Bunker Beach

Overview

Bunker Beach is a small beach on the coastal road running south from Port Blair towards Chidiya Tapu. It sits roughly a third of the way along, close enough to town for a short outing and far enough that it does not collect the crowds Corbyn’s Cove does.

What gives it its name — and its interest — are the two bunkers standing on the shore. The Japanese occupied the Andamans from 1942 to 1945 and built a chain of coastal defence positions around South Andaman; these are part of that line, and they are among the easiest to actually walk up to, since they sit right by the road rather than behind a gate or a trek.

The shore itself is rocky rather than sandy. That is worth knowing before you go: this is a place to look at concrete, rock and water, not to swim or lay out a towel. Its main use is as a stop rather than a destination — a ten-minute pull-in on the drive south that costs you nothing.

Getting there

It is on the Chidiya Tapu road, about 6 km south of Port Blair as the crow flies and a little more by road. There is no trek and no separate approach track: you are driving past it anyway on the way to Chidiya Tapu, which is exactly why it is worth knowing about.

A scooter or car both work. There is no bus that will usefully stop here.

The bunkers

Two squat concrete emplacements sit on the rocky shore, facing seaward as coastal defence positions did. They are unstaffed and uninterpreted — no ticket, no guide, no signboard explaining what you are looking at — which is part of the appeal if you like finding this sort of thing yourself, and a frustration if you want the history handed to you.

If you want the wartime story told properly, the Japanese bunker sites around Port Blair and on Ross Island are the maintained, visitable versions. Bunker Beach is the raw one.

Take care climbing on or into them. They are eighty-odd years old, unlit, unmaintained, and the rocks around them are uneven and slippery when wet.

Practical notes

• Rocky shore, not sand — wear shoes with grip rather than flip-flops.
• Bring what you need. There are no reliable stalls, no drinking water and no toilets — treat it as a roadside stop, not a day out.
• Crocodiles are present along South Andaman’s coasts and creeks. Ask locally before entering the water anywhere on this stretch, and do not swim at dawn or dusk.
• Combine it with the drive south — on its own it does not justify the trip, but it costs you nothing on the way.
• Carry your rubbish out.

Nearby

• Corbyn’s Cove — the developed beach closer to Port Blair, with facilities.
• Chidiya Tapu — the sunset point at the end of this road.
• Suicide Point (Munda Pahad viewpoint) and Munda Pahad Beach — the walk at the far end.