Origin and Construction of Cellular Jail
The British established a penal settlement in the Andaman Islands after the Revolt of 1857. They wanted a remote location where political prisoners could be exiled, far away from mainland India. The Andaman Islands, surrounded by vast seas, were considered ideal for this purpose.
Construction of the Cellular Jail began in 1896 and was completed in 1906. It was built using bricks brought from Burma (now Myanmar). The prison originally had seven wings radiating from a central tower, forming a unique star-like structure.