Diglipur is the largest town on North Andaman Island, on the southern shore of Aerial Bay and roughly 290 km from Port Blair by road. It is not a resort town. Most of the people here are descended from settlers who arrived in the twentieth century, Bengali is the most widely spoken first language, and the island's main industries are farming rather than tourism. That is part of the appeal: the beaches have few buildings behind them and the days are shaped by the tide, the forest and the ferry rather than by an itinerary.
The sights are spread out but easy to sort. Kalipur, on the coast about 15 km from town, is the base for most visitors, with a long grey-sand beach where sea turtles come ashore to nest in the cooler months. From Kalipur you can walk to Lamiya Bay and on to the trailhead for Saddle Peak, the highest point in the archipelago at roughly 730 m, inside a small national park. From the Aerial Bay jetty, a short boat ride reaches Ross and Smith Islands, two forested islands joined by a sandbar that appears at low tide.
The honest trade-off is distance. Getting here means a day on the Andaman Trunk Road or a long government ferry crossing, and sailings are known to change. Permits are needed for the national park and the protected islands, mobile signal is patchy and facilities are simple. For travellers who like quiet places and are comfortable with long road days, a three- or four-night stay is rewarding. For anyone with a tight schedule, or with parents who tire on long journeys, Diglipur needs careful thought before it goes on the plan.
Before you plan
Diglipur at a glance
- Best months
- November to AprilNovember to April, when the seas are calmer; turtle nesting is mainly in the cooler months, roughly December to February. The rains run from about June to October.
- Ideal trip length
- 3 to 4 nights3 to 4 nights, because the journey in and out takes most of a day each way
- Airport
- None in DiglipurNone in Diglipur. The nearest scheduled airport is Veer Savarkar International Airport, Port Blair (IXZ), about 290 km away by road; helicopter seats are limited and not a plan to rely on
- Railway station
- NoneNone. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have no railway
- Getting around
- Local busesLocal buses, shared jeeps and taxis run between Diglipur, Aerial Bay jetty and Kalipur; hiring a car with a driver is the most comfortable option
- Daily budget
- Modest by Andaman standardsModest by Andaman standards, since there is little paid activity; most costs are transport, permits and meals. Carry cash and check current rates locally
- Senior comfort
- Moderate to demanding: the journey…Moderate to demanding: the journey is long, facilities are simple, and the Saddle Peak trek and boat landings are not for everyone, but Kalipur beach and the mud volcano are gentle
- Language
- Bengali is the most widely spoken…Bengali is the most widely spoken first language; Hindi is understood almost everywhere and English is used by tourism staff
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Diglipur: January, February, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Diglipur itinerary
One good day
1 day in Diglipur
Reach Aerial Bay jetty early, collect the forest permit for the islands and take a boat across, timing your walk over the sandbar for low tide if you can. Return for a late lunch and drive to Kalipur for the beach and, in the season, an evening turtle talk with the forest staff. A single day is rushed given how far you will have travelled, so treat it as a taster only.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Diglipur
Spend the morning on Kalipur beach, looking for the dead-coral flats and mangrove edge at low tide, then walk or drive the short distance to Lamiya Bay's pebble shore. Rest through the middle of the day. If it is turtle season, ask the forest staff about the nesting and hatchling schedule.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Diglipur
Arrive from the long journey, settle in at Kalipur and keep the day gentle: a walk on the beach at low tide, an early dinner and, in nesting season, a talk with the forest staff about the turtle watch.
Day-by-day plan →
