Ross Island, Port Blair: Ferry, Ruins, Timings and a Two-Hour Route
Ross Island guide: the Port Blair ferry, entry fees, ruined church and bunkers, the deer, timings, sunrise by month and a two-hour route. Plan it with us.
Ross Island is only a short ferry ride from Port Blair, and it feels like a different century. A British settlement once stood here, with a church, a bakery and a governor's house. Today the buildings stand in ruins, and banyan roots hold them up as much as the bricks do.
It is quiet, easy to walk and fits into a half day. This guide gives you the facts first, then a short route and the best time to go.
Figures were checked in October 2026. Fees, ferry timings and closing days differ between sources, so treat them as ranges and confirm in Port Blair.
Ross Island at a glance
What to know | |
|---|---|
Where | A small island in Port Blair harbour, a short ferry from the Aberdeen jetty |
Official name | Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep. Most visitors still say Ross Island |
What you see | Ruined colonial buildings, a church, bunkers, a small museum, deer and peacocks |
Ferry | About 15 to 20 minutes each way |
Hours | Sources give about 8:30 am to 3:00 or 4:30 pm. Ferries stop in the afternoon |
Closed | One source lists Wednesdays. Confirm for your date |
Time to allow | About 2 hours on the island. Allow 3 to 4 with ferry and tickets |
Best hour | The first ferry, for cooler air and empty paths |
Best season | November to April |
Entry | Sources give about ₹30 to ₹50 for Indian adults and up to about ₹500 for foreign visitors, plus the ferry |
Why people come
Ross Island was the headquarters of the British administration of the Andamans in the nineteenth century. The settlement had the chief commissioner's house, a church, barracks, a bakery and a hospital, and it looked across the water at the penal colony at Port Blair.
The island was abandoned after the 1941 earthquake, and Japanese forces held it during the Second World War. Their bunkers are still there. After the war the buildings were left to the forest.
The result is unusual. Brick walls and arched windows stand inside webs of roots, and the effect is more like a lost temple than a military post. In 2018 the island was officially renamed Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, though almost everyone still calls it Ross.
The ruined church on Ross Island.
Getting there
Boats leave from the Aberdeen jetty in Port Blair and take about 15 to 20 minutes. The first ferry is around 8:30 am, according to one source. Several sources say you need photo ID when buying a ticket, and some say tickets should be bought a day or more ahead.
The ticket counter in Port Blair has its own hours, so ask your hotel or driver to confirm them. Do not leave it to the last minute if you are travelling in peak season.
Ferries stop in the afternoon, and the last return is earlier than most visitors expect. Check the final boat before you wander far.
Ross Island from the water.
What to see
Stop | What it is | Allow |
|---|---|---|
Jetty and entrance | The landing, the ticket check and the first path | 10 min |
Chief commissioner's house area | The largest ruin, on the high ground | 20 min |
The church | A ruined church on a rise, still recognisable | 15 min |
Bakery, press and barracks | Smaller ruins in the trees | 25 min |
Japanese bunkers | Concrete bunkers on the shoreline | 15 min |
Museum | A small display of photographs and relics | 15 min |
Deer lawns and the shore | Spotted deer and peacocks on the grass | 20 min |
The ruins
Walk the paths in order and read the buildings as you go. The big ruin on the rise was the governor's residence. Its walls are tall and its windows are empty, and the roots have climbed all the way over the roof.
Banyan roots wrapped around a ruined arcade.
Arched windows in a root-covered wall.
The deer and the peacocks
Spotted deer and peacocks wander the lawns and paths. They are used to people. Do not feed them, and keep a distance. Feeding them is discouraged and can be harmful to the animals.
Sensitive places
Ross Island belongs to a larger story of the Andamans, including the settlement of convicts and the Japanese occupation. Treat the cemetery and the memorials with respect, and read the signs. Our guide to Cellular Jail and Ross Island gives more of the history.
Best time by month
Sunrise and sunset times below are calculated for Port Blair on the 15th of each month, in Indian Standard Time. The island closes well before sunset, so use the sunrise column to plan the first ferry.
Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Visiting advice |
|---|---|---|---|
January | 5:43 am | 5:14 pm | Dry and clear. Best conditions |
February | 5:40 am | 5:26 pm | Excellent. Calm sea |
March | 5:26 am | 5:30 pm | Warm. Go early |
April | 5:08 am | 5:31 pm | Hot and humid. First ferry only |
May | 4:56 am | 5:35 pm | Pre-monsoon showers begin |
June | 4:55 am | 5:44 pm | Monsoon. Ferries may be cancelled |
July | 5:02 am | 5:47 pm | Monsoon. Green, wet, rough crossing |
August | 5:08 am | 5:39 pm | Monsoon. Check ferry status |
September | 5:08 am | 5:20 pm | Rains easing |
October | 5:08 am | 5:01 pm | Clearing. Good shoulder month |
November | 5:16 am | 4:51 pm | Season opens |
December | 5:30 am | 4:57 pm | Peak season. Book early |
The sun rises early in the Andamans, so the day starts and ends sooner than on the mainland. Plan on being back in Port Blair by mid-afternoon.
Choosing your time of day
Time | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|
First ferry | Cool air, empty paths, soft light | Photographers and first-timers |
Mid-morning | Warm light and more visitors | Families |
Midday | Heat and humidity | Skip it in the hot months |
Last ferry out | Fewer people, but short time | Quick visits only |
Who Ross Island suits
Traveller | Why it works | Tip |
|---|---|---|
History readers | A colonial settlement left standing | Read the signs on site |
Photographers | Roots, brick and light | Go on the first ferry |
Families | A short boat ride and wildlife | Keep children away from the deer |
First-time visitors | Easy to fit into a Port Blair day | Pair it with the Cellular Jail |
Travellers with limited mobility | Uneven paths and some steps | Ask about the shorter loop |
Quiet travellers | A calm place without crowds | Go midweek |
What to pair it with
The Cellular Jail is the other great Port Blair site. Read our Cellular Jail and Ross Island guide.
Chidiya Tapu is the sunset and birding stop south of town. See our Chidiya Tapu guide.
Havelock is the beach stop. Read Havelock vs Neil Island.
How to plan your visit
Buy tickets the day before if you can, and carry photo ID.
Take the first ferry. It is the coolest and quietest.
Wear shoes with grip. The ruins are uneven.
Carry water and a hat. There is limited shade between the ruins.
Keep to the paths and do not climb on the walls.
Be back for lunch in Port Blair, then plan something indoors.
Where it fits in the Andamans
Ross Island is a half-day stop on a Port Blair day, usually before the ferry on to Havelock. Our guide to how many days to spend in the Andaman Islands shows how it fits, and our field guide to places to visit in the Andamans puts it beside the beaches.
WelcomHotel Bay Island and Sinclairs Bayview are both in Port Blair, near the jetty. See how Ross Island fits a route in the Andaman Port Blair explorer, 4-day itinerary or the Andaman islands and history package.
Frequently asked questions
What is Ross Island known for?
The ruins of a British settlement, with a church and other buildings now covered in banyan roots, as well as Japanese bunkers, deer and peacocks.
How do you reach Ross Island from Port Blair?
By ferry from the Aberdeen jetty. The crossing takes about 15 to 20 minutes. Ask your hotel for the current timetable and ticket arrangements.
How long do you need at Ross Island?
About two hours on the island. Allow three to four hours with the ferry and the queue.
Is Ross Island closed on any day?
One source lists Wednesdays. Confirm for your date, because closing days can change.
Is there an entry fee for Ross Island?
Yes. Sources give about ₹30 to ₹50 for Indian adults and up to about ₹500 for foreign visitors, plus the ferry fare. Confirm at the counter.
Is there a light and sound show on Ross Island?
Some sources mention an evening show. We could not confirm the current schedule, so ask your hotel or the tourism office before you plan around it.
Can you swim at Ross Island?
It is a heritage site, not a swimming beach. Ask at the jetty before you enter the water, and follow any signs.
Plan your Port Blair visit with us
We time ferry mornings around the tides, the tickets and the tide of visitors. Explore the Andaman and Nicobar destination page or talk to a trip designer.
Photo credits
Ruined church: Shalini1997, CC BY-SA 4.0. Banyan roots, arches and windows: Vinayaraj, CC BY-SA 4.0. View from the water: Biswarup Ganguly, CC BY 3.0. All via Wikimedia Commons.
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