Formerly known as the Mark Island, Chatham Island is a known for the fact that Lt. Archibald Blair initially formed a colony here in 1783. However later, it was shifted to North Andaman. It was 1857 when British decided to decide to establish a settlement here. Slowly, and gradually, the settlement expanded, and a saw mill was the commission, which at that time was the biggest in Asia. During World War 2, the Japanese got their hands on the island. However, later the Aircraft of RAF bombed the establishment of the Island. Then the British tried to re-occupy the island and reconstructed it all over again. Post independence, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first president of Free India visited here. Also on the 150th anniversary of the settlement, a memorial column was installed to commemorate the arrival of the 1st batch of Freedom Fighters. The museum established by Forest Department is worth all the attention too on a heritage tour to Andaman.
GETTING THERE
From Port Blair, one can visit Chatham via road. Ferry facility is available to Viper and North Passage Islands from Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex
THINGS TO DO & SEE IN AND AROUND
- Do visit the museum featuring the forest wealth of Andaman, and the Nicobar Islands. Make a point to visit the Chatham Saw Mill to see the bomb crater, left by Japanese ordnance in WWII.
- Floating Dry Dock could be seen from Chatham Jetty
- Haddo Warf with almost all kind of ships.
- Chatham Jetty