Agatti Island, Lakshadweep
 |
| Agatti Lagoon entrance buoy |
I spent a week at Agatti in Nov/ Dec 2013. Managed to arrange for a sea facing room at Agatti. Life is peaceful and laid
back. Everybody knows everybody. There is no crime and is 100% safe. There are only 2 hotels on the island and in one of them food has to be ordered a day in advance. Be prepared for basic food if you are not traveling as part of a package tour. There are no buses on the island. Get yourself a bicycle and explore the island.
back. Everybody knows everybody. There is no crime and is 100% safe. There are only 2 hotels on the island and in one of them food has to be ordered a day in advance. Be prepared for basic food if you are not traveling as part of a package tour. There are no buses on the island. Get yourself a bicycle and explore the island. |
| Tinakara Island |
Fishing is the main occupation here. Tuna is the main fish. A unique fishing method is practiced here. The fishermen catch small fish near the island and keep it alive in a container before proceeding out to sea.. Once they spot tuna, the small fishes are released into the water. Water is sprayed with a small pump. This spray of water, apparently, fools the tuna into believing that there are alot more small fish. Long bamboo poles with fishing hooks are deployed. The boats leave by 6 and return in the evening by 6. There are no modern fish processing facilities on the island and traditional methods are used. Immediately on arrival after fishing, the fish is cut up. Fish is boiled for an hour in huge cauldrons. This fish is dried in the sun. This dried fish is exported to the mainland.
 |
| Octopus drying out in the sun |
During low tide when the water recedes, people go hunting octopus. During low tide the water in the lagoon will be as low as 30 cm. Octopus decorates the entrance to its hole with stones in a distinctive pattern. The octopus hunters spot this pattern. Octopus is killed by spearing. Octopus tentacles drying out in the sun is a common sight along the beach.
 |
| Coming home after a days catch |
Trip to the islands of Bangaram lagoon is highly recommended. It's an hour by boat from Agatti's Main Jetty. The water is so clear that the sea bottom is visible for the entire trip!!!
Around Bangaram lagoon are the islands of Bangaram, Thinakara, Perli 1 and Perli 2. Island of Perli 3 vanished under the seas many years ago due to natural processes. Thinakara is uninhabited most of the year. People come here to do fishing in the lagoon during the very low tide season. There are no roads in Thinaka but boasts of 1 bicycle . "Ashoka Stupam", as the locals call it, is a monument built by the Govt of India on the beaches of all the uninhabited islands to proclaim that it belongs to the Union of India. As Thinaka is growing every year, Ashoka Stupam in Thinakara lies well inshore. The pristine beaches are whiter than white. Wish I had arrangements to sleep on the beach.
Bangaram is the biggest island in the lagoon. It was here that some of the best resorts in Lakshadweep were operational. Only the resort run by the Sports authority is still open. The lagoon offers excellent snorkeling locations. Since the boats belonging to the private resorts have not been moved for over 2 years, corals have started growing on even on its hull. Its best to bring packed lunch for the trip. My boatman's family was temporarily living at Tinakara and they packed lunch for us to eat on the boat. Lunch consisted of rice, fish fry, fish curry and squid curry. Both the squid and fish curry were cooked in coconut milk and vinegar. Navigating in the coral lagoon is an art. One person at the front of the boat would act as the lookout man giving direction to the helmsman. There are only a new navigation buoys and the trips are undertaken only during daylight hours.
Around Bangaram lagoon are the islands of Bangaram, Thinakara, Perli 1 and Perli 2. Island of Perli 3 vanished under the seas many years ago due to natural processes. Thinakara is uninhabited most of the year. People come here to do fishing in the lagoon during the very low tide season. There are no roads in Thinaka but boasts of 1 bicycle . "Ashoka Stupam", as the locals call it, is a monument built by the Govt of India on the beaches of all the uninhabited islands to proclaim that it belongs to the Union of India. As Thinaka is growing every year, Ashoka Stupam in Thinakara lies well inshore. The pristine beaches are whiter than white. Wish I had arrangements to sleep on the beach.
 |
| Thinakara beach |
Bangaram is the biggest island in the lagoon. It was here that some of the best resorts in Lakshadweep were operational. Only the resort run by the Sports authority is still open. The lagoon offers excellent snorkeling locations. Since the boats belonging to the private resorts have not been moved for over 2 years, corals have started growing on even on its hull. Its best to bring packed lunch for the trip. My boatman's family was temporarily living at Tinakara and they packed lunch for us to eat on the boat. Lunch consisted of rice, fish fry, fish curry and squid curry. Both the squid and fish curry were cooked in coconut milk and vinegar. Navigating in the coral lagoon is an art. One person at the front of the boat would act as the lookout man giving direction to the helmsman. There are only a new navigation buoys and the trips are undertaken only during daylight hours.
On the west of Agatti is the uninhabited island of Kalpetti. It is possible to walk across during low tide but it is not recommended to do so without local knowledge.
Agatti offers excellent dive sites. There are only 2-3 certified dive companies. Corals are suffering the effects of global warming and bleaching of corals is a major concern. There is a wealth of marine life. Sting rays, small sharks, lobsters are among the numerous varieties of coral fishes. The majestic of all the marine creatures has to be the giant tortoises.
 |
| At Thinakara |
Comments
Post a Comment