The East Coast Beckons

THE SACRED COLOURS OF GANGASAAGR(WEST BENGAL) Saagar Island or Gangasaagar lie son the continent shelf of the Bay of Bengal, about 100km(54 nautical miles) south of Kolkata. A pilgrimage destination for locals, the place has a myriad of mythological stories and exotic varieties of fish meals to offer. The approach includes a ride on an fascinating scooter van from Harwood Point and a unique ferry ride from Kachuberia amid the intersection of the Ganges with the Bay of Bengal. Best time for Visit: Ganagsaagar hosts a colourful festival at the Kapil Muni Mandir on Mahavir Jayanti, where you can witness vibrant colours at their best.

THE CRAB CARPETED BALASORE(ORISSA) On the northern coast of Odisha falls a unique beach which rests against the tall magnificence of rising palm trees. The exclusivity of this beach lies in the fact that it is home to Red Ghost Crabs species, which is only found in the Christmas Island of Australia elsewhere. Best time to Visit: Anytime between the conclusion of monsoon and the onset of summer.

BIRD FANCIES AT CHILIKA LAKE(ORISSA) The southern tip of Odisha catches the fancy of bird watchers, with the second largest lagoon in the world and the largest wintering ground for migratory birds in the Indian sub-continent Chilika Lake. Though there are touristy boats and steamers which show you around the popular spots in the lake, a public ferry, which costs hardly 10 per head, manoeurves through the waters where only locals traverse. Best time to Visit: Spot birds like the sanderling, terek, sandpiper, Kentish plover, and black-tailed godwit best between November and March on these waterways.

THE ARTISTIC CAVES OF BORRA(ANDHRA) One of the largest of its kind in India, the Borra Caves in the northern coastal region of Tamil Nadu come into sight around the Araku Valley at a remarkable 800-1,300m above sea level. The excavation spreads across one square km and is also the origin of the river Gosthani which flows through the district. Best time to Visit: Enjoy the limestone formations dripping and rising as arsty stalagmites and stalactites amid the hilly terrains, beautiful landscapes and the semi-evergreen moist deciduous forests during the monsoon and the winter.

THE GHOSTS OF DHANUSHKODI(TAMIL NADU) A train journey literally over the sea, followed by an enchanting bus trip along the southern coast of Tamil Nadu, beyond Rameshwaram, lead to the ghost town of Dhanushkodi. Though the shutdown of the entire city, after the cyclone of 1964, has isolated it from travel itineraries, the ruins still stand ironically in all their tragic glory. Best time to Visit: A deserted railway platform, post office, church and boulders of a former city greet you in the white sands during the winter months.