Lakshadweep - The Barefoot Beach
As the plane lands on the narrow airstrip in Agatti Islands in Lakshadweep, what completely jolts your mind is the colour of the sea here. It’s a mix of turquoise on one side and sea green on the other with hints of coral below the almost transparent water. It’s enough to take your mind of bad bosses, missing maids, terrible traffic and a million other things that plague our daily lives in the city. And this is just the beginning!
Aggati Island from the Air
There are three kinds of holidays you can do in Lakshadweep, the cluster of 36 coral islands in the Arabian Sea and India’s least populated Union Territory. You could go snorkeling and treat yourself to the wonders of the sea like watching a school of fish or a cluster of corals. Adventurous souls could strap oxygen cylinders to their backs and go scuba diving with PADI certified instructors and get themselves a certificate as well. You could also do nothing except laze on a hammock and watch the swaying palms, yet come back with one of the most amazing holiday experiences of your life.
Experience Bliss at the Beach
There are only 11 inhabited islands in Lakshadweep and the government closely monitors tourism. It’s something we have to be thankful about as the rush of unchecked tourism would destroy the fragile ecology of these islands forever. You could take a cruise on one of the government controlled liners that start from Cochin, explore the islands by the day and spend the night on the ship. Alternatively, you could fly to Agatti, the island with the airport and stay in a private resort like the Bangaram Island, the perfect place for that 'do nothing' holiday.
By Air: Indian Airlines and Kingfisher fly from Cochin to Agatti and back. From Agatti island a boat can take you to Bangaram, over a mildly choppy sea. You could also take a boat to Kavaratti and Kadmat islands between October to May. If you are visiting in the monsoon, helicopter transfers are available to Bangaram and Kavaratti Islands as well.
The ride from Aggati to Bangaram
By Ship: The government operates four cruise ships between Cochin and Lakshadweep as well from Mangalore. Please note that these aren’t fancy liners with casinos and spas but are quite comfortable otherwise, though we have heard reports of some not so clean ships so you could try to take their newest ones. There are different packages on offer, some of which require you to spend the night in the ship. If you wish to check out islands like Kalpeni and Minicoy, not accessible otherwise, the ship is your best bet.
Post monsoon to pre summers is the best time to visit. October to May is considered the best time. You can visit Agatti and Bangaram islands throughout the year, while the cruise packages to Kadmat, Kavaratti, Kalpeni and Minicoy are on between October to May.
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
You don’t really visit Lakshadweep for signature gourmet cuisine but the joy of having a beachside barbecue on a moonlit night and listening to the lapping waters of the placid lagoon is something else. It’s best to have food at the resort where you are staying because options are limited otherwise. In fact, Bangaram being an uninhabited island has no other option at all! The food is mostly Kerala cuisine with some local delicacies and a smattering of other Indian and Western dishes. Seafood lovers would be happy here as there’s a lot on offer, baked, grilled, steamed or fried.
The islands don’t offer much in terms of shopping unless you count coconut shell spoons. Lakshadweep does require you to spend money but not on city type consumerism.
First things first. Lakshadweep is not a cheap holiday. The government controls cruises and resorts here and hence prices tend to be on the higher side.
You need to also pay extra if you wish to do a scuba diving course or just go on dives in the lagoon or snorkeling. While single dives with PADI (Professional association of diving instructors) instructors cost between Rs 500 to Rs 1500, a four day course at Prahlad Kakkar’s Lacadives at Kadmat could cost you Rs. 24,000. You could also opt for a one day introductory course priced at Rs. 4,000. While these courses include the equipment, you need to shell out money to rent equipment from the resort if you wish to go snorkeling on your own.Things to know:· All visitors must have an entry permit, whether Indian or foreign nationals. Permits are usually organized by the resort or cruise you opt for.· If you are travelling by ship, carry dry snacks with you, even if food is provided on board.· No matter which island you go to, carry mosquito repellant and sun block, loose comfortable beach clothing and sterilizing tablets if you are travelling with very small children.· The ferry crossings can sometimes get choppy. If you suffer from sea sickness carry medication. If young children are scared, it’s best to sit down on the floor of the boat with them.· The walk around the islands is great to spot marine life and a lot of sea birds, especially before sunset. Carry binoculars.
At peace with the island
Mobile connections rarely work in most places, with the exception of BSNL in some areas. So leave those iPads and Blackberrys behind!
I travelled to Lakshadweep when my son was a toddler and did have a few apprehensions as the journey involved an hour long ferry crossing on the high seas. But the sight of him running amok on the white sands and having a great time on the gentle waters of the lagoon is one of the best holiday memories I have. This is a holiday where there is something for everyone. The adventurous water babies can check out underwater gems and bookworms like me can always go and find their favourite hammock in some corner of the beach. A minimum of five days makes for a great holiday in Lakshadweep, the ideal place to unwind.
The white sands and blue water of Bangaram Islands
Closure
To know more, check out these sites:
http://lakshadweep.nic.in/welcome.htm
http://lakport.nic.in/index.htm
http://www.lacadives.com/aboutus.html
To know more, check out these sites:
http://lakshadweep.nic.in/welcome.htm
http://lakport.nic.in/index.htm
http://www.lacadives.com/aboutus.html
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2 Comment
I WANT O GO TO AGATTI ISLAND ON 18.04.2012 AND SHALL DEPART FROM THERE ON 20.04.2012. ALREADY TAKEN AIR INDIA TICKETS. NOW WE CAME TO KNOW THE PERMITS TO ENTER IS STOPPED AS THE CASE IS PENDING IN COURTS. WHAT IS OUR FAULT? WHY AN INDIAN, WITHOUT ANY FAULT OF HIM / HER SHALL BE DEPRIVED OF VISITING OWN COUNTRY? IF PAKISTAN ISSUES VISA TO INDIANS, WHY AN INDIAN CAN NOT VISIT INDIA? IDEALLY THE PERMIT SHOULD HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN FOR ALL TILL THE VERDICT COMES FROM COURT. HELP US. BHATTACHARYYA +919435012276
i want to go lakshadweep in 23 march to 5 april, by govt ship or air india. wants to avail LTC from delhi to lakshadweep.