From 3rd August 2021 Tourism activities re-open in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. In view of the steady decline in cases of COVID-19 in Andaman Nicobar Islands an order has been issued by the Director of Tourism Department today regarding reopening of all Tourism activities in South Andaman and North Middle Andaman District from today.
The tourists are allowed to visit Baratang/North & Middle Andaman subject to compulsory RAT testing for Andaman Trunk Road commuters which will be carried out at Forest check post on the spot / same day on payment of applicable charges
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 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 loveliest union territory of India. The second largest town in 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 centres with the longest walking trails among mangrove forests in the country are sure to leave you spellbound. Wait, there is more!! You can also visit a scenic waterfall or stroll around vast plantations of spices after monsoons here.
All the attraction spots are more or less equidistant from Rangat. So you have to do some planning if you want to cover them all. Speaking of the town, you will see some shops, well-stocked market, food stalls and tea sellers. Locals may get over-friendly as they don’t see crowds of tourists. In our coming sections, we will be giving you more detailed information on what Rangat has in store for you on your visit.
Take a pit stop in Rangat 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.
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. 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 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, then below-mentioned are the best places for you:
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!
Rangat is a town in the Middle Andaman Island and is one of the three counties administrative divisions of the North and Middle Andaman district. It is known for its natural beauty across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is the second largest town in the Andamans and is a less-frequented destination because not everyone is aware of its gorgeousness. But if you end up visiting this town, then you will be spellbound for sure. There are stunning beaches with volcanic rocks and pristine sands that are an ideal spot for turtle nesting during the season (December and January). There are mangrove sanctuaries and awareness centers with the longest walking trails among mangrove forests as well. A lovely waterfall is also there along with vast plantations of spices where you can visit after monsoons.
Right in the middle of the Andaman Islands, Rangat is a 1070 square kilometers large town. From Port Blair, it is at a distance of 90 kilometers by sea and 170 kilometers by road. Reaching Rangat is very simple. You can take a bus or private cab from Port Blair. If you want to enter from Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep), Long Island, or Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep), then you need to take a ferry.
For transfers via ferry, you can make the booking via Andaman Island Travels, a well-known tour agent located Port Blair. The local tour operator is the one-stop destination for all your transfer requirements when you are vacationing here. You don’t have to go through any hassle as it will book all your ferry tickets in advance. Its ferry booking services for inter-island connectivity in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands would make your trip absolutely smooth. For all tourist places in the Andamans, it will provide you confirmed ferry tickets. It is a single platform for all ferry and boat tickets. Just tell its experienced team your decided dates and destinations. You can also ask them if you have any kind of doubts regarding bookings.
The best places to visit in Rangat are mentioned below:
Amkunj Beach
Located in Nimbutala village at a distance of eight kilometers from Rangat, 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.
Curtbert Bay Beach
It is a lengthy sandy beach located at a distance of twelve kilometers from Rangat. It is a well-known turtle nesting ground.
Dhani Nallah Mangrove Walkway (Nature Walkway)
It is a one-kilometer long wooden boardwalk that twists through the mangrove creeks. The walkway opens up to the pristine long beach- Dhani Nallah Beach, which is popular as a hatchery ground for sea turtles.
Long Island
The natural flora and fauna are thriving on this Island. The beaches around Long Island remain unexplored and are mesmerising like a tiny piece of heaven in India.
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.
Panchavati Hills & Waterfalls
These beautiful hills surrounded by rocks fall in the outskirts of Rangat. Trekking is not advised on this small hill as a serene waterfall flows gently through the hills, making the rocks very slippery.
Yerrata Creek
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 displaying different species of mangroves found on these islands.
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 popular accommodations in Rangat. The latter is a newly introduced hotel that started operating in 2018. If you don’t expect excessive luxury or star category facilities, then both these hotels are quite good.
The Hawks Bill Nest is a resort of the Andaman & Nicobar Department of Tourism. Advance booking during the peak season is required to ensure your confirmed reservation. It would be great if you book everything through a local tour operator because the network there is very poor and you will not be able to make online bookings for this offbeat destination.
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, then the following are the best places for you:
Rangat Island is situated in the Middle Andaman. You should keep at least two days for visiting all the tourist attractions here.
Yes, you can visit Rangat as a day trip when you are on your way to North Andaman Islands.
Security in Rangat Island has been increased more than before as it has become one of the most loving tourist places all over the Andamans. There is no problem as such for female solo travellers in Rangat.
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 170 kilometers away from Port Blair and is easily accessible by everyone. If you are visiting the Andamans, 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 can sweep you off your feet.
To reach Rangat from Port Blair, you can hire a private taxi. You will not be required to look for a return option or hire any public transport because the cab driver will accompany your from Port Blair and will bring you back. He will be a local of the island and thus, he will be able to suggest the best places for sightseeing and for food as well.
Yes, you can easily get vegetarian food at various restaurants in Rangat. And for non-vegetarians, seafood is a must-try on the island.
A trip to Rangat will be quite light on your pocket. The island has all the basic facilities and services despite the fact that it is not that commercialised yet. Don’t expect lavish hotels and restaurants here. Therefore, everything is affordable in Rangat.
There are mainly three seasons in Rangat—summer, tropical winter, and monsoon. The island experiences heavy winds during the monsoon season and a tropical climate otherwise. Located in the Bay of Bengal, you can enjoy the best weather here from early November to mid-May.
There is only one ATM in Rangat. Card payments are usually not accepted there. Carrying enough cash is highly recommended when travelling to this island.