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.
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
General Guidelines defined for traveling to Andaman Islands during COVID :
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.
The second largest town in the Andaman Islands, Rangat Island is not very popular among tourists. The town is rarely on the traveller’s list of must-see places on the island. But those who end up here are surprised with innumerable natural marvels. You can enjoy here amidst serene beaches (some with volcanic rocks and others with pristine sand) that are perfect for turtle nesting during the season (December and January).
Mangrove sanctuaries and awareness centres with the longest walking trails are also here. And if that is not enough for you, then you can also visit a beautiful waterfall and wander around vast plantations of spices after the monsoon season.
These sights are more or less equidistant from Rangat Island. If you want to explore all of them, then prior planning should be done. In the town, you will find some shops, markets, food stalls, and plenty of tea sellers. Locals are engaged in two primary occupations- fishery and cultivation. They are very friendly and helpful.
Rangat Island is a 1070 square kilometers large island that falls right in the middle of the Andamans. Its gorgeous waterfall and beaches attract people from across the world. It is at a distance of 170 kilometers by road and 90 kilometers by sea from the capital city, Port Blair.
You can easily enter Rangat Island from Port Blair and by ferries from Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep), Long Island, and Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep). Rangat Island is a wonderful blend of nature’s most precious delights and offers once in a lifetime holiday experience. Owing to its clean environment, greenery, as well as unpolluted fresh air, nature lovers include Rangat in their travel itinerary.
Take a pit stop in Rangat Island if you are crossing it to visit any of its surrounding islands. Indulge yourself in a day trip of the attractions that are located in its close proximity. You can explore a few incredible places along with going for water activities like snorkeling and scuba diving also if you spend two days here. There are numerous beaches and points of interest here that you can plan to visit. All these sites have individual significance.
If you are a true nature lover and want the much-needed ‘me-time’ surrounded by nature out there, then there is a long list of things that you can do and see. Trust us, the list is more than just lazing around in the beaches, soaking in their natural beauty and appreciate the greenery. You can spend your day sunbathing, swimming, watching the superabundant mangroves and most importantly, see the diverse species of turtles nesting in two of its beaches.
Morrice Dera Beach: A very unique attraction, the twin rock at the beach presents itself as a rare yet beautiful rock formation. There is a walkway between these rocks that leads you to an eye-catching horizon viewpoint. It is a perfect spot to just sit and relax, and do absolutely nothing.
Amkunj Beach: Located in Nimbutala village at a distance of eight kilometers from Rangat, this beach is not less than a tiny piece of heaven. You can swim here and get a perfect tan along with complete peace of mind. It is a lovely place to sit and unwind on a bright sunny day.
Dhani Nallah Mangrove Walkway (Nature Walkway): It is a one-kilometer long wooden boardwalk that twists through the mangrove creeks. This walkway is the longest one of its kind in India. It is perfect to observe the diverse mangrove eco-system in one place. The walkway opens up to the pristine long beach- Dhani Nallah Beach, which is popular as a hatchery ground for sea turtles. There is a small eco-hut, which is named as Olive Ridley, named after the most frequent turtle species of the beach.
Yerrata Creek: Located eight Kilometers away from Rangat Island, it is known for its abundant mangrove life which makes it a great spot to observe and study a diverse variety of mangroves. The department of environment and forests has established a Mangrove Interpretation Centre here that displays different species of mangroves found on these islands.
Curtbert Bay Beach: It is a lengthy sandy beach located at a distance of twelve kilometers from Rangat Island. It is a well-known turtle nesting ground. The season is normally between December and February. If you want to witness this wonderful marvel of nature, then you should undoubtedly include this in your itinerary.
Panchavati Hills and Waterfalls: These beautiful hills surrounded by rocks fall in the outskirts of Rangat Island. Trekking is not advised on this small hill as a serene waterfall flows gently through the hills, making the rocks very slippery. The route to reach Panchavati is very scenic and photogenic as it is surrounded by agricultural farms.
Other sightseeing spots in Rangat include Long Island, Lalaji Bay View and Guitar Island.
Hotel Avis and Hotel Ross and Smith are two private properties in Rangat Island. The latter is a newly introduced hotel that started operating in 2018. Its guests have given decent service feedbacks. Both these hotels are good if you don’t expect excessive luxury or star category facilities while you stay in them.
The Hawks Bill Nest is a resort of the Andaman & Nicobar Department of Tourism. You have to make your booking here in advance during the peak season to ensure your reservation. But we would highly recommend you to secure your bookings here through a local tour operator because online bookings mostly don’t work due to the poor internet connectivity in this offbeat destination. Andaman Island Travels is the one-stop destination for all your bookings for any corner of the whole island. Its expert tour operators will design your Andaman Islands vacation exactly as per your requirements.
Some of the other hotels where you can stay are as follows:
If you are a foodie and looking for authentic Indian food during your stay in Rangat Island, then below-mentioned are the best places for you:
You have to take the entry from Port Blair to visit Rangat Island. To begin via any mode of transportation, the origin point will be Port Blair only.
By Government Buses - It is the most economical option to reach Rangat Island from the capital city. The government-operated bus departs from Port Blair at different timings. You can prefer taking the one around 4:30 am and reach Rangat in nearly eight hours. It will pass through Andaman Grand Trunk Road to reach the public bus stand in Rangat Island. From there, you will have to hire public transport to reach your accommodation. These are not air-conditioned buses.
You can purchase the tickets from the government bus depot in Port Blair. There is a huge demand for government bus tickets because of the cheap fare. To stay connected between Rangat Island and Port Blair, the majority of the locals use this mode of transport as their lifeline. The boarding point of these buses is at the Aberdeen Bus Depot.
Since it has several pick-up points on the ATR, you need to enquire at the ticket counter for your nearest pick-up point. The return ticket from Rangat Island has to be booked from Rangat bus terminus only if you have reached Rangat by the government buses.
Via Buses Run by the Private Sector - These buses also depart from Port Blair at different timings. You can prefer taking the one around 4:30 am or earlier and reach Rangat Island in nearly eight hours. This way, you will get most of your time in Rangat Island after you reach. The buses are available in air-conditioned and non air-conditioned segments. The AC ones are preferred as the journey is quite long. Non-AC ones are costlier than the government buses due to obvious reasons like comfort and seating arrangements. You can buy the tickets from their respective reservation offices across Port Blair. There is no facility for online booking. These buses can be boarded nearby the Aberdeen Bus Depot. Since it has several pick-up points on the ATR, you need to enquire at the ticket counter for your nearest pick-up point. The return ticket from Rangat can be booked from Port Blair when you start or you can also book the same from Rangat Bus terminus.
By private Cabs - You can hire a private cab from Port Blair to reach Rangat Island. Neither you have to look for a return option nor would you have to hire any other public transport as the driver will be accompanying you from Port Blair. You can reach your hotel and go for sightseeing by the cab itself. As your driver is a local of the Andaman Islands, he will be able to tell you about the place and takes you to various points of attraction. He can also suggest you the best places where you can eat, and he will also ensure that you visit all the places that you would want to see and return on time to Port Blair for your other travel plans.
Hiring a private cab is the best option for those who have a fixed number of days to explore the Andaman Islands before they go back. The biggest relief is that you can book this service online before your vacation. Thus, it is the most stress-free option. The cab will pick you from your stay point and drop you back to your desired place after the completion of your trip.
By Government Ferry - You can reach Rangat Islands from Port Blair via a government ferry. It will be a five to six hours long journey. The ferry starts from Port Blair and crosses Neil Island and Havelock Island before reaching Rangat. The timings vary depending on the total number of passengers boarding and getting down at each stop.
The catch is that this ferry doesn’t sail every day. The ticket bookings open only one or two days before the departure. STAR ticket counter in Port Blair issues the tickets and the return ticket has to be booked from Rangat Island itself. The harbor for Rangat Island is the Yerrata Jetty. If you have enough time in hand, then you can consider the government ferry as an option to reach Rangat Island. But if you are in the Andaman Islands for a few days, then this option may not work for you. If this option of reaching Rangat Island doesn’t work, then your other plans and schedules will get affected.
You will have to take a Government Ferry to Rangat Island from Havelock Island. This ferry is functional on alternate days. This is the same ferry that sails from Port Blair to Rangat Island, as discussed above. Before reaching Rangat Island, it takes pit stops in Neil Island and Havelock Island. The voyage ends at Long Island after stopping in Rangat Island.
The same applies to visit Rangat Island from Neil Island. The same ferry takes a pit stop in Neil Island. From there also, you need to take the same boat to Rangat Island.
Andaman Island Travels is there to take care of all your ferry ticket bookings in the Andaman Islands. The local tour operator is the one-stop destination for all your transfer requirements when you are vacationing here. It will book all your ferry tickets instantly so that you don’t have to go through any hassle. Its ferry booking services for inter-island connectivity in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands would make your trip absolutely smooth. It will provide you confirmed tickets of ferries for all the tourist destinations. It is a single platform for all ferry and boat tickets, and confirmed tickets are booked instantly from various ferry operators. Just let its team know your decided dates and destinations. And if you are confused about which ferry would be the best for you, then you can always ask them.
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