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Spend some time amidst nature at Mount Harriet National Park in Port Blair that offers majestic views of the Andaman Sea. This park has an abundance of evergreen rainforests, moist deciduous trees, littoral forests, and rich flora and fauna. It is also home to over 27 species of reptiles and amphibians, 393 plant species, as well as 90 species of birds. Tourists can also trek to the top of the Mount Harriet peak, which is a part of this park, and is famous for being the third-highest peak in Andaman.
Quick Details About Mount Harriet National Park
Elevation: 1,257 ft
Where To Stay: Hope Town, Port Blair, North Bay Island, and Marine Hill
Where To Eat: Amaya, Icy Spicy, Lighthouse Restaurant, and Annapurna
Mount Harriet National Park Timings: 7 AM – 5 PM
Best Time To Visit: November to May
Location
Photo: Biswarup Ganguly / Wikimedia Commons
Mount Harriet National Park is a picturesque destination in Hope Town, South Andamans. This reserved area falls under the protection of the Forest Department of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and lies around 48 km from Port Blair. It is also known as the Mount Manipur National Park and is easily accessible by both ferry and by road.
Suggested Read: Adventure Sports In Andaman
How To Reach Mount Harriet National Park
Photo: Phillipcspence / Pixabay / Image For Representation Only
Tourists can reach Mount Harriet National Park both by road and by water from Port Blair.
By Road: The distance from Port Blair to this national park is around 55 km by road. It takes 1 hour and 20 minutes to reach Chatham Jetty from Port Blair. Tourists can then complete the remaining 15 km journey by taking a ferry to the park.
By Sea: The sea route is from Marine Jetty to Hope Town, and then by road to Mount Harriet.
Things To Do
From spotting Hawk Owls & Andaman serpent-eagles to trekking across Mount Harriet National Park to the Kala Pathar rocks, here are the top things to do here:
1. Bird Watching
Photo: Supriya / Pixahive / Image For Representation Only
This national park is a haven for nature lovers with its lush green forests and rich flora and fauna. Besides this, tourists can enjoy bird-watching at this park as it houses over 90 exotic birds and animals like Wood Pigeons, Hawk Owls, Cuckoo-doves, and Andaman serpent-eagles. To help tourists spot and identify these birds, there are boards with pictures all around this park. The melodious chirping of these birds alongwith the peaceful ambience make this a truly enjoyable experience.
Suggested Read: Snorkelling In Andaman
2. Trekking
Photo: Liam Quinn / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
This national park provides the ideal setting for both long and short treks with its scenic routes. The shortest and easiest trek here is from Mount Harriet to the Kala Pathar rocks, which is around 3 km long. For the more adventurous lot, there is a 16 km trek from the Mount Harriet peak to Madhubhan beach. The views on both these routes provide the ideal scenery for your Mount Harriet National Park photos.
Places To Visit Around Mount Harriet National Park
From remote islets that are replete with natural beauty to turquoise beaches & water sport complexes, here are some places to visit near this national park.
1. Madhuban Beach
Photo: Shefali mithra / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
One of the best places to visit around Mount Harriet National Park is Madhuban Beach as its 10 km long beach offers some splendid views. There are several trekking routes on this beach where tourists can catch wildflowers in bloom and spot rare species of butterflies and birds. Parakeets, kingfishers, white-bellied ocean falcons and wildlife species like spotted deer, wild boars, and Andaman pigs are some of the top highlights here. After trekking, unwind and relax on the stretch of white sand on this beach and watch the sunset.
Things To Do: Trekking, Bird watching
Suggested Read: Wildlife Sanctuaries In Andaman And Nicobar
2. Ross Island
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg / Wikimedia Commons
Ross Island, also known as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep, is a remote islet with an old-world charm. It takes around 2 hours to reach this island from Mount Harriet Park. Tourists can enjoy a hike around the ruins of the ancient Japanese and British structures at this islet including the Government House, the Chief Commissioner’s residence and more. Some other highlights here include magnificent man caves, an old church, the Japanese bunkers, and the wildlife sanctuary where you can spot deers and peacocks.
Things To Do: Snorkelling, Fishing, Glass Bottom Boat Ride, Trekking
3. North Bay Island
Photo: Abgami / Wikimedia Commons
North Bay Island is another tourist attraction near this national park and offers several aquatic adventures like snorkelling, sea walking, kayaking, and scuba diving. This island is famous for its pristine beaches, iconic lighthouse, breathtaking views, rich coral reserves, and vast marine life. Tourists can enjoy trekking to the top of the lighthouse and watch the magical view, which is also printed on the back of every ₹20 Indian currency note.
Things To Do: Speed Boat Rides, Snorkelling, Kayaking, Scuba Diving, Jet Ski Ride, and Parasailing
Suggested Read: Andaman And Nicobar Nightlife
4. Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex
Photo: Aliven Sarkar/ Wikimedia Commons
Get a dose of adrenaline at the Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex, which is around 50 minutes from this national park. From jet skiing to banana boat rides, speed boat rides, rowboat paddling, and more, there are plenty of fun water sports to enjoy here. Tourists can visit this place between 10 AM to 6 PM and the entry is free of cost. The ambience and historical significance of this water sports complex make it a tourist hotspot.
Things to Do: Jet Skiing, Speed Boat Rides, Windsurfing, Boating
Other Factors To Consider
Photo: BrokenSphere / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Average Cost Of The Trip: It is very economical to visit this tourist hotspot in Andaman as the Mount Harriet National Park ticket price costs just ₹50. However, if the traveller wants to visit other places near the park and indulge in water sports and activities, then the cost may increase.
Tips For Travellers
- Wear comfortable clothes and footwear for trekking
- Carry water and snacks during trekking as there are no eateries on the route
- Carry sunglasses, wear sunscreen and a hat as it can be very sunny during the day
- Keep antiseptic lotion and salt handy as there can be leeches on this route
- The ideal time to go on jungle treks here are during the early morning hours and during the dry season from October to April
Suggested Read: Nightlife In Port Blair
Mount Harriet National Park has serene nature trails for trekking and offers picture-postcard vistas. One of the major highlights here is the view of the famous Lighthouse in North Bay that is printed on the back of every ₹20 Indian currency note. Tourists can also spot numerous birds and reptiles here like the King Cobra, etc. So, start planning a memorable trip to this beautiful place with TripXL now.
Cover Photo: Pinakeen Bhatt / Unsplash
