Ross Island (Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep): Timings, Ferry and Light and Sound Show Guide 2026
Ross Island is the small, tree-covered island you can see from the Port Blair waterfront. For nearly 80 years the British ran the Andamans from here. Today the old church, Government House and bakery are ruins with tree roots growing through the walls, and spotted deer wander along the paths. It's a 15 to 20 minute boat ride from Aberdeen Jetty and easy to fit into a Port Blair day.
Updated October 2026 by the Blue Bubble Andaman team in Port Blair
Ross Island at a Glance
Ross Island is closed every Wednesday. Plan it for any other day, carry a photo ID for the Navy register, and take an early boat if you want the ruins without the crowds.
| Official Name | Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep (renamed in December 2018) |
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| Where | About 2 km east of Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram), across the harbour |
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| Boat From | Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex, Aberdeen Jetty. About 15 to 20 minutes. |
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| Timings | Day visits roughly 8:30 am to 4:30 pm |
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| Closed | Wednesday |
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| Entry Fee | About ₹50 for adults and ₹25 for children |
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| Light and Sound Show | Evenings after dark, around 5:30 pm, except Wednesday |
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| Time Needed | 2 to 3 hours |
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| Run By | Indian Navy. You sign in when you arrive and sign out when you leave. |
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Ross Island, a short boat ride across the harbour from Port Blair
A Short History of Ross Island
The island takes its name from Sir Daniel Ross, a marine surveyor who worked with Archibald Blair when the British first surveyed the Andamans in the late 1780s. That first settlement didn't last, but the British came back after the 1857 uprising.
- 1858 A penal settlement is set up at Port Blair and Ross Island becomes its headquarters. The Chief Commissioner moves in.
- 1858 to 1941 The British build a small town for themselves: Government House, a Presbyterian church, a club, tennis courts, a bazaar, a bakery and a hospital. Residents call it the "Paris of the East". Prisoners are held at Viper Island and later the Cellular Jail.
- 1941 A strong earthquake damages many buildings.
- 1942 Japanese forces take the islands in March and use Ross as a military base. Their concrete bunkers are still there.
- 1943 Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose visits the Andamans in December and raises the Indian flag in Port Blair.
- 1945 The British return but never move back to Ross. The forest slowly takes over.
- 1979 The Indian Navy takes charge, clears the paths and opens the island to visitors.
- 2018 The island is renamed Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep.
What to See on Ross Island
The paths make a loop around the island and most buildings have a small board with their name and a bit of history. Walking the whole loop at an easy pace takes about two hours.
Government House
Highest point on the island · Best view of Port Blair
This was the Chief Commissioner's home and the biggest building on Ross. You can still make out the outline of the rooms and the wide staircase.
The Presbyterian Church
Most photographed ruin · Go early for fewer people
The walls and arched windows are still standing, and a huge tree has grown over part of the building. Perhaps the best-known spot on the island.
The Old Town
Bakery · Printing press · Hospital · Swimming pool
Some buildings are just a wall or two now, but walking past them gives you a sense of how many people once lived on an island this small.
Japanese Bunkers
Second World War · Near the shore
Concrete bunkers from the 1940s face the sea. You can look inside a few. They're dark and a bit damp, so watch your step.
Smritika Museum
Near the jetty · Run by the Indian Navy
Old photos, maps and drawings of the island from the British years. Visit it first and the ruins make much more sense when you walk around.
Deer, Peacocks and Rabbits
All over the island · Please don't feed them
Spotted deer are used to people, so you can get quite close. Packaged snacks make them sick, and the staff ask visitors not to feed them.
Two smaller stops are worth the time if you have it. The Netaji memorial, added after the island was renamed, is right by the main path. At the back of the island there's a small British cemetery and a rocky shore facing the open sea, which is the quietest corner of Ross.
Ross Island Timings and Entry Fee
Ross Island is open to day visitors from roughly 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Entry costs about ₹50 for adults and ₹25 for children, paid at the counter on the island. Cameras may carry a small extra charge. The boat fare is separate and paid at the jetty in Port Blair.
Because the Navy controls the island, you'll sign a register when you arrive and again when you leave. No one is allowed to stay overnight, and both the day boats and the evening show stop on Wednesdays.
Ross Island Light and Sound Show
On most evenings the ruins are lit up one by one while a recorded narration tells the story of Ross, from the British years through the earthquake, the Japanese occupation and Netaji's visit. It runs for about 45 minutes and starts after dark, usually around 5:30 pm. The narration is mainly in Hindi.
The show needs its own ticket and its own boat. The show boat leaves the Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex around 4 pm, gives you time to walk around before dark, and brings you back after the show. Tickets are sold by the Directorate of Tourism and seats are limited, so book a day ahead in season. There's no show on Wednesdays, and heavy rain can cancel it.
The Cellular Jail also has an evening show, so keep the two on different days.
How to Reach Ross Island
Boats leave from the Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex at Aberdeen Jetty. From most hotels in Aberdeen Bazaar, Junglighat or Corbyn's Cove it's a 10 to 15 minute drive by cab or auto, and about 20 minutes from the airport. The crossing takes 15 to 20 minutes and life jackets are compulsory.
| Option | Approx. Cost per Person | Good For |
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| Boat to Ross Island only (return) | About ₹300 to ₹500 | A short morning visit |
| Ross Island and North Bay combined trip | About ₹800 to ₹1,000 | Seeing both in one half day |
| Light and sound show with boat | About ₹700 to ₹900 including entry | An evening outing in Port Blair |
Boats usually start around 8:30 or 9 am, and the early ones are cooler and less crowded. On an Andaman tour package with us, the boat tickets and the jetty transfer are already arranged.
Ross Island and North Bay on the Same Day
The two islands are close, and the combined boat trip is the easiest way to see both. A common plan is North Bay first for snorkelling, the glass-bottom boat or sea walk, then Ross on the way back. The whole trip takes about four to five hours. If you'd like the light and sound show too, do North Bay in the morning, rest at the hotel, and take the show boat to Ross in the afternoon.
Best Time to Visit Ross Island
October to May is the best time. The sea is calm and boats run on schedule. October to February has the most pleasant weather, while March to May gets hot by midday, so take the first boat. From June to September it rains a lot, boats are cancelled on rough days and the paths get slippery, though the island is very green then. In any month, mornings are better for the day visit.
Tips for Your Visit
- Don't plan Ross Island for a Wednesday.
- Carry a photo ID for the Navy register.
- Wear comfortable shoes. The paths are flat but you'll walk for a couple of hours.
- Take water, a cap and sunscreen. There's shade under the trees but not everywhere.
- Food on the island is very limited, usually one small stall near the jetty, so eat before you go.
- Keep an eye on the time so you don't miss your return boat.
- Carry your rubbish back and don't feed the animals.
The paths are mostly level, with benches along the way, so older travellers and families with young children manage Ross well.
Our Suggested Half-Day Plan
This covers North Bay and Ross together in the morning. On Ross itself, give yourself at least two hours.
- 8:00 am Leave your hotel for the Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex.
- 8:30 am Board the combined boat to North Bay.
- 9:00 am Snorkelling, sea walk or the glass-bottom boat at North Bay.
- 11:15 am Boat to Ross Island. Sign in and visit the Smritika museum.
- 11:45 am Walk the loop past the church, Government House, the bunkers and the old town.
- 1:15 pm Boat back to Port Blair, then lunch in Aberdeen Bazaar.
If you'd rather see the show, skip Ross in the morning and take the evening boat around 4 pm instead.
Other Places to See Near Ross Island
Ross pairs well with these, all within a short boat ride or drive of Aberdeen Jetty.
Same Boat Trip
Short boat ride from Aberdeen Jetty · Snorkel, sea walk
Just across the water from Ross, and the easiest place near Port Blair to see coral.
Read our North Bay Island guide
Evening Show
In the city · Closed Mondays
The colonial prison on the mainland. Its evening show tells the story of the freedom fighters held there.
Read our Cellular Jail guide
Harbour Cruise
Viper Island
Harbour cruise from Port Blair
Where prisoners were held before the Cellular Jail was built, with the ruins of an old gallows.
Closest Beach
Corbyn's Cove Beach
7 km from Aberdeen Bazaar
The beach inside city limits, good for an evening walk after a morning at Ross.
For the full list, see our Port Blair guide and the Andaman sightseeing page.
Want Ross Island and North Bay built into your Andaman trip?