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!
It lies at a distance of 210 kilometres by road and 50 nautical miles by ferry from the capital city, Port Blair. The journey roughly takes 6-7 hours. You can use the regular morning bus service, the most cost-effective option. Private buses and cabs also run this route for eight hours. Government ferries pass through Neil Island and Havelock Island reaching Rangat finally. You can also travel via helicopter to save time by hours.
You would come to find that the ideal months to visit are from October to March, in order to traverse the island basking in the tropical sun and to evade the troublesome monsoon showers.
Namely, the Cuthbert Bay Beach, famous for its golden sandy beaches, Amkunj Beach, characterised by rocky black sand and Lalaji Bay View, the one for all kinds of tourists are the remarkable beaches. Serenity-radiating Panchvati Hills and the guitar-shaped Guitar Island along with the Long Island, characterised by white sandy beaches and the Dhani Nallah Mangrove Nature Walkway, the largest of its kind in India are all worth your time.
The ideal stay would be for two days. You would have explored the breathtakingly beautiful natural waterfalls and several beaches perfect for sunbathing and water sports. It could also serve as a pit stop on your way to Mayabunder or Diglipur.
You would not be asked for a Restricted Area Permit (RAP) as an outsider, in accordance with the Indian Government's recent decision to promote island tourism. You are expected to maintain your distance from the Jarawa tribe, which you might encounter en route. Your best interests lie in avoiding food offerings, photography and any attempt at communication with them. If found guilty, you would be held accountable constitutionally.
You could visit the local hospital or traverse to nearby islands such as Mayabunder for better medical facilities. Travelling to Port Blair to seek treatment at the G.B. Pant Hospital is always an option. The capital city boasts of better medical services and strives to bring positive change in this area.
The cellular networks range from absent to poor and might disappoint the visitors looking forward to staying connected with the world via technology. The Internet connection does no better and adds up to these woes. Yet, if you expect good connectivity in these remote areas, then you would be none the wiser. Instead, you could use this rare opportunity to connect with yourself, go out there and explore all that lies in front of you.
Yes, the State Bank of India runs an ATM, which is the only one on the island. Very few hotels accept card payment like the vendors who prefer cash. It is reasonable to carry enough cash with you, which could prove life-saving in case of an emergency.
