Middle Button Island National Park

Middle Button Island National Park is a popular destination for water sports like scuba diving and snorkelling because of the area’s abundant marine life and stunning underwater scenery. The tranquillity of Middle Button Island National Park is a nice relief from the stresses of modern city life. The national park is in the Indian territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and it is near the Union Territory headquarters in Port Blair. The park comprises 64 square km of land. The Indian government has included this park in its list of Protected Areas because of its wide variety and exotic aquatic life. Middle Button National Park’s balmy breeze entices adventure seekers.

Geography

This park is in Andaman and Nicobar. The surrounding sea helps to mitigate the island’s oceanic climate, and there is heavy rain from June to October due to the southwesterly monsoon.

Long Island is the closest town to the national park, which is to the south of Port Blair.

The park’s deciduous forest covers the majority of its land. Sandy beaches and crystal-clear water surround the Middle Button Island National Park, and The Middle Button National Park’s climate is mild. Due to its tropical position, this region gets heavy rain.

Major attractions

The area is also famous for adventure activities like snorkelling and scuba diving and providing stunning vistas to explore marine life. People go from far and wide to enjoy these amazing activities and view aquatic creatures underwater.

Flora & Fauna

Plants found in the National Park include Hopea odorata, Artocarpus gomeziana, Artocarpus chaplasha, Aprosa villosula, Artocarpus gomeziana, Salmalia insignis, Canarium manii, Endospermum chinensis, Calamus palustris, Dinochloa andamanica, and Dipterocarpus grandiflorus.

The spotted deer population is the Middle Button Island National Park’s most famous feature. Monitor lizards and water lizards are plentiful here, and there are only a few land animals in the park. This park’s marine life diversity sets it apart. The park is home to a wide variety of beautiful fish, including blue whales, sea turtles, dugongs, and dolphins.

How to Reach

• By Air: Port Blair Airport is the closest airport to the Middle Button Island National Park. Delhi, Kolkata, and Chennai Airports and ships have direct flights to Port Blair.
• By Road: The road network connects Middle Button Island National Park to major cities and places. There are numerous government and private vehicles that provide regular trips to Middle Button Island National Park. Long Island Town is the closest town, and Long Island Town is 64 kilometres to the park’s southeastern direction.

Nearby tourist places

Ross and Smith Islands, Havelock Island, Barren Island, Turtle Island, Middle Button Lighthouse, and Mayabunder are frequently cited as must-see tourist destinations near the National Park.

When to visit

It is best to avoid visiting the park during the monsoon season (June-October). You can visit the park from January to March.

Accommodation

No hotels are available in the region. However, permission from the Park authorities is necessary to set up a tent in the park. Port Blair and Havelock Island both have affordable, comfortable lodging options.

Conclusion

The Middle Button Island National Park is 64 square kilometres in size and lies 60 kilometres southeast of Long Island Town, which is also the park’s closest town. In addition to the Spotted Deer and Monitor Lizard, the National Park is famous for its abundant marine life, including the Blue Whale, Dugong, Dolphins, Sea Turtles, and the pristine and colourful Coral Life that attracts snorkelers from all over the world.

The average temperature here is between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius. It is best to avoid visiting from June to October due to heavy rainfall, and the ideal period to enjoy the park’s attractions is from January to March. 

The nearest lodging option is on Long Island, which is only a short distance away from the National Park. Middle Button is a short boat ride from Long Island, and visitors can always rent a motorboat to get there. The National Park Service is currently building a Rest-House on Middle Button Island, but visitors can still camp overnight in their tents.