Travel Lakshadweep
Hundred Thousand Islands
Beypore: New Berth Facility For Ships To Lakshadweep
Jan 24th
Ships to and from Lakshadweep will get a berth at Beypore soon. Minister for Ports K. Babu said that Beypore would be developed as hub port of Lakshadweep. Kerala signed a supplementary MoU and lease agreement with the Union Territory recently. This port in Kozhikode was a buzzing centre of activity when trade with the Middle East was common in earlier decades.
The port will be soon developed, infrastructural facilities added and maintained. Beypore estuarine port is 10km from Kozhikode. The Beypore Lighthouse was built in 1977 and faces the Chaliyar river.
25 New Themed Cruises in 2012 – Crystal Cruises
Sep 3rd
Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, from the Crystal Cruises brood, is out on a theme. Or, rather, themes. The next year will see the cruise line offering 25 cruises with 12 innovative themes. Some of the themes range between music concerts and fine dining. There will be multiple sailing dates for both the cruises.
In the Ocean Views category, leaders and foreign correspondents can meet for debates and discussions. The Big Band and Ballroom Dance theme is self-explanatory. So is the Wine and Food Festival one – guests can meet mixologists, culinary professionals and chefs. Golf and Creative Learning are two other themes for the twice-a-year categories.
Once a year there will be a sailing each on themes such as Film and Theatre, President’s Cruise, Jazz and NFL Legends. Cruise travellers can enjoy complimentary wines and an open bar service.
Luxury In The Caribbean – Allure of the Seas
Jul 12th
Attractive and astounding – that’s how you could describe the world’s biggest cruise ship, Allure of the Seas. All 16 decks and 2,700 feet of it speak of awe and luxury. Central park, boardwalk, royal promenade, pool and sports zone, sea spa and fitness centre, entertainment place and youth zone are the seven themed areas the ship is divided into. This 16-deck ship cost more than a billion dollars to make and offers cruises in the Western Caribbean.
It will suit people of all ages and backgrounds. For those looking for an extravagant vacation, there are shopping areas, casinos, over 20 food joints and spas. At the same time, you can see teenagers, youngsters and women huddling around their own corners of the ship. Fitness centre, jogging track, golf course, skating rinks, game courts and children’s centre makes the ship’s entertainment section strong.
Accommodation on the Allure Of The Seas is a lavish affair. The rooms and suites are airy and spacious, and the royal family suite can accommodate up to eight persons. Some of the suites have their own private balcony and offer a grand view of the sea.
Allure of the Seas entered service in December 2010. At the Amber Theatre, you can watch 3-D movies. There are also music and dance shows. The Central Park which is as big as a football field has 12,000 plants and shops and beautiful restaurants that are lined up on both sides. Boardwalk is the seaside entertainment esplanade on board the ship. The Central Park is also famous for hosting artist Romero Britto’s first art gallery at sea. Other interesting features are the two crystal canopy sculptured glass domes. The cruise ship also hosts the world’s first ever Starbucks at sea on the bustling Royal Promenade.
All New Tourist Season In Lakshadweep!
Dec 2nd
Earlier this month, a load of tourists and locals of Lakshadweep were treated to renewed cruise ships. The ‘Mini Coy’, is a weekend holiday cruise ship to the islands that sails from New Mangalore port. Mangalore is only 144 nautical miles away from Lakshadweep and the journey takes 14 hours.
The cruise takes tourists to Kadmat island and returns the next day. This is the first weekend cruise of its kind to Lakshadweep, and had about 140 people on board.
Once on the island, tourists can go around for boating, sea swimming and shopping on the islands. Diving and snorkelling enthusiasts can hire yachts and equipment from agencies on the island. You can go walking on the serene beaches and visit local landmarks before getting back to your ship.
Mangalore To Lakshadweep Cruise
Oct 16th
From October 14 on Mangaloreans have begun travelling to the Lakshadweep islands by ship! And, that, too, right from Mangalore city. The cruise will leave from Mangalore’s old port.
The very first trip will be ferrying travellers to Agatti and Kavaratti and return on October 16. Once the maiden voyage trip proves successful, the fare and the other details will be set.
Chennai – Agatti Flights By Air India
Sep 23rd
nk Now travellers to the Lakshadweep islands can catch a flight to Agatti from the east coast of India. Air India offers flights six days a week connecting Chennai and Bangalore and Kochi to the islands. Even tourists planning to visit Lakshadweep from Mumbai and Delhi will get connecting flights at Bangalore.
The flights will start from September 24. This is Air India’s 64th domestic destination. This will also reduce flights fare of newer airlines that might start operations to the islands.
India To Get Its First Bridge-on-Sea Runway
May 19th
A first for the country. A runway that extends into the sea? Yes, it’s gonna happen in Agatti, which houses Lakshadweep’s sole airport. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) plans to extend the runway at Agatti island by building a 1,000-foot-long bridge on the sea and connect it to the existing 4,500-feet-long runway.
They are also planning a new terminal building for the airport. Once the Lakshadweep government agrees, it might take up to two years to complete the building.
Flying Fish – Spot Them On Your Lakshadweep Cruise
Aug 12th
There are 40 types of flying fish living in the warm tropical waters of the world. The Arabian Sea is no different. Their torpedo-shape, wing-like pectoral fins and a forked tail helps them literally fly into the air. Sailors say they can even be spotted near the deck of the ship! So imagine how powerful they are compared to fish their size.
While you take a cruise to Lakshadweep, make sure you watch out for these tiny creatures jumping outta the blue waters. They grow up to about 18 inches and some have large pelvic fins, giving them the name, four-winged flying fish.
This ability of theirs help them to evade larger fish who would otherwise feed on them. Smart, eh? From within the water itself they gear up speed and shoot into air. For this they need a deep section of the water so as to get the right propulsion. Some go as fast as 60km/hr and travel about 200m in the air before returning to the water. As they are attracted to light, fishermen lure them easily onto smaller boats or nets.
They might not be as majestic as dolphins to watch, but are truoly an interesting sight.
Corals Suffer Due to Global Warming In Lakshadweep
Aug 9th
A study conducted by scientists of National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) in Kavaratti found that the coral species, Porites, are threatened. They say that global warming is the reason, and rising carbon di-oxide levels hamper their growth considerably. It might even reach a stage where the species might altogether be wiped out from the Lakshadweep Islands.
The corals’ growth rate has decreased from 2 cm to 1.25 cm per year between 1993 and 2003. If it is not checked and conserved, other coral groups, too, will follow in the same fate.
The World at Cochin! – India’s First Oceanarium is here
Aug 8th
The world’s very first oceanarium was built in Singapore. The state government of Kerala is planning to establish the country’s first oceanarium in Vypeen, Cochin. Work on the structure will start by the end of this year.
It will span over 40 acres in the Puthuvype area, and have a 300-m tunnel through which you can watch the ‘ocean’ and the creatures in it. There will be sharks, rays, corals, variety of fishes and other sea animals and plants. Along with this there will be a convention centre, an amphitheatre and a museum.
The idea of the oceanarium was conceived by the Fisheries Department, and will be a public-private enterprise jointly supported by the Kerala State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSIIDC) and an investment advisory group, IL&FS. The authorities are planning to build it on par with the ones in the US, UK, Europe and East Asia.
A research centre which will also come up nearby will help scientists and students to study underwater and sea life. Once it is ready, this structure will be a major attraction in the country, and will definitely attract a large number of tourists.