Saddle Peak National Park Guide: Diglipur, Kalpong River & Trekking

1. Geographical Setting & Montane Topography

Saddle Peak National Park encompasses 32.54 square kilometers of rugged montane rainforest terrain in the northeastern extremity of North Andaman Island, near Diglipur. Established in 1979 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, the sanctuary centers upon Saddle Peak (732 meters), the undisputed highest geographical summit in the entire Andaman and Nicobar archipelago.

The geological structure of the Saddle Peak massif consists of an uplifted ophiolite complex composed of serpentinized ultramafic peridotites, basaltic pillow lavas, and radiolarian cherts. This unique volcanic mineral composition creates distinctive heavy-metal-rich serpentine soils that have driven the evolution of specialized endemic plant taxa adapted to mineral stress.

The mountain rises directly from the coastal shores of Lamia Bay, creating a sharp 732-meter vertical elevation gradient across less than 4 horizontal kilometers. As moist maritime winds from the Andaman Sea hit the steep eastern face of the mountain, they are forced upward, generating persistent orographic mist and heavy cloud precipitation. This constant moisture sustains an isolated sub-tropical cloud forest on the upper ridges that is unique in the entire island territory.

Kalipur Beach near Diglipur at the foot of Saddle Peak — Kalipur Beach near the base of Saddle Peak, renowned as an important nesting ground for olive ridley and hawksbill turtles.

2. The Kalpong River: The Archipelago's Sole Perennial Waterway

Saddle Peak functions as the primary hydrological watershed for North Andaman. The massif gives birth to the Kalpong River, the only truly perennial freshwater river system in the entire Andaman archipelago (which otherwise relies on seasonal monsoonal streams).

Flowing through dense evergreen valleys, the Kalpong River sustains rich riparian gallery forests before supplying freshwater to the agricultural plains of Diglipur. The river is also the site of the Kalpong Hydroelectric Project (a 5.25 MW project commissioned in 2001), which utilizes the mountain's steep hydraulic gradient to generate clean renewable electricity for North Andaman Island.

3. Botanical Architecture & Stunted Ridge Cloud Forests

The vegetation of Saddle Peak National Park displays a remarkable vertical zonation pattern, transitioning through four distinct ecological strata as elevation increases from sea level to the summit:

Elevational Forest Strata

Littoral & Mangrove Belt (0 – 50 m): Fringed by Rhizophora, Casuarina equisetifolia, and beach creepers along Lamia Bay.
Lowland Tropical Wet Evergreen Forest (50 – 350 m): Dominated by giant Dipterocarps (Dipterocarpus gracilis), Andaman Padauk (Pterocarpus dalbergioides), and massive buttressed hardwood trees festooned with woody lianas.
Sub-Montane Evergreen Rainforest (350 – 600 m): Characterized by dense stands of tree ferns (Cyathea albosetacea), endemic wild nutmegs, and moss-draped branches supporting over 80 species of epiphytic orchids.
Stunted Ridge Cloud Forest (600 – 732 m): The windy, mist-shrouded summit ridge supports dwarf trees, gnarled Rhodomyrtus shrubs, and thick blankets of peat moss (Sphagnum), creating a surreal "elfin forest" micro-habitat found nowhere else in the Andamans.

4. Keystone Fauna & Endemic Avifauna

Andaman Wild Pig (Sus scrofa andamanensis)

Native insular wild boar populations roaming the dense mid-elevation Dipterocarp forests, foraging for tubers, fungi, and fallen forest fruits.

Andaman Imperial Pigeon (Ducula aenea andamanica)

Large arboreal frugivorous pigeons inhabiting the high rainforest canopy, with distinctive deep booming territorial calls echoing across the valleys.

Andaman Hill Myna (Gracula religiosa andamanensis)

Highly vocal endemic mynas nesting in natural tree hollows in emergent hardwood snags along the lower mountain slopes.

Saltwater Crocodile & Monitor Lizards

Saltwater crocodiles inhabit the lower Kalpong River estuary, while the Asian Water Monitor patrols the perennial freshwater stream banks.

Endemic herpetofauna includes the Andaman Keelback snake (Tropidonophis nicobarensis) and the Andaman Day Gecko (Phelsuma andamanensis), while the mountain streams shelter rare endemic freshwater crabs and freshwater gobies.

5. The Saddle Peak Summit Trek: Blueprint & Field Timeline

The hike to the summit of Saddle Peak is the most demanding and rewarding terrestrial wilderness trek in the Andaman Islands. The round-trip journey spans 8 kilometers with an elevation gain of 732 meters through dense, humid jungle:

06:30 AM: Registration at Lamia Bay Forest Checkpost

Arrive at the Lamia Bay trailhead (12 km from Diglipur). Obtain Forest Department entry permits, hire an authorized local nature guide, and inspect trekking gear (minimum 3 liters of water per person is mandatory).

07:00 AM – 09:30 AM: Ascent through Primary Dipterocarp Canopy

Hike upward along the rocky forest trail, crossing crystal-clear freshwater tributaries of the Kalpong River. Pass massive buttressed trees and listen for the calls of Andaman Treepies and Serpent Eagles.

09:30 AM – 11:00 AM: The Ridge Push & Stunted Cloud Forest

Navigate the steep upper scramble where the trail narrows along an exposed knife-edge ridge. Enter the moss-carpeted elfin forest zone where cool clouds drift across the trail.

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Saddle Peak Summit (732 m) Panorama

Reach the summit viewpoint marked by a solar beacon and triangulation marker. Enjoy an expansive 360-degree panorama across the entire North Andaman coastline, Ross and Smith Islands, and the vast expanse of the Andaman Sea.

12:30 PM – 03:30 PM: Controlled Descent to Lamia Bay Beach

Carefully descend the steep trail back to Lamia Bay before late afternoon darkness. Conclude with a relaxing walk along the pebble-strewn beach of Lamia Bay.

6. Travel Logistics, Permits & Best Visiting Season

Planning an expedition to Saddle Peak requires overnighting in the northern hub of Diglipur.

How to Reach Diglipur

By Road (Andaman Trunk Road - NH4): Daily government and private AC buses operate from Port Blair to Diglipur (300 km, approx. 10–12 hours), traversing South, Middle, and North Andaman via vehicle ferry crossings at Middle Strait and Uttara Jetty.
By Government Ferry: Directorate of Shipping Services operates direct passenger ships 2 to 3 times weekly from Phoenix Bay / Haddo Wharf in Port Blair to Aerial Bay Jetty in Diglipur (8 to 10 hours overnight voyage).

Trek Fees & Best Season

Forest entry fees are ₹50 for Indian nationals and ₹500 for foreign citizens, payable at the Lamia Bay checkpost. Guide fees range from ₹500 to ₹800. The optimal trekking season is November to March, when the forest floor is drier, leech activity on the trail is minimal, and summit cloud visibility is clear.

7. Frequently Asked Questions

What is the highest mountain peak in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands?

Saddle Peak, rising to an elevation of 732 meters (2,402 feet) above sea level in North Andaman Island, is the highest mountain in the entire Andaman and Nicobar archipelago.

Where is the trailhead for the Saddle Peak summit trek?

The trek commences from Lamia Bay, located approximately 8 km south of Aerial Bay Jetty and about 12 km from Diglipur town. The Forest Department checkpost at Lamia Bay issues entry permits.

How long does the Saddle Peak trek take?

The round-trip trek covers approximately 8 km through steep rainforest terrain and typically takes 5 to 7 hours of continuous hiking. Trekkers must start by 7:00 AM to descend safely before sunset.

What is unique about the Kalpong River in Saddle Peak National Park?

The Kalpong River is the only perennial river in the Andaman archipelago and hosts the island territory's sole hydroelectric dam project (the Kalpong Hydroelectric Project).

How do travelers reach Diglipur from Port Blair?

Travelers can reach Diglipur via the Andaman Trunk Road (NH4) by bus or private taxi (a 10 to 12-hour scenic road journey covering 300 km), or via overnight government passenger ferry from Port Blair to Aerial Bay Jetty (8 to 10 hours).

Are leeches present on the Saddle Peak trail?

Yes, terrestrial leeches are common in the humid leaf litter during and immediately after the monsoon. Wearing anti-leech gaiters and applying salt or eucalyptus oil to boots is strongly recommended between October and December.

8. Serpentine Geological Petrology & Botanical Endemism

The geological bedrock of Saddle Peak represents a unique tectonic formation within the Indo-Burman ophiolite belt. The mountain core is composed of mantle-derived peridotites and serpentinites obducted during the Late Cretaceous to Eocene closure of the Neo-Tethys Ocean.

Weathering of these ultramafic rocks has produced specialized serpentine soils characterized by high concentrations of heavy metals (nickel, chromium, cobalt, and magnesium) combined with severe deficiencies in essential plant nutrients such as calcium, potassium, and phosphorus.

Evolutionary Flora Adaptations

This extreme edaphic environment has driven the evolution of specialized nickel-hyperaccumulating plant species and morphological dwarfism among ridge-top flora. Tree species that reach heights of 30 meters in the lowland valleys are stunted to less than 2 meters along the windswept upper ridges of Saddle Peak, exhibiting xeromorphic adaptations such as thick waxy cuticles, leathery leaves, and compact root networks that grip the rocky fissures.

Botanists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) have documented more than 30 plant species restricted entirely to the upper slopes of Saddle Peak, including the endemic wild jasmine (Jasminum andamanicum), rare terrestrial orchids (Anoectochilus jewel orchids), and primitive club mosses (Lycopodium species) carpeting the mist zone.

9. Watershed Hydrology & Regional Agricultural Ecology

Beyond its exceptional botanical and zoological wealth, Saddle Peak plays a pivotal role in the human and agricultural geography of North Andaman. The massif's cloud-harvesting capabilities ensure a continuous, year-round discharge into the Kalpong River basin, providing vital freshwater that irrigates over 3,000 hectares of paddy fields and horticulture plantations in the Diglipur valley.

The dense primary forest canopy on the mountain slopes acts as a giant sponge, absorbing torrential monsoon downpours and releasing water slowly throughout the dry season. This natural regulation prevents destructive flash floods during tropical cyclones and maintains stable groundwater tables across the northern district.

Saddle Peak National Park