Bangaram Island Resort - Ihcl Seleqtions, Lakshadweep

We spent three nights at Bangaram Resort for our first anniversary, and it became a really lovely memory. Jeromies Joseph went out of his way to make the occasion feel special, and his kindness and warmth meant a lot to us. Chandrima at the front desk was also a big help, from the booking stage through the permits and other formalities. The staff were cooperative throughout, and everything from check-in to check-out felt smooth, with the small details taken care of. We’d happily return, especially for another romantic getaway.

The staff at Taj Bangaram were warm, kind, and attentive, and that was easily the best part of our stay. The island itself used to feel simpler and quieter before Taj took over: stars, waves, and silence, without construction noise, blaring music, or artificial lighting. The loud live music and harsh white lights now make it seem as if the hotel wants to turn this raw island into a party destination. That’s disappointing, because Lakshadweep has its own character and doesn’t need to copy what’s available everywhere. Alcohol was significantly overpriced, and a coffee machine would be a welcome addition. The dive shop was our biggest problem. We’re experienced, avid divers, and what we want is competence, safety, and basic professionalism, not luxury. Led by Anat, the team came across as extremely unprofessional, and we felt uncomfortable and unsafe. Twice, we waited over an hour after the time we’d been told the dive would start. We booked two dives in one day but only got one; the second was cancelled without telling us, reportedly because they had accepted bookings from other guests. They also told us there were no Lakshadweep sites suitable for Open Water divers and that diving only begins after 20 meters. We’ve dived in Lakshadweep before and visited several excellent Bangaram sites suitable for Open Water divers, so that misinformation was unacceptable. The team also seemed to lack knowledge of the local reefs and dive sites. There’s another dive operation on the island run by local divers. Taj doesn’t actively tell guests about it, likely because it was the original dive center from the government hotel before Taj took over. We used that team for the rest of our trip and found them professional, well-equipped, knowledgeable about the area, and focused on safety and punctuality. We had an outstanding time with them, including sightings of a manta ray, two nurse sharks, stingrays, and turtles.

A few things could work better. Towels should be ready whenever guests come out of the water, instead of us having to ask each time. Liquor pricing wasn’t consistent: sometimes we were charged for the soft drinks used as mixers and sometimes not, and the prices felt high. My bill was close to 10K. Food waste was also excessive. I’m sure the resort can’t afford that, so I’d suggest dropping the buffet and offering à la carte instead. We wanted to kayak and showed interest, but nobody approached us about it. A proper resort tour would be useful too. I’ve seen that in Maldives; here, the buggy driver showed where Modiji stayed and where he planted, etc. Some staff could use a little training in English or Hindi. They always tried to communicate with a smile, even in broken English. The people made our family trip joyful, especially after I’d been skeptical about service on the island because I’d had a great experience in Maldives. At touchdown in Agatti, Mr. Navas greeted us warmly, took us to the airport café for breakfast, and paid the bill with a smile, saying, “you are my guest.” That won my heart. The very modern boat reminded me of one we’d seen in Maldives. NISHAD explained the speed, engine, and island details with a smile, and later, when he and the team were trying to catch fish, he made sure we got a picture with a live one. He’s a real asset to the resort. At Bangaram, Sarath welcomed us with music and juice, and the staff greeting us with smiles was a lovely touch. Mr. Sarath also gave us the briefing and helped us settle in. Before booking, Susanth returned my calls whenever he’d been busy. The snorkeling staff were especially helpful and made sure we were satisfied with the activity. Avinash, Sarath, and Vinod at the billing desk made things easy. Another thank you to the lady who took my child for an activity, my son had good conversations with her. Susanth and another staff member were amazing singers, the in-house talent is excellent. The Diwali activities were really good, and the chef took time to speak with us. And Mr. Singh Sir, I won’t forget our conversations about the many challenges. I’m sure you and your team will overcome them. It was an amazing visit to Lakshadweep, and the service made it more joyful for my family. I couldn’t fit everything into one page. Full resort review on YouTube: #explorewitharpan.

With the beaches, clear water, and no network distractions, Bangaram Island was a lovely place to switch off. We snorkeled, swam, and spent time in the sun, and the food was amazing. We had the whole island to ourselves, which made it feel like a private paradise for our family getaway. The staff were very accommodating and looked after our needs with top-notch personal service. I’d highly recommend it for a planned, luxurious getaway.