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.
A well-known tourist attraction in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Samudrika Naval Marine Museum is located in Port Blair, the capital city. This museum is also known as the Fisheries Museum. Displaying a broad range of installations, the museum highlights informative coverage of the islands’ ecosystem, plants, animals, tribal communities, and marine life. Various collections of fishes, corals, and shells are also housed in a small aquarium at the museum. While entering, you will see a huge skeleton of a blue whale that was washed ashore in Nicobar. Run by the Indian Navy, the museum stores five galleries dotted with history, geography, anthropology, and marine life of the Andamans. Along with all this, there is also a small zoo where saltwater crocodiles are sheltered in Haddo of the Andaman Islands.
The best time to visit Samudrika Naval Marine Museum is the winter and summer months—from October to May. It is also the dry season. At this time, the weather is pleasant and perfect for water sports and outdoor activities as well. June to September is the rainy season and the offseason in Andaman. You should avoid this period as it witnesses heavy rainfall, cyclonic weather, and strong winds.
Highlights
A perfect blend of historical and modern Andaman, Samudrika Naval Marine Museum greets its visitors with the skeleton of a massive blue whale as you enter. You will see there an aquarium with fish of all shapes and sizes ranging from parrotfish to rare and venomous species of stonefish and corals. The place is an ideal visit for kids. If you love collecting souvenirs while travelling, then you can buy a lot of interesting stuff from the gift shop for your loved ones back at home.
You can visit Samudrika Naval Marine Museum throughout the year. However, the best time to visit the Andaman Islands in general is from November to February. The weather is pleasant during this time and you can explore the place in a better way.
Overview
Situated near the Andaman Teal House in Port Blair, Samudrika Naval Marine Museum is designed to create awareness of several aspects of the oceanic environment. It aims to generate awareness about the environment in marine life and the ocean.
Travellers are spoiled for choice when it comes to picking a restaurant to satiate the hunger pangs. There are a number of eateries and food joints that offer mouth-watering food to visitors. The closest restaurant to Samudrika Naval Marine Museum is Café Rebel that serves the most delicious burgers in the town. Popular among tourists, Ruchi, Rola costa, Amaya, Annapurna, and Mandalay are other restaurants that are known for their delectable dishes.
There are various places in and around the museum that you can explore. These include a mini zoo, Ross Island, and adventurous activities at the Andaman Sports Complex. The Chatham Saw Mill, Forest Museum, and Cellular Jail are also in close proximity. To enlighten yourself of the glorious history of India, you should visit all of them.
Entry fee:
The timings of the museum are from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Things to do
Nearby hotels
There are a number of luxurious and budget-friendly hotels, guesthouses, and B&B in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Some of the closest accommodations to Samudrika Naval Marine Museum are Hotel Driftwood, Hotel Hill View, TSG Emerald View, North Harriet View, and Hotel Sentinel.
There are tons of hotels in the capital city of the Andaman Islands but only a few offer sea views. Staying at a prime location in Port Blair would be a good decision. You can book a hotel at Foreshore Road, Aberdeen Bazaar, Junglighat, Goal Ghar, Middle Point, Dollygunj, or Phoenix Bay. The hotel tariff is on a higher-end at these locations but you have the option to go out and explore the place locally.
You can consider staying at any of the following properties in Port Blair as per your budget:
How to reach
From Port Blair- Samudrika Naval Marine Museum is located at a distance of around nine kilometers from the central Port Blair in the Andamans. Thus, you can reach there via road easily.
From Havelock Island- The distance between Havelock Island and the museum is around 65 kilometers. It takes both road and sea to reach. Located in the Haddo area, one takes nearly three hours to reach there. There is a government-run ferry from Havelock Island to Port Blair that takes two and a half hours to reach the capital town. It is scheduled twice a day.
If you are in the planning stage of your vacation in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, then contact Andaman Island Travels to make all your bookings.
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