Devbaug - A Great
Weekend Destination

chillibreeze writer — Prachi Randhawa

Need an editable PowerPoint map of India

When you think of Indian beaches on New Year’s Eve, the first place that comes to your mind is Goa. My friends and I were looking for a similar location minus the noise and crowds. We hit the jackpot when we found, not just a beach, but a whole island! Welcome to Devbaug (also spelled Devbagh), a beautiful island in Karnataka’s Karwar district, just 2.5 hours from Goa. A paradise away from the hustle and bustle of Goa, Mumbai, and Bangalore, Devbaug is a promising rendezvous with the Arabian Sea.

Day 1
We had booked our accommodation with Jungle Lodges & Resorts (JLR), Karnataka’s well known eco-tourism association. On reaching the ferry point at Karwar, the JLR boat speeded us away to Devbaug with the salty winds whipping our faces. We were welcomed by the homely staff that led us to Gol-Ghar—the porch that all JLR properties have for you to have your meals, sip some tea, or simply lay back with a book.

After a heavy tea, we went to our cozy tents facing the beautiful secluded beaches. Even in the peak season you will not find more than 35–40 people around you. We spent the evening walking around the beach and planning our activities for the next day, enjoying a relaxed evening after a long drive.

Day 2
I am generally a late riser, as are my friends, but that day we were all ready at 6 AM to go bird watching around the island. It was very refreshing to walk through the lush green trees, as our guide gave us the lowdown on the various birds and other small creatures of the forest. We got back in time for a sumptuous breakfast, served hot from the stove right onto your plate. We
then walked to the boat dock. While we waited for our boat to arrive, we struck up a conversation with some locals who were fishing. They let us try a hand at fishing with their traditional fishing rods, and taught us their trick to swirl and throw the string far into the water.

Our boat soon arrived and we were off dolphin-watching. We saw quite a few dolphins that day; the staff told us it was a common sight but we sure felt lucky to see the dolphins swimming gracefully in the beautiful Arabian Sea.

The boat then docked at an island that had a small beach surrounded by little rocky hills. With the help of the well-trained staff, we were soon snorkeling in the shallow waters. It was my first time and I cannot describe how beautiful it is to swim through the corals, oyster shells, sea plants, and fishes. We snorkeled for about 20 minutes when the high tide came in and the water suddenly became warm. We were led safely and quickly to the beach where the boat picked us up.

Our next stop was another beach quite different from the first one. It had a long coastline, and appeared to be built for lazing and sun-bathing. But we had better plans. Wearing a harness and holding on to a rope I ran towards the sea, and in a few seconds was pulled up high into the skies. My parasailing experience was amazing; I felt like a bird as I soared into the clear sky with the cool wind on my wings, watching the coastline snaking below. After 15 minutes in the air, I landed with a splash in the salty water, at a depth just right to get my head out of the water and walk to the beach with a big smile on my face.

After an exciting morning, we returned to Devbaug for lunch and spent the afternoon playing volleyball on the beach, collecting shells, and simply relaxing in the wilderness. This was New Year’s Eve! So in the evening, we donned our party clothes and headed towards the bonfire. It was a pleasant night and a humble setup. We chatted, danced, and dined by the beach. As the clock struck 12, we exchanged greetings as fireworks burst in the sky.

At the end of an exciting and beautiful day, we all retired to our huts where the only music one could hear was the hustling of trees and waves lapping at the shore.

Day 3
This was our final day; almost time to go home. We woke up early again and went straight to the beach, which was filled with flocks of birds. After a long walk, building sand castles, and clicking photographs to preserve memories, we headed to Gol-Ghar for breakfast. Then it was time to pack our bags and head back to Karwar in a boat.

If you are looking for a not-too-expensive but great quality vacation, Devbaug is just the right place. It’s a destination for people of all ages. There are no crowds, and there are options to satisfy the adventurous as well as the laidback. Truly a “thumbs-up” destination!

Activities
Banana Boats, Boat rides, Dolphin Watching, Snorkeling, Parasailing, etc.

Recommended Accommodation
Jungle Lodges and Resorts (Log Huts, Cottages, and Tents)
http://www.junglelodges.com/V2/Devbaug.htm

Getting to Devbaug
By Air
Nearest Airport: Dabolim Airport (Goa). Karwar is a 2.5 hour drive away.

By Train
Nearest Big Station: Hubli or Mangalore. Karwar is about 3 hours drive from Hubli and about 4 hours from Mangalore. Konkan railway fast trains from Delhi, Mumbai, Mangalore, Cochin, etc. don’t stop at Karwar station. So you have to alight at Madgaon (Goa) or at Ankola and then drive to Karwar. There are a few slower trains, however, that stop at Karwar. Check the Indian Railways charts and schedules for more details.

By Road
Bangalore has overnight deluxe bus services. Or if you decide to drive yourself, it will take you about 16 hours. But the drive is worth it because the road between Hubli and Karwar is one of the best in Karnataka and passes through a thick forest. You could spot some deer and other animals too. There are also regular bus and taxi services from Hubli to Karwar.

Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in March, 2010. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.

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—About our writer:

Prachi is a writer with a diverse background - travel, food, lifestyle, fiction, soft skills and business writing are some of her key areas. An MBA from India’s premier B-School, she works as an account manager in the field of E-Learning, training and development. This army officer’s daughter is passionate about travelling, adventure sports, cooking and her guitar. Prachi lives in Bangalore and is a certified tea connoisseur and a member of People for Animal.

Devbaug - A Great Weekend Destination

chillibreeze writer — Prachi Randhawa

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Devbaug - A Great
Weekend Destination