Mountains are a wonder, snow is a fascination, deserts are a wish, But above all, Islands are LOVE. Islands are metaphors of the heart, no matter what the poet says otherwise. So, this article will mention the wonderous hidden/not much explored Islands of Gujarat.
1. Dunny Island - A jewel of the sea at the corner of the country
Starting from the edge of the Arabian Sea, the edge of Gujarat, and the edge of India, we have beautiful Dunny Island near the Okha port in Bet Dwarka.
The southeast end of the bet is known as Dunny Point which is three sides surrounded by sea. Managed by Sundarvan and camping, it is the first place in Gujarat developed for ecotourism and is also the only marine sanctuary of Gujarat where one can spot few types of corals, crabs, turtles, dolphins, etc.
How to reach there:
The island is 30 km away from the Dwarka and buses/jeep to Okha/Bet Dwarka are available from the point, you will have to travel in a ferry boat.
Boat Cost: Rs. 10 to Rs.30 per person for Public Boat & Rs. 2000 for Private Boat
Beach camping is also available at the dunny point which might be cheaper and you can enjoy the tents, the campfire, and the camping things.
InvincibleNGO, Paramount treks, and a lot of other websites organize the tour through which makes it easier for the visitors.
The best part about the Dunny camping is - they will take you 30 km away from the coastline where there is a DOLPHIN SHOW, the beauty of the Flora, and the Fauna of the marine life.
3. Pirotan island - The Marine National Park
As the name suggests, the Pirotan island is in the Jamnagar district of Gujarat and one would not miss the opportunity to explore Gujarat's marine national park, if you are a beach lover, the flora, and fauna and waves will just amaze your experience.
The islands are uninhabited except for the workers at Pirotan Island lighthouse, so enjoy the solitude and use it as an opportunity to lose yourself to the wide world around you.
Sea Anemone, Octopus, sea horse, sea slugs, King Crabs, Hermit Crabs, Ghost crabs, Squid, Sea worms, Sea snakes, Sea Scorpions, Saw-scaled Vipers, Scorpions, etc, are to name a few of the marine creatures that you will get to explore and the best begins that with the sparse ecosystem, you can get to see the creatures without diving into the sea.
How to reach there:
Jamnagar is a well-known city of Gujarat state, India. You can find the train from any part of the country and flight from Mumbai daily.
From Jamnagar, You have to go to bedi port by road. You can take a taxi, auto, and even your vehicle to go to the port and then by boat, which is organized by the locals over there. Feeling the mesmerizing and beautiful landscapes around the sea and small islands will make you reach the Pirotan in 45 mins.
Important note:
The island is a protected marine park, several permissions are required for visiting. For Indian Nationals, permission from local Forest Department, Customs Department & Ports Department. Foreign nationals additionally require permission from the police officer.
2. Piram Bet Island - Bhavnagar
Piram Bet is an island in the Gulf of Cambay of the Arabian Sea which falls under the Bhavnagar district of Gujarat state, India. Except for the campus of the lighthouse, the island is privately owned.
Only a few families are living in this virgin land so one cannot expect to have any kind of facility here, one has to carry all essentials along with them while tripping to this place. Prior permission has to be taken so that one can visit this place.
The island has the fossils of dinosaur eggs, giraffes, and gigantic turtles, with some dating back 8,000 years. In the 1860s, the fossils of two giraffes, Bramatherium and Sivatherium were found. The fossils of the prehistoric equid, Hipparion were also found on the island. Several shipwrecks found around the island are dated to the fourteenth century.
How to reach there:
To reach Piram Bet Island, one has to travel from Bhavnagar to Ghogha by road and then take a boat ride during high tide which takes around 1 hour to reach the island. Piram Bet Island allows us to see nature's creations at their best and there is habitation in this virgin island, so one cannot expect to have any kind of facility here. One has to carry all essentials along with them while tripping to this place.
Timings: 6 AM - 5 PM
Enjoy it raw just the way nature created it.
So, let's not forget the Island and the beach beauty of the Gujarat.
Apart from the 3 metaphoric islands, Gujarat is situated on the borderline of the Arabian sea and it has the thalassic beauty with one of the blue flag beach - Shivrajpur.