Ross Island (Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep) is the small, ruin-covered island that once ran the entire Andaman penal settlement and is now the easiest half-day trip from Port Blair. It sits about 1.5 to 3 km east of the town, a 10 to 20 minute ferry hop, and today spotted deer and peacocks wander among roofless colonial buildings swallowed by banyan roots. This guide covers how to reach it, fees and timings as of November 2026, the sound and light show, and how to fold it into an Andaman itinerary.
Ross Island, officially Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, lies in South Andaman district, roughly 1.5 to 3 km east of Port Blair (officially Sri Vijaya Puram). It was the British administrative headquarters of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and is now an open-air heritage site reached by a short ferry from Aberdeen Jetty.
Key takeaways
- Ross Island was renamed Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep on 30 December 2018 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi; both names are still in common use.
- It is reached by a 10 to 20 minute ferry from Aberdeen Jetty, Port Blair, with boats running roughly from 8:30 am through the early afternoon (as of November 2026).
- Island entry is modest, listed around ₹30 for Indian visitors and ₹500 for foreign visitors as of November 2026 (reconfirm at the counter); the ferry fare is separate.
- The island is usually open about 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and is commonly closed on Wednesdays; the evening sound and light show runs at 5:30 pm on show days.
- It is a day trip only, with no overnight stay, no cafes, and spotted deer and peacocks roaming freely among the ruins.
- October to March is the comfortable window; June to September monsoon can disrupt the crossing.
About Ross Island and quick facts
Ross Island is a compact heritage island of ruins and forest in South Andaman district, not a beach destination. It served as the nerve centre of British rule in the Andamans for decades, which is why it carries grand buildings out of all proportion to its size.
On first visit it helps to fix two things: the name and the geography. The island was renamed Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep in December 2018, though ferry tickets, maps and locals still say Ross Island. It is a different place from the small Ross Island in the Smith–Ross group off North Andaman, so book the one near Port Blair.
| Official name | Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep (formerly Ross Island) |
| Location | South Andaman district, about 1.5–3 km east of Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram) |
| Coordinates | About 11.675°N, 92.763°E |
| Access | Ferry from Aberdeen Jetty, Port Blair (10–20 minutes) |
| Usual hours | About 8:30 am–4:30 pm; commonly closed Wednesdays |
| Time needed | 2–3 hours on the island |
| Theme | Colonial ruins, deer and peacocks, sound and light show |
A short history: capital, earthquake, occupation
Ross Island was the administrative headquarters of the British penal settlement in the Andamans, developed with convict labour after 1858. Within a few decades it held a chief commissioner’s residence, a church, bakeries, a bazaar, tennis lawns and a printing press, which earned it the nickname “Paris of the East”.
According to Outlook Traveller, the Presbyterian Church on the island was built between 1863 and 1866 for British administrators and residents, with stone walls, Burmese teak window frames and imported stained glass. A major earthquake in 1941 damaged many of these structures, and the island never fully regained its pre-war primacy as Port Blair grew.
During the Second World War, Japanese forces occupied the Andamans from March 1942 and used Ross as a strategic position, building bunkers and pillboxes that still dot the shore. Subhas Chandra Bose is recorded as having visited in December 1943, when he is said to have stayed at Government House and hoisted the Indian tricolour. The island today is managed as a heritage site with Archaeological Survey of India interpretive signage, and entry is controlled by the Indian Navy.
Best time to visit
The comfortable season to visit Ross Island is October to March, when the sea is calmer and the heat is bearable for walking among open ruins. The island has little shade and no cafes, so weather matters more than for an indoor sight.
Monsoon months of June to September can bring heavy rain and rough seas that disrupt the short crossing, so build in a buffer day if you travel then. Within any day, early morning or late afternoon gives softer light and cooler air.
| Period | Conditions | Notes for Ross Island |
|---|---|---|
| October–February | Dry, pleasant, calmer seas | Best window; go early to beat the heat and crowds |
| March–May | Hot and humid | Fine, but carry water and a hat; visit by mid-morning |
| June–September | Monsoon, rough seas possible | Crossings may be cancelled; keep plans flexible |
How to reach Ross Island (Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep)
You reach Ross Island by a short tourist ferry from Aberdeen Jetty in Port Blair, within the Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex, taking about 10 to 20 minutes each way. There is no bridge, road or train to the island; everything starts with getting to Port Blair first.
Port Blair’s Veer Savarkar International Airport (IXZ) is the entry point to the Andamans, with flights from the Indian mainland. There is no railway in the islands. From the airport or your Port Blair hotel, Aberdeen Jetty is a short taxi or auto ride away.
Ferries to the island run roughly from 8:30 am through the early afternoon, with the first boat around 8:30 am (as of November 2026); the last return is usually mid-to-late afternoon. For the evening sound and light show, the ferry instead leaves from Phoenix Bay Jetty at 4:00 pm, with visitors asked to arrive by 3:30 pm, per a February 2025 notice from the Department of Information, Publicity and Tourism.
| From | To | Distance / time |
|---|---|---|
| Veer Savarkar Airport (IXZ) | Aberdeen Jetty | About 4 km, 15–20 min by taxi |
| Aberdeen Jetty | Ross Island | About 1.5–3 km, 10–20 min by ferry |
| Phoenix Bay Jetty | Ross Island (show ferry) | Short crossing; boat departs 4:00 pm on show days |
Top things to see and do
The main thing to do on Ross Island is walk a slow loop past its colonial ruins while deer graze around you. The circuit is small and mostly flat, and 2 to 3 hours is enough to see it without rushing.
- Presbyterian Church — the roofless stone church (built 1863–1866) is the signature ruin, with tree roots threading through its walls.
- Chief Commissioner’s house and officers’ quarters — grand masonry shells that hint at the island’s former scale; stay outside any cordoned, fragile sections.
- Bakery, bazaar and swimming pool remains — scattered foundations along the walking loop that show how self-contained the settlement was.
- Japanese bunkers and pillboxes — concrete wartime defences from the 1942 occupation, some overgrown.
- Smritika museum — a small island museum with photographs and relics covering the settlement’s history.
- Deer, peacocks and birdlife — spotted deer and peacocks roam freely and are used to people; watch them, do not feed or chase them.
| Spot | What it is | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Presbyterian Church ruins | Roofless colonial church, main photo stop | 15–20 min |
| Chief Commissioner’s residence | Largest ruin, colonial administration | 15 min |
| Japanese bunkers | WWII concrete defences | 15–20 min |
| Smritika museum | Small history museum | 20 min |
| Walking loop and deer | Shaded trail, wildlife | 45–60 min |
The sound and light show
The evening sound and light show narrates the island’s colonial and wartime history using projected light and a voiceover, and it runs at 5:30 pm on show days. According to a Department of Information, Publicity and Tourism notice, the show resumed on 13 February 2025 after an upgrade.
It operates as a separate trip from the daytime visit: the ferry leaves Phoenix Bay Jetty at 4:00 pm, so reach the jetty by 3:30 pm. Tickets can be booked online through the official tourism department site and typically require photo ID; buy ahead in peak season because seats are limited. Incredible India lists the show as running daily except Wednesday, so confirm the day before you plan around it.
Suggested half-day itinerary
Ross Island works best as a half-day, often paired with North Bay (Coral) Island, which uses the same Aberdeen Jetty. A simple plan:
- 8:00 am — Reach Aberdeen Jetty, buy the ferry ticket and island entry, sign the navy visitor register.
- 8:30–9:00 am — Cross to Ross Island on an early ferry before the heat builds.
- 9:00 am–12:00 pm — Walk the loop: church, commissioner’s house, bunkers, museum, deer.
- Midday — Return ferry to Port Blair; carry water as there are no cafes on the island.
- Optional evening — On another day, take the 4:00 pm show ferry from Phoenix Bay Jetty for the 5:30 pm sound and light show.
If you want both Ross and North Bay in one morning, start early and keep the Ross walk to about two hours.
Where to stay
You stay in Port Blair, not on Ross Island, because no accommodation or overnight stay is allowed on the island. Port Blair has the widest choice of hotels in the Andamans, from budget lodges to sea-view properties, and most are within a short drive of Aberdeen Jetty.
The bands below are indicative planning estimates for Port Blair as of November 2026 and should be reconfirmed at the time of booking, as island tariffs move sharply with season:
- Budget — roughly ₹1,200–2,500 a night for simple guesthouses and lodges near Aberdeen Bazaar.
- Mid-range — roughly ₹3,000–6,000 a night for comfortable hotels with air-conditioning.
- Upper/sea-view — ₹7,000 and up for larger hotels and resorts.
Book ahead for the December–January peak and the long weekends, when Port Blair fills quickly. Government-run options and homestays also exist; check the Andaman tourism department listings.
Food to try
There is no restaurant on Ross Island, so eat in Port Blair before or after the ferry and carry only water and snacks across. The island has, at most, small kiosks and shaded benches.
Port Blair’s strength is seafood. Look for grilled and curried fish, prawns and lobster, plus South Indian staples that reflect the islands’ settler mix:
- Fish curry with rice (coconut-based gravy with local catch) — the everyday island meal.
- Tandoori and grilled seafood (fish, prawns, crab cooked over a grill) — common at Port Blair’s seafood joints.
- Coconut-based preparations and fresh tender coconut water — easy to find and good in the heat.
Vegetarian and standard North and South Indian food is widely available, so non-seafood eaters are well served.
Budget breakdown
A Ross Island visit itself is inexpensive; the real cost of an Andaman trip is the flight and your Port Blair hotel. The table below is an indicative planning estimate per person for the Ross Island half-day only (not the whole Andaman trip), as of November 2026, and must be reconfirmed before you travel.
| Item | Indicative cost | Assumptions |
|---|---|---|
| Island entry | ₹30 (Indian) / ₹500 (foreign) | Counter ticket; some sources differ, reconfirm |
| Return ferry | ₹150–320 | Tourist boat from Aberdeen Jetty; varies by operator |
| Local transport | ₹200–500 | Auto or taxi to and from Aberdeen Jetty |
| Water and snacks | ₹100–200 | No food on the island |
| Sound and light show (optional) | Extra; reconfirm | Separate evening trip and ticket |
As a rough half-day figure, an Indian visitor might budget around ₹500–1,000 per person excluding the optional evening show. Prices move with season and operator, so treat these as planning numbers only.
Permits and rules
Indian citizens need no special permit to visit Ross Island or Port Blair; a valid photo ID is enough, and you sign the navy visitor register on arrival. There is no Inner Line Permit for Indian nationals here.
For foreign nationals, the Restricted Area Permit was eased in 2018 for a list of 29 islands including the Port Blair area, and an Andaman and Nicobar tourism department document dated 5 March 2026 continues to set out the RAP relaxation. Nationals of Afghanistan, China and Pakistan (and persons of such origin) still require a RAP with prior approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Because the scope and validity can change, foreign visitors should reconfirm current rules with the Andaman and Nicobar Police foreigners’ registration or official tourism site before travel.
On the island, stay on marked paths, do not enter cordoned or fragile buildings, and do not feed or chase the deer and peacocks. Drones generally need prior permission, and single-use plastics are discouraged across the islands.
Practical tips
Treat Ross Island as a short, self-sufficient walk: there is little shade, no cafe and no overnight option, so carry water, a hat, sunscreen and comfortable shoes. Buy ferry and entry tickets and sign in before boarding.
- Cash and payments — carry some cash for tickets, autos and kiosks; UPI and cards work in Port Blair but can be patchy, so do not rely on them at the jetty.
- Connectivity — mobile network on the island is limited; download any maps or tickets in Port Blair first.
- Medical — the island has no hospital; the nearest facilities, including the main government hospital (GB Pant), are in Port Blair, so carry personal medicines.
- Solo and women travellers — the island is a managed, navy-supervised day site and generally considered safe; still return on an early-afternoon ferry rather than the last boat.
- Packing by season — October to March: light cottons and a hat; monsoon: a light rain layer and a flexible plan in case the crossing is cancelled.
Nearby places
Ross Island pairs naturally with other Port Blair sights, most of which are a short ride or boat away. A sensible plan is Ross with North Bay in a morning and the Cellular Jail in the evening.
| Place | Distance | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Cellular Jail National Memorial | In Port Blair, near Aberdeen Jetty | The colonial-era prison and its evening light and sound show |
| North Bay (Coral) Island | Same Aberdeen Jetty boats | Coral viewing and water sports, often combined with Ross |
| Corbyn’s Cove Beach | About 7 km from Port Blair | Nearest town beach for a quick break |
| Chidiya Tapu | About 25 km south | Sunset point and birdwatching |
Frequently asked questions
Where is Ross Island and what is its new name?
Ross Island is in South Andaman district, about 1.5 to 3 km east of Port Blair (officially Sri Vijaya Puram), reached by a short ferry from Aberdeen Jetty. It was renamed Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep on 30 December 2018, though both names remain in everyday use on tickets and maps.
How do I reach Ross Island from Port Blair?
Take a tourist ferry from Aberdeen Jetty in Port Blair, a crossing of about 10 to 20 minutes, with boats running roughly from 8:30 am through the early afternoon as of November 2026. There is no bridge or road; you first fly into Veer Savarkar Airport, as the Andamans have no railway.
What are Ross Island’s timings and entry fee?
Ross Island is usually open about 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and is commonly closed on Wednesdays. Island entry is listed around ₹30 for Indian visitors and ₹500 for foreign visitors as of November 2026, separate from the ferry fare; figures vary by source, so reconfirm at the counter before you go.
What is the Ross Island sound and light show timing?
The sound and light show runs at 5:30 pm on show days and resumed on 13 February 2025 after an upgrade. It is a separate evening trip: the ferry leaves Phoenix Bay Jetty at 4:00 pm, so arrive by 3:30 pm. Book tickets online with photo ID, and check as it is listed as closed on Wednesdays.
Do foreign tourists need a permit for Ross Island?
Most foreign tourists no longer need a Restricted Area Permit for the Port Blair area, which was eased in 2018 and still set out in a March 2026 tourism department document. However, nationals of Afghanistan, China and Pakistan still require a RAP with Ministry of Home Affairs approval, so reconfirm current rules before travel.
How much time do I need on Ross Island?
Plan 2 to 3 hours on the island, which is enough to walk the loop past the church, commissioner’s house, bunkers and museum while the deer and peacocks roam around you. Many visitors pair it with North Bay Island in a single morning from the same Aberdeen Jetty.
Last updated and sources
Ross Island suits history-minded travellers and anyone wanting an easy, atmospheric half-day from Port Blair; go between October and March and start early. Pair it with North Bay and the Cellular Jail for a full island day.
Last updated: 3 November 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.
Sources: Incredible India, “Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island” (incredibleindia.gov.in); Nicobar Times, “Sound and Light Show to Resume from February 13”, 12 February 2025 (nicobartimes.com); Outlook Traveller, “Ross Island: The Abandoned Paris of the East”, 17 September 2025 (outlooktraveller.com); Andaman and Nicobar tourism department, Restricted Area Permit note dated 5 March 2026 (tourism.andamannicobar.gov.in); Seashell Hotels Ross Island travel guide (seashellhotels.net). Accessed November 2026.
