If you go to Diu, you will come across some regular visitors who prefer not to talk about this quaint little port town even to their friends - they would like to keep Diu to themselves. Diu, pleasant and charming could contest for the most laid back place on earth.  If you are looking for a new holiday destination, a change or a break from the travails of travels in India, then Diu is the place. Most people end up staying longer than planned. Both, the place and the pace are pleasant and definitely laid back. There is a non-touristy feeling, no touts, fixed priced rickshaws (all with great music systems too), friendly local people and some excellent beaches. All this makes for a refreshing change! Until 1991, Diu was a ferry ride across the Arabian Sea from mainland Gujarat. It is now connected by a bridge.

Diu was a Portuguese Colony since 1539. Even after the departure of the British 1947, it continued to be under Portugese contol until it joined the union of India in 1961. The place still retains a distinct flavour of the bygone era after having been run on remote control from far away Goa and Lisbon for almost four centuries.

Lakshadweep
Lying 400 km west off the Malabar Coast - called Lakshadweep, comprising of approximately 36 coral islands and 12 atolls. Out of these 11 are inhabited and only three have facilities for tourists.
These are some of the finest, unexplored coral islands in the world, though facilities and infrastructure are not well developed.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Compared to Lakshadweep, the Andaman and Nicobars are much larger in scale. They span North-South in the Bay of Bengal, 700 - 800 km off the eastern coast.
The Andamans have some of the finest tropical forests in the world. Exotic species of flora and fauna and marine life abounds in the waters around these islands.
However, the scope of your visit is limited to a few islands around Port Blair. If you are willing to rough it out, you could go backpacking to the Nicobars (open only to Indians with a permit).

Travel Tip:
Many people ask us whether they should go to Lakshadweep or Andamans. We feel these are two distinctly different destinations, with little in common. The Andamans give you a feel which can be intimidating at times because of the scale - dense pristine forests, 30 metre high trees and long beaches. Some of the islands have gentle rolling hills, tiny rivulets and streams, ancient-tribes and volcanoes. The highest point in the Great Nicobar is 4000 feet above sea level.

On the other hand, the Lakshadweep islands are amongst the finest coral islands in the world. The clear aquamarine lagoons protected by a reef, make you feel cosy and safe from the wild ocean waves. The islands are comparatively tiny and flat with only coconut palms. The choice therefore is entirely yours!

A Return to Nature
Virgin beaches, lush green tropical forests, a plethora of birds, the colourful marine life.. poison arrows, voodoo practice, tribal masks.. a return to nature.. No wonder, a friend of mine posted at Port Blair once remarked - there are only two seasons in the A & N, first is the rainy season which goes on for ever and the other is the VIP season, when these Very Important Person(s) descend like tropical rains after the end of the monsoon in september; Prime Ministers, governors and the likes!

The Andamans and Nicobar Islands are this and much more. As much a visual delight as a naturalists' wonder, the archipelago of 572 islands, islets and rocks is brimming with options for adventure, relaxation, nature walks and cultural feasts. Situated in the Bay of Bengal, about 800 km off the east coast of India, they stretch across more than 700 km from North to South with 36 inhabited islands.

The archipelago is believed to have been part of a mountain range that extended from Burma to Indonesia. It still retains its original topography of hilly terrain with dense tropical forests. The islands support nearly 2000 species of plants (more than 200 endemic species) and more than 250 species of birds. They were shrouded in mystery for centuries before they were first colonised by the British in 1789. Being cut off from the rest of the world, the social and cultural development of its inhabitants was also in complete isolation and the entire population consisted of aborigines.

For those without chartered flights and private yachts, getting there is difficult in the best of times; flights are filled with government officals and the ship schedules are as erratic as the rain. Moreover, you can actually see very little of the 700 km island group as most of them are uninhabited and there is no way you can get there unless you have your own yacht. If you are an ordinary mortal, the unwieldy bureaucracy makes its presence felt at every step. You need a permit for virtually every thing that you do around here but the inviting lagoons and the long beaches more than compensate for all the trouble.