Ross and Smith Islands

Ross and Smith Islands are about 25 minutes by ferry from Diglipur in North Andaman Islands. Although, these are generally referred to as twin islands, they are in fact a single island separated by a sandy stretch which makes it look like two separate islands.

You need a permission from the forest officer to enter these islands and the forest officer could be located at the Aerial bay jetty in Diglipur. These ferries are available from Diglipur to Ross and Smith Islands.

This twin island joined by a wide range of sand bar is a beautiful spot for incoming tourists. This twin island is half an hour away through boat journey from Aerial bay jetty or Kalipur water sports center.

The shallow beaches are appropriate for snorkeling, swimming and it's bounded by coral reefs. These are also ideal for turtle nesting. Island camping is offered by the directorate of tourism at Smith Island during the tourist season. The tourists could visit these islands while they reach Diglipur from Port Blair.

These islands have the most fabulous beaches and sunsets. The tropical jungle nudges the ocean across empty, white semi-circular beaches where you could wade and swim in the warm waters. Around these islands and in Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, are coral reefs where you could spend several hours snorkeling or scuba diving, taking a look at the brilliant under water universe.

Ross and Smith Islands also have very tall trees known as the emergent. The shorelines of this island are hugged by littoral forests of casuarinas, pandanas, sea mahua and Andaman bullet wood.

Photography is not permitted from the front part of the island as it's considered to be a secured place. Also, people are not allowed to click photos while approaching the island as they are required to take tickets for all kind of cameras at the entry of the island. Once they take the tickets, they are free to take photographs inside the land. There is only a small shop in the island for snacks only. You need a maximum of two hours to cover all the places in this island.

People could spend more time visiting the beaches at the other side of the island. Use of plastic items and disposing them is thoroughly prohibited inside the island. Wild elephants could occasionally be spotted on this island. Smith Island offers a similar experience like the Ross Island. There is also a village of about 60 families on this island. Eco friendly rest houses are available for overnight stay.

As this island was under the control of the British, the Britishers even convinced the aborigines (the inhabitants) to come and live in some huts at Ross Island and even established an Andaman Home for them in 1863. Later on, they used the services of these people to catch the escaping convicts from this island. The island was under the Japanese from 1942 to 1945; however, the allies reoccupied the island in 1945 and later deserted it.