The Origins And Natural Beauty of Saint Martin Island

Discover the rich history and breathtaking beauty of Saint Martin Island, a hidden gem in the Bay of Bengal. Explore its natural wonders, cultural heritage, and serene beaches in this comprehensive guide.

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The Origins And Natural Beauty of Saint Martin Island

Saint Martin’s is the only coral island in Bangladesh, located in the northeast of the Bay of Bengal. This island is very attractive to both local and foreign tourists because they cannot visit it at any time of the year.

First Human at Saint Martin’s

Approximately 450 years ago, the southernmost part of the Chittagong hill range, known as the Teknaf Hill Range, was submerged in the Bay of Bengal. Over time, it re-emerged as an island. Around 250 years ago, Arab traders, who sailed across the Bay of Bengal for trade, anchored on this island while traveling from Chittagong to Arakan.

In Arabic, the word for “island” is “Jazeera”, which means a place of waiting. The island was filled with shady coconut trees, and over time, the name Jazeera transformed through local pronunciation into Jinjira. Due to the abundance of coconut trees, the island was eventually called Narikel Jinjira, meaning “Coconut Jinjira.”

In 1900, a British land survey team arrived and officially renamed the island Saint Martin’s Island.

Journey By Ship

We are heading to Saint Martin’s Island. On our way, the legendary Shah Porir Island seems to be calling us with open arms. We are crossing the international Naf River, which is half owned by Myanmar and half by Bangladesh. Look over there—that’s Maungdaw, a town in Myanmar.

Saint Martin’s Island is located about 10 kilometers from Teknaf, the southernmost settlement of Bangladesh. And here we are—finally at Saint Martin’s Island!

Rising about three and a half meters above the sea, this beautiful island stands at the confluence of the Naf River and the Bay of Bengal, surrounded by crystal-clear blue-green waters. From far and wide, countless travel enthusiasts rush to this dreamlike island, fulfilling their long-cherished desire to explore its beauty.

As the ship docks and travelers step onto the island, their faces light up with the excitement of conquering this dream island. Here, waves from the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean crash against the shores, whispering songs of the distant horizon.

Perhaps this island should have been named the Island of Tranquility, as serenity overflows in every corner. Stretching from north to south, the size of Saint Martin’s Island changes with the tides—expanding to about 9 square kilometers during low tide and shrinking to 5 square kilometers at high tide.

The golden sandy shores and rocky terrain of this island are transformed into a tropical oasis by the presence of Keora trees, Casuarina (Jhau) groves, and countless coconut palms.

Beauty of Saint Martin

Due to the large number of coconut trees, the island is more commonly known as Narikil Jinjira than Saint Martin’s Island among locals. There are approximately 150,000 coconut trees on the island. The island’s first hotel, Avakash, is now known as Saint Martin Resort.

Since 1997, many hotels and resorts have been established on the northern side of the island to accommodate tourists. There are also arrangements for budget-friendly stays in local houses.

With various tourist-friendly activities, the island’s beach has become much more enjoyable than before. On the breathtaking beach, travelers indulge in the joy of bathing and wash away the fatigue of city life. The lively beach feels like a playground, a place to try out whatever one wishes. With its facilities, charm, and atmosphere, Saint Martin’s beach has become one of the best beaches in the country, spreading happiness and joy among people of all ages.

On the island, there are stone collages at some parts of the beach. As the evening falls, the rocky beach becomes a favorite spot for nature lovers. Everyone tries to capture their favorite moments in frames. Nature here changes its form at different times of the day, either at dawn or dusk.

The market next to the beach gets lively as evening sets in. Tourists roam around and buy souvenirs of their choice. From items for personal decoration, home decor products, to colorful clothes, there is a variety of things available. Everything is captivating, and the prices are quite reasonable.

For dried fish lovers, there’s good news as well. The dried fish, both large, medium, and small, is a major attraction on the island.

Food

At the nearby small and large food stalls, there is a bustling arrangement of frying fresh fish. The fish, marinated with raw spices, is fried over an intense flame, turned and flipped repeatedly. Whether it’s giant-sized prawns or any other seafood, the vendors will barbecue it for you.

In front of the food stalls, rows of fish are arranged neatly. First, you observe, and then the bargaining begins. All the fish here are freshly caught from the sea.

The fish, after being priced, is coated with spices and placed over the fire for grilling.

The joy of barbecuing excites the tourists. The flavorful, spicy, and crispy fried seafood dishes satisfy the taste buds of the food-loving visitors.

Sea fish

The local fishermen supply seafood by either fishing near the island or venturing deep into the sea. The fishing areas are vast, and so are the nets used. It’s a massive operation that is carried out in groups.

From May to September, the Bay of Bengal surrounding St. Martin experiences rough seas. However, from November to April, the sea remains calm, often described by locals as being as calm as a pond.

During this time, the fishermen catch the most fish. In the shallow waters near the beach, smaller fish are predominantly caught, including varieties like twita, khoitta, bata, and chapila. Among all the activities on the island, the fishing expeditions are one of the most popular attractions.

The fishing trawlers returning from the deep sea bring in larger catches of fish. Depending on the season, the amount of fish caught can vary, sometimes in abundance, sometimes less. For most people here, fishing and selling the catch is the primary source of livelihood. Due to its isolation, the island doesn’t have a bustling fish market, so most of the fish are sent through wholesalers to Teknaf.

Various types of known and unknown seafood are bought and sold here at wholesale prices, both by wholesalers and locals. Enthusiastic tourists also engage in bargaining when looking to buy fish. Baskets full of fish are cleaned by two people in knee-deep water to prepare them for drying.

Along the beach, there are drying racks for fish at various spots. Fish varieties like loitta, surma, maitta, faisa, poa, rupchanda, pitamburi, koral, shapla pata, and shark are dried here. The dried fish are first shipped to Teknaf, then through Cox’s Bazar, and eventually reach Chittagong and other parts of the country.

Scuba Diving

One of the top tourist attractions in Saint Martin is scuba diving. The underwater world is full of colorful and diverse fish, offering a mesmerizing experience. The crystal-clear waters provide the perfect opportunity to observe marine life up close, especially from December to February. The beauty beneath the sea is just as stunning as the world above.

The coral colonies and the submerged forefront of the Teknaf Hill Range hold the secret to the island’s formation. In Saint Martin, several organizations offer scuba diving experiences, guiding adventurous tourists to explore the unseen underwater world. With the help of professional scuba divers, you too can dive into the depths of the ocean. This discovery diving experience could be one of the most thrilling adventures of your life.

Life

Saint Martin, the island afloat in the sea, is divided into four parts: North, Middle, South, and Cheradia. Most of the island’s inhabitants reside in the North and Middle parts. The North village, surrounded by dense trees, is home to many houses. The credit for this goes to the countless coconut trees. In addition to providing coconuts, water, and fuel, these trees offer shade on sunny days and protect the homes from storms and harsh winds. The island’s residents are indebted to these coconut trees.

The daily activities clearly indicate that most of the island’s inhabitants are fishermen. From weaving nets to various preparations, everything revolves around fishing. Long fishing nets are required for deep-sea fishing. The village houses are not built too high, remaining protected under the shade of coconut trees, out of fear of storms and rough weather. Saint Martin was once part of the Sabram Union in Teknaf.

Since 1983, it has been a union consisting of 9 wards. The life of the 10,000 or so residents on this small island is literally dependent on nature. Although the soil is not very suitable for farming, farmers have made about 400 acres of land cultivable. The land is used for double-cropping, with vegetables, rice, corn, watermelon, and more being grown in abundance.

There are no four-wheeled vehicles on the island, so rickshaw vans are relied upon for passenger transportation. The island has one primary school, a high school, and a madrasa.

Fishing Vehicle

The trawler is the main vehicle for the residents of the island. This fishing vessel is essential for the fishermen’s livelihood. As a result, there is high demand for trawler repair technicians. Before venturing into the deep sea for fishing, various preparations are necessary. Large fishing nets often tear during use, so fishermen spread them out on the sandy beach to repair them before going into the sea.

Once the preparations are complete, everyone pushes the fishing trawlers into the water with effort. This is how the fishermen begin their daily search for livelihood, as the sea sparkles with the promise of the catch.

Chera Diya Island

At the southernmost point of elongated Saint Martin lies Chera Island, also known as Chera Diya. It takes about 30 minutes to reach there from the North Side. Chera Island is a low-lying area with shallow waters, so reaching it by trawler requires the help of a boat. The marine sedimentary rocks on the shore protect Chera Diya from the ocean waves.

Chera Diya is mainly visited by younger adventurers. Tourists come here to experience solitude, the joy of discovery, the magic of diversity, and the mysteries of nature. The sea cucumber, jellyfish, octopus, squid, and various other marine creatures inhabit this area.

The tidal waters here create numerous natural aquariums, teeming with different species of striped fish. Crabs reign in the crevices between the wet stones, while the tidal water floods Chera Diya’s lowlands twice a day. The saltwater constantly erodes the buildings, contributing to the wear and tear of the land.

Around 5,000 years ago, before Chera Island submerged into the sea, ancient river sediments and stones brought by the flowing water were deposited in the island’s basin. As a result, the entire island is covered in layers of stones, each with its own unique characteristics. These stones are sculpted by nature itself, appearing like works of art, shaped as if by hammer and chisel. The stones are primarily limestone, conglomerate rocks, and fossilized sandstone.

Although there are some coral stones and small coral colonies, Chera Diya is not a coral island. The inner layers of the island contain folded rocks from the Middle Miocene era, while the upper layers are made of limestone and coral. With its various layers of unique rocks, Chera Island has a foundation that is over 125 million years old, and it rises annually by about 19 millimeters.

Chera Island is the southernmost part of Saint Martin, and thus, it is also the southernmost land of Bangladesh. The island is covered in a green mantle of screw pine bushes. Fossil carbon dating has revealed evidence of life existing here around 33,000 years ago. For those who are fascinated by geology, Chera Island is an extraordinary place of study.

During low tide, a path between Saint Martin’s mainland and Chera Island emerges above the water, but during high tide, Chera Island becomes isolated again. This is why it is named Chera Diya. The island is home to over 125 species of birds, including herons, bitterns, egrets, kingfishers, and many others.

Conclution

The ships waiting at the jetty of the North Shore set off again towards Teknaf in the evening, carrying back the passengers. As they head back, it feels like there’s so much more left to explore. A trip to Saint Martin is just like this – even after witnessing everything, the heart still yearns for more.