St. Martin's Island

 

St. Martin's Island (Summary Video of our Tour)

St. Martin's Island is one of my most favorite place in Bangladesh. It's a small island only covered by 8 square kilometres of area. Some people call it Narical Jinjira, means Coconut Island. Chera Dwip and Daruchini Dwip is a part of this island. It's the only coral island in Bangladesh. About 250 years ago some Arabian Sailors named this Island ‘Zajira’. British period this island was named St. Martin's Island. There is no electricity in this island. As a result during day time the island becomes alive by the people but at night it become calm and quite. The gentle, soft breeze comes from the sea. The moonlight night will give you an awesome experience. Old days people use Hurricane (lamp) at night but now a day's generator electricity becomes available.

It's one of the best place in Bangladesh. It's totally different than Cox's Bazar beach. Its clam and quite, clean blue water and long coral beach. We used to go to the beach in the morning and evening. Walk around the beach in the evening and at night after dinner. We saw the running star at night. The majority of the Island's inhabitants lives primarily off fishing. Dry fish of this island is very popular. I can remember some of the popular dry fish names: Rupchanda, Lakkha, Churi, Loitta etc. Some people earn their livelihood by selling coconuts.

Transportation

You can go to the St. Martin's Island from Teknaf. Buses go to Teknaf from Dhaka, Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and from other districts as well. We have Airport in both Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar. From Teknaf go to Ship Station and you will get Ship or Shallow engine boat to go to St. Martin's Island. About 3 hours journey from Teknaf to St. Martin.

M. V. Green Line - 1 is an air-conditioned ship service from Teknaf to St. Martin's island. It's a two storied ship that has 131 comfortable seats to provide safe and comfortable journey to the tourists. This ship starts from Teknaf at 9.30 am and from St. Martin's island at 3.30 pm every day. The fare for business class is tk 750 (top floor) while economy class is tk 600(ground floor). This ship starts from the 1st November, 2015 and until now their service is excellent.

I have visited St. Martin's twice. 1st in 2009 and 2nd in 2015. Lot's of thing have been changed during this years. Previously the resorts was limited and only few ship and Shallow engine boat used to come here. Now a days resorts are available and new ship launched. Bicycle becomes available, you can hire one and move around the whole island. It was clam and quite in old days but now during vacations it becomes crowded. 

2nd Journey: 15th to 17th December, 2015

About our 2nd trip: It was a sudden trip, though we planned it few months ago but not sure about the final destination. We booked our hotel room two weeks ago as a result we got the chance to stay there only for three days. For this type of trip you have to book hotel room, bus ticket and ship ticket as well as return ticket minimum one three weeks ago. We started for St. Martin's Island on 15th December night by Green Line bus from Dhaka. Reached Teknaf next morning 10.30 am and finally got into the Green Line water bus. It takes 2 hours to reach St. Martin's Island. By rickshaw we reached our hotel called Somudra Kutir Resort. Rent per night 2500 tk. It's a nice resort with some good facilities, like Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, BBQ (fish, chicken). 16th December we visited Chera Dwip and Daruchini Dwip arranged by the resort manager. Next day we returned Dhaka.

This is an unforgettable tour and remarkable for many reasons. The nature, sea food, weather, shooting stars at night, hospitality of the resort manager and the local people makes it a special one. The mouth-watering test of sea fish (fish BBQ) was delicious.

Picture of our 2nd St. Martin's Tour

M. V. Green Line - 1	St. Martin's Island	Sea Fish BBQ
St. Martin's Island	Fishermen catching fish in St. Martin's Island.	Fish
Daruchini Dwip.	Daruchini Dwip.	St. Martin's Island.
We are with local kids	St. Martin's Island	Fishing boats in St. Martin's Island
Chera Dwip.	Sea Snail	Chera Dwip
Daruchini Dwip.	Chera Dwip	Chera Dwip
Chera Dwip	We	St. Martin's Island
Sea Fish	Sea Fish	Somudra Kutir Resort
Somudra Kutir Resort	Lotus Flower	St. Martin's Island
Local Kid	Sea Fish BBQ
	Sea Birds

Video of St. Martin

Sea Bird's of St. Martin's


Video of Chera Dwip


Video of Daruchini Dwip

1st Journey: 29th October 2nd November, 2009

About Our 1st Trip: It was a study tour from the university of my friend's and I joined them as a guest. We went to Cox's Bazar by bus from Dhaka. Next morning from Teknaf we start for St. Martin with a ship called L.C.T Kutubdia around 9am. Everyday maybe four ships go to St. Martin from Teknaf and they return around 4.00 PM. Prices vary depending on which ship you use. Average price are 550 taka including return ticket. Cabins are also available at Tk 1500 to 2500.

We stayed in a hotel call Blue Marin Resort. It's walking distance from the beach. Most important thing is that there is no electricity in that island. Up to 10 to 11 am hotel supply power using generator. After that you have to use lamp.

Picture of our 1st St. Martin's Tour

Boat on the Naf River	L.C.T Kutubdia	St. Martin's Island
Somudro Bilash
Drinking Green Coconut	Night Lamp
Coral
	Fishermen repairing their net
Rupchanda Fish of St. Martin		Dry Rupchanda Fish

St. Martin's Island in Google Map