Rottnest Island is a popular holiday island in Western Australia eighteen kilometres off the coast of Perth. This island framed by the azure waters of the Indian Ocean is a ferry ride away. Making for an ideal day trip destination.
Separated from the mainland around 7000 years ago, it is famous for its secluded bays, pristine beaches & crystal clear waters.
An A Class Nature Reserve, it is home to a range of rare and remarkable species of plant, marine & wild life. Its extensive seagrass beds provide shelter & nutrients in the shallow marine environment.
The population of Quokkas – who have lately become popular as the World’s Happiest Animal – led the Dutch seaman Willem de Vlamingh to name this island, their island, the Ratte nest (rat’s nest); which eventually became Rottnest.
I was in Sydney last year & travelled to Perth for my birthday weekend.
& that is how I found myself for a day on the Rottnest Island.
The first thing we did as soon we got to the island was to find a map & hire a bike.
Bikes are the transportation of choice on this island! (As you can see from the picture above :D)
But, you can also choose to hop on & off the bus or book one of the tours including a historic train ride, which bring to life the colonial heritage of the island.
So, what else can one do besides enjoying the sweeping ocean views, scenic salt lakes & moors and the sights of trees shaped by years of oceanic winds?
Eat at waterfront restaurants with a view like this.
Swim, dive, snorkel, fish, sail.. laze on the beach!
Discover shipwrecks.
There are such a number of great trails to follow & brilliant sights to explore that I came away feeling a day is just not enough!
PS: Google Maps are just as fun, though not so pretty!
A sweet water glacial lake in the Himalayas and the source of the Chandra River, the Chandratal Lake is a RAMSAR Convention designated wetland of international importance. It is also believed that the elusive Snow Leopard calls the catchment area of this lake its home. Though I wasn’t fortunate enough to catch a glimpse.
Where is Chandratal Lake?
Chandratal Lake is in Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh. A valley – in the hinterland of the Indian Himalayas – bordered by Ladakh to its North and Tibet to its East.
Nearest Airport | Kullu – Manali Airport, Bhuntar Nearest Railway Station| Shimla Nearest Major Town | Manali
Why should you visit Chandratal Lake?
To pitch a tent amidst the magnificent Himalayas on a freezing summer night and to sleep under the starlit sky is amazing enough in itself. But if the campsite was to be at this remote and not-so-easily accessible Moon Lake, there then you have the trip of a lifetime guaranteed!
This is the most popular and also the most convenient way to get to Chandratal. We left from Manali early morning & it was by evening that we reached Chandratal. After a slight delay at a roadblock on the Rohtang Pass due to a landslide, we made quick stops for breakfast & lunch at Gramphu and Batal. Then the mandatory stop at the Temple on Kunzum Pass & we were at Chandratal, just in time for the setting sun.
The Chandratal Lake in all its glory.First glimpse of Chandratal, as you reach the end of your hike from the campsite.The walk that leads up to it..& here you are at the lake.
Did you know?
The Chandratal Lake reflects the colour of the sky.
This image was shot at sunrise, just when the lake starts to appear – a clear blue mirror of reflections.& as the sun sets, it turns green.
From the minute you get to the lake, an all-consuming sense of peace washes over you. Adding to the serenity of the lake are the Buddhist prayer flags fluttering in the breeze.
My life changed when I lay eyes for the first time ever on the mighty Himalayas. Their sheer magnificence is humbling. So, it is but natural that the experience of spending time at this pristine lake, nestled in the snow kissed mountains, totally transports you to another time and place.
