| From | To | Status |
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18-Oct |
21-Oct |
Closed |
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22-Oct |
31-Oct |
Operational |
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01-Nov |
04-Nov |
Closed |
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05-Nov |
14-Nov |
Operational |
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15-Nov |
18-Nov |
Closed |
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19-Nov |
28-Nov |
Operational |
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29-Nov |
02-Dec |
Closed |
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03-Dec |
12-Dec |
Operational |
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13-Dec |
16-Dec |
Closed |
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17-Dec |
26-Dec |
Operational |
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27-Dec |
30-Dec |
Closed |
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31-Dec |
09-Jan |
Operational |
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10-Jan |
13-Jan |
Closed |
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14-Jan |
23-Jan |
Operational |
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24-Jan |
27-Jan |
Closed |
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28-Jan |
06-Feb |
Operational |
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07-Feb |
10-Feb |
Closed |
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11-Feb |
20-Feb |
Operational |
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.
Banana Boat Ride
Banana Boat Ride
One of the most exciting water sports in Andamans that catches one’s attention is the Banana Boat, where a banana-shaped boat in high speed takes one to a distant place and then it is flipped! This is absolutely a fun ride to take with your family and your loved ones. Visitors are given a proper brief before boarding the banana ride. Working similarly like a speedboat, the boats have a banana-like shape and are tied to a speed boat for acceleration.
It lets you cruise through the waves and enjoy the speed of the water. Accompanying the central seating line are two flanks on each side to support the thighs. This unpowered tube is propelled by being attached to a jet ski or motorboat. Necessary precautions are undertaken for a safe ride by the travellers. You can expect a thrilling, adventurous, and memorable ride through the waves of the sea. The banana tube is securely tied with a boat to express the sudden splash and jump.
Tips
1. The price range of banana rides is within the range of 1000 to 2000 rupees per person.
2. Approximately 4 to 10 people can enjoy it on a single banana tube. While on a banana ride, people get drenched in water and can feel the intensity of the turquoise water.
3. The ride can have a time limit of 10 to 34 minutes.
4. A life jacket is compulsory for all the riders.
Overview
Rated among the popular water sports activities of the Andaman, the banana ride is best for the non-swimmers. Gone are the days when you need to speculate places for adventurous activities. Now you can straightaway head towards Andaman and Nicobar Islands for a blissful respite.
Where in Andamans
North Bay Island
North Bay Island is a fascinating place to explore the banana boat ride. Popularly known as a haven for water sport activities, North Bay Island is an apt place for the sports enthusiast. The speed of the waves on this island is neutral for visitors to enjoy the banana ride. You can reach North Bay Island on a boat boarded from the water sports complex. The banana ride in North Bay Island takes place under a 500-meter range.
Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex ( Port Blair)
Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex is the best place to enjoy a banana ride in Port Blair. The waves are a bit slow here and are appropriate for a banana ride. The clear waves allow visitors to gain momentum and enjoy the ride. It is a unique experience to feel the rush and thrill on the shorelines. You can click captivating pictures on this mesmerizing island.
Havelock Island
Elephant Beach in Havelock Island is a perfect site for water sports activity. This place is full of high waves and sudden jumps. The high waves make the whole experience memorable for the riders. The Elephant Beach can be reached by boat from the Getty complex.
A banana boat ride is an amazing water adventure activity that can be enjoyed with your friends and family. As many as six people can be accommodated on the boat at a time. The fun can be shared when you all go for this water sport together.
An inflatable boat, a banana boat comprises holders and inflated foot padding on the sides. Proper balance is required to sit on it during the activity.
The banana boat is connected to a speedboat with a rope carefully. You can ride on the waves when it is dragged along the water after gaining high momentum. You will experience water splashing and sudden jumps in the air when waves are created by the speedboat. Thus, you have to hang on tightly to the boat. Whenever the speedboat takes sharp turns, you will feel the jerk. This will flip the ride sideways and upside down. At that time, you have the option of either holding the banana boat tightly or diving into the ocean for extra adventure and thrill. This is an ideal activity to be enjoyed with your travel companions.
The best places for the banana boat rides in the Andaman Islands are mentioned below:
If you are in Port Blair, then North Bay Island is an ideal destination for trying different water sports. A banana boat ride is one of them. The island has the perfect push of water from the speed boat and the average size of the waves. During the ride, you can have a look at the nearby open sea in North Bay within 500 meters range. To reach North Bay Island, just board a boat from the jetty near the complex. This is no other way to reach the island.
The charges for a banana boat ride in the Andaman Islands are affordable. They start from Rs. 1,000.
Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex is the second-best place to go for an incredible banana boat ride. Located in Port Blair, the capital city of the Andamans, the splashes are less as the waves are a little slow here. The experience here is fun-filled and extremely adventurous. The complex is located nearby the Cellular Jail, which is the most popular tourist attraction in Port Blair. After you have visited the Cellular Jail, you can go for the ride at the water sports complex. Thus, you can spend your time and efforts if you pick Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex for a banana boat ride experience.
Elephant Beach in Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) is one of the best locations for a banana boat ride across the island. Havelock Island is the hub of incredible water sports and banana boat ride is one of them. The water at the beach is clear and the waves are big that give sudden jumps. The experience is unforgettable for sure for everyone. There will be a lot of jumps and turns along with sudden dives into the sea during the ride.
Before you for the banana boat ride, you will be getting a brief orientation by an instructor about the dos and don’ts at the shore. Everyone will be given life jackets as well along with the training. After that, just hop on the banana boat, which is connected to a speedboat with a strong rope. When the speedboat drags the banana boat to the deeper ocean and it starts taking sharp turns, the ride becomes even more enthralling.
A banana boat ride is usually for twenty minutes. The briefing time takes nearly ten minutes. So the total time is half an hour for the whole activity.
The timings for the ride at North Bay Island, Water Sports Complex, and Elephant Beach are from 9 AM to 5 PM. The time is the same at all places.
For a banana boat ride in the Andaman Islands, you need not be a swimmer. Non-swimmers can do it without any problem. Before going for it, you are given brief training by an experienced instructor in which you are given basic instructions. You need to listen and follow them carefully.
The Andaman Islands is a year-round destination. However, the best time to try banana boat ride is during the winter season, which is from November to May. The temperature during this time varies between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius. It is perfect for sightseeing and indulging in exciting water sports.
Anyone between the age of fifteen and sixty can go for a banana boat ride without any problem. The most important thing is that you should feel absolutely comfortable in the water.
There are a few categories of people who are not allowed to go for the banana boat ride in the Andamans. These are mentioned below:
A banana boat ride is an exceptionally popular water sport in the Andamans. A fun-filled thing to do with your travel companions, this ride is a perfect combo of speed and thrill. The best locations for banana boat rides in the Andaman Islands are mentioned below:
No, you are not required to know swimming for this adventurous ride. You will be given life jackets as well. So there is absolutely no question of drowning or any other risk.
The ride is of 30 minutes and costs around Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 2,000. On a single banana tube, four to ten people can together enjoy the ride.
The banana boat ride is an extremely safe and fun-filled water adventure activity in the Andaman Islands. Everyone is also given a briefing by the experts before you go for it so that everyone can enjoy the activity.
