Latest Information on Travelling to Andaman Islands?
  • Andaman Tourism Opens

    Updated: 14 Aug 2021

    Andaman Tourism Opens: The Andaman & Nicobar administration has announced that all tourist spots in the South Andaman district will be opened for tourism activities with immediate effect 8 Feb 2022.

  • What is the advisory to travel to North & Middle Andaman District?

    Updated: 14 Aug 2021

    The tourists are allowed to visit Baratang/North & Middle Andaman on production of double dose covid certificate/ All other passengers viz. unvaccinated and partially vaccinated passengers (those who have taken only 1S1 dose of COVID vaccine) shall have to produce RT-PCR negative test report

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  • All asymptomatic fully vaccinated persons coming to these islands from mainland are exempted from the requirement of carrying RT-PCR negative test report,irrespective of the type of vaccine received and country of origin. Such fullyvaccinated individuals shall produce the final vaccination certificate at the origin airport, sea port in the mainland and at Port Blair Airport / sea port.
  • Alt asymptomatic children below 5 years of age are exempted from carrying RT-PCR negative test report and further RT-PCR testing at Port Blair Airport.
  • All other passengers viz. unvaccinated and partially vaccinated passengers (those who have taken only 1S1 dose of COVID vaccine) shall have to produce RT-PCR negative test report to travel to Port Blair from the mainland, as is the practice now. Such an RT-PCR test should have been taken within 48 hours prior to commencement of journey from the origin airport connecting Port Blair. Such passengers will also have to undergo additional RT-PCR test on arrival at Port Blair. Such passengers shall remain in self-quarantine till the arrival of the test report.
  • If a passenger on arrival is tested positive then, the prescribed quarantine protocol is to be followed.
  • All Airlines shall ensure strict compliance of this order and observance of COVID Appropriate Behaviour. Any non-compliance shall invite action under Disaster Management Act and other applicable laws. 
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General Guidelines defined for traveling to Andaman Islands during COVID :

  1. The Tourism Activities are permitted only in South Andaman & North & Middle Andaman District except Nicobar District.
  2. Persons above 65 years of age, persons with home co-morbidities, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years advised not to travel for tourism purposes.
  3. Tourists/Visitors who are at higher risk due to some medical history are advised to take extra precautions.
  4. Tourists/visitors shall minimize contact with other staff and visitors as far as possible and zero contact policy should be followed at all tourist destinations.
  5. All tourists/visitors shall be briefed by the hotel concerned about do’s & don’ts to be mandatorily followed during their stay and movements.
  6. While travelling tourists/visitors should wear a face mask and carry their own sanitizer and wet wipes for personal use.
  7. At all tourist destinations, staff must wear face masks and wash/sanitize hands regularly while performing their duties.
  8. Arogya Setu App shall be mandatory for all incoming tourists/visitors.
  9. Respiratory etiquettes to be strictly followed. This involves strict practice of covering one’s mouth and nose while coughing/sneezing with a tissue handkerchief/flexed elbow and disposing off used tissues properly after use.
  10. The tourists/visitors on arrival at Port Blair airport have to undergo mandatory Covid-19 screening with RTPCR test free of cost. Thereafter the tourists/ visitors are allowed to move to their respective hotels. However, they will have to be under quarantine at Port Blair in their hotel rooms until the result of RTPCR tests are received. In case of RTPCR positive test results, the tourists/visitors shall remain in institutional quarantine in hotels notified by the Hoteliers Association in consent with the A&%N Administration, on rate as specified or to the designated hospital/ Covid 19 care centre on case to case basis.
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What are the guidelines for testing for tourists coming to Andaman after August 03 2021?

On arrival at Port Blair :

1. The tourists need to carry COVID-19 negative test report from mainland based 1CMR approved lab using Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTPCR). However, the sample for RTPCR test should have been taken within 48 hours prior to starting the journey from the origin station. (For e.g. if the tourist takes a flight from Delhi at 0600 hrs. on 1st September, 2021, the sample for RTPCR test should have been taken not before 0600 hrs. on 30th August, 2021).

2. The tourists/visitors on arrival at Port Blair airport have to undergo mandatory Covid-19 screening with RTPCR test free of cost. Thereafter the tourists/visitors are allowed to move to their respective hotels. However, they will have to be under quarantine at Port Blair in their hotel rooms until the result of RTPCR tests are received. In case of RTPCR positive test results, the tourists/visitors shall remain in
institutional quarantine in hotels notified by the Hoteliers Association in consent with the A&N Administration, on rates as specified or to the designated hospital/ Covid-19 care centre on case-to-case basis.

3. Tourists may also have to undergo random Rapid Antigen Test conducted from time to time on payment basis as prescribed by A8N Administration.

What if the tourists test positive after arriving at the Andaman Islands?


If the tourists tests positive during their stay in the Islands, he/she will need to undergo institutional isolation as per existing health protocols. The
cost of such isolation for govt. facility will be paid by the tourists as fixed by the administration from time to time.

If the patient wants to stay at hotels, he/she can stay in the hotels if all the conditions below are met:

a) Patients are not symptomatic and not more than 60 years old.
b) Request/ undertaking is made by patient in writing.
c)lf allowed by doctors.

Hotels will make necessary arrangements to designate a part of their rooms for institutional isolation for this purpose.

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  • Regular flights to Port Blair (the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands) are operational now.
  • There are direct flights from Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, and Delhi.
  • Public transports like cabs, taxis, and bus services are also functional.
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Travellers should carefully follow social distancing norms and wear masks as well. Also, before making any booking, they should refer to the latest travel news on the government website of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

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Forest Museum: History, Art, and Nature

Forest Museum: History, Art, and Nature
Date : 29 Aug 2024

Visit the Forest Museum in Port Blair

Forest Museum is located on the outskirts of Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. A popular tourist attraction, it displays a wide collection related to forest and the assortment of trees. If you love visiting different kinds of museums, then this one should be definitely on your list.

It is managed by the forest department of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The artifacts that are made from timber, gurjan, oak, satin wood, and paduak are famous attractions here. The rich and dense flora found in the islands is reflected through these. Various research activities are carried out by the forest department and their outcomes are displayed in the museum. The cherry on the cake, there is also a mini zoo and a small zoological garden inside the museum building.

Highlights

A wonderful amalgamation of art and plant life, the Forest Museum is situated inside the historic Chatham Saw Mill. It is also maintained by the forest department just like the mill. You can see here a vast collection of lovely wooden art, carvings, and artifacts that are created by the workers of the saw mill. The rich flora and fauna of the region is represented here. Stunning sculptures, carvings, and art pieces made of different types of woods such as oak, satin, timber, etc. are on display here. All these woods are from local trees that are abundantly grown in the Andamans. 

As a memory of your visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, you can buy wooden artifacts as souvenirs from Forest Museum for your near and dear ones. These items are of great value as these are handmade. These are a perfect choice of gifts for your special ones.

Visiting this museum in Port Blair is definitely worth your time. You will learn a lot about the biodiversity of the islands. Don’t forget to include this in your Andaman itinerary. 

Overview

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The Forest Museum is also home to a wide variety of endangered species of plants. Thus, if you are a nature lover, then you are going to appreciate this place so much. Even more value is added to the museum by a mini zoological garden that is inside the same premises. This museum is well-maintained and offers total convenience to tourists. There are boards having details of each and every piece of artwork that is on display. Thus, you don’t even need a tourist guide here. And in case you want any additional information, you can approach the museum officials and they will provide you the required details.

The best time to visit the Forest Museum in Port Blair is throughout the year. However, the months from November to February are the best months to travel to the Andaman Islands. The weather is pleasant during this duration.

  • Morning timings: From 8:00 am to 12:00 pm
  • Evening timings: From 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm

Note: The Forest Museum is closed on Sundays.

Things to Do

The Forest Museum houses diverse artifacts made from timber, gurjan, oak, satin wood, and paduak. Apart from these, you can take a stroll around the museum and appreciate the gorgeous views of the azure waters and feel the cool tropical breeze. After your visit to the museum, you can choose to indulge in a number of activities in and around the museum. A few of them are mentioned below:

  • Visiting the historical Cellular jail, also known and Kala Paani
  • Attending the light and sound show at Cellular Jail
  • Spotting wildlife at Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park
  • Relaxing, swimming, or enjoying drinks at Corbyn’s Cove Beach
  • Visiting Port Blair’s famous church—Roman Catholic Church
  • Having a glimpse of marine life at Samudrika Marine Museum 

The museum is located within the premises of Chatham Saw Mill, which is also a very popular tourist place in Port Blair. Near the Forest Museum, there are a number of places that you can visit such as a church, another museum, science center, beach, etc. Some of them are as follows:

Nearby Hotels

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You will have a number of options ranging from budget hotels to luxury resorts when it comes to hotels near Forest Museum.

Some of the most popular properties are as follows:

  • Ripple Resort
  • Aashiaanaa Residency Inn
  • Jazeera Resort
  • V-Knot Residency
  • Hotel King Safire
  • Dev Mahal
  • Symphony Palms Beach Resort
  • Hornbill Nest Resort
  • Peerless Resort
  • Hotel Comfort in Blue Whales
  • Mansha Regency
  • Hotel Sentinel
  • Hotel Exotica Squares
  • Hotel Hilltop International
  • Sinclairs Bayview

Places to Eat in and Near Forest Museum

The museum has various restaurants and eateries that serve delicious food. Some of the best places to eat near in and around the museum are as follows:

  • Amaya

Distance - located 2.2 kilometers away

  • Milky Way 

Distance - located at a distance of 1.4 kilometers

  • Annapurna

Distance - Located 3 kilometers from the museum

  • New Lighthouse Restaurant

Distance - 3 kilometers away

  • Cafe Rebel

Distance - 2.2 kilometers from the museum

  • New India Cafe

Distance - 2 kilometers

How to Reach

  • From Port Blair

The Forest Museum is at a distance of about ten kilometers from central Port Blair, that is, on its outer region. It is located inside the Chatham Saw Mill Complex and is accessible from all parts of the town. It is very near to Veer Savarkar Airport. Take the road bridge to reach the museum as it is the straight route for there. You can take a pub transport bus or hire a cab from any part of Port Blair to get to the museum.

  • From Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)

If you are in Havelock Island, then you have to first reach Port Blair using inter-island boat services. After that, take a bus or a private cab to the museum.

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