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The '''Andaman Islands''' was the location of a penal colony during the British Raj. Port Blair is the capital.
A penal settlement existed for a short time in the 1790's 1790s but was abandoned due to disease. However, in 1858, after the Indian Mutiny, the penal settlement was re-established to deal effectively with native Indian troops who had recently rebelled. By the late 19th century the independence movement had picked up momentum. As a result, the number of prisoners being sent to the Andaman Islands started growing and the need for a high-security prison was felt. The construction of the Andaman Cellular Jail started in 1896 and was completed in 1906. Most of the prisoners were Indian political prisoners who were housed at the jail until 1937. The penal settlement was closed in 1945.
The Japanese occupied the Andaman Islands from 1942 to 1945 during the Second World War.
