The most popular tourist destinations are the four beaches in Puducherry, the first being  the Promenade beach on which are several land marks like the War memorial, the statue of Joan of Arc, the heritage town hall, the statue of Mahatma Gandhi,  Dupleix statue, and an old light house built in 1836. The Paradise beach is flanked by a quiet flowing creek on one side, the beach can only be accessed by boat, and the Serenity beach is a virgin beach with its serene surroundings and is an ideal place to laze away your day. The Auroville beach is close to Auroville (City of Dawn), which is an “experimental” township, dedicated to Sri Ma, located 8 km North-West of Puducherry, where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony, regardless of caste, creed, politics and nationality.

Other attractions are the The Ashram, the Arikamedu site, where ancient sites have been excavated and many interesting artifacts have been found, the fairs and festivals, monuments, the churches, temples and mosques. Pondicherry is also considered as the centre for Yoga and Meditation in South India. Yoga courses to suit the various tourists have been designed which makes it a very attractive. There is also an annual food festival, called the Gourmet, organized by the Department of Tourism of Pondicherry which is another attraction for the tourists. The Botanical Gardens of Pondicherry is extremely famous and is home to a lot of unusual specimens of plants.

Best time to Visit: September to March

Closest Airport: Chennai (135 km)

Nearest Railhead: Villupuram (36 km)

By Road: From Chennai (150 km) and Bangalore (320 km)

•    Goa: Goa tops every beach lovers list. It is a heady mixture of serenity and excitement down a 10-km coastline studded with some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. Everybody who has visited Goa will vouch that Goa soothes your senses, unleashes the whacky side in you and leaves you recharged. The variety of activities in Goa include just about everything; sun, surf, sea, casinos, carnivals, nightlife, water sports, angling, treks Some places you can visit while in Goa are Panaji, Mapusa, Margao, Chandor, Vasco-Da-Gama, Ponda, Old Goa, Chapora & Bagator.

•    Lakshadweep islands: The mesmerizing Lakshadweep Islands are the only genuine coral islands of India. Only a few of the islands are open to the tourists and their beaches with coconut palms, astounding coral reefs, silvery sand beaches, opulent marine life and the blue lagoons all transport you to a heavenly experience. Beaches which can be visited are Agatti, Androt, Kavaratti, Minicoy and Kalpeni. The main attraction of the Bangaram beach is the blue light that it gives out  on account of its bioluminescent plankton that are deposited during high tide. Other activities are an array of adventure and water sports such as windsurfing, snorkeling, yatching, kayaking and deep-sea fishing on these beaches, and sailing in the glass-bottomed boat.

•    Andaman & Nicobar Islands: Some of the beaches to visit in the tranquil islands of Andaman & Nicobar are Corbyn’s Cove and Chirya Tapu, Radhanagar, Harminder, Karmatang, & Ramnagar. All the beaches here are virgin and pollution free and ideal for sun basking, sea bathing, snorkeling and scuba diving. These lovely beaches consist of enormous stretches of white sand fringed with dense and lush green forests.  The dazzling coral reef and other forms of aquatic life here can be viewed while sailing in the glass bottom boats or by snorkeling. Renowned for sun-kissed islands, sandy beaches and clear azure waters, the beaches of Andaman and Nicobar have been a favored destination for those seeking a tropical holiday in an all-natural setting
•    Daman: Daman, a former Portuguese colony has just three beaches, the Devka, Fisherman’s beach and Jampore. Swimmers, sunbathers, beachcombers and pony riders swarm these beaches. While the first is pretty rocky the latter two are sandy ones suitable for sunbathers and for horse riding. Sunrise and Sunset cruises are arranged by the local fishermen on this beach. The main feature of Daman beaches is that they are wonderfully blue with myriad-hued fishing boats.

•    Pondicherry: Beach lovers as well sun-lovers & worshippers would have an amazing time in Pondicherry. The calm serene waters, clear and bright sands lined with whispering palm trees makes the beaches of Pondicherry an exotic destination for tourists. There are cruises available from where you can watch dolphins playing merrily.

•    Kovalam: Kovalam is a small village on the Kerala coast. The palm-fringed bays in secluded coconut groves, promise a relaxed stay. Besides several private beaches, there are just two main beaches in Kovalam; Eve’s beach and Lighthouse beach. Apart from sunbathing, sunrise and sunset cruises are arranged by the local fishermen in their fishing boats. One of the popular activities here is the Catamaran cruise scheduled on the country raft. A boat-ride, in a luxurious rice-boat, gives you fascinating glimpse of rural life in little hamlets and delightful sea-food fare including lobsters are available at the beachside restaurants.

•    Marina beach: People throng to the Marina beach in Chennai to get respite from the scorching heat. The beaches of Chennai share their boundary with the Bay of Bengal. The spirit of the fishermen can be witnessed at dawn as they leave in their boats for fishing. Marina beach is the second longest in the world. There is an aquarium and horse riding is also available on the beach.

•    Mangalore: Its lustrous and exotic beaches attract tourists all round the year. Some of the beaches there are Ullai, Someshwar, Kaupu, Panambur & Taneerbhavi beach. All of them have idyllic surroundings and the swaying of the palm trees, endless stretch of silvery sand and well-maintained beaches makes this place a fascinating picnic spot.

•    Tarkarli : This lies on Maharashtra’s Konkan coast, where white sand and palm trees stretch for miles, fringed by foamy waves. It has powder-white sands, clear waters, all of 8 km of coast and is close to the lofty Sindhudurg fort. A trek to the Sindhudurg fort is a must do and since Tarkarli is deserted most of the time it is ideal for angling.
•    Kochi: It’s an obscure fishing village that became the first European township in India. Cheria beach in Kochi is good for swimming and also for watching dolphins and palm groves and paddy fields in the vicinity make this beach attractive. The best way to explore the beaches is to take a leisurely walk. An interesting sight on the shores of Kochi is the Chinese fishing nets which are supposed to have introduced to this place by the traders. Local ferries and cruises are also available.

So there’s no reason to delay. Visit all these wonderful places and unwind your mind and senses.

We had made a reservation with Dolphin Fleet of Provincetown. The boat had an open top level and a bottom level. There was a food stall in the boat that serves snacks like burgers, hot dogs and clam broth! There were also drinks both alcoholic and non-alcoholic that are available. Having read the reviews on whale watching we had thankfully taken a sweater because even when the temperature is 90 degrees, it feels cold out on the water.

Aboard our vessel was a naturalist who gave a running commentary on what’s happening in the waters below. The commentary was both entertaining as well as educative about the lives of whales, their history, their habitat, habits, their environment, and their danger of extinction.

The cruise ventures out into the Stellwagen Banks, a newly designated National Marine Sanctuary and a haven for the fish hungry whales. The shallow warm waters create a very conducive place for the whales to have a hearty feed of fish before making their long journey during migration.

The first whale that we saw was a large Humpback female and her calf. They swam in perfect rhythm and sync as if they were performing for us. She was apparently teaching her calf how to breach (jumping briefly out of water) as every few minutes, the mother & calf would together do a little somersault. Some whales went right under our boat and surfaced the next moment as if to play hide and seek. We saw many tails and one whale splashed a fin and tail not more than 10 yards from our boat making us let out a little cry of awe in chorus. It was amazing to watch these gigantic harmless sea creatures so close at hand.

The weekend was truly fulfilling with me getting more than just the sea.

A few tips are:

• Pick up discount coupons worth $2.00 off each ticket in guidebooks at any tourist office. There are also discounts for seniors, children and groups.
• Apply sunscreen, take your sunglasses, hat, sweater and of course your camera.
  Try and stand at the head of the boat to get a better view of both sides.
• There is a snack bar on board with fast-food type snacks. You may also pack your own picnic lunch.
• Book your seats in the cruise in advance to avoid disappointments

The day after we arrived and checked into the hotel we explored Port Louis, the bustling capital of Mauritius. We went to see the beautiful Port Louis Waterfront and the Pamplemousses Botanical Garden

The Botanical Garden is considered the jewel of the crown by naturalists throughout the world for their countless species of indigenous and exotic plants, including the giant Victorial Regia water lilies, and the talipot palm, said to flower once every sixty years and then wither away. The garden was created by Pierre Poivre in 1767 in the Estate of the French Governor Mahe de Labourdonnais.

The next day after breakfast, we set out to explore the southern part of Mauritius – Trou Aux cerfs, Black River Gorges, & Chamarel seven colored earth.

Possibly the main attraction in the Curepipe town, for tourists, apart from the shopping, is the Trou aux Cerfs crater. It’s a high extinct volcano that has been dormant for a long time. Trou aux Cerfs is six hundred and five metres above sea level and offers a spectacular view of part of the Mauritius Island. There are benches for rest and reflection, and a radar station for keeping an electronic eye on cyclone activity.

The village of Chamarel in southwest Mauritius has two attractions – the magnificent Chamarel Falls and the seven colored earths of Chamarel. The earths create a beautiful asymmetric pattern and were created by volcanic lava that cooled at different temperatures. These vividly contrasted layers of earth are a short drive away from the beautiful Chamarel waterfalls cascading hundreds of feet down a cliff.

The Black River Gorges is a 6,574 national park that was opened to the public in 1994. It houses most of the remaining indigenous forests of Mauritius. Visitors can also go hiking and enjoy the spectacular scenery and the plants and birdlife of Mauritius.

The beaches beckoned us the next day and all we did was snorkeling and hiking along the coast. It’s said that the best snorkeling experience is in Blue Bay, as there are conservation areas for the fish and coral to thrive. There was a huge crowd of snorkelers in the conservation areas (brought in by boats) and we couldn’t have a good view of the corals since they were too deep inside. We threw in a few pieces of bread crumbs and it was a delight to see almost an entire shoal of fish clamoring to eat them. We also went in a glass bottomed boat at the Flic en Flac white beach to view the marine habitation bursting with a variety of corals like Brain corals, Cabbage corals and Staghorn corals. There is also a wide variety of fish species that include Damselfish, Surgeonfish, Butterfly fish, etc.

There can never be a trip complete without shopping. We went on a shopping binge in Port Louis and Grand Baie. You need to bargain as in some cases you can buy at half the mentioned price. We bought a model ship, built to the scale of the original with every detail impeccably replicated (Mauritius has a reputation for these). Among other things we bought were an exquisite necklace made of camel bone, an African hand carved wooden bowl and a few Ralph Lauren (original) shirts at almost throws away prices.

The description of Mauritius that had brought us to the magnificent island was true to the word. We came back refreshed, sun-kissed and sea-soaked with lovely memories to cherish.