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Chatham Island is a small island belonging to the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal. Chatham Island, famous for its saw mill, is a popular destination for tourists visiting the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
The island is situated towards the northern tip of Port Blair, the capital of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and is a significant part of the colonial history of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. As per records, Chatham Island gained prominence when Lt. Archibald Blair of the British East India Company landed here in 1789.
Chatham Island was converted to a naval base under the supervision of Lt. Archibald Blair, who deported convicts to this island for construction work. A 100-meter bridge made of timber, connecting Port Blair and Chatham Island, was built during this period. Later, this bridge was renovated using concrete structures.
In the year 1883, a saw mill was established in Chatham Island to meet the demand for sawed timber required in various construction works at both Port Blair and Chatham Island. This saw mill, referred commonly as Chatham Saw Mill, is regarded as the largest and the oldest of all the saw mills in Asia.
Chatham Island was widely recognised in the West during the colonial period, as it catered to the wood requirements in major cities like New York and London among others.
This place was in the spotlight during the Second World War. Since Chatham Island is situated at a strategic position in the Bay of Bengal, it had to succumb to fierce attacks from the Japanese on March 10, 1942. The bomb attacks extended for about an hour and it took its toll on the island. The place was destroyed, many workers were killed and the machinery of the Saw Mill was damaged. The Japanese occupied the island on March 22, 1942 and it remained under their rule till 1945.
The island revived its glory soon after the Second World War and the Saw Mill started functioning in 1946. Chatham Island soon became a settlement for people from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Myanmar and also for people from different parts of India, between 1950 and 1970.
The Saw Mill had huge workshops built with padauk wood dating back to 1836. However, since the 1970s, logging on Chatham Island has been banned.
The island now imports wood from Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia. Tourists can take a guided tour through the Saw Mill and see how these logs are unloaded, sorted, cut and stored in warehouses before they are shipped off to different destinations.
Today, Chatham Island is a popular tourist destination in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The Chatham Saw Mill and Forest Museum have turned into tourist attractions.
The destination can be easily reached from Port Blair as both are connected by a bridge. Port Blair can be accessed by flights from cities like Chennai, Delhi, Bhubaneswar and Kolkata. October to May is the best time to visit Chatham Island.
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The Chatham Island is located at the northern most tip of Port Blair. The primary attractions of the region are the old saw mill and the Forest Museum. The saw mill established here several years ago is said to be the oldest in Asian sub-continent. The mill along with several shops located here traces back to the N 19th century.
Travellers hire a guide here who takes them to different sections of the mill and explains them the entire process of offloading. The nearest airport to the region of Chatham Island is the Port Blair airport, which also connects major cities like Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and Bhubaneswar.
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