Plan and rediscover exotic Andaman with incredible experiences all specially made for you.
Plan and rediscover exotic Andaman with incredible experiences all specially made for you. Diglipur (325 Kms., approx. 12 hrs by road from Port Blair) Situated in North Andaman Island, Diglipur provides a rare experience for eco friendly tourists. It is famous for its oranges, rice and marine life. Saddle Peak the highest point in the islands is nearby. Kalpong, the only river of Andaman flows here. The only Hydro-electric project of the islands is on this river. One can feel the innocent beauty of village life everywhere in Diglipur.North Andaman houses green tropical forests, world class beaches and “Turtle nesting in Andamans” sites Highest Peak of the islands – Saddle Peak, and rare attractions like the Mud Volcanoes (at Shyam Nagar, Pathi Level) and Swiflet Cave (at Pathi Level). Diglipur is the name of a Tehsil. It is the local administrative and economic centre of North Andaman. How to reach Diglipur: The entry into Diglipur is primarily from Port Blair. Diglipur Township is 325 km from Port Blair by Andaman Trunk Road and 100 nautical miles (185 km) by sea route. Tourists can directly sail to Diglipur by ship and alternatively can travel to Diglipur by road, crossing two creeks on the way connecting Baratang Island and Middle Andaman Island. Helicopter services are also available from Port Blair. Private Bus (Anand/Geetanjali etc.) and Government operated bus services (STS -State Transport Service) are available for Diglipur from Port Blair. The road journey of 330 km takes a total of around 11 hours! In 2002 a 0.5 km long bridge Austin Bridge was inaugurated connecting the creek between Mayabunder (end of Middle Andaman) and North Andaman Island which has reduced the traveling time (else it was 15 hours in past from Port Blair). In past when there was no bridge a 2 hour slow ferry operated between Mayabunder jetty and a small creek named Kalighat in North Andaman. Diglipur provides rare experience for eco-friendly tourists. The place is famous for its oranges, rice, forest wealth and marine life. Saddle Peak (732 Mtrs) is the highest point in the Andaman Islands. Saddle Peak is located on North Andaman Island in India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands. At 732 m, it is the highest point of the archipelago in the Bay of Bengal. It is surrounded by Saddle Peak National Park. It is the highest point of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Ross & Smith islands are actually two islands – Ross & Smith joined together by a sand bar to make a single group of islands. Ross & Smith Islands requires forest permit from the Forest Office at Diglipur. The permission costs Rs 50 for Indian tourists and Rs 500 for foreign tourists and can be obtained on all days (except Sunday) between 6am to 2pm. A fisherman’s boat (dinghi’ in hindi) or a speedboat can be hired and the ride would take around 25 mins from the Ariel Bay Jetty in Diglipur. What makes these islands truly beautiful and sets them apart from the rest of the islands is that these two islands are joined by a natural, sand bar. Water is crystal clear and gem green in color. Sun bathing in Ross & Smith Islands is a wonderful experience. During high tide, the sand bar disappears leaving a trail of water between the two islands and during low tide the sand bar appears again making the islands look majestic! There is a Marine Sanctuary on the island which makes it an ideal place for spotting beautiful coral reefs and colorful species from the underwater. The beach is surrounded by tropical forests and is a preferred place for trekking and trail hiking by many tourists. One can also opt for activities like Scuba Diving & Snorkeling. The clear blue waters add a touch of cleanliness to the whole experience. Ross & Smith islands are home to the Olive Ridley turtles which means, being the right place at the right time, one can even witness the turtle nesting! Andaman and Nicobar Islands are also home to thousands of turtles during their nesting period. During the winter months of Dec/Jan, turtle nesting takes place in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Turtle Nesting takes place at Kalipur beach and Ramanagar Beach at Diglipur also. There are facilities provided by Forest Department, for Turtle Nesting at Kalipur Beach. Ramnagar Beach is a shrine beautiful beach located at a distance of 70 kms from Mayabunder (take a diversion from Kalara Junction of ATR) and 35 kms from Diglipur. This beach is suitable for swimming. A nature trail for trekkers is an added attraction. This beach is well known for turtle nesting. Eco-friendly beach facilities like eco-huts, benches and seating arrangements have been provided. Pathi Level beach in Diglipur is a little isolated and far away from the main city. To reach the beach, you need to walk from Ramnagar beach or take a fiber boat from Kishorinagar. Located near Hathi Level i.e. at a distance of 20 kms from Diglipur is a chain of Mud volcanoes could be witnessed in the green jungle of Shyam Nagar at Diglipur. One has to trek for 15 minutes in the semi-evergreen forests to reach Mud volcano. At the initial point, bigger and dormant mud volcano can be sighted. On proceeding further for few minutes fresh emerging mud volcanos could be seen. Seating facilities along with information boards are provided for visitors. Alfred Caves lie in the Diglipur near Ramnagar beach. To reach Alfred caves reach Kalara Junction and go to Ramnagar. From here, you have to hire a guide or take help of a forest guard to guide you through the way to the caves. If you are planning a visit, start early in the morning so that you are back by evening. A trek through the primary jungle leads to Alfred caves-a cluster of amazing 41 caves. It is a den for swift lets and fruit eating bats. Best time to visit the caves is from October to March. The caves with a very narrow entrance open up into chain of small caves inside. The beach lies a few kilometers ahead of Kalipur beach and marks the foothill of Saddle Peak, the highest peak of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. To reach Lamiya Bay, take the road that goes to Kalipur beach from the jetty, and go ahead of the Kalipur beach. One can have a long and intense moment of solitude at the beach, while sitting on the rocks and hearing the waves crash against the rocks that produces a melodious sound and brings peace and calmness to the mind. Another popular spot for tourists staying at the nearby resorts is visiting the tiny Craggy Island located just a 20 minute swim away from Kalipur beach. One can have a great time simply sun bathing or snorkelling in its crystal clear waters. The reefs adjacent to the beach (about 200m north of Kalipur Beach) and particularly the reefs at Craggy Island are still lively, with plenty colourful fish and sea creatures. It is a wonderful sight of the rich underwater world for nature lovers. Please note that snorkelling here without an expert of proper equipment can be dangerous. One must also thoroughly know the tide timings before they plan a visit. Mayabunder, which is the only other shipping dock to have the permission to receive direct ships from the mainland of India, is located about 242 kilometers away from the capital and main harbor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Port Blair . This tehsil or county, is a part of the Andaman Archipelago, situated in the Northern Part of the Middle Andaman Island.The region is replete with several scenic views and naturally beautiful tourist spots, but is not as resplendent as the other Islands of the region, being a well-populated zone. Although, the place does have quite a few beautiful beaches that are worth visiting for several reasons. Located at a distance of around 20 minutes or 12 kilometers from the town of Mayabunder, is the Karmatang beach. This is one of the most famous beaches of the region and can serve as a great tourist spot, although the beach is not suitable for bathing. In spite of that there are quite a few reasons, why one should pay a visit to the Karmatang beach, especially if you intend to spend a relaxing and leisurely day at the Mayabunder town. Reasons to Visit the Karmatang Beach: Avis Island Beach is a small marooned beach, which is located in the uninhabited Avis Island, Mayabunder. The island is famous for its coconut plantation. A resort owner had taken the land on lease which later fell into some judiciary troubles. The administration has then started a coconut plantation on the island. A very small, beautiful and lovely Avis Island is about 20 min rides away by from Mayabunder jetty.Avis Island has a small but creamy beach, water is very calm and clear so that one can easily see fish frolicking in the water.The beach of the Avis Island is not ideal for swimming as there are some small stones and pebbles in the water.This place is uninhabited, so going there early in the morning is always a good idea. Also, the island is worth spending for few hours. Note: Avis Island is closed for tourist, if you want to visit this island then you have to take permission from the local authorities.Northern Andaman
Diglipur:
Saddle Peak (Highest Peak Point732mtrs)
Ross and Smith Island
Kalipur Beach (Turtle Nesting)
Ram Nagar Beach (Turtle Nesting)
Pathi level beach
Pathi level Mud Volcano (Shyam Nagar)
Alfred Cave (41 caves)
Lamiya Bay
Craggy Island (Marine Life)
Mayabunder:
Karmatang Beach (Sunrise Point)
Avis Island