To express the real beauty of Saint Martin Island in words of pictures, either you have to be an amazing writer or an excellent photographer. Although I am none of them, the local guides’ love and inspiration encourage me to write the experience of this trip.
Little history:
Around 250 years ago, first Arabian sailors settled down on this island and named it Zajira. It was during the reign of the British. It named St. Martin’s Island. There was the first Anglo-Burmese War from 1824 to 1826. during these periods there was major conflict regarding the ownership of this place between the British and the Burmese empires.
Saint Martin Bangladesh, in the Chittagong Division, is the only coral island of our country. The local people call this tiny island is “NarikelZinjira”. Meaning of it is coconut island because of the abundant coconut growing here. This landmark demarcates as the international borderline between Bangladesh and Myanmar. Somebody named it “Daruchini Dwip” for the surrounding naturally beautiful scenery and crystal-clear blue water of the Bay of Bengal. Unlike the long sandy beach of Cox’s Bazar, you can walk around this entire small island.
Journey Start:
I started my journey from Dhaka by bus to Teknaf then took a Ship to St. Martin’s. I was cruising over the blue carpet of Bay of Bengal and after two hours’ mesmerizing cruising, I reached Saint Martin Island.
Hotel and local vehicles:
There are lots of hotels. you can stay any of them, but to know the best hotel in please click the link: Best Hotels in St. Martin’s Island - Baqngladesh. The island has no supply of electricity from the national grid, no need to worry about it. Hotels run generators. you will get details information about the best hotel in Saint Martin. Van is the only passenger vehicle on Saint Martin Island. It is a nice idea to save our beloved Saint Martin Island from further pollution. The Van was too expensive. you can hire a less expensive bicycle and become fully independent. according to me, bicycle is the best option.
Things to discover
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**If you want to explore the full island don’t waste much time in the hotel. In Saint Martin most work happens in the morning and the evening, while midday is reserved for drying fish and rice and selling coconuts. This Island is divided into five regions. Uttar Para (Uttar means North and Para means area) which is the northern part of Saint Martin’s Island. Golachipa is the connector of two regions. Gola chipa actually indicates the narrow area. It connects Madhya and Uttar Para. Madhya Para means that it is located in the middle area. Madhya means middle. It situated south of the Golachipa Area. Dakhin Para is located southern part of Saint Martin Island. This area covers the rocky reef, and the last area is Cheradia which is the southernmost tip.
Sea Turtle Hatchery
There’s a Sea Turtle Hatchery on the west side of the island south of Shemana Pereye Resort. It’s not officially open to visitors, but it’s usually empty and the gate unlocked. If it’s the right season there will be several bamboo cages in the sand with eggs buried under them — not much to see, but it’s nice to know that good work is being done. This is under the Sea Turtle Conservation Project STURCNET (Sea Turtle Conservation Network). Rock Beach (Rocky Beach Area), Dhakinmatha, (Last point of the Island). The southern point of the Island has millions of years old Rock formed from Coral. The area is popular as Rock Beach and can be visited on foot. A 10-15 minutes track can be explored within the area by taking permission from the local Govt authority to see wildlife including lizard, migratory birds, and unique sweet water turtles habitat.
Sunrise and Sunset in St. Martin’s Island
Whatever the situation don’t miss the Sunrise on the east side of the island and after a lazy day head over to the west side for sunset. Sunset Point is a rocky peninsula on the northwest corner of the island near Saint Martin’s Resort which exists only at low tide. The sunrises and sunsets here are equally as spectacular. The afternoon sea beach view was breath-taking. The setting sun collaborating on the blue sea created a magical view.
Nightlife at St. Martin’s Island
After sunset, Stars are amazingly plentiful on a moonless night, due to the lack of electricity on the island. but in the moonlit night, the scenario is fully
different. Very few people can write the true description of the full moonlit night on this island. trust me, even I can’t explain the beauty of it.
When the full moon made her presence to show her magic. I was waiting for her action. Gradually she was becoming brighter. Now the queen moon was on her thorn. The silver particles of bright moon spreading over the Bay of Bengal created an Ariel view. It was a memorable event in my life to enjoy the play of the moon seating beside the sea beach. If you go for one night stand then don’t sleep, enjoy the nightlife of nature and the heavenly environment of this island.
Found Sea of Stars
Yes, no one before me discover it or bring it as a written format or capture any footage. You must know about the Breathtaking Sea of Stars in The Maldives, right? let me tell you that, I found it in St. Martin’s Island in Bangladesh. I have searched many books and articles but not found any information about Sea of Stars in Saint Martin. I was surprise why no one never told about it.
I already post about it, if you want you can read it. Speculator Phenomena - Sea of Stars found in Saint Martin Island in Bangladesh.
The corals of St Martin’s
Saint Martin has about 66 species of corals around it. Corals form a hard shell of calcium carbonate and eventually, it creates a coral rock. If you have ever visited Saint Martin, you might have noticed a lot of rocks on the shores of this island. In fact, those rocks are coral fossils, the ultimate form of dead coral.
Food
Food is a little more expensive here than the mainland. Maximum hotels have their own restaurants basically the same typical Bangladeshi food offering with higher prices and better quality than those near the port. Chicken is sometimes available but not very tasty and lobster and crab may be available occasionally at very high prices. The restaurant at Blue Marine Resort and Appayan at St Martin’s Resort are the best on the island. Bar-B-Que is one of the special features of this island for the late afternoon. The islanders also sell dried fish, which is a bit more expensive but fresher than those available up the shore in Cox’s Bazaar. the most important is don’t miss the coconut water of that island. In the main Bazar or beside the hotel it’s so expensive but if you manage it from the local people far from the hotel and main bazaar than it will be so cheap, you couldn’t even imagine.
Don’t Just See… Feel the Island
When you the island, when you hare the heart bits of the island only than you can unveil the true beauty of St. Martin’s Island -Bangladesh
The Disappointment
I was disappointed a few times when I saw the interference of humans killed a lot of coral. Local people are crashing on the tourism business and sometimes offer you bits of coral to purchase as souvenirs. Please do not buy it. This has resulted in a loss of around 25 percent of the coral reef in the past seven years with current conditions around the island being less favorable for regrowth. Visitors are encouraged to observe environment-friendly and sustainable practices while visiting the island. There was a lot of plastic trash all over which shocked me. How insensitive can tourists be? It is quite surprising that we have such a beautiful coral island in our country and instead of trying to protect it, we are in a hurry to kill it.