A private island in kerala backwaters.
The Lakshadweep or Laccadives, as they were formerly
called, are a string of little-known islands, lying 250 or so miles off
the Malabar coast of India. There are 36 main islands in all, forming an
archipelago of surpassing beauty. This is a world of silver sands and
clear warm waters, of submerged banks and virgin reefs, enclosing a
fascinating underwater world. |
 |
 |
 |
Legend has it that the islands were discovered by
shipwrecked sailors during the reign of Cheraman Perumal, a legendary
King of Kerala, around 435 AD. Frankly, things haven't really changed
much since. Nature and culture have both remained preserved over the
centuries, miles from the mainland and the trade routes. And so the
crabs scuttle. The reefs remain pristine.The people continue to fish,
grow coconuts and smile a lot. And that's in the handful of islands that
have any population at all. The vast majority still remain much as they
were the day nature conjured them up. |
| Called sometimes the Jewel of the Lakshadweep,
Bangaram Island is an sparsely populated haven. Barring the occasional
visitor from nearby Agatti (where the airport is situated), the only
residents are the resort staff. Teardrop shaped, thick with cool coconut
plantations and encircled by a corona of silver sand, Bangaram lives up
to every 'desert island' fantasy you've ever had. The air is fresh with
ozone. Sparkling coral reefs unwind around turquoise blue lagoons,
bursting with tropical life. The waters are calm, warm and perfect for
swimming, snorkeling, diving or just plain wading and messing about. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
If you're in an unhurried mood, you can simply laze
on the silver beaches, soak in the sun, listen to the sound of the waves
and watch the swaying of the palms. The bangaram island feels like it was
designed specifically for languid strolls. Step out, stretch and watch
the beach dances of hermit crabs, or listen to the raucous music of a
hundred-piece seabird chorus. |
| Accommodation on the bangaram island is simple and
unpretentious. Set in 128 acres, there are 30 tiled - roof beach huts,
each with its own palm-thatched verandah, en-suite bathroom, ceiling fan
and fridge. In a bit to preserve Bangaram's unique environment, a hotel
atmosphere is avoided intentionally, but fret not - there are enough
creature comforts to ensure your stay is an enjoyable one. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
There are also four bungalows, which are bigger and
offer total privacy. At the heart of the resort is the restaurant hut.
It's a little architectural marvel made by the islanders, crafted
entirely out of bamboo and palm fronds, around a single tall central
pole.
Standard huts
Deluxe huts |
| The inspiration for our accommodations at Bangaram
turned out to be right next door. In the fisherfolks' huts of the
Lakshadweep, we found a dwelling that was pleasant, airy and made
ingenious use of natural materials. We kept the basic design, but added
modern plumbing, real beds and so forth. While we've left out the glitz
and the opulence, your island retreat is quiet, informal and very
comfortable indeed. The noise and heat of large generators would ruin
Bangaram, so we deliberately favoured ceiling fans over aircon. But with
swaying palms in thick clusters around the cottages, you're unlikely to
break into a sweat (unless you really want to). |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Cuisine
Cuisines of Lakshadweep and coastal India.
Beach barbecues.
We'll grill up whatever you can catch! |
| Coconut and fish are abundantly available on the
island. So naturally, no meal would be complete without a selection of
the day's catch.The cuisine styles are international and the menu also
offers a selection from the coastal cuisines of India and local island
recipes. There is also a well-stocked bar, right off the beach. Not that
the enchantment of the islands won't get you high enough already. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The accent at the Bangaram restaurants is on
freshness. You can get your freshly-caught shellfish served up in the
main dining area, or opt for some beachside grilling of an evening.
Impromptu barbecues just seem to happen and of course, there's the
beachside bar to help keep your spirits up. |
| With such peace and natural beauty surrounding you,
Bangaram Island is the ideal place to try an ayurvedic treatment, or
even just a relaxing massage. The resort, like all CGH Earth properties,
has fully-equipped ayurvedic facilities. Ayurveda is the Indian system
of traditional medicine, and it's a great way to treat niggling, chronic
health problems. Not to mention the odd aches and pains resulting from a
long days dive. The peace of the island creates the perfect atmosphere
for your mind and body to, in a very real sense, shake hands again. This
synchronised massage is one among the many therapies that you can
experience at Bangaram Island. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
But should you feel the need for a little more
adventure on your holiday, Bangaram island offers a wholly different set
of activities. The resort offers you a variety of outdoor pursuits -
Kayaking, Catamaran sailing, snorkelling, deep sea fishing, and scuba
diving. |
| A well-equipped and professionally manned Scuba
Diving facility is available at the resort. As a diving location, the
virgin reefs of Bangaram have been ranked by many of the world's
experienced divers as being among the best anywhere. Ancient shipwrecks
get discovered every now and then, since the reefs aren't even fully
explored yet. That's one reason why they abound in undersea life. Manta
rays, eagle rays, moray eels and Hawksbill turtles are common, as are
game fish. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Popular dive spots off Bangaram include Manta Point
and the wreck of the Princess Royal, sunk 200 years ago. Diving courses
and lagoon diving are offered for beginners too. Diving is permitted
only within safe depths around 30 meters. Visitors can avail of a
decompression chamber, except from 15 May to 15 September. |
|
