Cellular Jail Kalapani Jail in Portblair

Cellular Jail, Port Blair

Cellular Jail was a colonial prison in Andaman and Nicobar islands. Shri Moraji Desai then prime minister of India declared the Cellular Jail as a national monument on 11th February 1979. Cellular Jail was constructed to deal effectively with the freedom fighters who revolted against the British rule during India's first war of independence. A Light and sound show happens daily in the evening in Cellular Jail. 

This site being located just opposite to Ross Island, the Administrative Head Quarters of the British, was found more suitable for construction of the Jail. It was also better suited in terms of security of the jail, as more than half of the outer wall was bounded by sea

Cellular Jail, Port Blair

Construction:

The construction of the Cellular Jail  started in 1893 and was completed in 1905. Spread as seven spokes of a bicycle wheel, this unique three storied structure was the first of its kind in India. Three wings on the back side are small as it is closer to the Sea. Currently there are only three wings, rest were destroyed and using the bricks of the destroyed Cellular Jail, a Medical College is constructed near to it. The Cells were designed in such a way that the face of a cell in a building will face the back of cells in another. This way, communication between prisoners was impossible

Cellular Jail in Port Blair

Workshed:
These Work sheds, constructed between every two radiating wings of the cellular jail were meant for engaging the prisoners in different types of tasks such as oil extraction and rope making under the watchful eyes of cruel wardens and petty officers. Political prisoners were required to produce a daily quota of 30 pounds of coconut oil and 10 pounds of Mustard oil, that were beyond their physical capacity. Punishments were followed for those who failed to meet the quota.

Rooms:
There are a total of 696 cells in Cellular Jail. Each Cell was 4.5 by 2.7 meters (14.8 ft × 8.9 ft) in size with a ventilator located at a height of 3 meters (9.8 ft). The first cell near to the Central Tower is the Warden Cell and the biggest one in each floor.

The name of Freedom fighters who were imprisoned in cellular jail is written on the walls of the Central Tower. The Famous Veer Savarkar Cell is located in the 2nd Floor. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was imprisoned in this cell from 1911 to 1921 

We need minimum 2 Hours to explore the Cellular Jail. It will be good to hire a guide for Rs:300.00 to know more about the history of Cellular Jail.