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.
Samudrika Naval Marine Museum is a Port Blair- based tourist attraction located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is a popular sightseeing place that is also known as Fisheries Museum. There are number of installations that are very informative as they present coverage on the island’s ecosystem, plants, animals, tribal communities, marine life, etc. A small aquarium housing different collections of fishes, corals, and shells can also be seen there. There is a huge skeleton of a blue whale on the outside. It was washed ashore in Nicobar. The Indian Navy runs the Samudrika Naval Marine Museum and it stores as many as five galleries representing history, geography, anthropology, and marine life of the islands. Along with all this, there is also a small zoo that is home to saltwater crocodiles in Haddo of the Andaman Islands.
Samudrika Naval Marine Museum was designed for creating awareness of different aspects of the oceanic environment. Situated near the Andaman Teal House, it focuses on creating understanding about the environment in marine life and the ocean.
Overview
A perfect blend of the new and the old, Samudrika Naval Marine Museum displays the present and the past. It is divided into five different rooms and each one of them showcases a different facet of the Andamans. Greeting you as you enter the museum, you will see a massive blue whale in its skeletal form.
The first room presents the geographical history of the islands covering the history behind its name to how it was formed. The young and the old alike will be delighted to see the second and the third room. There is an aquarium in the second one that has fishes of different sizes and shapes ranging from a parrotfish to the rare and venomous species of stonefish. Corals, for which the island is very famous, are exhibited in the third room. The fourth room displays shells extensively. A complete sense of the marine life of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is guaranteed there. The fifth room of the museum is an important one as it provides information about the tribal life in the islands. There is also a display of interesting specimens of snakes and butterflies. If you want to buy a few souvenirs of your trip here, then you can visit the curio shop of the museum.
Please note that flash should not be used during photography as it may disturb marine animals.
Things to do
Also known as Fisheries Museum, Samudrika Naval Marine Museum shelters hundreds of marine species of lovely fishes, corals, and shells. One can also visit a mini zoo situated nearby.
Entry fee:
The museum is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
How to reach
Reaching Samudrika Naval Marine Museum is very simple. It is located at a distance of nearly two kilometers from the city center. It is situated in Haddo to the northern end of Port Blair in the Andaman Islands and is easily accessible via taxis, auto rickshaws, and two-wheelers (available on rent). The museum is close to the Nature Park, Haddo, and a number of good hotels.
Nearby hotels
Samudrika Naval Marine Museum is a major attraction in Port Blair and there are a number of hotels located nearby. Some of them are as follows:
The hotels and resort offer the best of the Andaman tropical vibes and a refreshing ambience. Offering their guests an experience like no other, the lavish resorts here provide advanced amenities and services that are required for a relaxing stay in the Andamans. From the elegant and spacious rooms to the exquisite restaurants and banquet halls, these properties offer only the finest in all aspects of the stay. The tourists staying here are left happy and satisfied with their stay. For a comfortable and hassle-free stay in Port Blair, these accommodations are your best choices. In the capital city of the islands, these properties are sure to offer you total comfort and convenience.
The properties here offer different kinds of rooms as per varied budgets. For instance, standard, deluxe, cottage, and suite. All the rooms are fitted with modern amenities such as a refrigerator, work area, air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and mini bar. The rooms are neat and clean, and ensure a pleasant stay. These are hygienic and comfortable. Their ambiance is aesthetically pleasant. These are like homes away from homes!
Most of the resorts and hotels in Port Blair have in-house restaurants that serve an array of lip-smacking food including seafood, North Indian, and different assorted delicacies. The food will make your beach holidays even more special. Try delicious coffee and other refreshing beverages here to soothe your senses.
Some of the commonly available facilities at these properties are mentioned below:
Nearby Places To Eat
There are various good restaurants that are not so far from Samudrika Naval Marine Museum. Some of the best ones are:
Best time to visit
One can visit Samudrika Naval Marine Museum throughout the year. However, the best time to travel to the Andamans is between November and May. During these months, the weather is pleasant and one can go for sightseeing without feeling any uneasiness.
