NORTH AND MIDDLE ANDAMAN – Andaman Travel Guide Part 5
NORTH AND MIDDLE ANDAMAN
Andaman Travel Guide Part 5
DIGLIPUR
Diglipur Island is located in the North Andaman Islands at a distance of about 320 Kilometers from Port Blair. Diglipur has a total geographical area of about 1400 square kilometers and is considered the biggest inhabited town of the Andaman Islands. Just like the other islands in Andamans, people living here are also seen living together like a small India, speaking various Indian languages and belong to varied religious and cultural beliefs. The majority of the population speaks Bengali, Hindi, and Tamil having said that numerous other people are speaking Telugu and Malayalam too. They practice agriculture as their main occupation. Diglipur has rice, coconut, areca nut and vegetables grown there and they also do sell out their goods to the capital town. Other supplies are brought in to Diglipur from the capital town of Port Blair, hence here goods and services might happen to be expensive than Port Blair.
Diglipur houses some of the most exotic and unique sights which will for sure make it a treat to your experiences when you visit them. The platter of unique sights in Diglipur has in stock the most distinctive twin-islands- The Ross n Smith Islands, the Saddle peak-highest peak of the entire Andaman archipelago, The Kalpong river- a rare case of the only flowing river in an Island surrounded by sea. The only hydro-electric project on the island is on this river. Apart from all these solitary treats that Diglipur feeds you with, there are multiple Turtle nesting sites here. By the time you complete going through this page, you will be familiar with all the must-visits of this immaculate destination.
Though Diglipur is still growing in tourism infrastructures and facilities, but slowly and steadily it is earning popularity among travelers as an offbeat destination. People planning to do something out of the box and something away from the regular itineraries, always have in mind of visiting the North Andamans during their visit. This has brought a buzz of touching Diglipur and people have started asking for Diglipur and they try to make their duration elastic to group in this place in their itinerary. We would love to make you aware of how you may plan Diglipur in your itinerary.
What to Expect while visiting Diglipur?
If you are out of those folks who are looking for a peaceful, soulful and unique experience from your few days of the vacation, and if you wish to stay away from the monotonous hurried life of the city and commercial activities, you can expect all this in Diglipur. As mentioned already, Diglipur is a destination that has attracted many travel and adventure lovers from across the world- who has visited and experienced its serenity and hence made it popular under the tag of An offbeat destination or an out of the box experience, make sure that you have the right information and a firm plan before you reach Diglipur. You can consider it to be a civilized and nicely maintained village.
Diglipur has proper blacktop roads and the Andaman Trunk Road connects Diglipur to the other islands. It is not on an easy connection with other islands and the connection to the main town is 12 hours away. The telecom connections are even not very strong-not to mention the internet here as the broadband services can provide internet that too at a speed of 2G or even lower. The telecom service providers here are- Airtel and BSNL only. Hence the suggestion from our island experts say that- a pre-planned and well-designed itinerary will help you stay in track and get the best out of the time you have invested in your trip. A detailed Diglipur tour package can be referred for an itinerary understanding of Diglipur.
By investing your time in visiting Diglipur, you come much closer to nature. The flora & fauna, the beaches, the caves and almost everything you can do here will keep you soaked into nature. The places you stay in will all be eco stays with the necessary amenities and interiors; the power supply is drawn from the hydro-electricity project on Kalpong River. It is satisfactory; however, there are certain power cuts experienced in the islands for a short duration and you cannot expect a proper power back up during the power cuts. Food is not an issue until you keep your food ordered in advance.
Accommodation options at Diglipur
There is just one private accommodation namely Pristine Beach Resort. This property has been in the industry for about 10 years now. It is located near the Kalipur Beach famous for turtle nesting and is preferred by travelers and has decent service feedbacks from their in house guests. They have all the necessary amenities but do not expect the luxury of star category amenities while you plan to stay in them as it is a remote location having an eco-tourism theme.
There is a resort of the Andaman & Nicobar Department of Tourism- The Turtle Resort. This resort is located near to the Pristine Beach Resort. Pre-booking is mandatory in all of these properties during the high seasons to ensure you have a reservation and don’t get stuck with your plans. There are some departmental guest houses/ lodges also which have to be checked to be availed on the spot only.
How many days will it take to cover all of Diglipur?
Technically, 4 -5 days are required to cover Diglipur where you cover all the points. However, in 3 complete days, you will be able to cover the major points. Specifically, Ross and Smith Island which is the major attraction in Diglipur. Each way travel towards Diglipur from Port Blair is of an entire day. So assume 2 days will go only into traveling. The remaining days that you stay in Diglipur can be used to explore its various attraction points.
PLACES TO VISIT NEARBY DIGLIPUR
ROSS AND SMITH ISLAND
Ross and Smith Islands is one of the most sought after destinations for travelers planning to visit Diglipur. You can relate to this fact that the reason people want to cover Diglipur in their plan only because they want to discover the mystery of this unique place and experience how someone can walk from one island to the other where there is the open sea in between. It looks so scenic in the already published pictures and has gained so much popularity among the travelers, that you might have started reading out our mind by now that what we have in stock to tell you about this place. The pictures showing the two islands Ross & Smith by a sand bar surrounded by crystal clear open sea waters is the aerial view of the islands. When you land at the place, during the low tides you get to see a sand bar connecting the two islands on which you can walk to reach from one island to the other. When the tide rises, the sand bar is covered by the sea and you see two completely different islands during the high tides that make this amazing place look exalted.
The story doesn’t end in seeing this sand bar and walking from one island to the other. There are beautiful eco huts lined up by the beachside having greenery spread out all over makes it very soothing and a mere sight of it will make you feel refreshed and erase away all your stress. You can spend around 2-3 hours in this place without getting bored if you are exploring it the right way.
Having crystal clear waters, one may plan to snorkel here. However, there are no service providers for the same here because to keep the island pristine, commercial activities have not been introduced. You can carry snorkel gears and masks of your own to explore what is hidden underneath these beautiful gem green waters. A Marine Sanctuary is there on this island where you can spot beautiful coral reefs and various colorful species from the underwater.
Closed on: TUESDAYS
STAY AFTER VISITING ROSS AND SMITH ISLAND
To maintain the solace of this island and keep it open for nature, there has been zero permission to stay back into this island. However, you can complete visiting this place and then return to Diglipur for an overnight stay.
KALIPUR BEACH
Kalipur beach at Diglipur is the most visited beach for Turtle nesting in the entire Andaman Islands. The beach is pretty famous actually and the turtles do come to lay eggs here. The beach is preserved and security guards are present all day and night for the safety of the turtles. You will need a guide at night to actually spot any turtle laying eggs here. For a newbie it’s practically difficult to spot a turtle at night and if you are smart enough to search via a light source then forget it as the turtles won’t turn up fearing danger.
The entire beach of North & Middle Andamans becomes home to thousands of turtles from various species during their nesting seasons. Kalipur Beach is one of the most famous Turtle nesting grounds preferred by maximum species of turtles to swim in and nest themselves here for their egg-laying and hatching. The forest department has specific arrangements for the safety of the turtles and their eggs. They help the eggs hatch in healthy conditions and then the baby turtles are helped swim away in the seas after they are ready to do so.
KALIPUR BEACH TURTLE NESTING
We recommend travelers to stay at Pristine Beach Resort or Turtle resort at Diglipur to experience turtle nesting at Kalipur beach. These two properties are a few meters away from the beach, possibly the best location to stay to experience turtle nesting in the Andaman Islands.
RAMNAGAR BEACH
Ramnagar Beach is another beautiful beach located 35 Kilometers away from Diglipur. This beach allows swimming which can keep you engaged for a good amount of time. Just like other places in Diglipur, you can find a tropical forest surrounding this beach where you can trek through the trails to keep yourself amidst a perfect combination of blues and greens along with the sandy beach nearby.
There are eco-friendly beach amenities laid out on the beach like log sofas, Eco huts, and seating to make it comfortable to spend some good amount of time here. Ramnagar Beach is considered as a Turtle nesting ground during the winter season from December to March.
TURTLE NESTING IN RAMANAGAR BEACH
IMPORTANT FACTS TO NOTE: Many people who travel to Diglipur do not visit Ramnagar beach as you will have to extend a day at Diglipur to just cover this part of Diglipur from the place you will be staying. A similar experience can be experienced at Kalipur beach where most hotels such as Pristine Beach Resort and Turtle Resort are located. Though Ramnagar offers a different experience than Kalipur beach, however, if you are short of time then you can visit only Kalipur beach along with Ross and Smith Island at Diglipur. Ramanagar beach can be reached via roadway only. No boat currently travels to this beach.
RANGAT
Rangat Island is located in the Middle and South Andaman Islands. The approximate distance from Port Blair by road is 180 Kms and it is 50 nautical miles (around 90kms) by sea. Rangat is having an area of about 1070 sq. km. Even though the population of this island comprises of people belonging to various linguistic groups, the residents of this island can be majorly noticed speaking Bengali or Tamil. The people in Rangat Island are mainly engaged in Fishing and cultivation as their primary occupation.
Rangat houses many picturesque and flawless beaches, several turtle nesting grounds, evergreen waterfalls and a very unique presentation of the diverse Mangrove ecosystem along with a nature walk. Rangat Island is one such underrated destination that deserves to be explored more than just a transit point while visiting Long Island, Diglipur or Mayabunder. So through this article, we want to make Rangat a familiar place for people coming down to Andamans.
WHAT TO EXPECT WHILE VISITING RANGAT?
Rangat has got a lot more to offer than often expected. Rangat is a true example of an eco-tourism initiative in Andamans. Popularly it acts as the transit point while one travels to North Andamans from Port Blair. Also, many major islands are connected through sea and road from Rangat hence it attracts many travelers while crossing the path. Since Rangat falls on the way which you will cross when you travel to Mayabunder, Long Island or Diglipur from Port Blair by road, so you can decide to halt back for a night here to explore the major places nearby such as the AMBKUNJ BEACH, DHANINALLAH BEACH, An ECO-FRIENDLY MANGROVE WALKWAY & lot more.
For your stays, Rangat Island has 2-3 standard stay options. Don’t expect any star category service or luxury from these properties as it’s a rural part of Andamans and as mentioned, it is still developing as a tourist attraction. So, not a lot of arrangements have been made in terms of the tourist infrastructures. But still, it has enough amenities to serve for a short stay while being in a hygienic and decent place.
ACCOMMODATION AT RANGAT ISLAND
There are two private accommodations namely Hotel Avis and Hotel Ross and Smith. Hotel Ross n Smith is the newly introduced property which came in operations in the year 2018. It is mostly chosen by travelers and has decent service feedbacks from their in house guests. Both are good options, but not to expect the luxury or star category amenities while you plan to stay in them.
There is a resort of the Andaman & Nicobar Department of Tourism- The Hawks Bill Nest. Pre-booking is mandatory in all of these properties during the high seasons to ensure you have a reservation and don’t get stuck with your plans. There are some departmental guest houses/ lodges also which have to be checked to be availed on the spot only.
FOOD OPTIONS IN RANGAT ISLAND
There are small eateries and local restaurants more of a Dhaba and canteen concepts serving good food at reasonable pricing. Seafood is the specialty at this place. One can also get vegetarian food here in these eateries. But pure vegetarian restaurant sort of arrangements are not yet discovered. The accommodation options mentioned in this article also serve food in their respective restaurants but for all that, they have a limited menu option.
Frequently Asked Questions when traveling to Rangat Island
- How many days are required to visit Rangat?
Rangat Island is situated in the Middle Andaman; it requires 2 days to completely visit all attractions at Rangat.
- What are the major places to see at Rangat?
At Rangat you can visit DHANNI NALAH MANGROVE WALKWAY, MORRICE DERA BEACH, YERRATA JETTY, AMKUNJ BEACH, RAMAN BAGICHA and CURTBERT BAY.
- Can Rangat be visited as a Day trip?
Yes, on your way to North Andaman Islands you can visit Rangat as a day trip.
- How to reach Rangat?
Rangat should be visited from Port Blair. Bus or Private Cabs are the most preferred option to reach Rangat. Government ferries are also available but not regularly.
MAYABUNDER
Mayabunder is located 242 kilometers by road and 136 kilometers by ferry from Port Blair. This place is 72 kilometers north of Rangat and 79 kilometers south from Diglipur, which makes it fall between Diglipur and Rangat. Mayabunder consists of several villages scarcely populated. Bengali, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu are the major languages spoken here. The families of Burmese Karen tribes who were brought in as cheap laborers by the British people are part of the population of Mayabunder.
Being mostly preferred by tourists who are looking for offbeat experiences, this place is still growing as a tourist destination –having limited infrastructures and less frequent connectivity with the capital town of Port Blair. Just like Rangat, Less information about the place and lesser-known ways of its accessibility has left this town less explored. Still, Rangat is touched by tourists going to Diglipur from Port Blair but Mayabunder falls to the other side of Rangat, so it is visited only when there’s a plan to do so.
Mayabunder is home to few beautiful and scenic beaches, few seasonal turtle nesting grounds, mangrove-lined tidal creeks, and the 2nd biggest harbor after Port Blair- where the mainland passenger ships take halt. This place is also the starting point to visit some of the Virgin Islands nearby like AVIS ISLAND, COCO ISLAND & INTERVIEW ISLAND.
You can also visit KARMATANG BEACH, GERMAN JETTY. This is a very remote destination just like any other island in the North & Middle Andamans that we have discussed before. So you cannot expect any luxury conduct of stay.
All that you can expect here is to explore the nature and a trip to Mayabunder should mean a trip to the outskirts of Andaman, far from the busy and crowded life and too near to the organic natural life which is not technological but soothing and pleasant. With least or no connectivity to the telecom services and internet, you may feel detached to the contemporary world but as soon as you start exploring the beaches and other sights nearby –all you would do is relax in the beaches, click the moments and thank yourself for planning to stop here before moving further.
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS IN MAYABUNDER
As stated earlier, since Mayabunder has minimum tourist flow and is still growing to gain popularity, there are limited accommodation options available there with limited facilities. There is one Government guest house known as the APWD Guesthouse, one popular privately-owned hotel namely- Sea and Sand having the basic facilities like attached bath, provides sea view from the property and there are some lodges nearby the Bus-stop area with basic facilities only.
Services like Television in rooms, Room service, wi-fi connection, etc. cannot be expected while planning to stay in Mayabunder. Even though the hotels are very basic, and have minimum amenities, they are hygienic and decent enough for families to stay. In case you have a requirement of night stay at Mayabunder, make sure you have pre-booked your accommodation to avoid any on-spot issues in searching and getting a good place to stay in.
FOOD OPTIONS IN MAYABUNDER ISLAND
There are small food stalls, Dhaba(s), or canteens run by the local folks of Mayabunder. Most of the eateries are nearby the tourist attractions or near the main market area.
The Sean Sand property has a small restaurant with a limited menu option yet serving good food. For dining of groups of 10 or more people, it is required that you order the entire day’s food during the 1st meal of the day so that they have your food ready to serve by the time you come next, to dine at their place.
Planning a visit to Mayabunder?
To visit Mayabunder, few hours are enough. Since there are convoy restrictions between Rangat-Baratang and Baratang-Port Blair (these are the paths on the way that you cross to reach or go back from Mayabunder), and visiting hours restrictions at the sightseeing points, so careful time management and pre-planning is mandatory for making this trip happen. If you are thinking of paying a visit to Mayabunder, there are few ways you can do so.
While going towards Diglipur –Stay a night in Rangat, the next day morning go to Mayabunder and visit Rampur Beach, Karmatang Beach, and German Jetty. Later in the evening, proceed to Diglipur and stay overnight.
While coming back to Port Blair (From Diglipur)– Proceed towards Mayabunder, visit Dhaninallah Beach (falls in Rangat), upon reaching Mayabunder, visit Karmatang Beach, Rampur Beach, German Jetty and stay overnight. The next morning, return to Port Blair.
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