India, popular for its marvellous resources, has been a landmark of vital historical events and geographical determinants, encouraging the subcontinent to be a hub of tourist attraction.
The unique essence of Indian tourism is extended all around, inviting people to experience its alluring landscapes. During a family trip to Andaman this year, I got the opportunity to witness such a delightful landscape in Ross Island. On a February morning, I found myself voyaging across the Bay of Bengal from Port Blair to Ross Island. The boat, named Jaya, reached the island after travelling for about 20 minutes east from the capital town. The entrance of Ross Island reflects the cultural dom-ination over nature, designed adequately for human settlement and other activities. While entering the main gate we saw a planned landscape built during the British rule. Then we hired an e-rick-shaw to visit the corners of the island. The road connecting the top of the hilly island covered by thick forests seemed very exciting and the ruins of buildings too had an impression of historical episodes that occurred there ages ago.
Ross Island was once the administrative headquarters of the British. The British rulers developed the island with all modern facilities including a printing press, a bakery that produced delicious confectioneries. The bakery is perhaps the best specimen of 19th century British architecture on the island. Named after Captain Daniel Ross, the island also preserves ruins of water treatment plant, church, hospital, sanatorium, troop barracks, secretariat, etc. Following an earthquake in 1941, the British decided to leave the island and shifted their settlement to Port Blair seeing a massive destruction. I was very sur-prised to know that the island has no permanent human settlement. Local vendors from Port Blair regularly come here for business and return in the evening, which is worth admiring.
In April 1979, the island was handed over to the Indian Navy that properly monitors and maintains it without any fail. The plastic prohibited island is also home to peacocks and beautiful spotted deer. The historical ruins spontaneously spread the smell of colonialism in its cold refreshing air. Ross, to me, is one of the most beautiful islands of Andaman, that is successfully keeping alive the cultural treasures of colonial India in spite of natural disasters. Most interestingly, it stood unshaken, protecting Port Blair in the devastating tsunami of 2004. I noticed different marks of destruction while roaming around to click pictures.
After spending some quality time and experiencing the exclusive elegance of an Indian island, we left Ross with an assurance to cherish the memories forever. The introspective attitude that I gained there still keeps me motivated in the hasty city life. An island, despite being isolated from the mainstream can obviously emerge as the magical source of extreme peace and satisfaction. Ross is no exception here. It keeps reflecting the incredible glory of India like a diamond of the deep blue sea.