Mount Harriet National Park

Port Blair's pride, Mount Harriet National Park is a gathering of several mountains adorned with wilderness and greenery that attract many flora and fauna to this little and beautiful paradise. This National park has been carved out of a nearby forest area to make this place more accessible for tourists to enjoy nature's splendid beauty. Mount Harriet National Park in Andaman is enveloped with semi-evergreen and dense evergreen forest making for jaw-dropping landscapes. Mount Harriet National Park takes pride in being featured on every Indian currency of 20 rupees. This peak offers an enviable view of the picturesque surroundings embellished with the gifts of nature. A bird's eye view provides magnificent sights of the gorgeous Andaman and Nicobar Islands are dotted all over the blue ocean in myriad shades of blue and green. Places like the Ross Island, North Bay, Jolly Island and Neil Island look stunning from the above. Go for the trek on Mount Harriet Andaman, and it is an experience worth a lifetime. One may encounter animals, birds and the beautiful butterflies of different species while scaling the mountain top as this incredible area is known for its massive variety of animals. The top of the mountain here also has a garden with swings and rides to keep the little visitors engaged.

Mount Harriet is the highest peak of Andaman and Nicobar Islands at 365m, and it is among the closest wilderness filled areas from Port Blair. Spread over 42.62 square kilometres. The forest supports remarkable biodiversity, predominantly birds such as Andaman Treepie, Columba palumboides, Nicobar Megapode, Nicobar parakeet, Black-Naped Tern, Sunda Teal, Andaman Black Woodpecker, etc. Apart from birds, the National park has a good population of King Cobra, Andaman Cobra, two nesting marine turtles-green seas and Olive Ridley, saltwater crocodiles, robber crab, turtles and wild pigs. Some crucial peaks in the park are Mt. Carpenter (346m), Mt, Koyob (459), Mt. Hext (425), Mt. Harriet (422) and Mt Goodridge (376). This tranquil national park is sheeted with lush evergreen and semi-evergreen woods blessed with the breathtaking grandeur of Mother Nature. The entire region of Mount Harriet National Park Andaman & Nicobar Island forms a significant cluster of the beautiful hill ranges on the eastern side of South Andaman. The park got its name from Robert Christopher Tytler's wife. Tytler, a British force soldier, was the Superintendent of the Convict Settlement in the Port Blair region, Andaman & Nicobar Islands from 1862 to 1864. His love for the beautiful nature made him discover this place. The park is so beautiful that it has even found a space in the Indian Rs 20 note.

How can one reach Mount Harriet National Park in Andaman?

From Port Blair

Mount Harriet National Park can be reached from Port Blair both by road and then by water. The 55 km can be traversed through road in an hour and 20 minutes via Ferrargunj and the remaining 15km via ferry from the Chatham jetty. The Sea route to this place is from Marine jetty to Hope Town and then by road to Mount Harriet National Park.

From Havelock Island

Havelock Island's journey to Mount Harriet National Park Port Blair takes less than 5 hours typically by travelling through both road and water, the majority being by the sea.

What are the places to explore near Mount Harriet National Park?

Lighthouse – A looming structure of this place with a swirl of red and white visible from a distance is the lighthouse on North Bay Island, which offers a striking view of Andaman and Nicobar surrounding islands.

Havelock Island – It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with silver sand and azure blue water, the Island is barely inhabited and focuses majorly on tourism.

Madhuban Beach- Out of the few options to explore here and visit near Mount Harriet National Park Andaman the first option is Madhuban beach that is a 10km long beach with flawless and incredible beauty which was once an elephant training camp of the forest department is now a lovely tourist spot which can be accessed by boat from Port Blair or in a Dinghy.

Fisheries Museum – One can see several exotic marine creatures at this incredible place.

Rajiv Gandhi water activities centre – It is one of the best attractions on North Bay beach to a water theme park with several exciting adventure sports including water ski, Kayaking, and other water rides. The Zoological Survey of India and Teal Bhawan for scientifically valuable marine wildlife exhibits are also worth visiting.

What are the things or activities to do in Mount Harriet National Park?

Trekking – One can take a visit to Madhuban from Mount Harriet National Park in Andaman and Nicobar Island by trekking through meandering paths of the fascinating jungle treading to 16 Kms. A nature trail from Hope Town to the Mount Harriet National park of approximately 4 km can also be explored.

Bird watching – The mountain area here is blessed with an abundant reservoir of exotic birds and animals which can be captured to create lifelong memories.

Picnic – Locals usually spend their day with friends and family having a good time at the spot's exotic environs.

Photography – A favourite activity for amateur and professionals indulging in taking shots of the breathtaking landscape.