Latest Information on Travelling to Andaman Islands?
  • 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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Introducing Chatham Saw Mill Port Blair

Introducing Chatham Saw Mill Port Blair
Date : 29 Aug 2024

Enormous store rooms with wooden planks piled up on one side and a massive workshop with century-old machines on the other, that's Andaman and Nicobar archipelago's Chatham Saw Mill, the oldest and also one among the most important in Asia. Situated 3 kilometers north of Port Blair, the mill has got its name from the entire island occupying it. The massive wooden front gate at the doorway proudly announces its contribution to the history of the island. The mill was primarily built in 1883 during British colonial rule to meet the need of timber for construction works within the island. The British also used the sawmill to convert vast quantities of wood for catering to the requirements back in their own country.

Getting There

The Chatham sawmill is within the Chatham Islands, which is at a distance of 11 kilometers from Port Blair. The best way to reach the mill is by hiring a private cab or an auto-rickshaw for your convenience. The sawmill and therefore the forest museum is open on all days except on Sundays and public holidays.

Our Package


Be There do that

In 1942, during the planet War II, British heavily bombed Andaman island to take control back from Japanese occupation which destroyed multiple parts of the mill. A half hemispherical shaped bomb pit by this bombing remains there. A canopy walk is formed over the bomb pit for the tourists to take a closer look. As one nears the mill, one can see large wooden logs piled across the region. The mill also features a museum that exhibits wooden crafts made by skilful artisans. There are displays of some flora and fauna inside the museum too. While visiting here, tourists can witness the varied manufacturing processes that want to convert massive logs into small and complex chunks of wood. The Department of Environment & Forests established a contemporary Museum in September 2006 within the Mill Complex. The museum exhibits beautiful photographs of historical importance also as about the overall working of the Department of Environment & Forests.

While You're There

  • Note that the visiting hours are from 8.30 AM to 2.30 PM.
  • Remember to purchase an entrance ticket to enter the sawmill.
  • Know that the Entry Fee for the mill is Rs. 10 per Person & Rs. 50 for a guided excursion.
  • Look right outside the main workshop in Chatham where stands a massive storeroom with old metal tracks to carry the logs and wooden planks. This storeroom was built by 200 Indian freedom fighters who were exiled by the then British government.
  • Do not litter the place; eliminate waste at a correct position.

Closing Statement

The Chatham Sawmill is of great historical significance because it has witnessed tons of ancient events and maybe a great place for people to love history. If you're a history buff, then you want to pay a visit to the Chatham mill. Whether you're an individual who loves history or not, this mill is worth a visit because it isn't just a traditional destination, it's something different and unique.

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