The most exclusive of the Lakshadweep islands is Bangaram, a holiday
resort which can be genuinely described as an unspoiled tropical paradise,
one of the last, perhaps, anywhere in the world. There are no indigenous
inhabitants - only palm trees and sandy beaches – and the number of
visitors is strictly limited. The island sits in its own lagoon, a hundred
shades of blue hinting at hidden works below. Whether you are a scuba
diver or a sunseeker, idle or adventurous, this is the ultimate retreat:
private, peaceful and timeless.
Your first tantalising glimpse of the island is from
the comfort of a twin propped Fokker F-27-500. Visitors take a one-hour
flight from Cochin airport on the mainland to Agatti. As you fly in over
the atolls, each one wrapped in its own limpid lagoon, there is an
exhilarating sense that no one has ever been here before. Once at Agatti,
you board a boat and set off for Bangaram, an hour and a half away.
(During the monsoons, when the sea is rough, a helicopter flies you there
in ten minutes.) It’s a thrilling journey, the aquamarine water darkening
as the boat negotiates the coral reef and heads out to the deep open sea.
Bangaram is waiting, as it has always done its palm trees and beaches
silhouetted against the setting sun.
The Resort: Accommodation on
the island is simple. Set in 128 acres, there are thirty tiled-roof beach
huts, each with its own palm thatched verandah, en suite bathroom, ceiling
fan and fridge. In a bid to preserve Bangaram’s unique environment, a
hotel atmosphere has been 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. (Occasionally,
islander from Agatti arrive by boat to harvest coconuts from trees which
they still own.)

At the heart of the resort is the restaurant
hut, our architectural pride and joy. It is made out of bamboo and palm
fronds, and constructed around one tall central pole. All meals are served
here and the chef prepare a wide range of continental and Indian dishes
(meat and vegetarian). He is more than happy to cook any fish which you
might have caught yourself, and in a variety of ways. The atmosphere is
informal, and in the evenings a barbecue is often lit on the beach and
dinner served outside. There is also the bar hut, which serves beer and a
range of cocktails, including Planters Punch and Bangaram
Binge.
For those who want to do nothing more than soak
up the sun, the 128-acre island is fringed with an endless sandy beach.
The lagoon is vast and shallow near the shore, allowing you to swim in
safety or to walk out to one of the seductive sandbanks. There are no
treacherous currents, just a cooling sea breeze and tropical fish for
company. In the late afternoon, the staffs sometimes play beach volleyball
and anyone can join in. There is also a carrom board in the bar, and a
well-stocked library with books in Malayalam, Italian, German and
English.
The Lakshadweep islands are a string
of unspoilt tropical islands located off the coast of Kerala out of which
only a few are inhabited. Bangaram island is uninhabited and is a
veritable tropical paradise. Just miles of beaches, lagoons and sandy
beaches, with coconut trees forming a fitting
backdrop.