Lakshadweep - Bangaram Island

Distance : 450 kms from Cochin
Route : Bangalore - Cochin - Agatti - Bangaram
Mode of transport : Flight
Best time to visit : Oct to April
No. of days visited : 5 nights 6 days
Speciality : India's only coral atoll

Agatti, Courtesy Google earth

Bangaram, Courtesy Google earth
















Lakshadweep islands considered as one of the most beautiful islands in the world located to the south west coast in India is a must visit. As the name says lakshadweep means one lakh islands have reduced to only 35 islands now. Famous for the coral reefs , the turquoise waters and the white silver sands the island is beyond imagination.

Kingfisher and Indian are the two airlines having flights to Agatti. We boarded Kingfisher airlines from Bangalore to Agatti island with a 20 minute stop in Cochin. It takes 1 hr 20 mns journey from Cochin to Agatti. Agatti is the gateway to Lakshadweep.This island is the contact point or destination for airlines or ships in Lakshadweep. You can also stop for a day or two in Agatti as it is also a tourist destination. All the tourists Indians and non Indians entering lakshadweep requires special permit letter provided by the resort. You have to carry the letter before boarding the flight.

The main attraction of Lakshadweep is Bangaram island. It takes another 1 hr 40 mns boat journey from Agatti to Bangaram all round the year except in monsoon. One can enjoy Helicopter services from Agatti to Bangaram available only during monsoon when water levels are rough, high and do not permit the usual boat transfer.

Bangaram is a family destination and too good of a place for honeymooners. The place is very decent.

Once you reach Bangaram forget about the worldly chaos. The peace and joy cannot be described. As the name tells Bangaram means Gold is indeed a precious island. Bangaram island resort is a CGH Earth Group Enterprise which maintains the island excellently with basic amenities to tourists apart from food with a sole purpose of not to commercialize.

There are 30 huts on the whole with single and 2 bed room cottages apart from staff quarters.
So, anytime in the year you will find limited tourists. The single room rent is Rs8500 per day in off season and Rs17500 for On season.The family room rent is Rs17500 per day in off season and Rs35000 for On season.We stayed for 6 days 5 nights and still wanted more time to relax. There is a restaurant available for breakfast, lunch and dinner at specified timings. Tea, coffee is served 24x7. Both veg and non-veg food is served for lunch and dinner. So, no worries for vegetarians.

















It takes approximately 1 hour to walk around the whole island. Early morning is the best time to walk around as there will be low tide. If interested you can take the Yoga classes conducted in the mornings at the helipad zone. There is a man made lake which holds wide variety of bird species in the premises.

















The water sports available are glass bottom boat for coral watching , kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, lagoon fishing and ocean fishing. Please make sure you are a swimmer before visiting the island. Else, you need to adjust with only a few water sports. A swimmer can take the joy of swimming along the lagoon currents for a long time to watch the fascinating marine life and beautiful corals of the lagoon.Being non swimmers we had to adjust with kayaking, fishing and glass bottom boating to watch corals. We went for scuba diving for starters with a professional trainer accompanying us for a 10 to 15 meter dive. The experience was exhilarating and breath taking for non swimmers like us. One activity we thoroughly enjoyed and mastered was kayaking. While kayaking we also could take some under water snaps of the corals.

















Apart from Bangaram and Agatti islands there are other tiny islands named Parali I & II, Tinakara which can be visited by the boat arranged by the staff. Pick and drop facility to these tiny islands is also available.
For more rejuvenation and relaxation Ayurveda massage center is available with different variety of therapies. Don’t be worried if you forgot your sunscreens and swim wear because the island has a shop which sells all this stuff. There is also a library where you can borrow or lend your books. No need to carry the cash as your each activity is billed to your room no. which has to be paid on the last day.

Last thing but important, corals are strictly not permitted to be taken along once you leave the islands.

A visit to Ooty

Distance : 290 kms from Bangalore
Route taken : Bangalore(Mysore road)-Mandya-Mysore-Nanjangudu-Bandipur-Ooty
Vehicle : Innova
Time taken : 6 hrs one way
No. of days : 3 nights 4 day package in Sterling resorts.

I always wondered why Ooty is called queen of hill stations in India untill finally went there. Im sure my hubby agrees with me when i say its the best place we visited till now. We booked an innova for the tour. We had more than a couple of breaks while traveling, the first being Kamath hotel on the Mysore highway.It was noon by the time we reached ooty so without wasting time started the actual tour. There was no running around with confusion as everything’s planned.

Ooty is a place to laze around for many people but there are a few beautiful spots metioned below which are worth a visit. These places or spots put altogether make Ooty for what it is.

The first spot Ooty lake is an artificial lake streaching 2.5 km. I rate it 4/5. Wow!! The lake is beautiful..best thing is it doesnt look artificial. Boating facilities are available here.

Botanical Garden is the second spot which I rate only 2/5 as I found it a little bit boring. Garden is maintained by the Horticulture Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu has wide variety of plants and include Italian & Japanese sections. One of the main attractions here is the fossilized tree trunk.

The second day started at 4:00 am which normally is midnight to us. Ooty is on the hill top, the train starts at Mettupalyam situated at down slopes. So we went all the way down a two hour journey to take the train. * * you can book the toy train tickets online the way we book normal train tickets. The train takes you through the hill slopes at 9 km per hour. The best thing is take the train from conoor to ooty lasting only one hour journey. An elderly person who accompanied us in the train suggested it is better to stay in Conoor as its quite a pleasant and warm place compared to ooty which we thought true because it was drizzling all the four days in Ooty. By the time we reached back to hotel late noon I was totally sick..then what just slept and the day got wasted. For people who have motion sickness which i had can take the train from Conoor to Ooty.

The third day - Dodabetta Peak My rating 3/5, 10km from ooty at a height of 2,623 metres, it is the highest point in the district. The top of the peak remains covered by mist most of the time but on a clear day, you can have a look at the landscape as far as the plains of Coimbatore and the Mysore plateau. We enjoyed like hell here with the wind blowing hard on us.

The next spot is Avalanche. My rating 5/5 Dst : 28 km from Ooty Avalanche is a must to visit. * *This place can be visited only with forest depatment’s permission. But the other thing you can do is just plead the security over there which we did. Security allotted only one hour permission to return. Without wasting a second we followed a small disturbed path with water, rocks and forest trees on either sides.

Only two of us walking on the lonely road was very romantic with all the greenary and meadows accompanying us. As we had no time, we cleverly took a diversion from the path. Bingo!!! We found a flowing canal full of force also beautiful..the canal leads to the river. Okay time’s running so quickly returned to the security. The good security also showed some more lovely canals and some other interior spots. Poor people they are soo bored with themselves in that lonely place that our coming was a pleasure. Lucky we!!!

For me its just not about the lake but there's something nice about the place which is beyond description. There was a mud avalanche happened in 18th centuary which led to the naming of the place.

The fourth day also our returning journey day, we started with Lamb's Rock rating 3/5 Dst: 9km from coonoor a viewpoint on a high precipice. The point offers stunning views of the Coimbatore plains and the coffee tea estates on the slopes. On our way to the spot people suggested not to go as it was raining but we followed our instincts. Later realized sometimes it is fruitful to follow our heart. We were at the very right time..here too there were no people except we both and our driver. Within seconds the clear sky turned gloomy. The whole valley turned white with fog!! So it was worth visiting the rock.

The next spot is Kalhatty Waterfalls My rating 3/5 Dst : 13 km from Ooty About 100 feet in height, the Kalhatty falls are located on the Kalhatty slopes of Ooty-Mysore road at about 13 km from Ooty. The view presented is enchanting. There’s a little bit of walking to reach the foot of the falls which is worth every step towards it.

Our last stop at Pykara is a wonderful thing that happened on that day!!Pykara My rating is 5/5 Dst : 21kms on the Ooty-Mysore Road Pykara boasts undistributed grassy meadows and also a good wildlife habitat. The Pykara Dam, Pykara falls and the river attracts many tourists. A boat house with Restaurant is available maintained by T.T.D.C. This is the name of a river in this district.

The old Tribals called Todas Believed this River as a Holy one and to us it seemed to be a holy one with all the peace in the world. We left the dam to stand there and had unlimited fun taking the boat on to the river. Pykara falls is another attraction where you will enjoy standing at the hood of the falls.

Finally, our four day three night tour was awesome. We covered all the important corners of Otacamund / Ooty.