North & Middle Andaman
Diglipur Island is a picturesque and unspoiled gem located in the northernmost region of the Andaman Islands. It boasts of a serene environment, lush green forests, white sand beaches, and crystal-clear waters, and is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. Diglipur Island is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and is known for its adventure sports and eco-tourism opportunities.
The island is surrounded by the beautiful Saddle Peak National Park, which is home to a vast array of wildlife including the endangered Andaman wild pig, Andaman hill myna, and the Andaman imperial pigeon. The park is also home to the highest peak in the Andaman Islands, Saddle Peak, which stands tall at 732 meters above sea level. Visitors can take a trek up to the peak and enjoy the breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
Diglipur Island is also famous for its stunning beaches such as the Ross and Smith Island beach, which is actually two separate islands connected by a thin strip of sand. The beach is a great spot for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Other popular beaches include Kalipur Beach, Ram Nagar Beach, and Pathi Level Beach.
One of the unique attractions of Diglipur Island is the turtle nesting site at Kalipur Beach, where visitors can witness the nesting and hatching of sea turtles. The island is also known for its eco-tourism opportunities, including mangrove forest tours, elephant safaris, and canoeing in the streams and rivers.
The island has several accommodation options including eco-friendly cottages, beach resorts, and forest guesthouses. The best time to visit Diglipur Island is between October and May when the weather is pleasant and conducive for outdoor activities.
How to reach Diglipur Island
Diglipur Island is a picturesque island located in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, famous for its serene beaches and rich marine life. If you're planning to visit this beautiful destination, you may be wondering about the best way to get there. Here's a guide on how to reach Diglipur Island in Andaman.
Firstly, it's important to know that Diglipur Island is located in the northernmost part of the Andaman Islands. To reach there, you can take a flight from Chennai, Kolkata, or Delhi to Port Blair, which is the capital city of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. From there, you can take a ferry to reach Diglipur Island. You can take a cab from Port Blair to Diglipur takes around 10-12 hours, and the journey is a beautiful one, passing through some of the most breathtaking islands in the archipelago.
Places to Visit in North & Middle Andaman
Ross & Smith Island
In reality, Ross and Smith's islands are two islands that are connected by a sand bar to form one group of islands. The Forest Service at Diglipur must provide a forest permit for Ross & Smith Islands. The fee for the permit is Rs 50 for Indian visitors and Rs 500 for foreign visitors, and it may be acquired every day (except Sunday) from 6 am to 2 pm. From the Ariel Bay Jetty in Diglipur, a fisherman's boat, or a speed boat, can be rented for the approximately 25-minute trip.
The fact that these two islands are connected by a natural sand bar makes them particularly lovely and distinguishes them from the other islands. The water is a brilliant shade of green. Ross and Smith Islands offer fantastic opportunities for sunbathing. When the tide is low, the sand bar reappears, giving the islands a majestic appearance while the tide is high, leaving a trail of water between the two islands. The island has a Marine Sanctuary, which makes it a great location for observing stunning coral reefs and vibrant aquatic animals. Many tourists love to walk and go trail hiking at the beach because it is surrounded by tropical vegetation. Scuba diving and snorkeling are further options. The encounter is made cleaner by the water's brilliant blue clarity. The Olive Ridley turtles call Ross & Smith Islands home, so if you're lucky enough to be there at the proper time, you might even see the turtles laying their eggs!
Ambkunj Beach
At a distance of 8 kilometers from Rangat, the Nimbutala settlement is where you'll find the Amkunj beach. The beach is just as picturesque and gorgeous as any other beach in the Andaman. The coastline has many eco-friendly sit-outs that resemble sofas, some eco huts for shade, and little round tables set up, making it an excellent location to relax on a warm day. In order to get a lot of vitamin D and to feel more at ease, one might choose to swim here and soak up the warm sun.
Morrice Dera Beach
A highly unique attraction is Morrice Dera Beach near Rangat, Middle Andaman Islands. In Morrice Dera, the twin rock stands out as an unusual yet stunning rock formation. A striking Horizon View Point is accessible via the boardwalk that runs between these rocks. This beach is perfect for lounging on. Little, environmentally friendly sit-outs with views of the ocean are scattered along the beach, making it the perfect place to unwind and do nothing but observe nature.
There isn't a place to stay at the Moricedera beach. It is only suitable for day trips. Since there won't be any there, it is advised to bring some snacks and drink with you. This area has a dependable freshwater stream that can serve as your very own outdoor swimming pool.
Dhaninallah Walkway
The Dhaninallah natural walkway is a 713-meter-long wooden boardwalk that winds through mangrove creeks before leading out to the incredibly beautiful Dhaninallah Beach. The Dhaninallah beach is well known for being a sea turtle-laying pond. During December through February, when they are on their nesting grounds, the turtles are primarily visible. The longest walkway of its sort in India is this one. Visitors can enjoy a special walking experience on this walkway. One may see the many mangrove ecosystems all at once, stopping in the middle to sit and unwind while taking in the scenery. The most common turtle species at the Dhaninallah beach is the Olive Ridley, which is named after a small eco-hut on this path.
The Dhaninallah beach features swimming and sunbathing in addition to a nature trail and turtle nesting. On this beach, there are environmentally friendly sit-outs, restrooms, and changing rooms.
Lamiya Bay Beach
The foothill of the tallest Saddle Mountain is marked by Lamiya Bay Beach. This beach is really beautiful, and even though it is only a small portion of a much larger island, being there will make you feel as though you are alone on a remote island. The hike to Saddle Peak starts from Lamiya Bay, which is a few kilometers ahead of Kalipur Beach and inside the national park.
We followed the same path we had used to get to Kalipur Beach to get to Lamiya Bay Beach and then continued on for an additional 30 minutes to get to the trailhead for the Saddle Peak hike. You can take a stroll from here to Lamiya Bay Beach in Diglipur. Before entering the property, entry permits must be obtained.
Saddle Peak
In the Diglipur district of India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands is where you'll find Saddle Peak, National Park. You would like to explore this park, which was constructed in 1979 and is adorned with lovely foliage, a tropical forest, lush greenery, mountain peaks, a wealth of species, and much more. Here, you can experience nature in its most unadulterated state and get to know a variety of unusual, fascinating animals and birds.
Every day of the week, the national park is open from 4 am to 5 pm. The entrance cost to the park is very low Rs. 25 for adults, Rs. 10 for kids, and Rs. 50 for foreigners, Rs. 5 for Indian students, and Rs. 10 for visitors from outside India. Moreover, you must shell out Rs. 25 for the video camera and Rs. 10 for the still camera.
Because of its location, the national park experiences a mild to pleasant climate all year long, making it suitable for travel at any time of the year. But, it would be a terrific idea to tour the park in the winter, ideally from October to March. Every day of the week, the park is open from 4 am to 5 pm according to its official hours.