The early history of the North Andaman region is deeply intertwined with the indigenous Great Andamanese tribes, specifically the Bo, Jeru, and Kora peoples, who inhabited these islands for tens of thousands of years as hunter-gatherers. For much of its history, the dense forests and remote location kept the area largely isolated from the outside world.
Modern settlement in Diglipur began in earnest following India's independence in 1947. In the subsequent decades, the Indian government initiated rehabilitation programs to settle refugees from erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), as well as migrants from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and other parts of the mainland. These pioneers cleared parts of the dense forest to establish agricultural communities, fundamentally changing the demographic and economic landscape of the region.
Over the decades, Diglipur evolved from a remote settler outpost into the administrative and economic hub of North Andaman. The establishment of the Andaman Trunk Road (NH-4) and the development of the Aerial Bay jetty connected the once-isolated town to Port Blair and the rest of the islands. Today, its history is reflected in its diverse population and its transition toward an eco-tourism destination, while still honoring its mid-century agrarian roots.
