S1 E18 | Diglipur Market, Local Food and Bus Journey Back to Port Blair

After our unforgettable trip to Ross and Smith Islands, we spent the next day exploring Diglipur town itself. The day started with the cheapest lunch of our Andaman journey so far—just ₹30 per plate for a filling vegetarian thali. It was simple, tasty, and reminded us how affordable food is in North Andaman compared to Havelock or Port Blair.

From Aerial Bay we waited nearly 90 minutes for a bus back into town. The ride cost only ₹20 and dropped us at Dolphin Chowk, the bustling market hub of Diglipur where we were staying. The market surprised us with its size and energy—rows of fruit and vegetable stalls stretched for hundreds of meters, and the town felt much busier and more developed than we had expected.

One of the practical challenges here is connectivity. Airtel networks barely work, so we had to buy a BSNL public Wi-Fi recharge card from a local shop for ₹20, which gave us 3 GB of data over two days. This shop also doubled as a bus ticket counter and snack store—classic small-town multitasking.

In the evening we sampled street snacks like kadi chat, made of papads topped with peas curry, raw mango, onions, and tangy tomato sauce. Later, locals recommended Basu’s restaurant, a simple family eatery where we had a hearty dinner before calling it a night.

The next morning, we boarded a private bus back to Port Blair. Unlike the government buses, the private ones cost ₹100 extra but offer push-back seats and a more comfortable ride. Our bus departed at 5:30 AM from the Diglipur bus stand, marking the long journey back south.

Diglipur gave us a different perspective on the Andamans—less touristy, more authentic, and surprisingly affordable. From cheap meals to busy local markets, this town showed us everyday island life far from the luxury resorts.