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Bangaram
There is something indescribably
romantic about the very notion of an
uninhabited island and Bangaram justifies
that feeling; teardrop shaped, it is
enriched by a continuous halo of creamy
sand. Like all the other islands of
Lakshadweep, luxuriant plantations of
coconut provide coolness even during the
hottest part of the day. There are three
uninhabited islands in the same atoll
consisting of Tinnakara, Parali - I, Parali-II,
perfect for a day's outing. All the islands
share the same lagoon, an enormous bowl of
turquoise blue, At twilight, the setting
sun, a ball of crimson in a flaming sky,
coasts its reflection sky, casts its
reflection on the water, and with the
ever-present is at the height of its allure.
That is the hour when every visitor promises
himself another visit someday.
If one were to cut the poetry, eulogizing
the beauty of the island of Bangaram, then
one would still be left with the essential
fact that it is a breathtakingly beautiful
island quite out of this world. Surrounded
by one of the largest and safest lagoons
with its calm, unimaginable blue green
waters, lay the white coral sands and the
half-a-square kilometer rise of Bangaram.
And yet the lagoon is born is born out of a
long coral reef that rings around three
other islands as well, each easily
accessible by out boarding, sailing, rowing
and for the athletic, by kayaking or
wind-surfing from Bangaram. And quite
important too is the philosophy of
preservation of marine life in its state of
indigenous purity, where the coral and the
shell are left undisturbed and the fish
merely observed. The more venturesome,
however may easy a sleeping nurse-shark, as
commonly seen as the gray and the white
tipped or play with a friendly turtle.
Bangaram is also an experience of yet
another kind. Of matchless peace and
tranquility, of a sense of severance from
the 'civilized' world, of the visit of the
muses' hat compel contemplation. To the
sensitive and the romantic, embroiled in the
cacophony of crowded cities, it offers a
memorable escape into isolation, a moment of
harmony with nature, an experience quite
beyond anything similar on the mainland.
For those who think they know India, either
by travel or reading, the islands of
Lakshadweep and Bangaram in particular,
beckon. The Bangaram Island Resort is fast
becoming a by - word among the island
hoppers of the world. Opened only recently
to foreign tourists the resort with its
simple, but attractive housing has already
become a circled spot in the brochures of
tour operators and travel agencies all over.
There are attractive package terms for the
domestic tourists too.
Kalpeni
Kalpeni has
three uninhabited
satellite islands,
all surrounded by an immense lagoon of
spectacular beauty. Sunlight on the water
causes it to sparkle and flash like a
million aquamarines. Koomel, the gently
curving bay where the tourist facilities are
located, directly overlooks Pitti and
Thilakkam, two of the islands, Here you can
swim, reef walk, snorkel or use water
sports, equipments like kayaks, and sail
boats. Now the tourist facilities have been
augmented and tourist can stay on the island
in privately managed huts, depending on the
package. This lagoon is especially rich in
coral life.
Kavaratti
 The
administrative capital, kavaratti is the
most developed of the islands with the
highest percentage of n on-islanders as
residents. Fifty-two mosques are spread out
over the island, the most beautiful being
the Ujra mosque. A well, within its
precincts, is believed to contain water of
curative powers, The Ujra mosque has an
ornately carved ceiling, said to have been
carved from a piece of driftwood. Kavaratti
also has an aquarium with several colorful
species of fish. There is a glass bottom
boat for viewing marine life and an array of
remarkable coral for nations that provides a
background to the lagoons and the islands
within them. Some Water Sports like kayaking
canoeing and snorkeling are available for
tourists.
Minicoy
Furthest from Kavaratti Island, 200 km away
to the south and also nearest to the
Maldives, Minnicoy has a lighthouse built by
the British in 1885. Visitors are allowed
up, right to the very top. Words cannot do
justice to the incredible size of the
lagoon, one of the largest in Lakshwdeep,
the green of coconut trees, and the
mirror-like surface of an inland lake as it
nestles in one corner of the island. Minicoy
has a culture very different from any other
island - dress, language, food, all. Minicoy
has a cluster of 10 villages, which are
called athiris each presided over by a
Moopan. A walk through the winding lanes of
the villages is an indication of the culture
here. Minicoy is renowned for its dance
tradition: the lava dance is performed on
festive occasions. There is a tuna-canning
factory - signifying its importance in tuna
fishing and boat building activity.
Privately managed cottages have been built
on the isolated beaches and are available
for tourists.
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