St. Martin's Island is a very popular tourism place for tourist people. It is a beautiful place for nature environment. It is a small island but very nice. The local names of the island are "Narical Gingira", also spelled "Narikel Jinjira/Jinjera", which means 'Coconut Island' in Bengali, and "Daruchini Dip". It is the only coral island in Bangladesh.
Location & Area
St. Martin’s is a small island (area only 8 km2) in the northeastern part of the Bay of Bengal, about 9 km south of the tip of the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf peninsula, and forming the southernmost part of Bangladesh. There is a small adjoining island that is separated at high tide, called Chera Island. It is about 8 kilometers (5 miles) west of the northwest coast of Myanmar, at the mouth of the Naf River.
The first settlement started just 250 years ago by some Arabian sailors who named the island 'Zajira'. During British occupation, the island was named St. Martin Island. During the First Anglo-Burmese War between the British and Burmese empires in 1824–1826, rival claims to the island were a major factor.
How to Travel
Buy Bus Getting to Saint Martin’s Island by bus is a two-step process. You'll need to travel to Teknaf which is the southernmost district of Bangladesh on the very southern tip, sandwiched up against Myanmar. One can come to Teknaf by bus from Dhaka, Chittagong and Cox's Bazar. Dhaka to Teknaf bus fare is around BDT 850-900 non-A/C and BDT 1400-1700 A/C. There are several bus services which depart from Fakirapool, Dhaka to Teknaf. The maximum bus starts at night and the journey is near about 10-11 hours. From Teknaf, mid-level ships run daily and take around 2-2.30 hours named Kutubdia, Keary Sindabad, and Eagle-1. The fare starts from BDT 450 to BDT 2500. All the ships and cruises stars journey from Teknaf to Saint Martin around 9AM-9.30AM and return journey starts from Saint Martin to around 3PM. The important thing is, during the off-season (May-August/September) these ships do not provide services because of bad weather. The peak season is September-April. The total distance from Dhaka to the island is 510 km.
By plane you have to reach firstly in Cox's Bazar from Dhaka/Chittagong (Inter-country) by Biman Bangladesh Airlines or with Private Airlines such as Regent Airlines, United Airways, and Best Air etc. The fare from Dhaka-Cox's Bazar is around BDT 3000-4500 as of December, 2011. Cox's Bazar airport is the closest airport to Teknaf.
After reaching Cox's Bazar by Plane, from Cox's Bazar there are several ways to travel to Teknaf. There are private cars for rental services and cost approximately BDT 100-150. There are public buses which start from Cox's Bazar to Teknaf and cost BDT 60-80. Another way would be a group rental of a mid-level micro bus or jeep to travel to Teknaf which may cost less and be a safer journey.
See/Take a look at
Chhera Island also called Cheradia Island or Cheridia Island, is an extension of St. Martin's Island but divided by sea during tides. During low tide period, the Chhera Island can be reached by walking for about two and a half hours from St. Martin's Island. Most popular medium is by local motorboat or tourist boat. Corals can be found all over the island. Island's has a beautiful small bush area which is also the only green region of it. No permanent settlement is established except for tourists.
Sunrises on the east side of the island and after a lazy day head over to the west side for sunset. Sunset Point is a rocky peninsula on the northwest corner of the island, near Saint Martin's Resort, which exists only at low tide — a popular spot if sunset and low tide coincide.
Village life is slow paced — most work happens in the morning and evening while midday is reserved for drying fish and rice and selling your coconuts. More likely is sitting in the shade chewing paan.
Narical Gingira is a very beautiful nature for St. Martin’s Island. It has many coconut trees. So that’s reason called Narical Gingira.
Stars are amazingly plentiful on a moonless night, due to the lack of electricity on the island.
Rock Beach (Rocky Beach Area), Dhakinmatha,(Last point of the Island). The southern point of the Island has a millions of years old Rock formed from Coral. The area is popular as Rock Beach and can be visited on foot. A 10-15 minutes track can be explored within the area by taking permission from the local land owners to see wild life including lizard, migratory birds and unique sweet water turtle’s habitat.
Shamudra Bilash St. Martin's Island has a house of Humayun Ahmed. This is the Shamudra Bilash. It was very favorites of Humayun Ahmed.
Hotel
St Martin's Resort has the end of the main road on the north-western corner of the island 
+880 01819 490129. Check out: 2PM. Also known as Hotel Nijhum, it's run by the government-owned Abakash Parjatan. Rooms are cleanish, staff is friendly, and it's very popular with Bangladeshi families on holiday. The beach in front of here is the most popular on the island, and where the day-trippers from Cox's Bazar hang out around during the middle of the day. It has running cold water, some sit and some squat toilets, and a generator running in the evening. Appayan restaurant is attached and good. Taka 1500-2000.
+880 01819 490129. Check out: 2PM. Also known as Hotel Nijhum, it's run by the government-owned Abakash Parjatan. Rooms are cleanish, staff is friendly, and it's very popular with Bangladeshi families on holiday. The beach in front of here is the most popular on the island, and where the day-trippers from Cox's Bazar hang out around during the middle of the day. It has running cold water, some sit and some squat toilets, and a generator running in the evening. Appayan restaurant is attached and good. Taka 1500-2000.
Dream Night Resort (Konapara, West Beach). Dhaka office: Eco Holidays Ltd 299, Elephant Road (6th floor), Dhaka-1205. For Reservation: +8801878500200,+8801710390251, +88029670030.. They have the facility like family package, meeting, honeymoon package, group program, conference, picnic, seminar, cultural program etc.A beach side restaurant to BBQ or Grill fresh fish besides regular meal is available. Room fare is mid-level and easy to affordable.
Shemana Pereye Resort Ltd, Konapara, Saint Martin Island, Teknaf, Cox's Bazar (on the west side of the island, walk south from Abakash Parjatan), +8801819018027. Check in: 01:00 pm; check out: 12:00pm. Budget-minders may want to splurge a little and stay at this super friendly and relaxed place with a nice garden environment, set just back from the beach in a quiet area yet still close enough to the village. It's not signed in English, but as you walk south look for a sign in Bangla next to a bamboo gate & mash; if you reach the Sea Turtle Hatchery you've gone too far. They've also got a decent restaurant serving the usual fish and chicken. Tk 2000/2300/2500 for brick/wooden/bamboo rooms.
Samudra Bilash Ananda Ashram , West Beach Side of tha Island. +880172736589, +880173390400, [4]. Checking: 12:30PM; checkout: 11:00AM. This cottage is owned by the famous Bangladeshi writer, Dr. Humaun Ahmed. It has 6 rooms, which are well decorated. 3000/.
+880172736589, +880173390400, [4]. Checking: 12:30PM; checkout: 11:00AM. This cottage is owned by the famous Bangladeshi writer, Dr. Humaun Ahmed. It has 6 rooms, which are well decorated. 3000/.
Panna Resort (Konapara, West Beach, Saint Martin) Tel: +880181922212, +880182488445, +880171825375. This is relatively a budge hotel with cottage outlook. This is completely near to the western beach and from the room, one can see the beach. It independently have separate BBQ arena and provide individual service for special menu for breakfast/lunch/dinner. In pick-season the room rent is nearly BDT 2000-2500 per day and in off-season rent nearly half, around BDT 1000 per day. Here, double and single room rent is relatively same. They also receive booking 1/2 day before check-in over of mobile call. Check-in time is around 12PM-2PM and Check-out time is around 1PM-2PM.
Labiba Bilash Dhaka office: Sena Kollayan Bhaban (17th floor), 195, Motijheel, C/A, Dhaka. Tel: +8802717783, +02713555. Saint Martin office: Labiba Bilash, Kona Para, West Beach, Saint Martin Tel: +880171166800, +880171847880.
