News Latest Information on Travelling to Andaman Islands?
  • Runway Status for Port Blair Airport From October,22 to February, 23

    Updated: 19 Sep 2022
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  • RT PCR report on arrival

    Updated: 14 Aug 2021
  • 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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Limestone Cave

Overview

The mesmeric attraction of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is not confined to the golden white sand beaches and shimmering blue sea alone. It also boasts of rich biodiversity in its dense Evergreen and Mangrove forests, which is home to a vibrant treasure trove of flora and fauna, both terrestrial and marine, not to mention the cultural heritage of this ancient archipelago. Comprising around 572 islands, islets and rocky outcrops at the junction of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea, it draws visitors from mainland India as well as the world for a tranquil holiday experience. The Andaman Islands are gradually opening up to the outside world, and one such destination, typical of a tropical paradise, yet virgin and pristine is the Baratang Island. It has emerged as a must-visit destination in the Andaman, not only for its attractions of sea and sand but also for its natural wonders of Limestone Cave in the Andaman Islands and the only live Mud Volcano in the country.

Where is Baratang Island located?

Baratang Island is about 100 Kms from the capital city of Port Blair and is considered to be the gateway to the Middle and North Andaman and important destinations like Rangat, Mayabunder, and Diglipur. The road journey to Baratang Island from Port Blair is, in itself, a lifetime experience of exploration running deep within the dense forest designated as Jarawa Reserve. Access is strictly monitored, and passage is regulated only in convoys at a fixed schedule to help preserve the habitat of the exceedingly reclusive ancient Jarawa tribe.

Culture of Baratang Island

The ethnic composition of the Island is divided into two – the indigenous and the settlers. Abode to six ancient tribes and settlers from outside has created a unique combination of culture and traditions, which juxtaposes with each other in harmonious coexistence. However, the tribes remain aloof from the mainstream, maintaining their cultural purity, sticking to hunting and horticulture for sustenance. The settlers, on the other hand, have taken to agriculture and other occupations. Hinduism is the dominant religion, and Bengali, besides Hindi and Tamil, are the usual spoken languages.

Major Tourist Highlights in Baratang Island:

Visitors to the Island in close proximity to the fiercely independent and elusive Jarawa Tribe offers a range of attractions for an invigorating vacation. Places to visit in Baratang Island include shining lures like the Limestone Caves, Mud Volcano, serene Baludera Beach, and Parrot Island, to name a few. Not yet flooded with fancy resorts and restaurants, Baratang Island is a destination with ample scope of being one with nature. Foodies can sample the local predominantly non-vegetarian cuisine, heavily influenced by the Bengali and South Indian settlers, which are delicious and wholesome. Not to be missed to beat the sultry heat is the green coconut juice or the refreshing Lassi and Chhanch, a concoction of fresh curd.

What are the Limestone Caves?

Limestone Caves can be defined as naturally carved cavities under the Earth’s crust. In shape and size, they may range from a few meters to a few miles, where in some cases, even light has not penetrated.

How are Limestone caves formed?

Limestone cave formation is a natural architecture created over millions of years of corrosion, triggered by Carbonic Acid, in a reaction of Carbon Dioxide and Rainwater Cavities or caverns under the earth’s surface are adorned with naturally formed attractive shapes called Stalagmites, Stalactites and Flow stones. These keep changing form due to the continuous deposit of Calcium Carbonate, showcasing an awe-inspiring sight. 

Popular Limestone Caves in the world

Among all the cave formations in the world, some of the best Limestone Caves admired for their beauty are:

  • Cave of the Mounds: Admired for its beauty and has been rightly named the “Jewel Box”, it is located in Wisconsin, USA.
  • Jeitta Grotto: Lebanon prides in this Limestone Cave, which is 9 Kms in length.
  • Hida: The Limestone cave is located at a depth of 800 mts under a cascading waterfall in Japan and is adorned with finger-like Helictite formations.
  • Jenolan: The spectacular oldest cavern in the world, lies in the Blue Mountains, close to Sydney, Australia.
  • Cave Pool: Located in Chichen Itza in the Yucatan Province of Mexico, the Cave boasts of a natural swimming pool inside. It is illuminated by piercing sunlight through an overhead crevasse, creating a kaleidoscope of myriad delightful colors.

Trip to Baratang Island Limestone Caves

Visiting Limestone caves in Baratang Island is a thrilling experience in itself. The magnificence of the insides of the Limestone Cave in Baratang Island creates mixed feelings in the minds of the visitors, who throng the place during the peak months between December and March when the sea is calm and the weather pleasant. 

The Top highlights of the Trip

  • Many tourists take the easy option of a day trip by booking a Baratang Island tour package from Port Blair.

  • Package tour may be convenient, but the traveler will end in Baratang Island sightseeing, missing out on the opportunity to explore the Island for all its heavenly attractions.

  • The approach to Baratang Island Limestone Cave site entails a captivating boat ride through the Mangrove canopy, offering the unique opportunity to be a bird watcher and a wildlife enthusiast, rolled into one.

  • The last part is a short trek to the Baratang Island Limestone Cave site for a view of the ever-changing natural wonder.

Trip experience

Visiting Limestone caves in Baratang Island is an enthralling experience affording excitement to add spice to the otherwise sublime holiday of leisure and relaxation. The sight of the natural spectacle shall remain etched in one’s mind as one of the cherished memories, to recall in future with a tinge of nostalgia, not to forget the close encounters with nature in the once exclusive preserve of the Jarawa people.

How to visit Limestone Cave in Baratang Island?

One can plan the trip on one’s own by availing a boat ride through the Mangrove and then the short trek to the cave site. A package tour to the Limestone cave is available in plenty. Either way, a visit to the cave is a must activity in Baratang Island, along with the other natural wonders of Mud Volcano and Parrot Island. An overnight stay in Baratang Island is slated to be a highly rewarding experience, considering that it has remained unexplored for so long. 

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