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| Bangaram Islands |
| The Lakshadweep or Laccadives as they are called comprise of 36 islands (of which only 10 are inhabited), 12 atolls, 5 submerged banks and 3 reefs. The islands are irregularly scattered about 200 miles off the south west coast of Kerala. |
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The early history of Lakshadweep is lost in antiquity. Local traditions go back to Cheruman Perumal, a legendary king of Kerala in whose period the islands were believed to have been colonized around 350 AD. Legend has it that the islands were discovered by shipwrecked sailors who after being tossed for many days at sea, first landed in Bangaram before moving on to the nearby Agatti island. After the weather had cleared they headed back east to the mainland with news of their discovery.
The pristine beauty of the islands has been preserved through relative isolation from the rest of the world, down the centuries. The reefs remain pristine and on the handful of islands that are inhabited people continue to fish and grow coconuts .The vast majority of islands still remain much as they were the day nature conjured them up.
Teardrop shaped, thick with cool coconut plantations and encircled by a corona of silver sand, the Bangaram Islands live up to every ‘desert island’ fantasy you’ve ever had.
The Bangaram Island Resort: Set in 128 acres of tropical paradise, fringed by a continuous silvery beach, the Bangaram island resort is encircled by a lagoon 10 kms long and 6 kms wide spread over an area of approximately 40 square kms. Bangaram represents a breathtaking spectacle of sparkling coral reefs, turquoise blue lagoons, silvery beaches and lush green coconut palms.
The waters are immensely rich in a variety of sea life including corals, fish and plants. The depth of the lagoon varies between 2-3 feet going down to 30-40 feet at some points.
The weather is remarkably pleasant throughout the year with the temperatures ranging between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius in summer. |
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Accommodation:
Accommodation on the island is simple and unpretentious. There are 30 tiled - roof beach huts, each with its own palmthatched verandah, en-suite bathroom, ceiling fan and fridge. In a bid to preserve Bangaram’s unique environment, a hotel atmosphere is avoided intentionally, but 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. |
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Facilities:
The resort offers you a variety of outdoor pursuits including Kayaking, Catamaran sailing, snorkeling, boating, canoeing, 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.
There are three uninhabited islands in the same atoll, Tinnakara, Parali and the not very imaginatively named Parali-II. Each can be reached by outboarding, sailing, rowing or for the incurably athletic, by kayaking or windsurfing from Bangaram. 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. There is also a fully equipped Ayurveda Center in the resort where you can enjoy a rejuvenating ayurveda massage. The Yoga Center will give you the opportunity to practice Yoga in the most pristine of surroundings. |
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Restaurant:
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. The cuisine styles are international and the menu offers a selection from the coastal cuisines of India and local island recipes. There is also a well-stocked bar, right off the beach. You can get your freshly-caught shellfish served up in the main dining area, or opt for some beachside grilling. |
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Location:
Cochin is the nearest International airport for the islands and there are daily flights from Cochin to Agatti which is the island closest to Bangaram. A few minutes from the Agatti airport, on the beach front there is an exclusive transit lounge where travelers can take a break and have a refreshing drink before boarding a boat for Bangaram. The boat ride takes about an hour. Helicopters are sometimes used in the monsoons when the sea becomes choppy (May-September). |
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