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.
Rangat Island resides at a distance of 210 kilometres by road and 50 nautical miles by ferry from the capital city, Port Blair. Travellers can reach Rangat Island via government/private buses, ferries or even cabs. Rangat connects to Port Blair via Andaman Trunk Road, and the jolting journey to Rangat roughly takes 6-7 hours. The route crosses Jarawa Reserves on the west coasts of South and Middle Andaman. Ferries from Port Blair, Havelock, Neil and Long Island also lead to Rangat.
What's noteworthy-
Getting around Rangat Island is not as complicated owing to the fact that Auto Rickshaws and walking are the primary means of transit.
Buses: Several morning bus services are available between Port Blair and Rangat. You can reach Rangat by opting for buses run by state govt. from Port Blair - The preferred one in which is around 4:30 AM. It takes approximately 8 hours to reach Rangat from Port Blair in a bus. The ticket can be purchased from the government Bus depot. We advise to book it in advance because there is a huge demand for government bus tickets by the locals.
From Bus stand at rangat you’ll have to hire public transport to reach your accommodation place and to do the sightseeing.
Cab : Another way to reach Rangat from Port Blair is by hiring a Private vehicle from Port Blair. It is advisable due to the comfort and assurance offered. You can also opt for a driver who serves as a tour guide for this excursion.
There are two ways to travel via water to reach rangat island-
Government Ferry: This would be a rough route taken by the ferry-Port Blair - Neil Island - Havelock Island - Rangat. It takes approximately 5-6 hours to complete this journey. Please note that the ferry does not sail daily and the ticket bookings open only 1-2 days before the departure. The ticket is issued from STAR ticket counter in Port Blair and the return ticket has to be booked from Rangat island. The cost of the ticket is ?300.
Motorboat: It is advisable to hire a motorboat if you are in a group, The time taken would be less than four hours.
What's Noteworthy -
Mother Nature was incredibly generous with Rangat island, a fabled paradise with unrivalled beaches, some with volcanic rocks and other with pristine white sand, ideal for turtle nesting during the season. Despite that Rangat island doesn’t seem to be on the primary traveller circuit in Andamans. Unusual beaches are the main attraction, and what beaches! Exquisite strips of sand lapped by emerald waters and backed by lush hills, palm trees and boulders. Second-largest town in Andamans, Rangat sprawls over an area of 1070 square kilometres. How to Reach Rangat Island from Port Blair? Cradled between the North and Middle Andamans, Rangat island is roughly at a distance of 210 kilometres by road and 50 nautical miles by ferry from the capital city, Port Blair.
There is plenty to do in a beach destination, holidays here do not have to be all about sea and sand unless you want them to be. Places to visit in Rangat Island are rarely on the traveller’s list of must-see places, but those who do end up here can be surprised by the attractions it has to offer. The island has a lot more to offer than often expected. It has spell-binding waterfalls! Dense forests! Mangrove sanctuaries! Spice plantations! Though the spots are more or less equidistant from Rangat, after some planning it is quite simple to explore all of them. The town itself has nothing much to offer from a tourist perspective except for the well-stocked market, food stalls and plenty of chai sellers.
Acting as a transit point while travelling to North Andamans from Port Blair, Rangat island deserves much more than that. A remarkable eco-tourism destination in Andamans, sightseeing spots in Rangat Island is nirvana for nature enthusiasts. The things that you can indulge in here does not halt at lazing around in the beaches and absorbing the picturesque panoramas. One can also swim, sunbathe, watch the plethora of mangroves and witness the distinct species of turtles nesting in the Dhaninallah and Curtbert Bay beaches. When talking about the highlights of Rangat island, one can not miss the nature walk along with the diverse Mangrove ecosystem, setting an example of “Reduce, Reuse & Recycle”.
People from Kerala and Tamil Nadu make the residency on the island which houses 75 small villages. Even though its population includes people from diverse linguistic groups, the locals primarily speak Bengali or Tamil. Fisheries and cultivation are the commonly practised occupations for locals. Amongst the must-visit tourist attractions in Rangat Island is Aamkunj Beach, excellent for swimming, sunbathing and recreation. Developed with an eco-friendly perspective, installation of eco huts and groves named after native flora, a visit to the beach is true bliss.
Moricedera is another eco-tourism destination in Rangat which has a scenic freshwater stream serving as a natural swimming pool. Then comes Yerrata Mangrove Park and Yerrata Creek dotted with diverse mangroves, that boasts of a 13 m tall mangrove view watchtower to have a 360-degree view of the mangroves and the adjacent forest. Among other attractions, some of the places that always make it to the itinerary are, Cuthbert Bay Beach, Panchavati Hills and Long Island. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Rangat is under-explored and under-estimated. Time to change that!
A town in the Middle Andaman Island, Andaman Archipelago, Rangat is one of the three counties administrative divisions of the North and Middle Andaman district. Its natural beauty can surprise whosoever visits Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The second largest town in the Andamans, it is not very popular among travellers yet. Not many people know about its splendid beauty, but those who end up here are left awestruck by the attractions it offers. You can witness gorgeous beaches with volcanic rocks as well as pristine sand, which are perfect for turtle nesting during the season (December to January). The mangrove sanctuaries and awareness centers with the longest walking trails among mangrove forests in the country are sure to leave you spellbound. You can also visit a scenic waterfall or stroll around vast plantations of spices after monsoons here.
Rangat is a 1070 square kilometers large island that falls right in the middle of the Andamans. 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 from Port Blair (via buses and private cabs) and by ferries from Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep), Long Island, and Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep).
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 for 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.
The must-see places in Rangat are as follows:
Other sightseeing spots in Rangat include Lalaji Bay View, Guitar Island, and Raman Bagicha.
December to March is the best time to visit Rangat. During this time, the temperature remains between 23 and 30 degrees Celsius. The weather is quite pleasant at this time.
Hotel Avis and Hotel Ross and Smith are two private properties in Rangat. 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.
Some of the other hotels where you can stay are as follows:
The guests have given decent service feedbacks. The hotels are good if you don’t expect excessive luxury or star category facilities while you stay in them.
If you are a foodie and looking for authentic Indian food during your stay in Rangat, then the below-mentioned are the best places for you:
Rangat Island is situated in the Middle Andaman. Al least two days are required to visit all the tourist attractions here.
Yes, you can visit Rangat as a day trip on your way to North Andaman Islands.
As it has become one of the most loving tourist places all over the Andaman Islands, security has also been increased more than before. Female solo travellers are most welcomed in Rangat Island.
Rangat boasts of the best of natural beauties flourishing in India. Along with being a nesting hub for sea turtles, the island is one of the most enchanting towns in the Andaman archipelago as well. As much as 210 kilometers away from Port Blair and is easily accessible by everyone. If you are visiting the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, then Rangat is definitely a place you must not miss. It has crystal clear waves from the deep blue sea to the cool breeze that sweeps you off your feet.
Yes, you can hire a private cab from Port Blair to reach Rangat. 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 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 to you the best places where you can eat.
Seafood is the specialty of the island. However, one can easily get vegetarian food at its eateries. There will not be any problem at all.
A trip to Rangat will not be heavy on your pocket. As the island is not that commercialised yet, it has all the basic facilities as of now. Accommodations and eateries are not that fancy. So you will not be required to spend so much money during your time here
The island witnesses mainly three seasons—summer, tropical winter, and monsoon. Located in the Bay of Bengal, it experiences heavy winds during the monsoon and a tropical climate otherwise. The best weather can be enjoyed in Rangat from early November to mid-May.
There is only one ATM on the island. Card payments are usually not accepted there. You should carry enough cash with you while travelling to Rangat. Otherwise, you may have to face some trouble.
