Tonsepar - Palm Island

Being away from the boring routine to feel calm and happy, the perfect combination of beauty and serenity is Coconut Island, you feel free, free to fly, to enjoy the life in perfect place. There is something about the sea, that is calming and soothing to the nerves and there is something very romantic about being on an island. I think it’s the feeling of being disconnected from the rest of the world that really feels special. Running around the island, embrace the cool air; lay on the sand, kissing the white fluffs of froth, having appreciated sun-down sight over the palms, My God, everything’s so lovely all of these make way to maybe the happiest people in the world on that moment.

‘Tonsepar Dweepa’ is being called as St Mary’s Island also known as Coconut (palm) Island is a small uninhabited island in the northernmost island in the Arabian Sea. It’s situated 8 km north of Malpe cost. This picturesque island was formed out of lava that erupted from the bottom of the Arabian Sea millions of years ago and it’s famous for its basalt rock formations (We studied in geology three varieties of rock formations -basalt, granite and sandstone) in a hexagonal form the only one of its type in India. The rocks on the island have crystallized into columns split into a hexagonal mosaic the rocks presented us with different colors of rock formations here with great picturesque view.

Coconut palms adorn the island. The island provides a great backdrop for some good photographs. The scenery that captures the eyes is that of perfect coconut trees, the rocks and the sea that we drew at art class in school. The Geological Survey of India declared it a National Geological Monument in 1979. It is said that the Portuguese traveler Vasco Da Gama landed on this island in 1498 and named it El Pardon De Santa Maria.

A set of four small islands (Coconut Island, North Island, Daryabahadurgarh Island and South Island) the north-south aligned islands form a non-continuous chain. The island covers an area which is about 500m in length with a width of 100m. It has prominent coconut trees, its cover reflecting in an azure south sea color.

Two regular small Ferris’s will bring tourists from Malpe natural fishing harbor to the island and has to switch to small boat just few meters away from the island. The journey was always pleasant with scenic view; the feel of the rough sea that made the boat to have rhythmic dumps had its own music. The thought that we were away from all the hustle and bustle of the city gave us a reason to sport a permanent smile on our faces.

Some shelters have been built on the island for tourists. The western coasts of the islands are a seashell haven with seashells of various shapes and sizes littered along the coast. Its idyllic black polished rocks that frame its coast. There are no safe sand beaches to swim and relax since it is scatted with basaltic rocks but I always prefer to freshen up, take bath and have fun in small beaches between these rocks situated in Northern and southern part where less crowded.

 Here we can see some clean beaches where the seaside soft sand scratching and tickles under bare feet and the water touches with tender. A perfect corner for bathing the huge waves are stop by colorful rocks which can see the reflection of the sun. I like to see the white froth on top of the overflowing waves. Whenever we taking bath here the sun rays playing pet our naked bodies by happily and smilingly we jumped into the water, playing with great fun, chasing playfully each others, splashing water all around and finishing with put down our exhausting bodies on the sand.

We never realized how time flew staring at the sea. What could be more beautiful than to be on an island, sit by the sea and watch the sun go down it was time to wrap up all the good times and take them back as memories forever on the ride back we always kept our self silent thinking of the time that we spent mesmerized in nature's resplendent beauty. Endless Ocean that seems to merge with the horizon, so that it’s hard to understand where is the end of the water and the beginning of the sky. You are on your own in that Paradise corner away from the noisy and hectic crowd.

Island sunset View from my home (Tottam) beach