TRAVEL SPECIAL........................... ISLANDS & BEACHES INDIA SPECIAL

ISLANDS & BEACHES INDIA SPECIAL  By the river, lake and sea A holiday by the waters is ideal, it’s time to pack in your bikini and scuba diving gear for some adventure this summer     India’s vast coastline boasts of scenic beaches with beautiful marine life. On most Indian beaches, you can indulge in adventure sports like parasailing, kayaking, fishing trips and more. From the coast of Gujarat to Pondicherry extending up to Andhra Pradesh, beaches are galore. Ranked as one of the best islands across the world, Anadman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep will ensure you have a memorable time there. We suggest some the hippest spots for flaunting that perfect body, air-kiss the winds and soak in clear blue waters. So are you ready to dive into the sea?     THE BLUE TRAILS REGION: Andaman and Nicobar Islands The world waits for you, here, literally. The serene and calm waters at Andaman and Nicobar present a landscape of lush extravaganza in the Bay of Bengal. Majority of the islands’ area is forest cover and animals like the spotted deer, wild boar, gecko crab-eating macaque and saltwater crocodile reside in the lush green regions. KEEP IN MIND: The locals truly treasure and preserve the waters, thus it is not allowed to pluck or damage corals. Taking back corals, shells, are prohibited under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Refrain from being inappropriately dressed on the beaches.     ww.andamans.gov.in THE BEACHES OF KERALA Kovalam’s most visited beaches are the Lighthouse Beach, Hawah Beach and Samudra Beach. MUST-DO: Get the surfboard and surf on home waters. Take a boat ride in the ancient boats rowed with a bamboo paddle and maneuvered by experienced local fishermen.  Varkala Beach is the only place in southern Kerala where cliffs are found adjacent to the Arabian Sea. MUST-VISIT: The famous Sree Janardhana Swami Temple is situated near the Beach. UPCOMING EVENT: The Kerala Agricultural Development Society (KADS) will organise Greenfest 2014, an agro-organic fair, at Thodupuzha Pulimoottil ground from April 21- 26. Time to shop for some organic products and learn a bit about farming too.     www.keralatourism.org  LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS In Malayalam (also the local language of the islands) Lakshadweep means ‘100,000 islands’, however in reality there are 36 and out of which only 10 are inhabited. LEGEND HAS IT: The islands were mentioned in the Buddhist Jataka stories of the 6th century BC. The arrival of Muslim missionaries around 7th century led to the advent of Islam in the Islands. During the medieval period the region was ruled by the Chola dynasty and Kingdom of Cannanore. The Portuguese arrived around 1498 and were upstaged by 1545. The region was then ruled by the Muslim house of Arakkal, followed by Tipu Sultan. On his death in 1799 most of the region passed on to the British and with their departure the Union Territory was formed in 1956. THE FUN ISLANDS: Both Kavaratti and Kadmat have scuba-diving facilities, and the latter also has a centre for kayaking, water skiing, yachting and wind surfing. There are about 52 mosques on Kavaratti island and the most beautiful one is Ujra mosque. Bangaram is a popular destination among couples, due to its teardrop-shape and white sands. FLORA AND FAUNA: The Lakshadweep islands has over 600 species of marine fishes, 78 species of corals, 82 species of seaweed, 52 species of crabs, 2 species of lobsters, 48 species of gastropods, 12 species of bivalves, 101 species of birds. It is one of the four coral reef regions of the country. Pitti Island, is popular among tourists as the breeding place for sea turtles and for a number of pelagic birds such as the Brown Noddy, Lesser Crested Tern and more. The island has been declared a bird sanctuary. WORD OF CAUTION: The tap water in Lakshadweep islands is through bore wells and thus a bit hard. Rainwater harvested during the rainy season is the major source of drinking water. Unavailability of drinking water accounts for a number of islands being uninhabited. Consumption of any alcoholic beverages is prohibited in all islands except Bangaram. Also picking live corals, plants or seeds is a punishable crime.     www.lakshadweep.nic.in  SRIRANGAPATNA ISLAND The Srirangapatna island is located 19 km away from Mysore city. The entire town is enclosed by the river Kaveri to form a river island. The town is easily accessible by train from Bangalore and Mysore and is also well-connected by road, lying as it does just off the Bangalore-Mysore highway. Srirangapatna is sprinkled with several historic and religious monuments. If you’re visiting Mysore and have some time on hand, make it a point to visit Srirangapatna. MUST-VISIT: Dariya Daulat Palace, the summer palace is a gorgeous palace built in the Indo-Sarcenic style in mostly made of teakwood. The four staircases are inconspicuous, built in the four partition walls that divide the audience hall into four rooms at four corners with a central hall connecting the eastern and western corridors. The outer walls of the palace tell stories of battle scenes and portraits through carvings. The wooden ceilings of the palace are pasted with canvas painted with floral patterns. It is truly a visual treat.     The fort is famous as it is said that Tipu launched his attack against the British from here. Inside the fort there is a mosque and a temple.     The Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangapatna enshrines Lord Vishnu as Ranganatha. It is said that both Tipu Sultan and his father made generous donations to the Ranganathaswamy Temple. This enormous temple has fort like walls and an intricately carved Gopuram (a monumental tower, usually ornate, at the entrance of any temple in South India). The architecture is a mixture of the Hoysala and Vijayanagar styles. There is a shrine dedicated to Ranganayaki Thaayaar in the northwest corner of the temple. There is a temple dedicated to Krishna as well.     www.srirangapatna.org  TOP ISLANDS & BEACHES 2014 01 ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS 02 LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS 03 BEACHES OF KERALA — KOVALAM & VARKALA 04 RUSHIKONDA BEACH, ANDHRA PRADESH 05 SOUTH GOA BEACHES — PALOLEM, AGONDA 06 CHENNAI BEACHES — MAHABALIPURAM & MARINA 07 AUROVILLE BEACH, PONDICHERRY 08 SRIRANGAPATNA ISLAND 09 PURI BEACH, ODISHA 10 OM BEACH, KARNATAKA Compiled by Rashmi Henriques  ETTR 140320