Bharatpur and Lakshmanpur beach and Neil Island..

Day 3: Neil Island

We had planned to stay at Neil Island for 3 nights and I must admit that the island is so peaceful and beautiful that you fell like extending the stay! The day started with a walk on the beach and we had already seen some birds like Black capped Kingfisher, Red Vented and Red Whiskered Bulbul. We then had a wholesome breakfast of chapati, sabzi, eggs, bread, jam and fruits.

You can just think of beaches when on an island. And so did we! We left for Bharatpur beach by 9:15 am on our cycles. It was really exciting to ride a cycle after so many years! Bharatpur beach is located near the jetty and this is the beach if you want to go for Snorkeling and swimming. The waters are very calm and extremely clean. Also, the island is very relaxed as compared to the hustle and bustle at Havelock Island. There are some jewelry and food stalls on the beach. You can also rent a lifebuoy for Rs. 100 on the beach. There are also shacks and lots of trees that provide shade to rest.

Bharatpur beach in the morning

Bharatpur beach during low tide

If you are planning to visit this beach, be sure to go there in the mornings as the noons face low tide and evenings are best at Lakshmanpur beach. Also take sunscreen with you as mornings get hotter as the day progresses. At the fruit stall you can buy a fruit chaat for Rs. 100 which will get you a mixture of fruits with some chaat masala sprinkled over them. The chaat though expensive is tasty. The jewelry is also very cheap as compared to Havelock Island. I got some coral earrings and ornaments made from shells.

The morning was spent doing nothing but lazying around the shore or being in the water. By noon we were back at the resort for lunch. On the way we stopped at the local market to get some fruits and we got some bananas and mangoes. After lunch we decided to visit the natural rock at beach number 2. To see this natural beauty one has to visit it in low tide since you need to walk on dead corals and rocks to reach the place and hence noon is best reserved for this.

The place is around 2km from the jetty and you need to take the road next to the local market. It took us around 20 mins on the cycle to reach there and its a good place to cycle with the roads taking you through vegetation. One might find some sea creatures while walking on the dead corals and rocks like sea cucumbers, star fish. The place is really beautiful and the rock formation is just fantastic!

I think its a star fish

The natural rock formation

The walk to natural rock formation

It was evening by the time we came back. Then we headed towards the tip of the island located on the Lakshmanpur beach for the sunset.

Sunset at Lakshmanpur beach

We get so busy in our everyday lives that we forget to enjoy natural things as sunrise ans sunset and its when you visit such places you realize the beauty of nature.