Seaside splendour
February 2005

The domain where Lord Krishna established his capital after leaving Mathura has been described by poets, historians and academicians in diverse ways. Some have called it the "forbidden land" while others have described it as "different from the rest of the world". Harivamsa, the epilogue to the Mahabharata, describes it as overflowing with vegetation, a place where elephants and deer abound.

Welcome to Okhamandal, lapped by turquoise waters and blessed with a touch of paradise. Situated at the tip of the Saurashtra peninsula, Okhamandal is bounded by the Gulf of Kutch to the north and the Arabian Sea to the west and the south. The coastline is dotted with bays, beaches, cays, coves, cliffs and islets, all set in an idyllic landscape. A boat ride to the nearby Dabh Dabha Island, a place devoid of tourists and tourism paraphernalia, can include sightings of dolphins and marine turtles. A crescent beach and a gently sloping plateau clothed in dense vegetation make for an alluring backdrop.

The Momai cove on the mainland is an angler's delight and an ideal campsite. The surrounding wilderness is home to porcupines, jackals, hyenas, small cats, neelgai, wild boar and some interesting bird species. This forest abounds in medicinal herbs and plants and is a refuge for many rare native plant species. Hindu mythology has it that Okhamandal is the land of Somvel, a creeper from which Somras, the elixir of youth, was made for the gods.

Further north, off the Poshitra coast, are the Boria and the Gugar reefs, which harbour a profusion of marine flora and fauna. Sponges, hard and soft corals, sea anemones, sea lilies, mollusks, algae, etc can be seen here. The heronries on the Maan-merodi and Leefa islands are regular nesting sites for egrets, herons, ibises and painted storks. Dugongs (sea cows) have often been sighted here. A wind-eroded rock formation, in the shape of a doll known as 'Pootli' by the locals, is a prominent landmark at Kiu Point, 5 km west of Poshitra.

Tata Chemicals, which has its chemicals complex at Mithapur in Okhamandal, is involved in a variety of programmes aimed at protecting and enhancing the environment of the region.

The company's 'biodiversity reserve plantation project', implemented with the support of employee volunteers, works to preserve indigenous vegetation, which is under threat from the rampant spread of a weed called Gando Baval (Prosopis juliflora). Under the project, 30 acres have been afforested with 12 native species of vegetation, including endangered species such as gugal, and 18 species of herbs. About 15 acres are added to this plantation every year. The objective is to create a botanical reserve that will be a stronghold for endangered plant species and also an assured seed bank for the mass regeneration of these species.

Tata Chemicals is also involved in making life easier for its avian friends. The company has created a nesting platform for Caspian terns at its Charakla salt works, which attracts hordes of migratory aquatic birds, particularly during the winter season. A colony of Caspian terns, the only one of its kind in the country, has been breeding at the Charakla salt works for the past five years.

The company's other environmental efforts in the Okhamandal region include providing logistical and other support to non-governmental organisations such as the Gujarat Nature Conservation Society and the World Wide Fund for Nature (India). This support is mainly in the form of assistance to school and college students who come observe and study the rich marine life found off the Mithapur coast.

The coast at Mithapur is perfect for coral-reef walks. One can observe an amazing variety of marine life in this underwater realm. Crabs, eels, octopuses and fish slither around in the maze of coral formations, while stingrays stay buried in the sandy bottom, ready to strike at the first opportunity. However, the calling card of these reefs is a colony of rare bonellias.

The best beaches in Okhamandal are at Shivrajpur and Khanjani. These make for the perfect weekend getaway, one where visitors can catch more than a glimpse of Olive Ridley and green-sea turtles. These turtles swim hundreds of kilometres to return to their birthplace for nesting.

The climate here, moderate throughout the year, is complemented by a rich cultural heritage derived from the intermingling of many civilisations and kingdoms. The gifts that nature has bestowed add to the charm of the region, but developmental apathy and infrastructure bottlenecks mean that Okhamandal continues to be termed a backward area. The upside of this neglect is that the "forbidden land" has been able to preserve its natural beauty — with a little help from Tata Chemicals.