THE new sunday express Voices Pushpesh Pant Ravi Shankar Ajai Sahni Sunaina Anand Shampa Dhar-Kamath mata amritanandamayi MAGAZINE Buffet People Wellness Books Food Art & Culture Entertainment january 14 2024 SUNDAY PAGES 12 Dweep Blue Sea India’s secret Beaches Kihim Beach Maharashtra Located on the green Konkan coast in Alibaug, Kihim Beach’s proximity to Mumbai makes it a perfect alternative to the bustling Goa. Still untouched by touristy madness, its white sands and lush forest cover remain pristine and offer a tranquil ambience to unwind. Its wildflower beds, which attract hordes of butterflies and birds, both native and migratory add to its glorious scenic , beauty which is a sight to behold , particularly against the setting sun. This is not to say it is only for those looking for calm. For the adventurous, Kihim has on offer water sports such as jetski, parasailing, banana boat rides among others. How to Get There Take a ferry from the Gateway of India to Mandwa Jetty which is about , 11 km away and takes an hour to reach. You can also take a speedboat, which will take you to the destination in not more than 20 minutes. Agatti Island Beach Lakshadweep I t’s where the sky touches the sea for all of 7,500 km, more than the flying distance from Delhi to London. Life’s a beach along this transition of varied geographies: coral, sandy rocky it’s all there. The Prime Minister may have recently shone , , much-needed light on incredibly beautiful Lakshadweep but we, the people of India—and people from outside it—have an embarrassingly rich choice of seaside destinations that most haven’t even heard of. One Modi picture sends searches for India’s coral treasure into sandstorm territory up 3,400 per cent according to one travel app. These apps are tripping over , themselves as tourism booms, boosted by the government’s Make in India initiative and leveraged by the G20 Summit of last year. No less than 1.73 billion domestic tourists went out into the country last year; some six million foreign ones added to the mix even as the sector earned close to $17 billion in precious foreign exchange. Beaches are where it could be at in years to come, but Goa’s Calangute or Anjuna or Mumbai’s Juhu or Chennai’s Marina are old hat, and that won’t do in the new India. Old habits won’t either, for sports and adventure are increasingly making their way to our sedentary-so-far coastlines. Surf, or learn to, snorkel, parasail, seascoot, waterski: it’s all happening now. And this is where. Restricted accessibility due to limited number of flights and accommodation options (there are only two resorts) adds to the hidden-gem status of this beach, which has recently come under the spotlight after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit. Its biggest attraction is its topographical feature—it is located on a coral atoll island, which means that it encloses a lagoon, which has a rim of coral reefs. Its remote location has kept the surrounding waters untouched, thereby reflecting myriad shades of calming blues. With entry permits required to visit the beach, travelling to Agatti can seem like a hassle, but its incomparable scenery makes up for it. The beach is best explored on bicycle, and adrenaline junkies can choose from scuba diving, windsurfing, snorkelling, surfing, kayaking, canoeing, water skiing and sportfishing. How to Get There You can either take a flight to Agatti Aerodrome, the only airport in Lakshadweep, or take the sea route ‘India’s coastal landscapes have always been celebrated for their natural splendour. There’s the lesser-explored Rushikulya Beach in Odisha. Then there’s Bekal in Kerala showcasing a mesmerising blend of golden sands, ancient fortresses and palm-fringed shores. There’s also the Ganpatipule beach in Maharashtra, boasting serene shores.’ Rajeev Kale Thomas Cook from Kochi, Kerala. Seven passenger ships, which take about 12-14 hours, ply on the route. Malpe Beach Karnataka Among the virgin beaches of Karnataka, Malpe is best enjoyed between November and February , when the scorching heat gives way to the pleasant sea breeze. It is an important port and a fish harbour, and is dotted with numerous shacks selling fresh catch, making it a paradise for seafood lovers. One of its major attractions is the 450-metre sea walk that looks at the clear waters of the Arabian Sea on one side, and the cobalt blues of the backwaters on the other. With its clean and golden sand, and rows of green palm trees adorning its length, Malpe beach makes for an idyllic holiday destination. It is near impossible to get bored, but just in case you do, head over to the Vadabhandeshwara Balarama temple, the only ancient temple in Karnataka dedicated to Lord Balarama. You can also take a trip to Basel Mission’s tile factory , the oldest one in Malpe, which will offer interesting historical, social and cultural insights into Karnataka’s architecture. How to Get There To get to Malpe, you first need to reach Udupi, which is accessible through rail and road from any part of Karnataka. From Udupi, you can hire a taxi to get to the beach. Yarada Beach Andhra Pradesh Located in Visakhapatnam, better known as Vizag, home to India’s oldest shipyard, Yarada is among the lesser known beaches in this hotspot of a tourist destination. It is cleaner and calmer than its more popular counterparts. Thanks to its remote location that is tucked away in a tiny village on the east coast of Bay of Bengal, Yarada’s pristine sand and waters make it the ideal getaway for those looking to stay away from the bustle of the city The biggest . attraction is the Dolphin’s nose, a hill which gets its name from its conspicuous shape. It also boasts a lighthouse, which offers a panoramic view of Vizag. It is open to visitors daily from 3 pm to 5 pm, at an inexpensive ticket fee of `10. While you are there, you can also take a short trip to the British era Ross Hill Church, built in 1867, also offering unique views of the port city . How to Get There The closest airport and railway station are both in Vizag, and the easiest and inexpensive way to get to your destination is to cab it. Shivrajpur Beach Gujarat Situated 12 km from Dwarka, the Blue Flag-accredited beach is the ideal place to spend a quiet weekend with family If you are lucky you . , Mattu might even catch a glimpse of dolphins and migratory birds. The shallow and serene waters, coupled with rich oceanic flora, are perfect for snorkelling and scuba diving. If nothing else, catch a sunset lounging on a deck chair on the pristine beach, framed by soft sand and rolling waves. It is advisable to avoid visiting during summers, as temperatures can rise very high. It’s perfect to soak in the warm sunshine on a winter day Legend says that Lord Krishna . chose these shores to build his glittering city The state tourism . department is mulling to create unique marine sports facilities. With Dwarka, Porbandar, Somnath, Sasan Gir and Diu in the vicinity it can , turn into a holistic vacation spot. How to Get There The nearest railway station is Dwarka, a 25-minute drive from the beach. One could also fly into Jamnagar, which is 138 km from Shivrajpur. Mattu Beach Karnataka Unlike most beaches, which are a delight until sunset, Mattu beach comes to life in the dark, courtesy the bioluminescent organisms it is home to. A rather new phenomenon at the location, the waters at this beach have been glowing every night over the past two years, making it a unique attraction not just in the state but also in the country In the . daytime, visitors can enjoy the stillness of its backwaters as they relax along its shores. A drive along the 30-km-long beach, which has the sea on one side and a colonnade of swaying palm trees on the other, is equally refreshing. Another attraction from this location is mattu gulla, a locally grown eggplant which finds its way into traditional delicacies such as Mavina Hannina Gojju, bajji and bolu koddel. How to Get There About 10 km away from the Udupi Turn to page 2
Express Network Private Limited publishes thirty three E-paper editions of The New Indian Express newspaper , thirty two E-paper editions of Dinamani, one E-paper edition of The Morning Standard, one E-paper edition of Malayalam Vaarika magazine and one E-paper edition of the Indulge - The Morning Standard, Kolkatta.