Lakshadweep - The Barefoot Beach

taying options in Lakshadweep are limited and may require you to book a few months in advance. The Kerala based Casino Group runs the fabulously earthy yet comfortable resort at the uninhabited Bangaram Island, ideal for a holiday that’s a mix of activity and laidback charm. It is also the only place in Lakshadweep where you can get alcohol. Bookings are however on hold at the moment due to a court case so call before you plan your trip.

The Bangaram Island Resort

The government run Lakshadweep Tourism SPORTS has resorts at Agatti, Kadmat, Kalpeni and Minicoy. Of these the one at Agatti is one of the better ones. You could also opt for cruise packages like the Coral Reef where you spend the nights on the ship. You could also go for a Scuba Diving course with Prahlad Kakkar’s Lacadives, which operates from Kadmat and Bangaram Island and stay at the resorts in these islands while doing it. There are some home stay options available at Agatti too. Prices differ seasonally. Agatti Island Resort (http://www.agattiislandresorts.com/) starts at Rs. 5000, while Bangaram Island Resort is fairly steep at Rs. 17,000 plus in peak season. The government run cruise packages start around Rs. 5,000 to Rs 9,000.

Things to do

If you expect a gaggle of hawkers selling you cheap trinkets and a street lined with shops selling tacky souvenirs, then Lakshadweep isn’t for you. You go here to escape reality and get lost in the unbelievable variation of colours in its azure waters. In fact, being in islands of Lakshadweep is to stay surrounded by a giant swimming pool as that’s what the lagoons that surround most of the islands feel like.

If you want activity, the most common is snorkeling and scuba diving. Bangaram and Kadmat are famous diving destinations and Lacadives, Prahlad Kakkar’s Kadmat Island based diving school, has a centre here. Beginners go only four metres deep but experienced divers can explore real underwater treasures, which include Manta rays, eels and sharks. The other favourite activity almost everyone tries out is snorkeling. There are people who spend hours doing just that as the waters are crowded with bright, beautiful marine life of every possible colour. Even if you do not know your angelfish from your clownfish, it’s hard to tear yourself away to do anything else. You can bring your own equipment or hire it here at the water sports centre.

Taking a break from Snorkeling

At Bangaram Island, one must-not-miss activity is to go for a walk around the island during low tide, around 4.30 pm or 5.00 pm in the evening. Walking around the entire island at a leisurely pace would take you at least 45 minutes with the highpoint being walking up to the sandbank behind the resort and get that unbeatable feeling of almost walking on water, because that’s how it would look if someone saw you from a distance. This is where the staff goes to fish in the evening and you can have a great time just watching them at work, trying your hand at it, and sharing a joke with everyone. The sandbank and the walk back to the resort is a great place to spot a variety of sea birds in action and hermit crabs scurrying back into their holes.

Choosing the Snorkeling equipment

If snorkeling isn’t your scene then you could explore the waters in a glass bottomed boat that gives you a glimpse of the corals and fishes underwater.

View of the corals from the glass bottomed boat

There are various other watersports options as well, among them Kayaking. Birding enthusiasts would love Lakshadweep as it is home to a large number of birds, the sandpiper being a common one.

The evening walk around the island – walking on water