Mt Harriet National Park, the most sought after wilderness

Mount Harriet National Park (Manipur Parvat): The Most Sought-After Wilderness in Andaman

By

Debkumar Bhadra

Cover Page of Go Explore Andaman
Travel Magazine, December 2021

Stand at the summit of Mount Harriet (now Manipur Parvat) on a clear morning and the world opens up around you — the deep blue of the Andaman Sea stretching to the horizon, the lighthouse at North Bay glinting in the distance, islands scattered like emeralds across the water. It is the kind of view that stays with you long after you have descended back into the city. And yet, remarkably, this wilderness sits less than an hour and a half from Port Blair (now Sri Vijaya Puram), offering rate accessibility to an incredible natural landscape. This article explores Mount Harriet National Park, its landscape, rainforest, biodiversity, trekking routes and the famous viewpoint that connects it to one of India's ₹20 currency note.

[This post was carried in the December 2021 Edition of Go Explore Andaman, a travel magazine]

A Peak by Two Names: From Mount Harriet to Manipur Parvat

Mt Manipur entry gate cum permit counter

Mount Harriet — now officially rechristened Manipur Parvat — is the third highest peak in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, rising to 422 metres above sea level on the eastern flank of South Andaman. It occupies coordinates between 11° 42' 5" to 11° 51' 45" N Latitude and 92° 43' 41" to 92° 48' 13" E Longitude, though such numbers do little justice to the sheer beauty of what lies within them.

 

The mountain range, spreading across 46.62 sq km, comprises five principal peaks: Mt Koyob (459m), Mt Hext (425m), Mt Harriet (422m), Mt Goodridge (376m), and Mt Carpenter (346m). The entire range was established as a National Park in 1969 and is maintained by the Wildlife Division of the Department of Environment and Forests, Andaman and Nicobar Administration.

The peak was originally named after Harriet C. Tytler, the second wife of Col. Robert Christopher Tytler, who served as Superintendent of the Convict Settlement at Port Blair and was primarily responsible for clearing the Mount Harriet area for the construction of the then British Chief Commissioner's summer house.

The Renaming: A Tribute to Manipuri Resistance

A Nicobari Hut seen on the right is an added attraction

The peak's recent renaming as Manipur Parvat commemorates the historic 1891 Anglo-Manipur War. A defining episode in the history of resistance against British rule. The war, fought between the Kingdom of Manipur and British forces, ended with Prince Tikendrajit and four others hanged publicly at Fida in Imphal. His brother Kulachandra and several others were sentenced to spend the rest of their lives exiled on the remote Andaman Islands — known as Kalapani — far from their homeland. 

According to a British-era document preserved in the Manipur State Archives, 23 men, including King Kulachandra Dhwaja Singh were "transported for life" to the Andamans. Since the Cellular Jail did not yet exist, the British used various parts of the islands as open prisons. It was at Mount Harriet that King Kulachandra and his 22 companions were sent to serve their banishment. The land they lived and died on now bears the name of their state — a belated but meaningful recognition. The renaming also coincides with Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, marking India's 75th Anniversary of Independence.

The Landscape: Dense Forests, Rare Birds, and Breathtaking Views

The forest cover that blankets Manipur Parvat is exceptional even by Andaman standards. Vast expanses of dense, pristine evergreen and semi-evergreen forests harbour a rich and diverse range of flora and fauna — the kind of undisturbed wilderness that scientists, researchers, environmentalists, and nature photographers make long journeys to experience.

 

The park is home to several rare and endemic bird species, including seven near-threatened species, earning it recognition as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International. For both professional and amateur birdwatchers, the national park offers something invaluable: the chance to observe birds found nowhere else on earth, set against a backdrop of extraordinary natural beauty.

 

Rare and colourful butterflies, moths, and a myriad of other life forms complete the picture — making this wilderness the most sought-after destination among tourists, scientists, trekkers, and ecotourism enthusiasts in the Andamans.

View from the Summit: Islands, Lighthouse, and a Story on a Currency Note

Original photo on the left taken from Mt Manipur view point showing Light House at North Bay on the reverse of twenty rupee note

The summit of Manipur Parvat rewards visitors with one of the most panoramic views in the Andaman Islands. On a clear day, you can see the Andaman Sea, the lighthouse at North Bay, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island (formerly Ross Island), Shaheed Dweep (formerly Neil Island), Sir Hugh Rose Island, Swaraj Dweep (formerly Havelock Island), and stretches of rural South Andaman.

 

Here is a detail that never fails to delight visitors: that lighthouse at North Bay — framed by wild palm and coconut trees — is the same one that appears on the reverse of the twenty-rupee Indian currency note. The original photograph, taken from the Mount Harriet viewpoint, found its way onto India's currency, making the Andamans a quiet presence in every wallet in the country. 

North Bay itself, with its shallow waters, coral reefs, and vibrant marine life, is among the most visited spots in the islands for snorkelling, coral viewing, and water sports.

How to Reach Manipur Parvat: Land Route and the Scenic Sea-and-Road Combination

View from Gun Point

Manipur Parvat is open year-round and accessible by two routes — a full land route, or a more scenic combination of sea and road.

 

By Road: The most straightforward option is to drive from Port Blair through the rural South Andaman landscape. The summit is approximately 55 km from Port Blair and can be reached in about an hour and a half.

 

By combination of Ferry upto Bambooflat, then by Road: A more atmospheric option is to take the passenger or vehicle ferry service that plies every half hour between early morning and late night from Chatham Island. The ferry ride to Bambooflat jetty takes about 15 minutes, and from Bambooflat, the summit is a 8 km drive by road — making the total journey refreshingly short. 

Visitors who prefer to ride can hire a two-wheeler in Port Blair, board a vehicle ferry from Chatham, and ride to the summit from Bambooflat. A word of caution: the road to the summit is a narrow, single-lane, no-horn carriageway with multiple hairpin bends and blind turns. A geared vehicle is strongly recommended over an ungeared scooter on this steep and winding road.

Trekking to the Summit: The Panighat Trail

Typical narrow, hairpin bend road to the summit

For nature enthusiasts who prefer to leave motorised vehicles behind altogether, there is a rewarding trekking option. Take a passenger ferry from Phoenix Bay jetty to Panighat — a 15-minute boat ride — and then follow the trekking trail of approximately 4 km to Manipur Parvat alongside the historic remains of the Aqueduct at Panighat. Depending on your pace and inclination to pause and observe, the trek through the forest can be completed in one to two hours.

Trails Beyond the Summit: Kala Pathar and Madhuban

Natural trail to Kalapathar

The experience does not end at the summit. A further 2.5 km nature trail leads to Kala Pathar, winding through forest cover that rewards attentive walkers with birdsong, butterflies, and the particular stillness of old-growth woodland. 

For the more adventurous, there is a 16 km trek downward through the meandering forest paths to Madhuban, the elephant training camp on the eastern shores. This is a full-day undertaking for serious trekkers and offers an entirely different experience of the Andaman wilderness.

A Favourite Picnic Spot for Islanders

Narrow, single lane road to the summit

For the local population of Port Blair and South Andaman, Manipur Parvat has long been the most cherished weekend escape. Families and friend groups make their way to the summit on holidays and weekends, carrying pre-cooked food — lighting fires inside the national park is not permitted — along with drinking water and snacks. They spend hours socialising, sharing laughter, eating in the lap of nature, and return to the city fully recharged. There is a forest guest house at the summit which serves tea and lunch on limited pre-order basis.

 

There is something quietly moving about this: the same forest that once served as a place of exile and punishment now serves as a source of joy and renewal for the islanders who call this archipelago home.

Practical Information for Visitors

• Location: 55 km by road from Port Blair
• Ferry from Chatham : Land at Bambooflat, then proceed by road 8 km
• Altitude: 422 metres (Mt Harriet peak)
• Best time to visit: October to May (post-monsoon and winter months offer clearest skies and best views)
• Open: Year-round
• Entry permit: Required; available at the entry gate cum permit counter at the park entrance
• Rules: No lighting of fires within the national park; no horn zone on the summit road
• Carry: Drinking water, pre-packed food if planning a picnic, binoculars for birdwatching

Related Reading:
👉 Mangroves of Wright Myo Creek, Seeing is Believing
👉 An Officer in the thick of Mt Harriet
👉 Aqueduct at Panighat, tale of an ancient wisdom turning from ruins to rubble