Saint Martin Island is a beautiful island located in the deep sea(Bay of Bengal). It is in the northeastern part of the Bay of Bengal about 9km south of the trip of the Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf peninsula and forming the southernmost part of Bangladesh. There is a small Island in st. Martin that is separated at high tide called Chera Dwip, which is full of probal. It is about 8 kilometers (5 miles) west of the northwest coast of Myanmar, at the mouth of the Naf river. Since this is the Island is full of a Coconut tree, in locally, they call this place”Narikel Jinjira” or “Coconut Jinjira” as well. The taste of seafood is fantastic. Boat ride through the sea will give you a marvelous scenarioSea food and coconut water is the main attraction. Sunset and sunrise both are enjoyable from this Island. Even you can see the pagoda located in Myanmar from this Island. You can’t just explain the beauty in words.
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Description
Saint Martin Island makes up the Union Parishad. It has nine villages under this Union Parishad. Saint Martin Island is 7,315km long. Geographically it is divided into three parts. The northern partis called Narikel Jinjira or Uttar Para, and it is 2,134m long and 1,402m wide. The southern part is known as Dakshin Para, which is 1,929m long, with a narrow tail of 1,890m towards the southeast, and width is 975m. The thin central belt or Madhyapara connects the two parts. The length and breadth of this belt are about 1,524m and 518m, and the narrowest collar is known as Golachipa. The most densely populated region is Jinjira. There is a scarcity of sweet water ponds, and several tubewells supply fresh water for drinking as well as for cultivation. Through the Island falls in the Monsoon zone, the climate much influenced by the sea. The soil of the Island is not so fertile.
Transportation of Saint Martin Island
The only way to reach Saint Martin Island is by water transportation: boats and ships from Cox’s Bazar and Teknaf. The internal transport for the Island is a non-motorized van or rickshaw
(pulled by man). The roads are made of concrete, and their condition is decent. There is no electricity supply from the national grid since a hurricane in 1991. All the hotels run generators until 11 pm, which are not allowed afterward, so they then rely on solar power, which is famous throughout the Island. The is all about sun, sea, and palm trees; from Teknaf, you can cruise to St. Martin Island with the best and the safest ship Keary Sindbad and reach St. Martin’s comfortably in two or few hours. Ferries leave the Island around 3 pm. Keary Sindbad ferry and you can purchase a round trip ticket, which can same-day return or 1-2 days later.
By Bus
There is a two-step process of getting Saint Martin’s Island by bus. First, you will need to travel to Teknaf, which is the southernmost district of Bangladesh, on the very southern trip.
One can come to Teknaf by bus from Dhaka, Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar. Several bus services depart from Fakirapool, Dhaka, to Teknaf. The maximum bus starts at night, and the journey is about 10-11 hours. Mid-level ships run daily and take around 2-2:30 hours. All the boats and cruises start a journey from Teknaf to Saint Martin to about 3 pm. The peak season is September to April. The total distance from Dhaka to the Island is 510km.
By Plane
You have to reach firstly in Cox’s Bazar from Dhaka-Chittagong by plane(Biman Airways, United Airways, Best Air, etc.). The fare from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar is around BDT 6000-7500. After reaching Cox’s Bazar by plane, there are several ways to travel to Teknaf from Cox’s Bazar. There are private cars for rental, public buses, which start from Cox’s Bazar to Teknaf and cost BDT 60-80.
Tourism
Non-residential Bangladeshis and foreigners were the only people permitted on the Island from 1989 to 2004. After that, this has changed. Now residential Bangladeshis are allowed in St.
Martins Island. Saint Martins Island has become a tourist spot, and five shipping liners run daily trips to the Island. Tourists can book their trip either from Chittagong or from Cox’s
Bazar. There is an extension in St. Martin’s Island, which is known as Chera Dwip. A small bush is there, which is the only green part. People do not live on this green part, so the tourists should go there early and come back by afternoon.
Things to do in Saint Martin Island
Fishing is one of the most significant professional activities of St. Martin’s Island has 5,500 residents. The best weather is usually between November and February; however, this is the primary tourist season. Between March and July, cyclones can strike. The Island devasted by a hurricane in 1991 but has fully recovered. Thus, March to July is the off-season for tourists. During the rainy season, because of the dangerous conditions on the Bay of Bengal, there is no scope to go to the mainland(Teknaf), and their life can become dangerous. There is a hospital on the Island, but in the past, there has often been no doctor.
Sea view in Saint Martin Island
Saint Martin Island is the only coral sea beach in Bangladesh, where the water of this ocean is blue. You can swim in blue water; play football and drink coconut water, everything you want to do. You can use a cycle to look around, and it would be so much fun and lots of sea fish also you can eat. However, sea fishes are very much tasty and fresh. Sea birds are fantastic. Stars are amazingly plentiful on a moonless night, due to the lack of electricity on the Island. In the rock beach area, Dhakinmatha(last point of the Island), the southern end of the Island has millions of years old rock formed from Coral. The city is famous as Rock Beach and can visit on foot.