Bangaram Island Diving Tropical

Text and photos by Charles Stirling return for many years. dynamic state of flux. The middle archipelago of islands, I went diving in the Dreaming of diving off an are the Maldives—an island nation archipelago on Bangaram Island. uninhabited tropical island? well known to divers. At the northern India has been very cautious in end are the Lakshadweep islands, allowing “outside” influences in this Doing this by liveaboard boat formerly known as the Laccadives. All archipelago—firstly, to protect the is one approach, but here, on of the islands rising out of the sea from local native culture, and secondly, to Bangaram Island, one can live this plateau are low lying coral protect the fragile ecosystems. the island dream while staying with associated sand banks and other coralline structures. India—to visit or just dive? on the island itself, which has The coral growth has kept pace with Never having visited India before, I enough infra-structure to make land sinking and sea level rises, which chose to combine the diving trip to it comfortable. have been happening for thousands Bangaram with a visit to parts of the of years giving, for divers, sheer vertical Indian mainland in one trip. I didn’t The mainly submerged volcanic walls, shallow inter bridges along know exactly what the diving would be mountain range of the Chagos- with sandy lagoons to enjoy. Of course, like, as it has had little or no coverage. Laccadive Plateau extends from the the coral doesn’t grow above the level Would I regret not spending all my into the . of the sea surface; for island formation, available time underwater? At the southern end are the Chagos storms or earthquake uplift are I first heard about diving on group of islands, which are British needed. Storms wash coral debris onto Bangaram when I talked with two owned, but part leased to the United the top of underwater coral, but storms of the owners (Michael and Badu States for a secret military base. They also mean some islands periodically Dominic) of the family-run Indian CGH are off limits even for the original disappear. The Chagos-Maldives- Earth resort group of environmentally- ABOVE: Relaxation Bangaram style with lagoon steps away. TOP: Bangaram Island and its atoll inhabitants who have been trying to Lakshadweep Archipelagos are in a friendly hotels, and found out they

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CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT Chinese fishing nets at Cochin; Mumbai’s Elephanta Island is both a religious shrine but also a simple pleasant location that locals visit to unwind from city congestion; Mumbai does have its street sellers; Crowded busy Mumbai

were both divers. The group owns the involved first a transfer stop in Mumbai, or begging, but it never seemed oppressive work. As in Mumbai, I had two nights, one resort on this little known island. They Bombay, as everyone local still calls it. I —people were generally happy. Yes, each going and returning. The town is highly praised the diving, so my excuse to booked this with a morning arrival and a some streets were litter strewn, but seldom larger than maps seem to show it, and visit India was sealed. next day internal flight to Cochin (or worse than England could be with our it’s spread over several islands. I stayed Getting to Bangaram from England in other speak) so had a day to visit the new rubbish “maybe collect” policies. on the seafront, near Fort Kochi, just a city, and did the same on my return. While, on the whole, I was pleasantly few minutes walk from those nets, so I did Lakshadweep Mumbai is a crowded, frantic, hectic, surprised how tidy much of the city was. manage to get to see them as well as the Lakshadweep is the smallest union busy city that is fantastic. It’s way too big I would love to go back for a longer stay. fish market stretching along the beach territory of India consisting of 12 atolls, and too congested to see more than a At least a few days in a big Indian city front. three reefs and five submerged banks, tiny fraction of it in two days, but one still should be on one’s “to with a total of 32 islands located can get a taste of the place. The first thing do” list. between 200 and 400 km off the coast I noticed was the relaxed friendliness of Cochin is the gateway of the south west state of Kerala. the people, and that most spoke at least to the Lakshadweep Until recently, foreign visitors were not some English. Then, I noticed the slow rush islands. I went via allowed. Now, you can visit by obtaining of vehicles to get somewhere, as I tried to Mumbai, but direct flights a permit in advance. Likewise, access walk across a road. As a pedestrian, you from some European was limited, first by infrequent ship, quickly learn to weave amongst the cars. cities, from other eastern then slow ferry, until an airport was built With a car and a guide—which is countries and other on the island of Agatti, at first served essential—I crammed in visits to the Indian cities do exist. only by a ten-seater aircraft. In 2007, Gandhi museum, the “Gateway to Cochin is famous for its Kingfisher Airlines started daily flights India”, various religious shrines including Chinese fishing nets, to with a 70-seater turboprop plane. So, Elephanta Island, a riverside laundry, be seen in any travel Bangaram Island is a rather special various street markets and more. Yes, book of the area, and destination just beginning to open up. ■ there was poverty. Yes, people were they do still exist and

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CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Bangaram Island seen from the sea; The small bar on the beach at Bangaram; Arrival on the little floating dock with dive boat nearby

the 80 or so resort staff—most of normal Western visitors—not one whom come from one of the other used to cooking his own rather spicy islands—and up to 60 visitors at any concoctions at home. The food one time. So, does one really get to suited my partner just fine. claim he or she has spent vacation The beach bar was the only time on an uninhabited island? source of alcohol in the Muslim Accommodation is provided in Lakshadweep islands, where it one of 30 double bed chalets, each was illegal otherwise. So, an after- with shower and toilet, mini-bar dive beer or wine with dinner was fridge and enough space that a cat available. wouldn’t hit its head if you had one The resort was very environ- to swing, and electrical outlets that mentally conscious with rainwater maintained power throughout the collection and storage for most day and night. water needs. The used water was Communal facilities included a treated and reused for watering Getting there library and games room, dining hall plants. Electricity was generated Flying to Agatti was on Kingfisher used for breakfast and lunch, beach Airlines—an airline reputed to have bar, plus the water sports centre more reliable service than the ten- and, the all-important, diving centre. seater plane. Those of us going on No roads, just paths, no motor to Bangaram were escorted out of vehicles, no TV, not even mobile the small airport to a thatch-roofed, phone coverage—so, it is a location open waiting area for passport and for relaxation. permit checking before seeing our Dinner was served under the stars, bags manhandled over the beach buffet style, with a good variety of to a little movable floating dock, entrees always including a choice which was pulled over to our boat of two or more fish, chicken, or other moored just offshore. Following our meat and various vegetable dishes, bags, our group of newly arriving plus a couple of types of rice. We visitors sat back for the hour-long had barbecued tiger prawns one journey to our very own enchanted, evening that were REALLY difficult tropical island surrounded by a not to overindulge in. turquoise blue sea. The food here, as in all the group’s Bangaram Island is officially ABOVE: Cooking demonstration, a offerings, was a little bland for me, classified as uninhabited, with only popular pastime. Hammocks meeting probably cooked for the more their calling on Bangaram 49 X-RAY MAG : 26 : 2008 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED travel India

uninhabited island, Tinnakara, plus two us to the island. It had very small ones, Parali-I and Parali-II. bottle storage racks, Looking at local charts, it appeared wooden benches, a as if the areas outside the surrounding proper toilet inside and fringing reef dropped to depths of over an insulated sunroof. So, 1000 metres on three sides of the reef. it was comfortable for In places, these depths reached up to up to the 12 divers that it a couple of kilometres offshore. Others could carry, but did not were relatively near, but deep depths meet the standards, or were generally found only after more needs, of Red Sea day gently sloping contours. boats, which have to On the side facing Agatti, a wide sandy cover longer distances. bank bridged the two islands at 11 metres The dive boat did carry depth. All of this is important for the coral, an oxygen kit, radio and as you will see later. life vests. I asked Sumer Verma, the dive centre Being a slow boat, owner, about his diving customers. He it did save on fuel—a with solar cells with battery storage and as we had only brought wetsuits, masks, said that over half were repeat visitors positive environmental diesel generation was only used late at camera equipment and dive computers from many parts of the world. In general, consideration for this very night when batteries ran out. Plastics with us. Long flights and weight limits had they were vacation divers, often ones environmentally aware LEFT TO RIGHT: Giant clams of all sizes and colours were common; were discouraged, and any that did put constraints on what we could bring wanting to chill out with the island life. resort—but it meant that It wasn’t all simple flat terrain; Glass fish; Honeycomb moray eel come to the island were returned to the with us gear-wise. But bringing our own Some had bad experiences elsewhere trips to all the dive sites Gymnothorax favagineus with cleaner wrasse and shrimp mainland for recycling. wetsuits proved sensible as the hired ones (evidently many from a first experience along the outside of the were shorties—fine, if you keep swimming, that went wrong in the Red Sea). Others, fringing reef took 40 to 80 minutes to turned up. The island life was relaxed; Equipment matters not so good if you take your time, even in such as us, needed to “get wet” while on reach. guests might or might not do what they Being here for the diving, my partner and the 30°C water. a wider visit to India. Site selection was made in the morning, planned the evening before, making for I visited the dive centre in the morning Bangaram Island is inside a 10 km by 8 All the diving took place from a slow dependant on the weather but mostly awkward dive planning. This was of little after arrival to sort out hire of equipment km atoll, joined by one other similar sized hard boat, similar to the one that brought on the experience levels of those who consequence except for photographers

50 X-RAY MAG : 26 : 2008 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED India travel Cleaning station for oriental sweetlips

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Divers did see coral; Sharks were found, just not as many on my dives as other weeks; Feather star; The agricultural area of Kerala grows pineapples so fresh pineapple is a common inexpensive food captions this page...

shipwreck, the a surface meeting to exchange OK On my dive, marine life was limited Princess Royal, signs, and finally the group descent. The to a few hawksbill turtles, fish of the within the lagoon dive sites were often on gentle sloping oriental sweetlips variety at cleaning can be found, reef faces, so divers started shallow stations, eels popping out of holes, but in practice, before finning deeper. Dives then anemone fish doing their thing, and the it is coral reef meandered back up, giving excellent rest of the expected coral reef fish and diving that is the multilevel profiles for those hour long invertebrate life hiding in holes. primary draw, dives. Shark sightings arose at Entrance as the wreck The surface interval of 60 to 90 Point with a couple of nurse sharks has only a few minutes was spent relaxing on the boat sleeping under a ledge. We saw a ray exposed timbers. with fresh pineapple slices and cakes, and a clutch—if that’s what you call Most chosen which set us up for the second dive that 15 or more together—of spiny lobster sites were in the had us back at the resort by 2:30 for at Bangaram Reef, cushion stars, giant low 20-metre lunch. clams, bannerfish, trevally, wrasse, who wanted to set up lenses. The boat depth range with a few a little less. One Afternoons were spent unwinding on garden eels, butterflyfish, parrotfish and had no provisions for photographers; site, “The Grand Canyon”, was a narrow the beach, snorkelling, kayaking, going more at many if not all the sites. Yes, fish not even a rinse tank was available fissure extending below sport diving deep sea fishing, getting an ayurvedic life is reasonably good. A guide book when I was there, let alone a flat dry limits. Shallower sites were available, treatment or going for a walk—it’s a to the Maldives will work relatively well area for setting up. However, the fact and the first steps in training were done small island with enough to do if you’re here with some minor changes. that the dives took place in a relaxed within the sheltered lagoon. Looking not expecting a raving disco or late The big stuff is less common and tends atmosphere with 30°C water, time limits at the local charts, there should have night clubbing. to visit only in November-December with of an hour and a none too frantic pace been some stunning vertical walls to A number of sharks and a few large the cooler waters. Manta ray cleaning led by the dive guide made up for this see. However, since they start at about rays were seen on Manta Point, but stations haven’t yet been found, and problem. 30 metres, these are not on offer. that was the day before my dive. Isn’t it the sightings are few and only made Remnants of an old wooden All dives started with a back roll, then always just before or after your dive? during those cooler months.

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arriving in Agatti. visiting a little of the state of Kerala None of the islands and nearby beyond Cochin. seas are really fully explored. It is still relatively virgin territory, with the Kerala possibility of good new sites yet to Kerala is coastal— well known for its be discovered. palms growing along its 1000 plus miles of interconnected lakes, Did I err? rivers and canals that make up the Having come to the end of my stay backwaters. Further afield are long on Bangaram, could it be said that stretches of sandy beach, rugged I erred in choosing to make my first mountains, tea plantations, agricultural trip to India a mix of diving and areas, and historic and religious centres visiting some of the mainland? No. of many flavours. The other guests and I enjoyed the This isn’t the article for extensive dive sites of the island, and the resort coverage of all the attractions, but was great, but the diving wasn’t a short mention might show why a world class. The trip as a whole combined diving and sightseeing trip is was in the world class category worth considering. I only just scratched and was enhanced by time spent the surface of what there is to see in this underwater. small green state of India. Cochin and Mumbai were The backwaters are on the doorstep gateways worth seeing. The of Cochin. I went to Coconut Lagoon, remainder of the time was spent accessible by boat, looking first at what

Since most of the clientèle were and stands of good coral were present Recovery seems to be better. We did get vacation divers, the organization of the on every dive and recovery was slowly below a thermocline at one point and diving for them adhered to a policy happening. found better coral condition. The poor that had the divers following the guide The warming effect of the 1998 El coral is a deterrent to making the trip, who led the group. Strict safety was Niño affected the whole of the Chagos- but it shouldn’t be a show stopper for an emphasised. The chance to stay and Maldives-Lakshadweep submarine occasional diver, or for anyone making watch animal behaviour was limited if the mountain range. Recovery seems much this excursion a part of seeing more of group lost interest, but interesting animals slower here at Bangaram. It is possible India. were pointed out during the dive giving that the Maldives made a quicker In addition to diving on Bangaram everyone an opportunity to see marine recovery due to stronger, cooler deep Island, diving is also available on Agatti life. More experienced divers were ocean currents. The top of the mountain and Kadmat Islands, which I wasn’t able provided with their own guide on the range around Bangaram atoll and Agatti to try. Both of these islands supposedly same site, if numbers worked out. is both large and shallow, so the sun have less coral bleaching yet somewhat warms the water, while the prevailing similar coral diving. Accommodation Warm waters currents—being from the west—are on both of these islands is more basic. The warm, 30°C water made for pleasant possibly pushing the newly warmed water Kadmat is a few hours’ boat journey after diving, but the downside was the over the reefs slowing regeneration. presence of coral bleaching, with much Agatti is at the southwestern side and THIS PAGE: Tea farm in the mountains near Thek- of the hard coral dead. Small patches suffered less damage during El Niño. kadi; Kettuvallam or houseboat on the Kerala backwaters; Wild elephants at Periyar 52 X-RAY MAG : 26 : 2008 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED travel India

interesting environmentally, as much below, and the road switchbacks up of the adjacent land is below sea sheer cliffs. Near the top, one can level with dykes holding the water find tea plantations sprouting, spices back. Sea water is let in seasonally to growing, forests and nature reserves. flood the waterways, which helps to I made it up to the tropical control the water hyacinth invasion. rainforest and Periyar Tiger Reserve India has a reputation in some It’s an area undergoing economic near Thekkadi to visit a tea factory as quarters as a country to avoid changes with coconut palms part of the drive. No tigers were seen and she didn’t want to ever go CLOCKWISE FROM FAR seemingly due in part to the replacing rice fields in some places. at the reserve, not that it was really home. LEFT: Coir, or coconut poverty there and less than great More tourists visit now with the expected, as only about 12 wild fiber, being spun into food hygiene. Yes, many are houseboats, and land reclamation ones are left. I took a long hike in the Environmentalism twine in a small cottage poor, but having stayed in the is taking place. The area grows a reserve, then a boat ride on the lake, Taking this trip happened slightly industry seen in much admittedly tourist-oriented hotels, lot of with local home which shows off the wild elephants, by accident following a certain of coastal Kerala; Rice I found food hygiene up to industries producing coir products, water buffalo, monkeys and deer. conversation about a hotel’s fields as seen from a Western standards. Food outside spinning the coconut fibre into twine, The reserve is doing its thing on environmental endeavours. The CGH backwaters houseboat the hotels also seemed at least weaving traditional door mats, and the environmental side—converting Earth group are proud of what they cruise; Chinese fishing reasonable and delightfully more. local tribal people from poachers to are trying to do, something beyond nets at Cochin; Canoes spicier. Streets were generally The region is worth seeing maybe game wardens and tourist guides. the normal. So, what did I find when are the local transport clean (in Kerala, often cleaner sooner rather than later. There’s just The park boasts a diverse flora of I visited? on the backwaters than streets I see frequently in too much to see—this is the only real over 2000 species of flowering plants, First, conservation happens in the England). India is changing. ■ problem. many of which are endangered, background, something a guest could be seen by land, with nature The beaches in Kerala are—well, including many species of orchids, and village walks. Then, I spent a beaches—long white sandy places grasses and trees along with the night out on a Kettuvallam (Rice with water at one edge—less diverse animal life. Boat) built as a houseboat. crowded, less touristy than Goa just I found these explorations great These houseboats varied in what to the north and lacking the wild fun as well as educational but they offered, but most will effectively nightlife. If you want to continue the wondered what families, and in offer a high class private floating Bangaram style beach life, it’s worth particular, what kids would think hotel room with full amenities—OK, considering coming here, as I did about it all. Was it very much an a private bedroom, toilet and for a moment at Marari Beach. Not adult trip? So, I asked a few English shower with meals cooked just being much of a beach bum, I took families with kids what they thought. for you. They ply the waterways a three-hour tour by tuk-tuk to see I was surprised by the responses, allowing easy viewing of life as the other fishing villages. summed up by one ten-year-old, locals live it. Locally, people often Driving inland, coconuts give who said that their Kerala trip—not travel by canoe or boat for nearly way to rubber tree plantations and dissimilar to mine—was the best everything—to the rice fields, for pineapple farms in this agricultural holiday she had ever had. She fishing, even shopping. In a way, you region; then, impressive mountains said, “It has the climate, colour, become some part of this world. become apparent as foothills food, friendly people, things to do, The backwaters themselves are become steeper, valleys spread out beaches, mountains and animals,”

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finds out only by asking, and I was battery backup were necessary as no asking. Seeing the practice in action supply grid existed. On the mainland, was impressive. There were a variety of some electricity might be solar cell initiatives at different locations, each generated, but grid supply was often hotel looking at its local situation to used, as this helped to support supply minimise impact for that location. They to the local communities who otherwise were not using a blanket, unthinking wouldn’t use enough to justify making it “one-fits-all” approach. available. All the hotels did substantial recycling. Local materials were used in Plastics and metal cans were sent buildings—indeed, the older buildings to commercial centres, organics had been rescued, moved and rebuilt. composted using either anaerobic Local people filled most of the staff digesters or earthworms—sometimes positions. The Kettuvallam boat was for fuel—and grey water was used for commissioned to be built using the gardens. traditional practice of stitching planking These days, ‘recycling’ is often just together with coir twine—a building a catchword for governments or practice that is now being lost as nailing establishments to duck behind. Here, at is cheaper. Spice Village, it was impressive seeing The CGH Earth group is doing an over 70 good size wormeries lined up excellent job with eco-tourism. It’s taking compostable waste with the almost worth visiting just to see how output used on the hotel gardens or in tourism can turn “green”, and they mushroom growing bags. accept it as an ongoing, evolving Coconut Lagoon used both worms practice. ■ and heated anaerobic digesters (heated by burning other waste) to Both the India Tourist Office and CGH produce methane used for cooking Earth Group went out of their way to be stoves. Tree cuttings might be chipped helpful in organizing this trip. The author for mulch or composted. and X-RAY MAG would like to thank Varied rainwater catchment and both. Links: storage systems were in use. The reverse CGH Earth www.cghearth.com osmosis water purification plant was Government of India Tourist Office CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Even the local shop arrives by canoe in the impressive at one hotel. Others used less www.tourisminindia.com backwaters; Bangaram diving; The earthworms seemed to like the concrete water, so had simpler smaller systems. Ministry of Tourism homes at Spice Village; Water treatment at Coconut Lagoon The solar cells on Bangaram with www.incredibleindia.org

54 X-RAY MAG : 26 : 2008 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Indian claim AFG. Line of RIGHT: Location of southern Actual s Srīnagar CHINA u Control India on global map d

n I H FAR RIGHT: Location of I M A Bangaram Island on Amritsar L PAKISTAN A Brahmaputra map of India Y A NEW NEPAL S Kanchenjunga factIndia file DELHI BHUT. Āgra Kānpur Ganges BANG. Kāndla Bhopāl Ahmadābād Kolkata BURMA Nāgpur sources: US cia world fact book, SCUBADOC.COM Mumbai Bay of DECCAN Bengal History Around 1500 B.C., Aryan joyed British colonialism. Nonvio- Terrain: In the south, the up- Arabian Hyderābād tribes from the northwest moved lent resistance was led by Mo- land plain (Deccan Plateau), Sea Vishākhapatnam onto the Indian subcontinent; handas GANDHI and Jawaharlal leads to rolling plain along the Panaji they integrated with the earlier NEHRU who helped to bring about Ganges, while deserts lay in the Marmagao Bengaluru ANDAMAN Dravidian peoples and created independence in 1947. A division west and the Himalayas in north. Chennai ISLANDS the classical Indian culture. In of the subcontinent led to the es- Lowest point: Indian Ocean 0m. Calicut the 4th and 3rd centuries B.C., tablishment of the secular state of Highest point: Kanchenjunga north. Pondicherry Port Blair the Maurya Empire united much India and the smaller Muslim state 8,598m. Natural cial com- Madurai Cochin of South Asia and reached its of Pakistan. In 1971, East Pakistan hazards include droughts, flash munication. SRI NICOBAR height of power under the reign of became the separate nation of Economy India’s economy floods, as well as widespread In Kerala, Sea Tuticorin LANKA Ashoka. The Gupta dynasty (4th Bangladesh after a third war be- is made up of traditional village and destructive flooding from Malayalam to 6th centuries A.D.) ushered in tween the two countries. In 1998, farming, modern agriculture, monsoonal rains, severe thunder- is spoken, but the Golden Age when Indian sci- India’s nuclear weapons testing handicrafts, a broad range of storms, and earthquakes. almost everyone speaks English as Decompression Chambers ence, art, and culture flourished. spurred Pakistan to conduct its modern industries, and a variety a second language. Languages Chamber Complex In the 8th century, Arab incursions own tests later that year. Kashmir of services. Growth is primarily Environmental issues Tap spoken in India: Hindi 41%, Bengali Indian Naval Hospital Ship Asvini began, then came the Turkic is an ongoing dispute between due to services, which account water is not potable throughout 8.1%, Telugu 7.2%, Marathi 7%, Colaba, Mumbai 400 005 India in the 12th century followed by the countries, but tensions have for more than half of India’s out- India. There is soil erosion, defor- Tamil 5.9%, Urdu 5%, Gujarati 4.5%, Tel.: 2151666 European traders in the late 15th been decreased by discussions put but less than a third of its estation, overgrazing, desertifica- Kannada 3.7%, Malayalam 3.2%, century. By the 19th century, politi- and confidence-building meas- work force. Most people work in tion, air pollution from industry and Oriya 3.2%, Punjabi 2.8%, Assa- Diving Season cal control of virtually all Indian ures since 2002. India’s impressive agriculture, so the United Progres- traffic emissions. Water pollution mese 1.3%, Maithili 1.2%. Bangaram and Kadmat: lands was assumed by Britain. A gains in economic investment and sive Alliance (UPA) government results from raw sewage and agri- October to late April vital role was played by Indian output is challenged by press- supports an economic reform cultural runoff of pesticides. Health No compulsory vaccina- Agatti: October to early April armed forces in the British army in ing problems including significant program that develops basic tions are required for Bangaram. It The resort on Bangaram is open all both World Wars. But not all en- overpopulation and extensive infrastructure thereby improving Population 1,147,995,904 (July is not in a malaria zone, however, year. Monsoons start in May. poverty, ethnic and the lives of the rural poor while 2008 est.) Ethnic groups: Indo-Ary- Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid and Hepa- religious conflicts, and boosting economic performance. an 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid titis A vaccination is recommend- Time Zone GMT +5.5 environmental degra- Since 1997, a ten-year average and other 3% (2000). Religions: ed. Please check with your doc- (Look out for that odd half hour) dation. Government: economic growth rate over 7% Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Chris- tor. In other areas of India, there federal republic reduced poverty by about 10%. tian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9% (2001 census). is a high degree of risk for food Travel Air India flies to Mumbai; Capital: New Delhi India has large numbers of well- Below poverty line: 25% (2007 est.). or waterborne diseases including Indian Air to Cochin; Kingfisher educated workers skilled in Eng- Internet users: 60 million (2005) bacterial diarrhoea, hepatitis A Airlines to Agatti; Air France to Geography India lish, so the country has pushed and E, and typhoid fever as well Cochin direct from Paris; Oman Air is located in Southern to become a major exporter of Currency Indian rupee (INR) as vectorborne diseases such from Gatwick with Muscat as the Asia. It borders the Ara- software services and software Exchange rates: 1EUR=63.33INR, as chikungunya, dengue fever, exchange to Cochin. Some flights bian Sea and the Bay workers. The enormous and grow- 1USD=45.56INR, 1GBP=80.05INR, Japanese encephalitis, and ma- go through Dubai to Cochin. of Bengal, between ing population is the fundamental 1AUD=36.17INR, 1SGD=31.54INR laria. In addition, animal contact Pakistan and Burma. social, economic, and environ- diseases such rabies and highly Web sites Coastline: 7,000 km. mental problem. Language Hindi is the national pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza Lacadives, Bangaman language. English has an associ- have been found in India, but www.lacadives.com Wild elephant takes Climate varies from tropical ate status, however, it is used for pose negligible risk. Agatti Diveline a mud bath at Periyar monsoon in south to temperate in national, political, and commer- www.divelineagatti.com ■ near Thekkadi 55 X-RAY MAG : 26 : 2008 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED