Travel + Leisure

TRAVEL + LEISURE / MARCH 2016

FROM TOP: IZTOK ALF KURNIK/GETTYIMAGES; JAMES R D SCOTT/GETTYIMAGES

HOMELAND

Scuba diving here (the deepest being at 18 metres which
requires an Advanced Level certifi cation) opens the Arabian
Sea up in ‘fi shy’ ways, and you needn’t even go as far as the
Lakshwadeep for an underwater experience. Accessible
through a boat ride from Murudeshwara (on the mainland),
Netrani Island is a popular daytrip for locals and tourists.
WHAT TO DO Introduce your children to the wondrous
milieu of coral reefs. Scuba diving is appropriate for all
ages, and there are numerous diving companies such as
Adventure Nation (C15,000 per person; adventurenation.
com) and Barracuda Diving India (C18,000 per person;
barracudadiving.com) off er amateur and professional
diving expeditions.

Havelock Island RITCHIE’S ARCHIPELAGO

Go beyond the Greater Andamans and stumble upon this

white sand paradise. A rich coral reef fl oating beneath the

waters and a lush green forest proliferating beyond the

beach, Havelock Island is one of the most popular islands

in the Andamans, located about 39 kms from Port Blair,

accessible by boat.

WHAT TO DO This stretch of the Bay of Bengal has a

fascinating marine life, drawing travellers from around the

world, especially between mid-January and mid-May. Some

of the best diving sites are at the Lighthouse, The Wall, the

Pilot Reef, and the Dixon’s Pinnacle, and getting there is easy

on a speedboat; the beaches are lined with guides. When on

shore, forest trekking routes claim your daylight hours. Book

into the luxurious Wild Orchid Resort (wildorchidandaman.

com), or Silver Sand (silversandhavelock.com)

Khanderi and Underi Islands

MAHARASHTRA

Old Portuguese forts surrounded by a shrubby terrain,

Khanderi in Thal, seven kilometres from the Alibaug

district of Maharashtra, and Underi near the mouth of

Mumbai’s harbour, near Prong’s Lighthouse, are two fort

islands whose histories date back to the 1600s. These forts

have seen the Maratha and the British rule as well, and but

they aren’t very talked about. Although, history buff s often

fi nd themselves walking around the walls of these forts.

WHAT TO DO Trekking the fort islands is taking that

Alibaug weekend drive a bit further. Explore the drawings

on the cave walls in Underi, visit the temple of Vetal, the

tomb of Daud Pir, and the British-made lighthouse. The

island is also accessible by a ferry.

Sea Fan with scuba diver in

background off Havelock

Island in the Andaman

Islands archipelago

Havelock Island Andamans