Leisure

Or perhaps you would prefer to take a fishing rod and go angling, perhaps for your own supper. Alternatively, head for any of the many beaches which compel you to share their expanse and sense of ease.

Plus, you can take a break at one of the many excellent golf courses all over the country. Well, the options are all here, if you have the inclination.

So, whether you're looking for a hint of adventure, or for a touch of romance, or only for a lazy and lovely holiday swimming in the open sea, there is sure to be a beach which suits your mood perfectly.

The names that immediately spring to mind are Goa and Kovalam -- although Chorwad and Ahmedpur Mandvi in Gujarat, and those of Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands are also well developed and yet not crowded.

Goa, of course, is famous for a number of beaches. Calangute rose to fame in the '60s and '70s as a hang-out for hippies, a hot-house of drugs and nude sunbathers. For a more remote, pleasant and peaceful beach, there is Baga, only a couple of kilometers away. Other beaches in and around Goa are Anjuna, Chapora, Colva and Sirigao. In Lakshadweep, Kadmat, Kalpeni and Minicoy are islands surrounded by lagoons. These are restricted areas, but Bangaram and 3 small islands near it are open to foreigners. These are all uninhabited, but huts have been constructed in the native style to provide accommodation to visitors.

Further south are the beaches of Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Kerala. Marina Beach in Chennai, and Mamallapuram Beach close to Chennai, are the major beaches in Tamil Nadu. Although not a beach resort, Kanyakumari, which forms the southern tip of the country, looks out over the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. It affords the rare spectacle of watching the sun set on the horizon at the same time as the moon rises on the other side. But some of these beaches are not recommended for swimming.

In Kerala, Kovalam is famous for it's beauty, and also offers opportunities for swimming, surfing and water skiing. Calicut is another picturesque resort on the Arabian Sea in the west.

Other water-fronts

For people looking for a beautiful site for a restful holiday, beaches are only one of the `water-side' options. India has numerous rivers and lakes which also have delightful and pleasing resorts. There are lakes in hill resorts like Nainital, and Ooty etc. and there are beautiful water-falls like the Jog Falls in Karnataka, and the two waterfalls at Sivasamudarum, a short distance from Mysore.

The network of backwater canals crisscrossing Kerala and its enormous number of rivers running down to the sea, its lagoons and beaches formed by these waterways, make Kerala a beautifully green destination. Alleppey, in Kerala, is famous for its water carnivals and boat races.

Hill resorts

The Himalayas running across the northern and North-eastern states have innumerable hill stations, valleys, and snow-capped peaks which are ideal for a quiet get-aways. Mussoorie, Nainital, Dehradun, Shimla, Kullu, Manali are famous and popular, but there are some which, being not so well known, are less frequented. The North-east has a number of beautiful places but it is always advisable to check the status in terms of special permission required for these areas before planning a visit.

A relaxing holiday in Darjeeling in West Bengal can be combined with the fascination of life at a tea plantation here.

The Western Ghats in central and south India offer a large number of picturesque destinations. The Nandi Hills near Bangalore; Chamundi, a peaceful little resort near Mysore; Kodaikanal, Yercaud, and the famous hill resort of Ootacamund, or Ooty, in Tamil Nadu, are only some of them.

The western coast in Maharashtra has Lonavala, Khandala, Matheran, Panchgani and Bhandara.

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Life in Kerala largely centres around water and much of its mystical beauty lies in its quiet, shaded and deep backwaters. Cruise along these, through fishing villages, dense tropical forests, overhanging coconut trees,

discovering as you go along, secrets of a little-explored world.

There is a Kerala where whole lives depend on these backwaters and as you sail along them, you see small tiled houses just on the edge of the water, men working at their boats and children playing among the coconut groves. Along the way you see boats carrying families, or loaded with coir or a newspaperman on his early morning rounds. In the distance you see Chinese fishing nets silhouetted against the blue and the orange of the sky.

And, in the months of August and September, after the monsoons, these backwaters come alive to the excitement of the snake boat races. Kerala Tourism's comfortable cruisers with good arrangements for parties and small conferences, well stocked kitchens and modern conference facilities can make idyllic settings for you.

Angling

There is a wide variety of sport in India for people interested in fishing. From the lakes and streams of the higher reaches of the Himalayas, to the depths of the Arabian Sea or the Bay of Bengal, there are a number of opportunities to pursue the wily trout, the agile mahseer, or tuna, mullet, or perch. Mahseer is mainly found in the rivers of the Terai regions and the Shivalik Hills, in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, and in the Kaveri in the south. Trout is not indigenous to India, but was imported and bred here at the end of the last century.

Apart from Kashmir, trout fishing is possible in the Nilgiri Hills, and there are various water-bodies near Ooty which are reserved exclusively for trout fishing. Some places around Kulu and Katrain also allow this sport.

Permits

For fishing in India permits are required, which can be obtained from the Fisheries Department of the region. For foreigners, the North-east frontier regions -- Assam and Arunachal also require restricted area permits.

Golf

In India you can play golf almost anywhere and courses are often set against dramatic backgrounds. In the hills and in the high Himalayas, in metropolitan cities and in small towns, by lakes and forests, or surrounded by tea estates, out in the desert and in old British cantonments. You can stroll off the course to share a cup of piping hot tea at a nearby `dhaba', tee off from the highest 18-hole course in the world, watch a peacock dance on the green or play on a course that is enriched by old monuments and beautiful buildings. In India, playing golf will enable you to experience the country in a unique manner.

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