Day 6 :
Woke up by 3 and got ready to Diglipur, North Andaman. It is 300 kms away from Port Blair. We have organized a Xylo for the trip (to and fro). We need to travel via Bharatang and Rangat. It is a full day journey.
Journey takes about 2 hrs and 30 minutes from Port Blair to Middle Strait. The journey is in 2 phases – P.Blair to Jirkatang (40 kms, 1 hr 15 mins) and then Jirkatang to Baratang (49 kms, 1 hr 15 mins, no overtake zone through Jarwa Reserve Forest).
The vehicles have to leave in convoys. There are 4 convoys throughout the day from Jirkatang (6 am, 9 am, 12 pm, 2.30 pm). We left from the hotel at around 4am we reached there by 5.15 am. At Jirkatang check post there is a toilet/bathroom with all facilities. There are hotels with hot idly, poori, vada. We had our morning breakfast there. In the convoy 2 wheelers/bicycles are not allowed. Only 4 wheelers are allowed. The 1st vehicle in the convoy is always a bus, with 1-2 policemen.
This is the only road connecting to North Andaman to places like Kadamtala (28 kms from Baratang jetty), Rangat (71 kms from Baratang jetty), Mayabunder (141 kms from Baratang jetty), Diglipur (203 kms from Baratang jetty). Here it is interesting to see how buses/vehicles alight the jetty to reach either side of the middle strait. From Nilambur Jetty at middle strait ferry .
Middle Strait Jetty services are available for Baratang Island. Ferry takes about 15 minutes to reach Baratang from Nilambur Jetty.
This is one of the most exciting part of journey, where you will see the tribes (Jarwah). The Jarawa are a self sufficient hunter-gatherer people, who show no sign of wanting to join the mainstream. The Jarwans the local tribe of Andaman lives in the forests. Talking to them or giving eatables or taking photos is prohibited . We cannot get down from the vehicle too.
We reached Bharatang and too a ferry to visit lime stone caves. It is about half an hour journey by ferry and half an hour trekking for 1.2 kms through the forest. Taking a walk with mother nature is so pleasant and calm. Caves were a really wonderful.
Returned back went to visit mud volcanoes. The organic matter deep inside earth releases gases and the mud is pushed out. It looks like cement
Continued our journey. Took a break in a small hotel to have lunch . reached Diglipur .( The roads were not really good) Reached The Turtle – our resort by 7 pm. Was a beautiful resort.
Had good rest after a long and trilling journey !
Travel-Food-Picks 