Category Social Sciences

Pamban Island, also known as Rameswaram Island, is an island located between India and Sri Lanka. The island is famous for Rameswaram, which is a pilgrimage destination.

 Pamban Island is comparatively big in size. It extends from the township of Pamban to the remains of Dhanushkodi. Rameswaram is the largest and most populous town on the island. It is one of the most sacred religious sites.

 At the eastern tip of the island lies the site of Dhanushkodi, a harbour and a pilgrimage centre, which was washed away by the December 1964 cyclone. Prior to its destruction, it was a flourishing township and a prominent place of pilgrimage. 

 Divar Island lies in the Mandovi River about 10 kilometres upriver from the capital of Goa, Panjim. The name Divar has evolved from the word ‘dipavati’ which means ‘Small Island’ in Konkani. This beautiful little island is a serene and seldom visited place that retains the old world charm of rural Goa.

In fact, most of its inhabitants once lived in Old Goa, but fled to the island to escape from a terrible plague that was sweeping across the mainland. The largest settlement on the island is a picturesque village called Piedade.

 Divar was the site of two important temples — the Sapta-koteshwara Temple, as well as a Ganesh temple that stood on the solitary hill in Piedade. These temples were later destroyed.

 Today, Divar is well known for its beautiful church, the Church of Our Lady of Compassion.

The world famous Bonderam festival is celebrated in Divar, during the monsoon with great fanfare. The festival was attended by thousands of tourists and locals.

Elephanta Island lies east of the city of Mumbai in Maharashtra. It is also known as Gharapuri, which means ‘place of caves.’ Elephanta Island is indeed famous for its caves. These caves have been carved out of rock, and the rock-cut temple complex covers an area of 5574 square metres. It consists of a main chamber, two lateral chambers, courtyards, and subsidiary shrines.

 It is believed that the caves were carved between 400 and 800 AD. The statues depict stories of Lord Shiva. The most important sculpture inside the Elephanta Caves is that of Trimurti Sadasiva. Other sculptures depict Lord Shiva in the dancing pose, the yogic pose, and also show the River Ganges’ descending from His matted locks.

 A large statue of an elephant guarded the island. The Portuguese invaded the area in 1547, and gave the island its English name on catching sight of this sculpture. Sadly, they also damaged and defaced the caves. 

The tiny island of Diu is linked by a bridge to Gujarat’s south western coast. Diu is different from the other Indian islands in that it has the feel of Portugal on Indian Territory. In fact, Diu was a Portuguese colony till 1961, and the Portuguese touch can be seen everywhere- in the architecture, especially the monuments and churches, in the people and their cuisine, in the language and culture.

There are Portuguese style fortresses, cemeteries, magnificent churches, altars, and mansions. Many of the local people still speak Portuguese, or rather, a quaint dialect that is a mix of Portuguese, and the local language.

Their folklore, literature, vocabulary, art, ballads and theatre are all a charming blend of the Indian and the Portuguese. Diu is today a union territory administered by the Government of India. It is a breezy island of great beauty and serenity, lapped by the Arabian Sea. 

Drake’s Island is named after Sir Francis Drake, an Englishman who was famous for sailing around the world in the ship called the Pelican that he renamed as the Golden Hind. Situated in the heart of Plymouth Harbour, Drake’s Island was earlier called St. Nicholas, after a chapel located there.

It was from this island that Sir Francis Drake began his voyage around the world in 1577. He returned triumphantly after the success of his mission in 1580. Later, he was made Governor of the island, which now bears his name.

 Drake’s Island is actually the tip of a volcano, and is made of volcanic tuff and lava. This small rugged island has an area of just over 12.6 hectares, and rises 29 metres above sea level. Since the 16th century, the island has been constantly used for military purposes because of its strategic location. It is often referred to as the ‘Guardian of Plymouth’.

The island nation of Fiji lies in the South Pacific Ocean. It is an archipelago of more than 330 islands, of which 110 are inhabited. Fiji also has some 500 islets.

 The original settlers of Fiji, who came to the islands over 3000 years ago, are now called the Lapita people. After 96 years as a British colony, Fiji gained independence in 1970.

Most people live on the largest island, Viti Levu, where the capital, Suva, is located. Beaches, rainforests, and coral gardens make Fiji a wondrous place. The tagimaucia, a beautiful red-and-white flowering plant that resembles the hibiscus, blooms in only one place in the world-on the banks of the Tagimaucia River in the mountains of Taveuni Island in Fiji.

Did you know that the International Date Line runs through this island too? This means that you can stand with one foot in today, and the other in yesterday!