Cellular Jail
| Cellular Jail | |
|---|---|
Entrance of the Cellular Jail | |
| Alternative names | Kālā Pāni |
| General information | |
| Type | Prison for political prisoners (Indian independence activists) |
| Architectural style | Cellular, pronged |
| Town or city | Port Blair, Andaman |
| Country | India |
| Coordinates | 11°40′30″N 92°44′53″E / 11.675°N 92.748°E |
| Construction started | 1896 |
| Completed | 1906 |
| Cost | ₹517,352 |
| Client | India |
| Owner | Government of India |
| Notable prisoners | |
|---|---|
The Cellular Jail, also known as 'Kālā Pānī' (transl. 'Black Water'), was a British colonial prison in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The prison was used by the colonial government of India for the purpose of exiling criminals and political prisoners. Many notable independence activists were imprisoned there during the struggle for India's independence. Today, the complex serves as a national memorial monument.
Originally built with seven wings, the building suffered extensive damage during the earthquake in 1941. Later, two wings were dismantled during the Second World War by the Japanese, who repurposed the bricks for constructing bunkers and other structures. After India gained independence, two more wings were demolished in the 1950s to make way for the nearby Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital. Today, only the watchtower and three wings (1, 6, and 7) remain.