Saint Martins is the only coral island in Bangladesh, with beaches fringed with coconut palms, seashells and laid-back locals. The island is a tropical cliché. It’s a clean, calm and cool place for soak up the rays.
This Video if under water beauty of Saint Martin
St. Martin's Island is a small island in the northeast part of the Bay of Bengal, about 9 km south of the tip of the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf peninsula, and forming the southernmost part of Bangladesh. It is not a coral island in Bangladesh. It is about 8 km west of the northwest coast of Myanmar at the mouth of the Naf River. The local name of the island is "Narical Gingira", also spelled "Narikel Janjina/Jinjera", translated from Bangla, meaning 'Coconut Island'.
St. Martin's Island has become a popular tourist spot. Currently, three shipping liners run daily trips to the island, including Sea-Truck and Keary-Sindbad. Tourists can book their trip either from Chittagong or from Cox's Bazar. The surrounding coral reef of the island has an extension named Chera Dwip.
In the past 5 years St. Martin's visitor population has increased dramatically. While this situation has proven to be lucrative for the islanders, it is causing the natural beauty of the island to deteriorate. Presently there are many efforts being put forth to preserve the several endagered species of turtles that nest on the island, as well as the corals, some of which are found only on Narikel Jinjera. Pieces of the coral reef are being removed in order to be sold to tourists.[1] Nesting turtles are sometimes taken for food, and their hatchlings are often distracted by the twinkling lights along the beach. Species of fish, a few just recently discovered, are being overfished. Every year the fishermen must venture further out to sea to get their catch. Most of them use motorless boats.
At high tide the island is about 3 miles around, and pinched in the middle. The island exists only because of its coral base, so removal of that coral risks erosion of the beaches. St. Martins has lost roughly 25% of its coral reef in the past 7 years.
Location:
Approximately 9 km south of the tip of the Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf peninsula. It is the southernmost part of Bangladesh located in the Bay of Bengal. It is around 8 km west of the northwest coast of Myanmar at the mouth of the Naf River. The total distance from Dhaka to St Martin is around 510 km.
Area: 8 sq. km but it reduces to around 5 sq. km during high tide.
Tourist Season: November to February
Original Name:
“Narikel Jinjira” (Coconut Island) – The local name of the COCONUT is NARIKEL and the original name of this Island is Narikel Jinjira is derived from that.
Features:
- Beautiful Coral Reef
- Long Coral Beach
- Lots of Coconut Trees
- Peaceful Environment
- Bountiful Marine Life
- Deep Blue Water
- Sandy Beach
To reach Saint Martins Island is just three-step process.
- By Air or bus and get down to Cox’s Bazar (400 km from Dhaka).
- Catch a bus to Teknaf.
- From Teknaf, ferries run daily and take around 3 hours.
Ferries leave the island about 3 pm. Now, three shipping liners run daily trips to St. Martins. They are Sea-Truck, Kutubdia and Keary-Sindbad. For the regular Eagle ferries you need not to pre-book. However, for more reliable Keari Sindbad ferry and if you have not a roundtrip ticket you can book the return ticket at the Keari Marzaan restaurant. The restaurant only services to day-trippers on tours arranged by Keari Tours. The one-way fare is Tk 225.
For Contact:
Keari Marzaan Restaurant
Before Saint Martin’s Resort, off the main road.
+88 01727 266077, +88 0181 6820971 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +88 0181 6820971 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Local Transport:
Thing to See:
Sunrise & Sunset: Observing sunrise and sunset St Martins is a better place. Sunset Point is a rocky peninsula on the northwest corner of the island.
Sunset Picture of Seint Martin
Sunrise Picture of Seint Martin
Village life:
A slow paced life — most work happens in the morning and evening, whereas midday is reserved for drying rice and fish. During the day time, some villagers sells coconuts while others sitting in the shade and chewing paan (battle leaf).
Sea Turtle Hatchery:
Located on the west side of the island south of Shemana Pereye Resort. The hatchery is not officially open to tourists; however, it is generally empty and the gate unlocked.
Stars: Amazingly plentiful stars get on a moonless night, due to the lack of electricity on St Martine.
Here you can Enjoy...........................:
Scuba Diving:
Oceanic Scuba Dive Center, the only dive operation in Bangladesh. To experience the beauty underwater scuba diving is best but the cost is lit-bit high though negotiable.
Visit Chera Dwip:
An extension part of St. Martins which is divided during tides. You can go to there on foot during low tide. It is about two and half an hour’s walk from St. Martins Island. You can also go the place by local boat or tourist boat during high tide. In Chera dwip you can find living and dead corals all over the Island. You will also get a small bush which is in the only green part of Chera-dwip, and enhancing the beauty of the island. No people live in this Island. That’s why; advisable for the visitors to go there early and back by afternoon.
Embrace Moonlight:
Make a tour in St Martins by yourself in the moonlight. The astonishing beauty of full-moon in St. Martin’s Island never be expressed; you can only feel it. Over the night feel and listen the sound of the Bay of Bengal.
Watching Sun Rise: Wake up early and watch the sun rise.
Campfire: Make a campfire to stay up at night.
Shopping:
A good number of small shops are near the port and along the main road selling essential commodities, odd souvenir t-shirts, hats and sunglasses. Various sea shells and things made from the shells are sold by teens around St Martine. However, it’s illegal as leads to the depletion of sea life.
Foods:
Food is relatively expensive here than on Cox’s Bazar. The food shacks line the road to the port. Bill of fare: Parothas - Tk 5, Omelettes - Tk 10 and vegetable curry - Tk 15 for breakfast. Various fish, dal (pulse) rice and vegetables are the rest of the day. Cha (tea) is Tk 5. Additionally, all the hotels have restaurants with the same typical Bangladeshi offerings. But higher prices & better quality than the food near the port. Chickens, lobsters and crabs are also available in the hotels. The islanders sell dried fish, which is little expensive but much fresher than those available up-shore in Cox’s Bazar.
Drinks:
Coconuts’ tasty water is available here with very low cost. But if you look for alcohol it’s very rare except some particular hotels. However, if you ask discreetly for the alcohol near the port, you may get it.
Accommodations:
Accommodations facilities are very good here. You can easily manage a room according to your budget. Most of the evenings can be candle-lit as no electricity on St Martins, but a few of the much expensive hotels have generators services.
Accommodations facilities are very good here. You can easily manage a room according to your budget. Most of the evenings can be candle-lit as no electricity on St Martins, but a few of the much expensive hotels have generators services.
Saint Martin’s Hotels
Blue Marine Resorts
Dhaka Office
Lal Bhaban, 18 Rajuk Avenue
Dhaka-1000, bangladesh
Phone: 9556251, 01711827785
Email: sonali@bol-online.com
Fax: 8802-9562076
Cox’s Bazar Office
Samim Guest House
Kalatali Road, Cox’s bazar
Phone: 0341-62325
Cell: 01819063504, 01713103595
Saint Martin’s Office
Delpara, Narikel Zingira
Saint Martin’s, Bangladesh
Cell: 01817060065
Phone: 0341-62100, 62500
Shemana Pereye Resort
Dhaka Contact
Phone: 01190493887, 01711344451, 01818043415
St. Martin’s Contact
Phone: 01819018027, 01817042020
Saint Martin’s Resort (Motel Nijhum)
Phone: +880 01819 490129 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +880 01819 490129 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Riyad Guesthouse
Phone: +880 018 1856 255
Hotel Prince
Ph: +88-017-11276250
Awareness:
- Avoid eating fish at every meal on the island as over-fishing rapidly vanishing sea life.
- Keep a sound distance from sea turtles and their eggs. Don’t disturb those fascinating but fragile creatures.
- Avoid western bathing suits both man and woman.
- No Land phone
- No Motorized Vehicle
- No Night Club
- No Internet Facilities
- Very Limited Alcohol
Moheshkhali Island – Jewel of Cox’s Bazar
Moheshkhali is a jewel among the attractions of Cox’s Bazar. The island is famous for its beauty and tranquility. Numerous eager rickshaw pullers patiently wait for the arrival of tourist, and offer them an exclusive tour of the island.
Moheskhali Island Adinath Temple Golden Temple Bangladesh
An island off the coast of Coxs Bazar. It has an area of 268 square kilometers. Through the centre of the island and along the eastern coast line rises a range of low hills, 300 feet high; but the coast to the west and north is a low-lying treat, fringed by mangrove jungle. In the hills on the coast is built the shrine of Adinath, dedicated to Siva. By its side on the same hill is Buddhist Pagoda.
Tourists can reach this island by local motorboats called trawlers or by speedboat. By trawler, it takes an hour and a half and by speedboat only half an hour. Tourists will find interesting sights like mangrove forests, hilly areas, salt fields etc. This is famous for its Buddhist Temple or Pagoda; a whole day can be spent sightseeing if one includes visits to Sonadia and some other nearby islands.
Area: 268 sq. km
Attraction:
- Breathtaking Mangrove Forest
- Spectacular Hilly Areas ( around 300 ft. high)
- Salt Fields
- Striking Landscapes
- Picturesque & Peaceful Beaches
- Colorful Buddhist Temple & Pagoda
- Shrimp
- Battle Leaf
- Simple Island Lifestyle
- Rakhain villages
Adinath Temple
Located on the top of the Mainak Hill on Moheshkhali. The Shrine of Adinath is dedicated to the Hindu god, Shiva, who is worshipped as Adinath. The place is famous for the annual fair held in the month of Phalgun according to the Bengali Calendar. The fair is taken place at the foot of the Mainak Hill and lasts 13 days. Thousands of Hindus participate here from all over Bangladesh.
Adinath Temple Khajuraho (Video-1)
As the name suggests, Adinath temple in Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh is dedicated to Adinath the Jain saint. This is the last of Jain temples built around here. The temple is magnificently decorated with different sculpted figures including those of "yakshis".
The Adinath temple is situated adjacent to the Parshvanatha Temple, which is the largest of all the Jain temples in Khajuraho. This Adinath temple has been partly repaired over the centuries. This temple is quite similar to the Hindu temples in Khajuraho. Though a Jain temple, it looks more or less like a Hindu temple owing to its architecture and designing. A black image inside the temple gives the indication of it being a Jain temple. The temple has very fine carvings on its 3 bands of sculptures.
Adinath temple is towards the north of the largest Jain temple, the Parshvanatha temple. It is a small temple; its 'shikhar' is simple with a graceful and elegant auspicious pitcher on the top of it. The temple's sanctum is simple as well and it seems that the altar had been built at some time later than the construction of the temple. The roof is constructed beautifully with lotus like stone, which adds to the beauty of the sanctum sanctorum.
Adinath Temple Khajuraho (Video-2)
Adinath Temple is a temple of great reverence dedicated to Adinath, the first Jain Tirthankar. This temple is situated towards the north of the Parshvanatha Temple, which is the largest Jain Temple in Khajuraho. The Adinath temple is the last Jains shrine, which was built in the devotion of Lord Adinath. The temple is excellently built and decorated with numerous sculptures including the figures of "yakshis".
The temple has been repaired and restored over the years. Though a Jain Temple, it looks very similar to the various Hindu temples in Khajuraho. The sanctum sanctorum houses a black image of the deity and this clearly indicates it being a Jain temple. It is actually a small temple but displays brilliant architecture. There are many fine carvings on the three bands of sculptures in it.
The temple's "shikar" is quite simple and plain to look at. On the top of it there is an elegant pitcher. The roof built in lotus like stone makes the sanctum look lovelier. Also, it seems as it the altar has been built later. On the walls of the temple there are figures of the court musicians that have been carved beautifully.
Waterway: You can reach the Moheshkhali by trawler (local motorboat) or by speedboat. By trawler, it is one hour and half an hour journey whereas speedboat takes just half an hour to reach the Island.
By Road: Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Bir Uttam Bridge connects the island to the mainland. So, you can easily reach their by road.
Note:
Traveling to Moheshkhali by waterway is advisable, as it is a super way to catch valuable memories on film and add extra adventure to exploration of Bangladesh.
Sonadia Island – Home of Turtles
Sonadia is a small crescent shaped island. The western part of this island is sandy and different types of shells are found on the beach. Visitors can see the apparently endless beds filled with windowpane oysters. The land is a tranquil haven for fishermen as well as its small local community.
Travel to sonadia island
Boating in a forest
Sonadia Island is located off the coast of Cox's bazar in Bangladesh. A pristine environment still prevails in Sonadia with both natural and replanted mangroves - planted by DOE/UNDP and by the Forest Department.
About 400-500 families live in the island whose major occupation is fishing in the sea.
As you enter in the island you will see that you could be boating inside the forest.
Red Crab at Sonadia Island, Bangladesh
Red Crabs at Sonadia Island, Bangladesh, biodiversity and shorbirds paradise.....where government planning to establish a deep sea port, that will destroy sea turtle nesting beach and habitat of globally thretened shorebirds.
Area: 9 sq. km
Location: 7-km north-west of Cox’s Bazar.
Attraction:
• The sight of game birds migrating Sonadia Island in huge numbers through the winter seasons.
• Turtle nests.
• Various bird species (More than 52 bird species including resident and migratory)
• Wildlife
• Live fishing and fishermen lifestyle
• Shrimp Farm
