Diglipur Island is the largest island in the Andaman and is located in the North. It is connected to Port Blair by the Great Andaman Trunk Road. The Kalpong River, the only river in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, intersects Diglipur.
Kalipur is a village located 16 Km away from Diglipur. Despite so many interesting activities, Diglipur and Kalipur remain a hidden gem for so many outsiders. It is one of our personal favorites and is an underrated destination.
This blog is a complete guide about Diglipur and Kalipur highlighting all the activities to do and places to visit in addition to several vital information.
Kalipur and Diglipur Travel Guide
Table of Contents
How to Reach?
From Port Blair
By Ferry
The best and most recommended option is the overnight ferry between Port Blair and Diglipur. The tickets and schedule of the ferries are available online. Depending on the company of the ferry that you choose, the facilities vastly differ. Nalandha and Sindhu are highly recommended while Bharat Seema has basic amenities. Refer to this transportation guide for more information on ferries.
The frequency of ferries depends on the weather conditions. It varies from one ferry a month to two ferries per week. Make sure to plan ahead if you’re traveling by ferry. From Arial Bay Jetty at Diglipur, buses are available once every hour to both Diglipur town and Kalipur.
By Road
The Great Andaman Trunk Road extends from Port Blair to Diglipur. It takes about 13 hours to cover the 350 km journey due to poor road conditions. You can book your bus tickets online or at the ticket counter. It is recommended that you book your tickets at least a day or two in advance. In addition to the government buses, you can also book air-conditioned sleeper private buses – Anand and krajalakshmitransport.in. For more about transportation, visit the transportation guide that provides in-depth information.
The bus rides crosses a tribal check post where the vehicles are allowed only at specified timings and only accompanied by a convoy. After a short distance, you’ll also have to take a ferry to pass the river. This is also done as a part of the bus journey, and the ride continues after crossing the river. The ride is bumpy from Baratang to Rangat due to the unpaved roads. Please be aware that the ride gets really tiring after Rangat.
The buses run between Dolphin Circle at Diglipur and Kalipur, once every hour. The bus service starts at 4:30 AM and the last bus is at 7 PM.
From Rangat & Mayabundar
Government buses are available from Rangat and Mayabunder to Diglipur and vice versa.
You can also travel by ferry from Port Blair or Havelock to Rangat and then catch a bus to Diglipur. Similarly, for the return journey, you can travel by bus to Rangat and then hop on a ferry to Havelock or Port Blair. Otherwise, hop on a ferry from Port Blair to Mayabunder and take a bus to Diglipur and vice versa.
Best Time to Visit Kalipur & Diglipur
The best time to visit Kalipur and Diglipur is between November and May. This is the time when the weather is dry and good for exploring. The turtle nesting season at Kalipur Beach is between November and March. It rains from June to October.
Where to Stay?
Expect only basic accommodations at Kalipur and Diglipur. Kalipur village is located 16 Km away from Diglipur town and has the most options for accommodation in the area. There are three resorts in Kalipur. They are,
- Pristine – Comparatively expensive, best among the three with generator backup
- Saddle Peak View Resort – Affordable, basic yet good accommodation without generator backup
- Turtle Resort – Government-owned (cannot be booked by visitors), cheapest, good with generator backup.
The power goes off often, even at night. If you’re working remotely, please take note of this. Ensure you carry sufficient power backup if you are planning on working from the island.
Where to Eat?
In Kalipur, all the three resorts have restaurants. There are no other dine-in restaurants found in Kalipur. Only a couple of grocery stores exist. You will have to order food at least 3-4 hours in advance except at Pristine.
Unlike Kalipur, Diglipur is a comparatively larger town and has a lot of options for restaurants. Food is available all around the clock.
Network Connectivity
BSNL works the best in the area. Jio has intermittent reception while Airtel doesn’t have network connectivity. Wi-Fi services are available at all three accommodations, provided the power or the backup generator is on.
ATM Availability
ATMs are available in Diglipur but none exists in Kalipur. However, UPI payments are accepted in both places.
10 Places to Visit in Diglipur & Kalipur
1. Turtle Nestling at Kalipur Beach
Kalipur Beach is one of its kind, which four species of sea turtles, Olive Ridley, Leather Back, Hawks Bill, and Green Turtles call home. The nestling happens between November and March. Hundreds of turtle eggs are collected, segregated, protected, and are then left on the shores by the forest department after hatching. We were lucky to spot a small turtle wash ashore at Kalipur Beach in the month of May.
Kalipur Beach is also an amazing place to watch the sunrise. You can swim, walk by the shore and mangroves, collect sea shells, watch the fishermen, and see a stunning sunrise.
2. Kalpong River Waterfall
From the Dolphin Circle at Diglipur, a remote paved road will lead you to the Kalpong River Waterfall entrance. Unlike the name suggests, it is not a waterfall but rather a series of many pools that is accessible only during summer. Hire an auto from Diglipur. Do not venture out on your own in this area.
It gets more and more scenic the farther that you travel. We recommend that you travel at least till the second pool. This place is ideal for swimming in the crystal clear waters.
- Contact of a local auto driver Jayanth: +919476096177, speaks Hindi
3. Stargazing
Kalipur has very low levels of light pollution and is one of the places in Andaman where you can see the Milky Way galaxy and shooting stars. Close to the new moon day, you can go stargazing with the help of a proper telescope. Sitting underneath the stars is an experience that everyone must have at least once in a lifetime.
On any non-cloudy day, just look up at the sky to get stunned by the thousands of stars right from the streets of Kalipur or by the beach. We were left speechless to see a sky full of stars right above our heads.
4. Saddle Peak
The Saddle Peak is the highest point in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, standing tall at 732 m is located at the Saddle Peak National Park near Kalipur. It is an evergreen primary jungle, perfect for a nature hike. We hiked in the Saddle Peak National Park until the summit. Know all about the Saddle Peak hike from our detailed guide.
5. Ross & Smith Islands
Ross and Smith Islands are a pair of beautiful islands connected by a long sand bar. The islands are one of the most beautiful islands in India. The Ross and Smith Islands are accessible from the Arial Bay at Diglipur. Swimming is allowed only in certain areas of the islands. These islands are perfect for a beach day.
It costs INR 1200-1500 per person for a round trip. The boat rides take 30 minutes one way and the boatman waits for 3 hours so the people can explore the islands. A special permit that costs INR 75 for Indians and INR 1000 for foreigners must be obtained for visiting Ross Island. The permit can be purchased right before entering the island.
6. Birdwatching
Kalipur is a haven for birdwatchers. There are so many native and migratory species of birds at Kalipur. You can be immersed and lose yourself in the beautiful symphony of birdsong, especially during your hike in the Saddle Peak National Park.
We saw a huge monitor lizard, at least 10 feet long, on the side of the road. You too might spot one if you’re lucky.
7. Lamiya Bay
The paved roads from the Diglipur end of the Saddle Peak National Park entrance also serve as an entry to Lamiya Bay. Although there is a small entry fee to access the National Park, access to Lamiya Bay is free of cost. The beaches are not crowded at any point in the day. This beach is perfect for romantic strolls and peace.
- Timings: 6 AM – 5 PM
8. Kayak to Craggy Island
Craggy Island is a mere swim away from Kalipur Beach. It is a perfect place to just chill on the shores or go snorkeling. You can also hire a kayak from Pristine Beach Resort to Craggy Island.
9. Alfred Caves
Alfred Caves is a series of 42 caves of which only 28 are open to visitors. Located in Ramnagar, about 30 Km from Diglipur, these caves are amongst the least explored places to see. They are also among the most beautiful places we visited during our trip. To reach the cave entrance, you have to trek through some jungles. A forest official will guide you in exploring the caves. If you’re visiting during the breeding season of the Swetlet or Hawabill (between January and June), you can see their eggs and nest made of their saliva. The caves are very narrow in some parts and are home to large colonies of bats.
10. Mud Volcano
The Mud Volcano, one of nature’s wonders, is located at Shyam Nagar, 25 Km from Diglipur market. A mud volcano is created by natural gases emitted by decaying organic matter underground. As the mud containing rock fragments is pushed upwards by the gas, it deposits and hardens on the ground. Mud volcanoes are not true igneous volcanoes as they do not produce lava and are not necessarily driven by magmatic activity.
Mud volcanoes may range in size from merely 1 or 700 m in height and 1m to 10 km wide. Smaller mud volcanoes are sometimes referred to as mud pots. The mud volcano is truly unique and must not be missed during your visit to Diglipur.
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