The Zonal Anthropological Museum in Port Blair is where you go to understand who lived on these islands long before the ferries and the beach resorts. It is run by the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI), which has been doing fieldwork in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands since 1951, and most of what's on display was collected by its own researchers.
Almost all of the islands' indigenous communities live in protected reserves that tourists can't enter. So for most visitors this museum is the closest they will get to seeing how the Jarawa, Onge or Shompen people build their homes, hunt, fish and make the things they use every day. We send a lot of our families here on the Port Blair sightseeing day, and it's usually the stop the kids talk about at dinner.
What you'll see inside the Anthropological Museum
The galleries cover the six indigenous communities of the islands. Four of them live in the Andamans: the Great Andamanese, the Jarawa, the Onge and the Sentinelese. The other two, the Nicobarese and the Shompen, live in the Nicobar group. Display cases hold objects gathered during field visits, and dioramas show scenes from daily life.
The Sentinelese section draws the biggest crowd. North Sentinel Island is closed to everyone, outsiders know very little about the people who live there, and visitors are often surprised by how much the museum has managed to document.
There's also a gallery on the human story as a whole, from early humans through to present-day society, told with panels and dioramas. And the museum covers people who arrived in the islands much later, including the Karen community (brought from Burma in the colonial period), the Ranchiwalas from the Chota Nagpur region and the Moplahs from Malabar. If you've wondered why Port Blair feels like a mix of half of India, this part explains a lot.
Before you leave, have a look at the small book counter. It sells AnSI publications on the islands' communities that you won't find in the shops at Aberdeen Bazaar.
Timings, entry and photography
How to reach the museum
The Zonal Anthropological Museum is in the Junglighat area of Port Blair (Thomas Colony, PIN 744101). It's a short auto or taxi ride from Aberdeen Bazaar, Phoenix Bay jetty and the airport. Our Port Blair office is in Junglighat too, so if you're doing sightseeing with us, we fit it in without any extra driving.
If you're staying on Havelock or Neil Island, keep the museum for the day you come back to Port Blair for your flight, as long as that day isn't a Monday.
How much time to keep
An hour is enough for most people. If you have an interest in anthropology, or you're travelling with children who like reading every panel, give it an hour and a half.
The museum closes at 4:30 pm, which makes it a good afternoon stop before the Cellular Jail light and sound show in the evening. The two together tell you a lot about the islands' past, one about the people who were always here and the other about the people who were sent here.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Zonal Anthropological Museum in Port Blair?
It's in Junglighat (Thomas Colony), Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands 744101, in the building of the Anthropological Survey of India's Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre.
Is the Zonal Anthropological Museum the same as the Anthropological Museum at Middle Point?
A lot of travel sites use the two names for one place, which confuses people. The Zonal Anthropological Museum is the AnSI museum in Junglighat. Port Blair also has an older Anthropological Museum, started in 1975-76, near Middle Point. If you're taking an auto, tell the driver which one you want.
What are the Zonal Anthropological Museum timings?
It usually opens from 9 am to 1 pm and again from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm. It's closed on Mondays and government holidays.
Is photography allowed inside?
Photography isn't permitted in the galleries, so keep your phone and camera away once you're inside.
Which tribes are shown in the museum?
The Great Andamanese, Jarawa, Onge and Sentinelese of the Andaman Islands, and the Nicobarese and Shompen of the Nicobar Islands. Settler communities such as the Karen, Ranchiwalas and Moplahs are covered too.
Can we visit the tribal areas instead?
The tribal reserves are protected by law and closed to tourists. The museum is the legal and respectful way to learn about these communities.
How long does a visit take?
About an hour for most visitors, up to an hour and a half if you read everything.