Mount Harriet National Park: A Scenic Escape in the Heart of Andaman

Mount Harriet National Park is an almost unknown and unheralded environment for experiencing a place where history, forest and picture-perfect views even dominate together! Rather than drawing attention like many beaches do, Mount Harriet National Park simply charms you without fussing about it.

This is a place where you are in the middle of thick tropical foliage one moment and you have a grand panoramic view directly out to sea, and indeed this scene provided the photograph for the first ₹20 notes to be issued in India. Who would have thought there was such a view in a national park that prides itself on subtlety rather than noise?

Mount Harriet National Park is located just outside the capital city of Port Blair and as such it demonstrates to us that we can enjoy hills, heritage and very good leg workouts at locations in the Andaman Islands that do not involve only swimming and building sandcastles.If you’re planning a complete itinerary, exploring the islands with a curated Andaman Tour Package makes the journey much smoother.

Overview of Mount Harriet National Park in Port Blair

Mount Harriet National Park is accessible from Port Blair and is one of the easiest forest reserves in Andaman Islands to gain access to. The park encompasses a large area of lush hills and contributes greatly to the overall South Andaman forest ecosystem.

Some of the highlights of this example include:

• Previously the summer headquarters for British officers.
• Located at one of the highest elevations throughout South Andaman.
• Bathed with panoramic views of surrounding islands and coastlines.

Mount Harriet Andaman Park is an excellent destination option for anyone looking for an escape from the beaches, and it pairs well with relaxing itineraries like Andaman Family Tour Packages and premium stays under Andaman Luxury Packages.

History & Name Change: From Mount Harriet to Mount Manipur Andaman

The area has a deep colonial history and was originally called Mount Harriet when it served as a retreat for senior government officers wanting to escape from the hot tropical climate of Port Blair.

More recently, the park was officially renamed Mount Manipur to honour Manipuri freedom fighters associated with the Andaman Islands. Do today, you will frequently hear the two names used in a similar manner, the two are simply often interchanged.

While the name may have changed, the basic characteristics of the area remain unchanged: calm walking paths, dense forest, and breathtaking views that make you want to stop and take a breath between steps! This is also why many couples include it in their Andaman Honeymoon Tour Packages for a quiet scenic day.

Flora, Fauna & Trekking Experience at Mount Harriet Andaman

Mount Harriet National Park is a wonderful place with amazing biodiversity beyond anything found anywhere else on the Andaman Islands.

Flora

This national park has:

• A profusion of evergreen & semi-evergreen rainforest
• Tall hardwood trees with dense understory
• A large number of tropical plants and medicinal plants.

Walking through the park is like walking through a green tunnel: it is green, shady, and finds itself an oasis of tranquility. If you’re planning your trip with cost in mind, this kind of experience fits beautifully into Andaman Budget Packages.

Fauna

You should look for:

• Wild pigs from the Andaman Islands
• Monitor lizards
• Butterflies & several rare species of birds.

You may not see every animal, however, the sounds of chirping birds and leaves blowing in the wind will provide the story of every creature.

Trekking Experience

• The trails at Mount Harriet in Port Blair are all very beginner-friendly and provide great satisfaction.
• All trails are well marked
• The gradients vary from casual (easy) to moderate difficulty.
• Fantastic panoramic views of the island’s landscapes from several sea outcrops.

The most popular trail will lead you to a viewpoint that looks directly onto the island of Ross and into North Bay, and while the hike is not particularly challenging, you will feel a sense of accomplishment for being able to see the view when you reach it. For travellers who want nature + activities together, this combines well with itineraries like Adventure Tour Packages.

Best Time & How to Reach Mount Harriet National Park Port Blair

When to go

The perfect period for visiting Mount Harriet National Park is from October to May.

• Favorable Conditions
• Excellent viewing conditions
• Moderate, enjoyable weather

The wet months (June-September) provide much needed rainfall to the area, resulting in more foliage in the park; however, your trails could be very slick and parts of the park may have limited access during these months.

How to get there

To get to Mount Harriet, Port Blair, is half the experience:

• Travel from Port Blair via either Chatham or Bamboo Flat
• Take a short boat ride to reach your next destination

From there, you will need to travel to the park entrance via land. However, if you would prefer not to handle any of these logistical issues, you could use private taxis and/or guided tours to make the trip easy on you; especially if you have never been there before. Many visitors prefer pre-planned travel based on their city, such as Delhi to Andaman Tour Packages or Mumbai to Andaman Tour Packages.

Conclusion

If you think of beaches as the main attraction on Andaman Island, you should also consider that Mount Harriet National Park is another exceptional attraction that enhances your Andaman Island experience with peace and solitude.

A handy guide to Mount Harriet is that it is also known as Mount Manipur or Mount Harriet Andaman; however, the uniqueness of Mount Harriet is that it offers both tranquillity and freedom from boredom at the same time.

Museum exhibits based on colonial settlement, the peacefulness of the rainforest and stunning views from each of them are what make Mount Harriet National Park, Port Blair, as well as Andaman Island itself, absolutely magnificent locations that offer beauty outside of just its ocean edge.

When booking your Andaman Island trip through andamantourtravelpackage.com, ensure that a green alternative is provided on your travel plan, especially if you are travelling with friends under Andaman Group Packages or planning a longer multi-stop holiday with experiences like Baratang Tour Packages.

For travellers coming from different parts of India, planning becomes easier with city-based itineraries such as Bangalore to Andaman Tour Packages, Hyderabad to Andaman Tour Packages, Chennai to Andaman Tour Packages, Kolkata to Andaman Tour Packages, Ahmedabad to Andaman Tour Packages, or Kerala to Andaman Tour Packages.

You will feel the exhaustion in your legs after a trek; however, your mind will quickly realise how thankful you are for making this decision.

FAQs About Mount Harriet National Park