Recently while staying at Paradise Isle Resort Malpe, we went to visit Padubidri Beach Blue Flag Beach.
Our taxi driver asked us if we wanted to go there by the highway or by alternate Malpe Padukar to Pangla Road Route.
We opted for Malpe Padukar to Pangla Road route. Glad we did. This route is on a strip of land less than a kilometre in width between the Arabian Sea and the backwaters. View it on Google Maps.
While driving, in many places you can see water on both sides of the road. It is very picturesque and beautiful. The sight of small single-storied houses with red-roofed Mangalore tiles nestling among lush green coconut grooves presents a pretty picture.
Though this has nothing to do with the review of Podubidri Beach Blue Flag Beach, I decided to open my review by writing about it as I personally feel that it is a very picturesque drive and one must not miss it.
Now a word about Blue Fag Beach. Just to save you a google search :-)
It is an eco-label certification awarded to beaches, marinas, and sustainable boat tourism operators. It is given by an international jury of members from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Their recommendations are based on 33 criteria under four categories, viz, environmental education, quality of bathing water, environmental management and conservation. It is considered a very prestigious award and a matter of pride for any beach, marina or tour operator to be presented with this certification.
Podibidri Beach is one of the only 12 beaches in India that have been awarded Blue Flag Certification.
Enough parking is provided for the visitors to park their vehicles. The entry fee for three hours is RS 40/- per adult.
A very nice and unique circular gate provides entry to the beach.
One thing that strikes you is the cleanliness all around, the paths, the garden the beach and the surroundings is the 'Cleanliness', and no wonder as that is one of the criteria for the award of the blue flag certification.
A combination of an umbrella and a mat or an umbrella and a recliner are available. Information boards give information about various aspects of the beach. Among the facilities provided are washrooms for ladies, gents and differently-abled people, a changing room and an open-air shower facility is also available. There is a walking track and Kids' play area. Towards the backwater side watersport facilities are also available. There is a cafe. We ordered milkshakes which were reasonably priced and were quite good.
The white sands and the blue waters looked very clean and inviting but as we had not gone with a plan to swim, we just enjoyed the beauty.
After spending a wonderful and enjoyable time at Pdoubodri Blue Flag Beach we returned with good memories.
A very nice and unique circular gate provides entry to the beach.
Padubidri Blue Flag Beach.
A very nice and unique circular gate provides entry to the beach.
Padubidri Blue Flag Beach.
Information board near the ticketing booth.
Variety of trees. Padubidri Beach.
Information Board in the beach area. Padubidri Beach.
Information Board in the beach area. Padubidri Beach.
Padubidri Beach.
Enjoying Mango Shake at the cafe, Padubidri Beach.
Since our arrival, we have been eyeing the boats moored at the Resort jetty.
The boats belong to the Boat Club established by Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation. Though it is the boat club jetty is located on the Resort land and is even manned by the staff of the Resort, it is an independent entity. Meaning, that anyone, even if he is not a resident of the resort can avail and enjoy the boat rides.
There are six boats of varying capacities.
Two boats with a seating capacity of about four passengers.
There are two moats with a seating capacity of about 10 passengers,
Onetwin-hull double-decker boat, named " Satpura Queen" with a seating capacity of about 50 passengers; and,
One huge twin-hull, double-decker boat with a capacity of about 100 passengers.
Passenger capacities are based solely on my assessment and will have to be verified in case one wants to hire any particular boat.
We had settled with the resort for a three-hour boat ride in a ten-seater boat of three hours duration which also included a jungle trek at the cost of Rs 10,000/-.
As per plans, we were at the boat club jetty by 7:30 AM. The staff also arrived with all the breakfast items purees and potato subjee, tea, coffee, soft drinks, biscuits etc packed in hot- cases, and ice boxes as the case may be.
By 8:00 AM we were away on our boat ride.
It was very pleasant. The scenic beauty of the forested hills all around was a joy to watch.
Whenever there was a pause in discussions in our group there was a serene silence with only the phut-phut of the motorboat engine and the swishing sound of the bat gliding
Through the calm waters of the reservoir.
We were served breakfast of purees and aloo subjee which, thanks to Hotcase, was nice and warm. Maybe it was the boat ride or it was made well, the breakfast really tasted great and we really enjoyed it.
After about an hour's ride, we reached the point from where we were to start our jungle trek to Parsapani Eco- jungle cap where we had to pay an additional Rs 2000/- to the forest department to enter the jungle.
We went to the shore and started walking behind the guide. There was no path and we had to walk cross country. The ground was very uneven and full of sharp as well as slippery stones. Some of us were finding it very difficult and the danger of an accidental fall was very real. We decided to forgo the jungle trek. Our guide tried to assure us that once we reach the proper trail cum path it was smooth going but our mind was made up and we returned to the boat and resumed our boat ride.
The boat staff took us in lots of nooks and crannies in an effort to show us "sunning crocodiles". Maybe it was their way of making up for our missing out on the jungle trek or it was part of three hour ride I really have no idea. We saw the crocodiles at three of the five or so places visited. Unfortunately, all we had were glimpses of crocodiles very near the shoreline and slithering in the water.
Maybe if we had switched off the engine and glided towards them we would have succeeded in having a good look. Had a good look at the dam and returned to the boat club jetty by 11: 00 AM.
The boat ride was a wonderful and enjoyable experience.
Went to our rooms picked up our luggage and checked out of the resort to return to AF Station Amla.
At the halfway point had lunch.
AIR FORCE STATION AMLA.
After reaching Amla, relaxed in the rooms. In the afternoon/ evening, we were taken on the tour of Amla AF Station. We were explained and shown what they did for their living and how they met the task for which the unit was established.
For obvious reasons, I can't write the details.
The only thing I can say is that it was a tremendous learning experience.
We were glad for the opportunity to see an Air Force unit at work after a gap of almost three to four decades.
I can also add that the current generation of personnel are as good as, we were in our hay days :-)
I can sleep easy knowing that the Air Force and its units are in good hands and capable of ensuring our safety & security.
Visit to the unit was possible only due to Prashant having put in a word to this effect.
After the visit back to the rooms.
In the evening when we were having our pre-dinner drinks, AOC and the First Lady of the station dropped in to pay respect to Prashant and say hello to us.
The First Lady presented a standard half kg block of 'gud', a local area speciality, to our ladies. She invited us to visit "Shagun" a shopping outlet operated by the station ladies. After a little while they bid us goodbye.
After dinner, it was welcome to sleep after a hectic day.
19 FEBRUARY 2025,
After breakfast visited Shagun with duel purpose. Do some shopping thus contribute a little bit to the profits of the shop which are utilised for the welfare of unit personnel and also to buy a return gift for the First Lady for her gracious gift.
After both the objects were achieved we bid goodbye to all and returned to Nagpur.
Thus ended a very enjoyable as well as memorable trip.
