There was a time, not so long ago, when this island nation was winning awards for being the Best Tourist Destination and everyone from India and across the globe wanted that one coveted holiday here. It was only last year that Maldives saw a maximum number of tourists coming in from India. Sources revealed that January to April 2023 figures were in the range of 74,000 Indian tourists flying to Maldives. But these numbers dropped to almost half this year under the backlash of a diplomatic row between our Centre and Malé. Soon amends were being made and Indian tourists slowly started taking baby steps back to this tropical paradise they always wanted to visit.

If you’ve been to these exotic islands even once, you will know that a Maldivian holiday is nothing short of a trip to paradise. This archipelago in the heart of the Indian Ocean boasts of around 1200 islands, but not all of them are inhabited. As is known, only around 200 of these picturesque land masses are inhabited. There are 26 atolls that are ring-shaped; this is where the islands are found. What is so alluring about these Maldivian islands, you wonder? It is only in these private atolls in Maldives that one can sleep just five feet above sea level. Another reason for its popularity is its unparalleled beauty with stunning islands, each one more gorgeous than the other with soft sandy beaches, swaying palm trees and turquoise waters with coral reefs all around. It is also the easy accessibility. Indian citizens can get a free 30-day visa on arrival to Maldives. And so it was time again to pack our swim wear and sunnies, fasten our seat belts and switch our phones to airplane mode. I love these rare moments when I’m offline in the blue skies, passing through fluffy white clouds and dreamy-eyed imagining all the Instagrammable locations I would hop by.

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After barely two hours of flying time, we were welcomed at the alluring Sangeli Island in the north western tip of Malé Atoll. We hopped on a 50-minute speedboat ride from Velana International Airport and were welcomed by the warmest of greetings ever. It almost felt like the entire island resounded with the hypnotic island beats of Boduberu drumming to escort us in style. We stepped foot on a perfectly white beach with a bubbly in hand, with views as swish as they come and already knew that the next three days at Oblu Select Sangeli would be like living a dream.

A selection of freshly laid out international buffet awaited us at The Courtyard, the centrepiece of Sangeli Island. The buffet, we were told, changes daily with a mix of traditional Maldivian dishes, à la carte options, and live cooking stations. Maldives is a perfect destination for global gourmands and culinary experiences at Oblu Select Sangeli are as diverse and exquisite, just as I had expected them to be. This hearty lunch was followed by an island walk. Flying in straight out from the hustle bustle of a chaotic city life, we were craving to feel the silky soft white sand between our toes and lounge around in the relaxing sun loungers. To our luck, there was a sundowner planned for us at The Rock, a swanky sunset bar built on stilts in a shallow lagoon of the island. Comfy bean bags were scattered around the bar. I chose to plonk myself on a traditional wooden swing as I gazed at the panoramic sunset almost as if it was serenading me with the gentle ocean breeze caressing me fondly. Among the many picturesque spots in Sangeli, this was definitely the one to soak in the Maldivian vibes and watch the sun set over the sea. I just didn’t want to leave this moment for anything in the world, but the Full Moon Cruise on a magical Dhoni boat, where the vast expanse of the night sky unveiled a celestial masterpiece was up next on the itinerary and I slipped in easily.

Our dinner was at Just Grill at One Banyan mini-island that served some of the freshest seafood and meat grills at this lagoon facing restaurant. The resort boasts a variety of contemporary-designed villas and suites, including spacious stand-alone beach villas, water villas with stunning ocean views, and private pools for added luxury. We chose the water villa for our stay here. We took a buggy ride as the access curved around the pristine clear blue waters with a string of these ocean villas that are private overwater sanctuaries with a private pool. These villas have direct lagoon access from our sundeck overlooking the Indian Ocean. Who would want to miss sleeping just a couple of feet above the ocean, right? I slept like a baby with the backdrop of these calming ocean waves. It was overwater bliss!

After a quick breakfast at The Courtyard the next morning, I was all set for some snorkelling at the House Reef. Being a PADI certified scuba diver I had also planned a dive on this trip to make the most of the stunning tropical setting. What better way than this to explore the vast Indian ocean with its mesmerising marine life. We spotted many colourful fish like reef sharks, stingrays, parrotfish, clownfish and powder blue surgeonfish. Being in the midst of the ocean worked up quite an appetite and we headed straight for a leisurely lunch at The Courtyard, overlooking the lagoon. After devouring some delicious seafood, we just had to stop by at the restaurant’s circular table with a red wine drop centerpiece for some quick clicks. It is said to be the most photographed spot on the island.

Coral conservation is increasingly gaining importance and rightly so. We were happy to attend a session on Coral Conservation at Muraka Centre with Giorgia Maggioni, a Marine Biologist. She helped us discover the island’s coral conservation initiatives and shared some marine insights through an informal, engaging session. We set out to a traditional sunset fishing next. It was truly an experience that I will cherish forever. The thrill of Maldivian-style rope fishing from a traditional dhoni boat, all while soaking in the magnificent sunsets over the tropical islands was exciting, to say the least. We got lucky as we caught a nice big grouper. Our dinner was at Just Wok, a contemporary Pan Asian specialty restaurant with a vibrant menu full of delicious flavours from blissful wok-tossed delicacies, aromatic soups, handmade dim sums, and daily chef’s specials showcasing fresh produce.

After a day of water activities, we decided to pamper ourselves on our last day on the island. We walked over to One Banyan, a lovely mini-island with a garden spa and an adults-only pool. We were booked for a rejuvenating 45-minute spa treatment which was much needed. Situated on Sangeli’s One Banyan – Elena Spa at Sangeli boasts of specially crafted therapies done using a range of natural and organic oils by certified therapists to internalise the five natural elements for deep healing of the mind, body and soul. The setting for our massage couldn’t have been better as we lay down, waiting to be pampered in the calming and natural tropical surroundings.

The sun had set and our last dinner on this island had to be special. We were all dressed up for an Indian Ocean Gala Night Dinner at The Courtyard. Every Friday night is a gala celebration here with an Indian theme. Post our dinner we made our way to The Sangs Bar for Sounds of Maldives Boduberu Night. The rhythmic beats of Maldivian Boduberu percussion music were peppy and got us into the mood to shake a leg to the beats. We danced the night away as the sun set on our vibrant escape to Sangeli. The memories of those crystal-clear waters and serene shores will linger on for a lifetime. After a wholesome breakfast the next morning, we promised ourselves to return to this paradise again for another dream vacation, as we sat on our speedboats to head back home.