-2022 BJP & Congress win 10 seats each, TDP bags 2, DMK & Independent Candidate won 1 seat each in Municipal Election :: The Daily Telegrams |url=https://dt.andaman.gov.in/DetailNews.aspx?newsid=kZb11nImcP2KNB3BIchPEXK5WDQxexcYPtDCsryK8u0= |access-date=10 November 2022 |website=dt.andaman.gov.in}} U. Kavitha from Ward 24 a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party was elected as the chairperson for the first term which commenced on 16 March 2022.{{Cite web |last=Sanjib |date=16 March 2022 |title=U Kavitha from BJP elected as Chairperson of Port Blair Municipal Council for the first year term |url=http://www.andamansheekha.com/103390/ |access-date=15 March 2023 |website=ANDAMAN SHEEKHA |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=PTI |date=17 March 2022 |title=BJP councillor elected new chairperson of Port Blair Municipal Council |url=https://theprint.in/india/bjp-councillor-elected-new-chairperson-of-port-blair-municipal-council/877387/ |access-date=10 November 2022 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}} On 14 March 2023, Telugu Desam Party councillor S. Selvi from Ward 5 was elected as the chairperson for the second year term commencing from 16 March 2023 as part of the joint candidature from the BJP-TDP Alliance.{{Cite web |last=sanjib |date=14 March 2023 |title=Mrs. Selvi elected as Chairperson of PBMC |url=http://www.andamansheekha.com/113185/ |access-date=15 March 2023 |website=ANDAMAN SHEEKHA |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Karthick |first=Tarun |date=14 March 2023 |title=TDP Councillor Selvi from Ward Number 5 is the Next PBMC Chairperson |url=https://nicobartimes.com/local-news/tdp-councillor-selvi-from-ward-number-5-is-the-next-pbmc-chairperson/ |access-date=15 March 2023 |website=Nicobar Times |language=en-US}}

{{Infobox legislature

| name = Port Blair Municipal Council

| native_name = Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council

| native_name_lang =

| coa_pic = Seal of the Port Blair Municipal Council.svg

| coa_res =

| coa_alt =

| coa-pic =

| coa-res =

| house_type = Municipal council

| foundation = {{Start date and age|df=yes|paren=yes|br=yes|2 October 1957}}

| leader1_type = Chairperson

| leader1 = Sudeep Rai Sharma

| party1 = INC

| election1 = 25 April 2024https://www.andamansheekha.com/127207/

| leader2_type = Senior Vice Chairperson

| leader2 = V. Ravi Chandran

| party2 = DMK

| election2 = 25 April 2024

| leader3_type = Junior Vice Chairperson

| leader3 = Pandi Selvi

| party3 = BJP

| election3 = 25 April 2024

| leader4_type = Secretary

| leader4 = Smitha R, IAS

| seats = 24

| structure1 = India Port Blair, A&N Islands Municipal Council Election 2022.svg

| structure1_res = 275px

| political_groups1 =

Government (14)

• {{color box|#FF9933}} NDA (14)
• {{color box|#FF9933}} BJP (11)
• {{color box|#FFED00}} TDP (2)
• {{color box|#B2B2B2}} IND (1)

Opposition (11)

• {{color box|#00BFFF}} INDIA (11)
• {{color box|#00BFFF}} INC (10)
• {{color box|#FF0D0D}} DMK (1)

| last_election1 = 2022

| next_election1 = 2027

| session_room =

| meeting_place = Indira Bhavan

| website = {{URL|https://pbmc.gov.in/}}

| motto =

}}

Port Blair Municipal Council (PBMC) has a total of 24 members or councillors, who are directly elected after a term of 5 years. The council is led by the Chairperson. The latest elections were held in 2022. The current chairperson of Port Blair is Sudeep Rai Sharma of the Indian National Congress. The current senior vice chairperson is V. Ravi Chandran of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the junior vice chairperson is Pandi Selvi of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

• Tagore Government College of Education

• Andaman and Nicobar college
• Jawaharlal Nehru Government College

• Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Institute of Technology

• Andaman Law College

• Andaman and Nicobar Islands Institute of Medical Sciences

File:Port Blair, Andamans, Statue of Rajiv Gandhi.jpg|Statue of Rajiv Gandhi

File:Port Blair, Andamans, Sea bridge.jpg|Sunset in the bay

File:Gandhi statue-3-gandhi park-port blair-andaman-India.jpg|Gandhi statue, Gandhi park

File:PortBlair SeasideRoad.JPG|Seaside Road

File:Cellular Jail, Andaman, Port Blair, India.jpg|Cellular Jail

File:Science Centre Port Blair 4150297.JPG|Port Blair Science Centre

File:Jaljeevshala-Aquarium at Port Blair - panoramio.jpg|Jaljeevshala Aquarium

File:Aberdeen clock tower-1-port blair-andaman-India.jpg|Aberdeen clock tower

File:Battle of Aberdeen Memorial In Port Blair.jpg|Memorial for the 1859 Battle of Aberdeen

File:Shree Munisuvrat Swami Jain Temple, Port Blair.jpg|Port Blair Jain temple

• Charles James Lyall
• Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
• Havelock island

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons}}

• {{wikivoyage inline|Port Blair}}

{{South Andaman district}}

{{Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands}}

{{State and Union Territory capitals of India}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1789 establishments in India

Category:1789 establishments in British India

Category:Populated places established in 1789

Category:Cities and towns in South Andaman district

Category:Indian union territory capitals

Category:Tourist attractions in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Category:South Andaman Island

Category:Port cities in India