What to Do and See in Diglipur

#1 Climb Saddle Peak

At 732metres, Saddle Peak is the highest point of the archipelago in the Bay of Bengal. The surroundings are a bio-diverse natural paradise as the thick jungle offers a home to over 13 indigenous bird species, 36 indigenous species of insects, and 6 species of indigenous trees. Due to the richness of the forest territory, it is now made into a National Park which offers lovey aerial views of the nearby islands for those, who do manage the tough climb. The climb is steep and 8kms long. On a sunny day, it could be a challenge for some of the most experienced trekkers too! Kalpong, the only river of Andamans flows through the forest and offers a refreshing freshwater stream where water is still drinkable.

How to get there:  A permit has to be obtained by the Forest Department office at the trailhead. It costs Rs 25 for Indians and Rs 250 for foreign tourists (as of December 2019) and you can buy it from 6 am to 2 pm. leave early and return before sunset.

#2 Swim at Ross and Smith

The islands of Ross and Smith are a sight to behold.
These majestic twin islands are connected by a thin fifty-meter-long sand bar. This silky white sand bar descends inside the sea at times of high tide and surfaces up again during low tide. The warm waters are crystal clear and the untamed virgin beaches are one of the most picture-perfect ones you will see on the islands.

The best part is that the beach is seldom crowded and most of the time you can cherish the whole sight by yourself. Smith Island has the most facilities; spacious bamboo huts with plenty of shade, changing rooms and toilets can be found. Ross island is covered with dense forests and can be visited by crossing the sand bar, not many ventures out there.

How to get there:
To visit these serene islands one has to go on a fiber boat. The process goes like this:

• Reach Aerial bay jetty and first obtain permission from the Forest Office as Ross Island is a Marine Sanctuary and a protected area.
• Buy a ticket for a boat. A 6 seater boat costs about 5000/INR and stays there for 4 hours between 7 am and 4 pm.
• You can rent a private boat or wait for more travelers to come and share. This could take a while as Diglipur doesn’t see a lot of tourists.
• The boat ride takes about half an hour and it is quite enjoyable admiring the pristine sands from afar.

#3 Watch Turtle Nesting/hatching at Kalipur Beach

If you visit Diglipur between December and April, chances are that you will be able to spot turtles nesting and hatching. Kalipur is one of the few beaches in the world, where four species of sea turtles (Olive Ridley, Leather Back, Hawksbill, and Green Turtles) come to nest their eggs.

For this purpose, the government has built a hatchery there and if lucky you can witness both turtles laying their eggs (late at night) or baby turtles being set free into the sea (early morning).

The beach has volcanic grey-colored sand and crystal clear water. This makes it perfect for swimming and snorkeling. Unfortunately, there are sand flies so sunbathing is not advisable. During low tide, the beach looks sullen with dead corals breaking the surface and some mangrove trees embracing the shore.

How to get there:
Kalipur village is situated about 8 km from the aerial bay jetty and 15kms from the Diglipur town. you can easily find an auto-rickshaw (tuk-tuk) or a taxi. Buses ply every 30 minutes.

#4 Trek to See Active Mud volcanoes

The Mud volcanoes in Diglipur are natural wonders hidden amidst dense forest cover. These, like their siblings in Baratang, are small muddy craters created by natural gases emitted by decaying organic matter underground which slowly pushes the mud upwards. It is not a spectacular sight, as most of the time there is just a pile of dried mud and small bubbling puddles. However one can wander around 41 active muddy craters, enjoying the surrounding nature and wildlife. The best time to visit it is early in the morning as the temperature is lower and the weather less humid.

How to get there:
It is situated about 40kms from the Diglipur town, near Shyam Nagar village. To reach this unusual attraction, one has to follow the small trail into the jungle from the parking lot. No special permits are requested for visiting and there is no entrance. Shared Jeeps, busses, and private taxis are options for travel.

#5 Relax at Lamia Bay Beach

At the foot of the saddle peak trekking path and about 2kms from Kalipur beach lies Lamia Bay AKA pebble beach. This is a great place for local fishing and also has a few turtle hatcheries. Not many tourists know about this beach.

How to get there:
Buses go here every half an hour from the Diglipur town. Private Taxi and Rickshaws are also easily available on the way to the beach (not back).

#6 Restricted Places With Permit

There are 3 more places that are often mentioned when one talks of activities in Diglipur. They are the Kalpong Hydroelectric Power Plant, Craggy island, and Alfred Caves. These require a special permit for entry and are not generally open for tourism (As of March 2020). Do not venture out here without proper permission.