Ross Island, situated a few kilometers from Port Blair, is a site with a lot of history and stories. During the British administration of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, this place was the administrative office. However, after the earthquake in 1941, the whole city was deserted, and now Ross Island is another tourist spot. Far from reality, the island is surrounded by various myths that make this location more mysterious. Although far from the only one, we will consider the most popular ones in this article. Myths about Ross Island will be looked into one by one before we can verify their legislation or declare them false.
The first and most well-known story of Ross Island claims that it is haunted. The British officer’s ghost has been wandering the buildings since he was killed in the 1941 earthquake. Many people who visited the island reported several odd specters and the feeling that human beings who lived there. Indeed, some even argue that they have seen the officer specter wandering amid the wrecked frameworks. Still, there is no factual support to verify or refute this story.
Another essential thing to consider is that since most of the buildings were deserted after the collapse, they are incredibly affecting and devastating. People’s concerns about this tale can result from visitor imagination and cultural representation or truths behind them. The British colonial rule cursed then, and such a status allegedly has been associated with the place ever since.
Ross Island was a part of the penal colony during the British colonial rule, where freedom fighters and political prisoners were sent. The prisoners were treated cruelly and forced to do labor to build on the island. The locals believe Ross Island is haunted and that anyone who dares visit it will return with tragedy hounding them. Although evidence does not back the existence of a Ross Island curse, it is important to understand the painful history of the island and the impact the colony experience has on the locals.
Similarly, a more mysterious myth about this place is a tunnel: There is an assumption that Ross Island has an under-earth linkage to additional isles of the Andaman and Nicobar islands. The secret tunnels made by the British in the colony time were said to be used for smuggling activities and perhaps other secret activities. Ross Island residents believe these tunnels still exist and are underneath the edifices on this island. This assumption lacks credible evidence though back in real-time existence. It is accounted for the underground bunkers built by the British for storing ammunition, etc.
Also, it is claimed that the lost land of Atlantis was situated here, in the vicinity of Ross Island. The brilliant city supposedly whelmed due to the giants’ war and returned to the azure depths. The first myth claims that the ruins found on the island are the remains of the lost city of Atlantis. Although some individuals argue that they have discovered ancient artifacts and relics on the island that confirm the myth, no scientific evidence questions backs up the statement. Consequently, it remains a theory as the artifacts found could have come from other sources.
The myths of Ross Island reveal the rich history of the island. Even though some of the myths created are unreasonable and lack evidence, it makes the island more exciting and mysterious.
A mermaid lived in the waters surrounding the North Bay Island. It was often espied by fishermen, who sworn her a seer of the oncoming storms or approaching pirates. The locals held the myth that a sea maiden was a protector of the island and its people.
It was guided for children to show respect to the spirits of the soldiers ate the island by covering their heads with clothes before sleeping. At night, it was believed that a soldier who was involved in battle and beheaded was roaming the island. It is said that his ghost is demanding places, and those who observe disrespect at night are likely to be struck by hazardous living conditions.
Many boats and ships have reportedly disappeared in the waters surrounding North Bay Island. A lot of residents attribute these disappearances to supernatural beings or sea monsters inhabiting the location.
The North Bay Island Lighthouse is believed to be haunted by the phantom of a British officer who killed himself inside the lighthouse. The officer committed suicide after a love affair went wrong by throwing himself off the lighthouse. Locals have reported seeing the officer’s apparition walking around the lighthouse and they speculate his spirit is still wandering there.
North Bay Island is popularly known for a number of shipwrecks that have occurred here over the years. One of the island’s most popular shipwrecks occurred in the British regime. The wrecked ship was known as the “Vixen” wrecked near the North Bay Island in 1896. Vixen was a British steamship used to transfer commodities and ferry passengers to and from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from Calcutta. The ship was sailing from Port Blair to Ravenshoof in Calcutta on the same day in 1896 when it got by the wintry storm near North Bay Island. The storm was so severe that it hurled the steamer onto a reef near the North Bay Island where it endured for many hours with its passengers until rescued by an auxiliary-vessel; no one lost their lives.
The wreck of the Vixen still stands at the bottom of the ocean where it sank and has been a popular dive site for tourists and divers to explore the aquatic world of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Today, the wreck lies at a depth of about 20 meters and is inhabited by various fishes and coral species that give the place vibrant colors. The Vixen wreck is a protected site under the Indian government, and only licensed diving operators are allowed to take visitors to the site under special permits. The Vixen wreck is a grim reminder of the Andaman and Nicobar islands’ rich maritime history and a caution of the perils that colonial eras’ seafarers experienced.
The locals claim that the Lakshmanpur beach is named after the Indian Hindu god Lakshman, who is said to have visited the island while on exile from India. Lakshman was so pleased with the island that he blessed it with plenty and success.
The locals say that several fishermen have gone missing in the waters and on the Neil Island, and most claim that a monster creature that lives in the water is responsible.
There is a well situated near the Sitapur beach on the Neil Island, which is known to be haunted by a ghost of a woman. The story goes that the woman was killed by her husband who then threw her body in the said well. It is believed that the woman’s ghost still roams around the area, and whoever tries to dishonor her or does not respect her properly is cursed to misfortune.
Some locals believe that there is a sunken city near the underwater position of the Neil Island. They say that it used to be a wealthy market town before it sank due to a massive wave or an earthquake. Some people have seen ruins underwater, and most of the people believe that the city is cursed and whoever tries to mess with it will be cursed.
The elephant beach on the Havelock Island is believed that it was chosen from a voyage excursion that was arranged to find a game connection. The elephant was so big than it could swim through the channel nearby to the other neighboring islands.
There is a dense forest near the Radhanagar beach in Havelock Island, which is believed to be haunted by a ghost of a British officer. The story was allegedly looking for the Indian Pirates tribes that set on to harm the British soldiers during the colonial period, but unfortunately, he died under mysterious circumstances. The locals believe that the spirit of the British occupier of the territory can be seen at night.
There is a local story that suggests the existence of a treasure hidden somewhere in the Havelock Island. The legend states that a pirate that once sailed through the waters of the island during the colonial years buried its treasure on the island. Many have tried to find the treasure over the years but no one has succeeded. These and many other myths and legends circulate in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Havelock Island. They remind the local population about the rich cultural background of the island and the reason to conserve the natural beauty and history.
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