The Andaman Islands archipelago has many pretty islands and those are frequented by nature and marine wildlife loving tourist across the year. However, the remnants of former British settlement in the serene and remote Ross Island hold a unique charm for the visitors. The island was named after Daniel Ross, a British marine surveyor.
In pre-independence India, this island was a British colony where administrative activities were at a peak. It was called Paris of the East’ and even now you can find the remnants of that colonial period. A tour in this island takes you down to road of nostalgia and also offers you an escape from the clutter of busy tourist locations in Andaman.
The flora and fauna you witness in this island are amazing, and the population of peacocks, birds, and deers on the island will amaze you too. The variety of plant species on this island is also great. The ruins of a church, the cellular jail, a bakery, and several other buildings are there to be explored too.
Now, the Indian Navy maintains the former British Administrative Headquarters and its numerous historic ruins. There is the Smritika Museum (Indian Navy) which is well maintained and the newest attraction for visitors is a sound and light show. It takes place every evening barring Wednesday and major holidays.
Ross Island is barely 2 km away from Port Bair and reaching it is therefore not a problem. You can use either the air or ferry routes to reach this beautiful small island from Port Blair.
From Port Blair, the majority of tourists prefer using boats to reach the island. It does not take much time and the boat ride is quite economical too. A number of tour operators offer a trip to this island from the Phoenix Bay Jetty or Aberdeen Jetty. The boat ride from Port Blair to Ross Island takes 10 to 15 minutes, approx.
Those with deep wallets can hire charter flights or helicopters to reach the island. The Veer Savarkar International airport in Port Blair is where the flights land. There are a few tour agencies that offer helicopter transportation to islands adjacent to Port Blair.
Like the majority of tourist destinations in Andaman, this island has a typical tropical climate. The summer months are quite hot and humid here. Average summer temperature hovers between 35 and 38 degree Celsius.
However, the monsoon months bring down the scorching heat and the cool breeze offers a soothing experience. The temperature remains within 30 degrees Celsius in monsoon and apart from the rough sea, there is no other hassle. The island is replete with lush greenery in the monsoon months as well.
However, the most ideal time to explore Ross Island is the winter months. The temperature does not dip too much and the sea conditions are optimal too. The average winter temperature in the island hovers between 15 to 22 degrees Celsius.
Ideally, you should plan your vacation plan to explore this island and adjacent locations within October to march.