Mount Harriet National Park – A Complete Travel Guide

Mount Harriet National Park

A blanket of eye-pleasing greenery is the first sight that greeted me when I began my journey to explore the many facets of Mount Harriet National Park.

Perched atop Mount Harriet peak (1,257 ft) the third highest peak of Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, the park is spread over 46.62 sq km.

The national park is named after Harriet C. Tytler, wife of British army officer Robert Christopher Tytler who was also a nature lover and a photographer.

With the calm Andaman Sea in the backdrop, the entrancing beauty of the lush evergreen forests grows manifold. Mount Harriet National Park is a perfect place to spend some ‘me’ time in nature’s midst.

A quick glance through

How to Reach Mount Harriet National Park

The capital city of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Port Blair enjoys direct flight connectivity with Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad.

Port Blair Airport
Port Blair Airport

From Port Blair, you can reach Mount Harriet National Park by road or by sea. The park is almost 2 hours drive from Port Blair via Ferrargunj.

Sea route is much faster though. Board a ferry at Chatham jetty in Port Blair which will drop you to Bambooflat jetty in 15 minutes.

Take your car straight on to the ferry and no need to get off from the car. Enjoy the charming views while you are still on board and sitting inside the car. It seems like cars are running on the sea 🙂

These are large vehicle ferries that are used for ferrying passengers and private vehicles. From Bambooflat jetty, you can hire a jeep which is another 20 minutes drive to the park entrance gate.

Best Time to Visit

Port Blair experiences a tropical climate. The best time to visit Mount Harriet National Park is from October until mid-May.

Park is open even during rainy season but avoid travelling during monsoons from late May to September. Strong winds and frequent rains will not let you enjoy the enchanting views.

Things to Do in Mount Harriet National Park

1. Bird Watching

Black woodpecker

With almost 90 distinct and rare bird species in the forest, Mount Harriet National Park is a bird watchers paradise. Birdlife International recognizes the park as one of the Important Bird Areas.

Some of the birds found in the park are Andaman serpent-eagle, Andaman wood pigeon, Andaman hawk-owl and Andaman cuckoo-dove.

Andaman wood pigeon is designated as the state bird of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

You can find boards with images of the resident birds in the park so that visitors can identify when they spot a bird.

Andaman Cuckoo Dove
A Board In The Park With Andaman Cuckoo Dove Image On It

2. Butterfly Watching

Colourful butterflies

Mount Harriet National Park is also known as a ‘Butterfly Hotspot’. There are a lot of flowering plants in the park that attract butterflies.

Enjoy running behind a butterfly just for fun. Kids will enjoy this a lot. The park is also home to several types of insects. I spotted a lovely greenish-yellow ladybug (ladybird) beetle with black dots on its body.

Greenish-yellow moth in Mount Harriet National Park
A beetle enjoying the daylight in the park

3. Nature Viewing

Scenic views of the pristine Andaman Sea and the beautiful islands from the top of the Mount Harriet watchtower is a feast for the eyes.

I was completely awestruck with what I saw there. It was the same image that I have been seeing since my childhood on the Indian currency note of ₹ 20.

View from Mount Harriet Peak
Spot The Light House 🙂

The North Bay Island’s Light House image at the back of ₹ 20 currency note was taken from the top of Mount Harriet.

Many famous islands of Andaman and Nicobar can be seen from here – Ross island, North Bay, Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) and Neil (Shaheed dweep).

4. Trekking

Unlike mainland national parks, you can walk and trek through the forests of Mount Harriet National Park.

A 2.5 km long nature trail connects the park’s forest rest house complex with Kalapathar view point.

Kalapathar View Point
Starting Point – Kalapathar Nature Trail

For adventure enthusiasts, there is a 15 km long trek route from Mount Harriet to the white sand Madhuban beach.

Trekking through the park offers one of its kind opportunities to watch endemic birds, butterflies and attractive beaches. If luck is on your side you can spot endangered Andaman wild pigs.

Also Read: 15 Best Things To Do in Andaman.

Hermit crab
A Hermit Crab Peeping Out of Its Shell

The Andaman Sea is famous for its abounding marine life including several species of crabs, turtles, saltwater crocodiles and beautiful corals reefs.

5. Orchidarium

Orchidarium-Mount Harriet National Park
Colourful Orchid Flowers in The Orchidarium

A small orchidarium is bound to grab your attention when you are visiting this national park.

It’s a small well-maintained botanical garden for growing orchids and a must-see section of the park if you love orchids. Spend some time admiring the exquisite orchids.

6. Glimpse of Culture and History

Nicobari Hut
Nicobari Hut

There is a traditional Nicobari Hut on display giving a glimpse of the distinct culture of the Nicobarese tribes. It looked like a tree house with wooden pillars to support the hut.

While strolling through the park, I came across this Anti-Aircraft gun that was used by the Japanese army during the second world war.

Mount Harriet National Park

The description on the board placed beside it mentions:

“360 Degree Revolving – Anti-Aircraft gun built by British but Japanese used this ACK- ACK gun to destroy the Allied Forces aircraft near Kadekachang in 1943.”

Another historical place inside the park is Kalapathar view point, where prisoners used to be pushed down the ravine to death during the British rule in India.

7. Camping

Tented accommodation in Mount Harriet National Park
Tented accommodation inside The Park

Camping is a great way to experience nature. If you want to wake up to the wilderness in Andaman Islands, there is no better place to camp than Mount Harriet National Park.

Stay in one of the tented accommodations inside the park and remember to book in advance. For reservations, you can contact:

Chief Wildlife Warden
Andaman and Nicobar Islands,
Haddo, Port Blair
Phone No. : +91-3192-233549

8. Photography

Stunning views from Mount Harriet Peak
Ross Island View from Mount Harriet Peak

Mount Harriet National Park is a popular place for photography since it offers picturesque and sublime views of the Andaman Sea and verdant forests.

With a professional camera (SLR or DSLR), expect to get some mind-blowing shots of the rare Andaman birds, colourful butterflies and charming landscapes.

Accommodation

You can stay in Port Blair and visit the park as a day trip. From affordable to lavish accommodation, plenty of choices are available in Port Blair for tourists.

Check Availability and Prices of Port Blair Hotels.

Another option is to stay overnight in the forest rest house, located right in the heart of the jungle.

Mount Harriet National Park-Forest Rest House
Forest Rest House Inside The National Park

You can contact ‘Chief Wildlife Warden – Andaman and Nicobar Islands ( Phone No.: +91-3192-233549)’ for the forest rest house reservations.

Travel Tips

  • Make sure to get the forest entry permit at the park gate.
  • Here are the charges, you need to pay
    • Indian national: adult – Rs 50 per head, no fee for children up to age of 12 years
    • Foreign national: adult – Rs 500 per head, children up to age of 12 years – Rs 200 per head
    • Vehicle (car or jeep) charges – Rs 30
    • No charges for using mobile camera
    • Professional camera charges – Rs 500
  • Don’t forget to carry your identity proof. At least one member from the group should have it for getting the entry permit.
  • There are no shops at the Mount Harriet peak, carry some snacks and drinking water.
  • Wear trekking shoes or boots to avoid leech bite if you are going up to the Kalapathar view point. It is almost impossible to miss a signboard mentioning “Leech Prone Zone” at the starting point of this nature trail.

Over To You Now

Have you visited Mount Harriet National Park in Port Blair? Share your experiences with us in the comment section below.

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8 Comments

  1. Kohit
  2. Biplab Sarkar
  3. Travelbestoffers
  4. Kunal Khanna

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