Travel to St. Martin’s Island: Sumptuous Beauty of Bangladesh

March 13, 2023

Traveler, journeyer, voyager, rover, explorer- no matter how you define yourself, if you haven’t visited the Saint Martin’s Island yet, your objective is yet to be fulfilled.

A view of the Saint Martin's Island

As the one and only Coral Island of Bangladesh, Saint Martin’s Island definitely holds immense significance. The name came from the then Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong Mr. Martin. This small island is in the northeastern part of the Bay of Bengal, which is about 9 km south from the Cox’s Bazar. It is the southernmost part of Bangladesh. The publicity of this island really sent off after Humayun Ahmed’s work “DaruchiniDwip.” The island is also known as “Narikel Jinjira” which translates to “Coconut Island.”

Now, why you should visit the Saint Martin’s Island?

Picturesque view from the island

Relaxing under coconut trees, having the vast blue sky on top of the head, swimming in the crystal blue water, tasting the appetizing local cuisine, roaming around the sand or doing a little campfire are enough to make anyone beguile.

Arriving at Saint Martin’s Island is a huge experience itself. The only way you can reach this island is by water transportation, mostly big boats and ships which you can either take from Cox’s Bazar or Teknaf. Once you get off the boat, you’ll discover yourself in a completely different world.

You wake up early to experience the beautiful sunrise at the beach. Then you can roam freely barefoot on the sand or you can take a bicycle and ride on it. Then you go on swimming in the vast ocean. The crystal blue water will take away all of your pain, stress and anger. You’ll definitely get engaged with corals, seaweeds, oysters and hundreds of species of fish. Again, crabs and sea turtles will never fail to disappoint you.

Red Crabs at the beach

The island is surrounded by the Keya trees and with the coconut garden. You’ll never feel bored no matter which way you go. Another thing to experience there is the fish markets. There are plenty of markets there which sells different species of fish which they catch from the sea. You just have to chose and buy the fish. They will cook them and serve it to you. So, you can enjoy the oceanic cuisines very easily.

Keya Tree (Pandanus odorifer) of Saint Martin's Island

As maximum hotels rely on the solar power energy completely, the generators will go off just before 11 PM. After that, you’ll witness the island have taken another personality, a dark and enigmatic personality. This is the best time for a campfire at the beach. Or you can simply relax at the umbrella hanging benches which are set on the beach.

Going to CheraDwip from the Saint Martin’s is another adventure. During the high tides, it is divided or disconnected from the island by the sea, thus achieving its name. But during the low tides, it can be reached by foot from the Saint Martin’s. Although local motorboat or tourist boat services are preferred by everyone. Washed up corals are to be found on the island’s beaches. It has an area of shrub and palm tree vegetation. But the main attraction is probably the crystal-clear sea water from where sea floor at early stages may sometimes be visible too.