Diglipur
– Places to visit in Diglipur –
Diglipur Island is located in the North Andaman Islands at a distance of about 320 Kilometers from Port Blair. It has a total geographical area of about 1400 square kilometers and is considered the biggest inhabited town of the Andaman Islands. Just like other islands in the Andaman Islands, people living here are also seen living together like a small India, speaking various Indian languages and belong to varied religious and cultural beliefs 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 island- 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
Kalipur Beach in Diglipur is a beautiful beach with an endless number of turtles. These include several rare ones that come here to nest, apart from this, Kalipur beach is also a favourite picnic spot among locals and tourists. You can even go snorkelling or witness what the beach is famous for – turtle nesting. The best time to visit the beach is from October to March as this is also the turtle nesting season.
Turtle Nesting: A large number of turtles including Olive Ridley, Green turtles, Hawksbill and Leather Black lay their eggs in Kalipur Beach and can be seen nesting during the winter season. These magical and fascinating creatures are a sight to watch, and you will be able to spot a plethora of them crawling their way in the soft sand. Turtle nesting is a must witness thing in Kalipur Beach that you should not miss.
Ross & Smith Islands are joined by a sandbar that is visible during low tide but gets submerged during high tide. The sand bar in the form of a crescent is the main attraction of the place. Water is crystal clear and gem green in color. Smith Island is best suited for island camping and is perfect for enjoying village life. Moreover, tourists can also find accommodation facilities on this island. 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. Ross & Smith Islands are home to the Olive Ridley turtles, one can even witness the turtle nesting in the season. Sunbathing in Ross & Smith Islands is a wonderful experience.
It ensures that one side of the sand bar, where the boats approach, has absolutely calm waters thus making it ideal for swimming for children and even for adults who are not too sure about venturing into the sea. The depths are also shallow to a large distance away from the sand bar so kids can really enjoy themselves completely. For the more adventurous kinds, the other side of the sandbar has waves that are not too fierce and easily manageable. Ross Island is accessible by the sand bar, a short ten-minute walk. The beach along Ross is also rocky and unfit for swimming.
Ross & Smith Islands requires forest permit from the Forest Office at Diglipur. The twin islands can be reached from Diglipur. No public boats are available. A fisherman’s boat (dongie) or a speed boat can be hired and the ride would take around 25 minutes from the Ariel Bay Jetty in Diglipur. Even while traveling directly from Port Blair, one will have to first halt at Diglipur and then hire a dongie to the islands.
The Saddle Peak is the highest peak of Andamans, as we have unknowingly mentioned this numerous times while you scrolled down till here. So let’s know something apart from this fact – A trek on the 732 meters high Saddle peak, leads to the highest point in Andaman and Nicobar Islands which offers an aerial view of Andaman Islands. The tropical forest surrounding this area falls under the Diglipur / Saddle Peak National Park. This park has various species of flora and fauna and gives trekking experience to the visitors who can climb the natural steps created by roots of the old trees. To visit this place, you need to have permission from the forest department and pay a certain permit charge. When you plan with us, getting all these permits and making all the arrangements can be left on to our Island experts.
Wondering how is the trekking experience like? We did it all and we can say it took a lot of courage and energy for us to conquer the highest peak of Andamans. Why don’t you give it a try and see how it feels after completing the trek when you are up above the peak so high, see the magnificent view of Andamans and the surrounding. The trek to the peak is difficult and you need to be both mentally and physically prepared to conquer the Saddle Peak.
Alfred Caves – This mysterious complex of 41 limestone caves is nature’s gift to Diglipur. Located near the Ramnagar beach, these caves are reputed to undergo a chemical reaction and change their shape during the monsoons. Do wear comfortable shoes and carry water, as it takes a trek through a mangrove forest before you reach the Alfred Caves
To reach Alfred caves reach Kalara Junction and go to Ramnagar. Or else, board a bus from Diglipur bus stand and get down at 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 swiftlets 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.
Lamiya Bay – 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.