1. Geographical Terrain & Historical Overview
Mount Harriet National Park (officially designated as Mount Manipur National Park in October 2021) covers an area of 46.62 square kilometers across a rugged mountain ridge in South Andaman. Gazetted in 1979, the national park encompasses Mount Harriet (365 meters), the highest peak in South Andaman, offering commanding panoramic views across the Andaman Sea, Port Blair harbor, Ross Island (Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island), and North Bay Lighthouse.
During the 19th-century British colonial administration, Mount Harriet served as the summer headquarters of the Chief Commissioner of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, selected for its refreshing sea breezes and cooler mountain microclimate. The peak was originally named after Harriet Tytler, a British artist and photographer who was the wife of Robert Christopher Tytler, the Superintendent of the Convict Settlement at Port Blair in 1862.
The Mount Manipur Rechristening
In October 2021, the Union Government officially renamed the peak Mount Manipur to honor the historical resistance of the Kingdom of Manipur against the British Empire during the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891. Following the war, King Kulachandra Dhwaja Singh, Prince Tikendrajit, and 22 noble soldiers were tried and sentenced to transportation for life to the Penal Settlement of the Andamans, where King Kulachandra and his fellow soldiers were held in confinement on Mount Harriet.
The park preserves the historical colonial structures, stone pathways, and garden terraces established during the 19th century, integrating cultural heritage with rigorous biodiversity conservation.
The steep mountain terrain falls abruptly into coastal mangroves on the western flank and rocky littoral sea cliffs along the eastern face at Kalapathar. These steep elevation gradients compress multiple micro-ecological zones within a short 5-kilometer geographical transect.
2. The Famous 20-Rupee Note Viewpoint
Mount Harriet holds an iconic place in Indian numismatic history. The scenic landscape depicted on the reverse side of India's historical ₹20 currency banknote was photographed from a specific vantage point near the summit of Mount Harriet.
Looking southeast from the viewpoint watchtower, the vista frames the verdant forested slopes of the park cascading down into the azure waters of the Bay of Bengal, with the white beacon of North Bay Lighthouse visible across the channel. A dedicated viewing pavilion at the summit marks the exact orientation where this historic currency engraving was created.
Visitors can stand at the exact stone parapet where colonial photographers and Reserve Bank of India engravers captured this celebrated panoramic scene, observing the maritime traffic navigating the Port Blair shipping channel below.
3. Botanical Diversity & Forest Architecture
The park preserves some of the densest primary rainforest canopies remaining on South Andaman Island, classified into Andaman Tropical Evergreen Forest, Andaman Semi-Evergreen Forest, and Littoral Scrub.
Giant hardwood species dominate the upper canopy, including Andaman Padauk (Pterocarpus dalbergioides), Silver Grey Wood (Terminalia bialata), Gurjan (Dipterocarpus alatus), and Koko (Albizia lebbeck). The sub-canopy is rich in wild nutmeg, endemic tree ferns (Cyathea albosetacea), woody lianas, and over 100 species of epiphytic orchids including Dendrobium, Bulbophyllum, and Eria species.
Dense bamboo thickets (Dinochloa andamanica) form extensive vegetative curtains along the ridgelines, providing vital shelter and nesting material for endemic avifauna and small mammals.
4. Avian Wealth & Endemic Birdwatching Hotspots
Mount Harriet is recognized by BirdLife International as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA), harboring nearly all of the 28 bird species endemic to the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago.
Andaman Wood Pigeon (Columba palumboides)
The state bird of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Large arboreal pigeons feeding on wild figs and palm fruits in the high evergreen canopy.
Andaman Treepie (Dendrocitta bayleyii)
An agile, noisy corvid with striking rufous-brown plumage and pale blue eyes, foraging in family parties along forest mid-canopy tracks.
Andaman Scops Owl & Andaman Hawk-Owl
Nocturnal raptors hunting along the forest edges, vocalizing with distinctive territorial calls during the twilight hours.
Andaman Serpent Eagle (Spilornis elgini)
A specialized dark-plumaged forest eagle that hunts snakes, lizards, and frogs beneath the dense rain-forest canopy.
Other notable fauna include the Andaman Wild Pig (Sus scrofa andamanensis), the Masked Palm Civet, the Andaman Nightjar, and colorful endemic butterflies such as the Andaman Mormon (Papilio mayo) and Andaman Clubtail.
5. The Kalapathar Trek & Expedition Itinerary
Mount Harriet National Park offers some of the finest nature trekking trails in the Andaman Islands:
07:30 AM: Chatham Ferry Crossing & Bambooflat Transit
Board the morning vehicle ferry from Chatham Wharf in Port Blair. Sail across the harbor to Hope Town Jetty, followed by a scenic 10 km drive climbing up the mountain flanks to the forest reception gate.
08:30 AM – 10:30 AM: Summit Nature Walk & 20-Rupee Viewpoint
Walk the paved summit trail past colonial heritage rest houses and orchid propagation shade-houses. Photograph the historic 20-Rupee currency panorama overlooking North Bay Lighthouse.
11:00 AM – 03:30 PM: Kalapathar Ridge Trail (16 km Round-Trip)
Embark on the wilderness ridge trek to Kalapathar. Hike through towering Dipterocarp groves and ancient buttressed trees to reach the dramatic coastal cliffs where waves crash against black basalt boulders.
04:30 PM: Sunset Birding & Return Ferry
Observe twilight bird activity (Andaman Scops Owl, Andaman Nightjar) along the summit descent before returning to Hope Town for the ferry crossing back to Port Blair.
6. Visitor Information, Fees & How to Reach
Mount Harriet is one of the most accessible national parks in the Andaman Islands, making it ideal for day trips from Port Blair.
How to Reach
- Via Chatham Ferry (Recommended): Regular vehicle and passenger ferries operate every 20 minutes from Chatham Jetty in Port Blair to Hope Town (Bambooflat), taking 15 minutes. From Hope Town, hire a taxi or auto-rickshaw for the 10 km uphill drive.
- Via All-Weather Road: Drive via the Grand Andaman Trunk Road through Ferrargunj and Wimberlygunj (approx. 45 km, 1.5 hours).
Entry Timings & Ticketing
The park is open daily from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Entry tickets are ₹50 for Indian adults, ₹25 for students, and ₹500 for foreign citizens. Camera fees (₹25 for still cameras, ₹500 for video cameras) and vehicle entry fees are payable at the entrance gate.
7. Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Mount Harriet renamed to Mount Manipur?
In October 2021, the Government of India officially renamed Mount Harriet to Mount Manipur as a historical tribute to Maharaja Kulachandra Dhwaja Singh and 22 Manipuri freedom fighters who were exiled and imprisoned here after the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891.
What is the famous 20-Rupee note viewpoint at Mount Harriet?
The iconic scenic landscape printed on the reverse side of India's historical ₹20 currency banknote was photographed from the summit viewpoint of Mount Harriet, depicting the panoramic vista of North Bay Lighthouse and surrounding turquoise seas.
How do you reach Mount Harriet from Port Blair?
Travelers can take a vehicle ferry from Chatham Jetty in Port Blair to Hope Town / Bambooflat (a 15-minute crossing), followed by a 10 km uphill drive to the park entrance. Alternatively, one can drive via the road route through Ferrargunj (approx. 45 km).
What are the park entry timings and fees?
Mount Harriet National Park is open daily from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Entry fees are ₹50 for adult Indian nationals, ₹25 for students/children, and ₹500 for foreign tourists. Vehicle entry permits and camera fees are payable at the Forest Department ticketing counter.
How long is the Kalapathar nature trek?
The Kalapathar forest trek is a 16 km round-trip trail departing from Mount Harriet summit through dense evergreen rainforest along the mountain ridge, leading to the coastal rock cliffs of Kalapathar.
What endemic birds can be sighted at Mount Harriet?
The park is home to nearly all 28 Andaman endemic bird species, including the Andaman Wood Pigeon, Andaman Treepie, Andaman Serpent Eagle, Andaman Scops Owl, Andaman Cuckooshrike, and Andaman Drongo.
8. Butterfly Diversity, Herpetofauna & Night Safari Trails
Mount Harriet National Park is a premier entomological and herpetological research haven in the Bay of Bengal. Over 120 species of butterflies and moths inhabit the micro-elevational zones of the mountain, taking advantage of the diverse flowering canopy and abundant wild larval host plants.
Notable butterfly species include the endemic Andaman Clubtail (Losaria rhodifer), the Andaman Mormon (Papilio mayo), the Large Green Oakblue, and the spectacular Andaman Birdwing. During the post-monsoon months of November and December, hundreds of butterflies congregate around damp forest stream banks and flowering Leea indica shrubs along the lower trek routes.
Nocturnal Amphibians & Reptiles
The park's high nocturnal humidity supports a rich assemblage of endemic amphibians and reptiles. The Andaman Bullfrog (Kaloula baleata), the Charles Darwin's Frog (Ingerana charlesdarwini), and the endemic Green Bronzeback Tree Snake forage actively along forest stream corridors after dusk.
Authorized guided evening walks along the periphery of the park allow naturalists to observe glowing bioluminescent fungi (Mycena species) that illuminate decaying hardwood logs along the shaded forest floor, showcasing the complex fungal decomposition cycles that maintain the nutrient balance of the tropical rainforest ecosystem.
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