Ross Island is one of the prominent tourist spots of Andaman and Nicobar Island which was the erstwhile capital of the island. Located at a distance of 2 kms on the east of Port Blair this place is largely known for the ruin of some popular buildings like the Commissioner`s residence, swimming pool, church and some grand ballrooms which were dilapidated due to severe earthquake. After the earthquake the capital was shifted to Port Blair. Ross Island is a small island with the treasure of ruins which can reach by small boats from Phoenix Bay jetty. The island is mainly controlled by Indian navy. Located at some distance from Port Blair this island is also known for its historical relevance. As the administrative headquarters the Island remained under the control of the British east India Company. From 1942 to 1945 the Island came under the control of the Japanese till it was taken over by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose who hoisted the Indian tricolour flag on the Island.

Ross Island was reclaimed for the residence and offices of British officers which marked the lifestyle of lavishness and splendour of alien rulers. This was in juxtaposition to the heartless conditions of prisoners who held in captivity in the Cellular Jail at Port Blair. The tiny Island was carefully chosen by Marine Surveyor Sir Daniel Ross, after whom it is named, to guard Port Blair Harbour. The Island was so near from Port Blair that it would be accessible by motorboats in a matter of minutes. Since the Island was covered with wooded forest, the freedom fighters of the First War of Independence were brought to this island and deployed to clear the forest and make it suitable for building palatial buildings for the British rulers.

Ross Island has the chief commissioner`s residence (called Government House) that was built on the Northern Summit of Ross Island. It was a large gabled house with Italian tiled floors on the ground level. This has the offices and a courtroom. The living rooms were on the top floor of this wooden house. The house was surrounded by gardens of Amaltas, yellow laburnum and mango trees, shrubbery and lawns. Col. M.L. Ferror, the then chief commissioner and seemingly a very happy occupant of the Government House.

Along with the commissioner`s house the Island also has the ruins of a church, and grand ballrooms with some well built swimming pools and troop`s barricades. All turned into ruins after the severe earthquake that struck the Island in1945 - 46. As the evacuation of the Island continued it once again came into prominence when Subhash Chandra Bose hoisted Indian Flag on the Island. During the Second World War the Japanese`s Forces invaded the islands in 1942; the chief commissioner`s residence was occupied by the Japanese garrison commander. The Indian flag was hoisted atop it in December 1943 when Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose visited the islands.

When the Japanese withdrew in 1945, British authorities were reluctant to return to Ross. A popular lore goes that they were dogged by a superstition that the island was sinking. A more believable explanation is that the `dangerous criminals` having been shifted from there, they found Port-Blair to be a safe place to set up their headquarters.

Thus known for its ruins this island is now mainly known as a tourist spot in Andaman and Nicobar Island. Along with some dilapidated structure it only depicts the old grandeur of the British rulers who inhabited the island for maximum period.