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Bangaram Island
- Casino Hotel
(Other Hotel in Lakshadweep)
Bangaram Island, developed as a tourist centre, is the only island open to tourists but they can make day visits to certain other specified islands too. Indian nationals can visit some of the other islands-Kavaratti, Minicoy, Agatti, Androt, and Kalpeni.
The lagoon around Bangaram is large, shallow and safe. It is well defined by several coral reefs and small islands on its seaward periphery. There are facilities for snorkelling, scuba diving, sea bathing and picnics on the nearby islands. Fishing in the open seas here is an exciting and vigorous sport while yachting is an equally exhilarating experience. The sand on the Bangaram Beach is clean, white and fine.
Everything about the Bangaram Island is natural and simple. It is quite a small island and you can walk around it in an hour or so. Surrounded by superb, soft silvery sands with an interior of lush green coconut groves, it portrays an image of pure ecstasy. Surrounding the island is a coral reef, which forms a large sheltered lagoon, the most incredible shade of luminous turquoise, which also encloses three small-uninhabited islands.
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Hotel Specifications
Accommodation
Accommodation on the island is simple, unpretentious, yet comfortable. 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 there are enough creature comforts to ensure your stay is an enjoyable one.
There are also four bungalows, which are bigger and offer more privacy. At the heart of the resort is the restaurant hut. It's a little architectural marvel, being made entirely out of bamboo and palm fronds, around one tall central pole.
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Dining
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 coast of India and local island recipes.
There is also a well stocked bar, right off the beach. Not that the magic of the enchanted isles needs any additional uplift!
Recreation and Health Facilities
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 experienced divers as being among the best anywhere. Recently an ancient shipwreck was discovered. Besides coral, the reef abounds in undersea life, particularly game fish and turtles. Diving sites are off the reefs and are reached by boat.
Diving courses and lagoon diving are offered for beginners. Diving is permitted only within safe depths around 30 meters. Visitors can avail of a decompression chamber, except from 15 May to 15 September.
For deep-sea big game fishing, Bangaram is an ideal location. Record size Barracuda, Sailfish, Yellowfin, Travelly and Wahoo has often been landed. Local boats are available here for rent with experienced crew. Serious anglers are advised to bring their own equipment.
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. Ayurveda is the Indian system of traditional medicine, and it's a great way to treat niggling, chronic health problems. The resort has fully equipped Ayurvedic facilities.
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Basic Data
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| Country |
India |
| Union Territory |
Lakshadweep |
| Location |
Bangaram Island |
| Rooms |
30 huts |
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City Information
Though the Lakshadweep archipelago may appear to be a few insignificant dots on the map of India, it is, in fact, a sparkling emerald jewel adorning India's southwestern frontier. The Lakshadweep islands are located at a distance of 200-400 sq km from the Kerela coastline. It is one of the few marvels left untouched by the encroaching hands of industrialization and progress.
The white beaches, the lagoons that wash its shores with the coral reefs, which enclose it and the deep blue sea-all are symbiotically linked with each other. And when all these are added up, Lakshadweep is no longer the tiniest of India's territories.
While the total area of the 35 islands in Lakshadweep is a mere 32 sq km, the area of the lagoons enclosed by the coral reef is about 700 sq km. There are a total of 35 islands in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep and only 10 of them are inhabited. All the islands are shaped like boats with their backs resting on the reef in the east and lagoons washing their shores on the west. The lagoons are shallow, never more than a couple of metres deep. Just as the sands on the beaches are pure white and sugary, the waters of the lagoons are crystal clear and clean.
Though the islands are lush green and there are several coconut gardens, the calcareous soil of these islets permits only those vegetation species to survive that are able to draw nitrogen from the atmosphere. Moreover, only the plants with roots long enough to reach the freshwater film on the saline water just a few metres below have any chance of survival here.
Because of these environmental constraints, only a few hundred or so species of flora survive in Lakshadweep as compared to the thousands of species that one can find in volcanic islands like the Andamans. Likewise, the fauna too is restricted to a few insects, scorpions, centipedes and crabs as also a few kinds of skunks and geckos. There are no snakes or birds on these islands.
There are a lot of opportunities for the adventure seekers in Lakshadweep, but it is not that there is nothing in store for others. Here in Lakshadweep, one can engage in a number of activities like windsurfing, scuba diving, parasailing, deep see fishing, and kayaking. For the nature lovers, coral reefs and vegetation is a treat not to be missed. Walking through the inhabited islands is a unique experience. Just lazing around and basking in the sun at the beautiful white beaches of the islands is in itself a wonderful way of spending time here.
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