Visiting the Cellular Jail
The Cellular Jail stands in Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram) and is a National Memorial. The former prison held political prisoners in solitary confinement. Today you can walk the brick wings during the day and return in the evening for the Light and Sound Show.
The day visit and the show are separate tickets, and neither one includes a boat or ferry ticket. If you want the jail as one stop in a longer plan, compare the Andaman tour packages for island days that fit around it.
Cellular Jail tickets and prices
Rates for 2026, per person. Confirm the amount when you buy.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Day visit, Indian visitor | ₹30 |
| Day visit, foreign visitor | ₹100 |
| Light and Sound Show, adult | ₹300 |
| Light and Sound Show, child aged 5 to 11 | ₹150 |
| Video camera or handycam, non-professional | ₹200 |
| Professional video camera | ₹1,000 |
| Approved film on the freedom struggle, per day | ₹10,000 |
Book the show on the official e-Tourist portal of the Andaman tourism department, and check availability for your date. Ask at the entrance what applies to phones and still cameras.
A day ticket plus one adult show comes to ₹400 per foreign visitor and ₹330 per Indian visitor, before any camera fee.
Our pick: a guided visit to the Cellular Jail
A full-day city tour with a guided visit inside the jail and the entrance tickets included.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Cellular Jail and Port Blair tours
Guided visits, island trips and activities around Port Blair, with live prices and availability.
Cellular Jail light and sound show times
The evening schedule by language and weekday.
| Language | Start | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Hindi | 17:50 | Every day |
| Hindi | 18:50 | Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday |
| English | 18:50 | Monday, Wednesday, Friday |
| Hindi | 19:50 | Every day |
If you want the English show, plan the visit for a Monday, Wednesday or Friday. Check your date when you book, since the portal shows what is free on each day.
Daytime hours and planning
What to settle before you go.
Opening hours
The galleries are open in the daytime, roughly 09:00 to 17:00, and some days have a lunch break from 12:00 to 14:00. Monday can be a closing day. Arrive in the morning and confirm the hours on the day, especially if Monday is your only free day in town.
The jail by day and by night
The day visit and the evening show are two separate tickets, so budget for both if you want to see the jail twice.
Booking the show
Choose the language and the weekday first, because English runs on only three weekdays. Then book on the official portal and look at the free places for that day before you pay.
Cameras
Video cameras carry a fee at the rates above. If you plan to film, ask about the rules before you pay.
Combine with other stops
The jail sits on the city route with Corbyn's Cove and the museums. See Port Blair for the full list.
History of the Cellular Jail
The British set up a penal colony in South Andaman in 1858. The Cellular Jail was built later to hold prisoners in single cells. Construction began in the 1890s and ended in 1906. It was planned with seven wings over three floors, and three wings stand today.
The jail was used for solitary confinement and for the suppression of political prisoners. The jail had close to 700 cells. During the Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945 the islands changed hands, and in 1943 Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose hoisted a flag in the islands. The jail was declared a national monument on 11 February 1979 by Prime Minister Morarji Desai.
The site has been on India's list for UNESCO consideration since 15 April 2014. That is a tentative listing, not World Heritage status. For the wider story of the islands, read the history page, and visit Ross Island, once the colonial administrative seat, to see the ruins.
Treat the visit as a visit to a memorial. The site records a period of solitary confinement and the suppression of people who opposed colonial rule, and it is worth reading the displays slowly rather than rushing to the show.
Plan the rest of your trip
Pages that connect to the jail.
Cellular Jail: frequently asked questions
How much is the Cellular Jail ticket?
The day visit costs ₹100 per person for foreign visitors and ₹30 for Indian visitors. The Light and Sound Show is a separate ticket at ₹300 for adults and ₹150 for children aged 5 to 11.
Is there a show in English?
Yes, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 18:50. Hindi shows run at 17:50 and 19:50 every day, and at 18:50 on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
Is the Cellular Jail open on Mondays?
Not always. Daytime hours are roughly 09:00 to 17:00, some days with a lunch break from 12:00 to 14:00, and Monday can be a closing day. Check on the day if Monday is your only option.
How many cells does the Cellular Jail have?
Close to 700. It was built with seven wings over three floors, and three wings remain today.
Can I film inside the Cellular Jail?
A fee applies to video cameras: ₹200 for non-professional and ₹1,000 for professional equipment. Ask at the entrance about phones and still cameras.
Is the Cellular Jail a World Heritage Site?
No. It has been on India's tentative list for UNESCO since 2014, which is not World Heritage status. It is a National Memorial.