A brief trip to paradise

The luxurious Kurumba island resort in the Maldives is just the place to reconnect with Nature

It really was only when the skyline of Malé city receded behind us into glimmering specks of light, and then disappeared completely from the horizon, that most of us in the speedboat truly began to get a sense of the weekend ahead of us.

The white-rimmed island of Kurumba was beginning to come into view, promising us a getaway, however brief, from life as we knew it: the traffic snarls, the race against deadlines, and everything else that makes up the unstoppable treadmill of urban life.

We were sailing to an island where the only reality appeared to be the impossibly blue sea that lapped lazily on white sands.

But shaking the city off your system is not easy. We had perhaps arrived in Kurumba all too soon — long before we could orient ourselves to the radically new landscape and accustom our eyes to the clarity of its colours. A two-hour flight from Bangalore followed by a 10-minute boat ride, was all it took to reach the island-resort.

It was certainly with some foresight that Universal Resorts converted the Kurumba island in the North Malé Atoll into a luxurious resort in 1972 — the very first one of the 87 in the Maldives.

Thousands of tourists from around the globe, and a good chunk from a sun-starved Europe, converge upon the island every year to enjoy its natural beauty and extreme creature comforts.

Indeed, an average day at Kurumba is sinfully decadent. And to say you are spoilt for choice would be an understatement. If snorkelling among the reef fish is not your kind of thing, you can choose to watch dolphins, from the comfort of a luxury boat deck, as your champagne glass is refilled and canapés do the rounds.

And if catching fish gives you a greater thrill than watching them, special big game boats will make sure you reel in the best of sailfish, mahi mahi and yellow fin tuna.

Global cuisine

Seafood naturally makes up a good part of the resort’s cuisine, which actually spans the globe. Ten restaurants together offer everything your palate could possibly desire. You can tuck in on sushi at the Japanese restaurant Hamakaze or tabouleh at the Lebanese Al Qasr or munch away at a pizza at the poolside Pizzeria.

And you return, of course, to rooms that are suitably impressive. From the king-sized bed at your suite you have a grand view of the Indian Ocean, and all you have to do is to step out the French window to find yourself on the soft sands of a virtually private beach.

And for those of you who can afford a Presidential Villa, you have the option of splashing about in your own private swimming pool instead or just relaxing in the jacuzzi.

Now these comforts do come with a price — all in US dollars at that. The room rates begin at $200 and go up to $1200 for the Presidential Villa.

The only thing is you can get used to this life. It is difficult to tear yourself away from the turquoise sea, the reef fish, the champagne, the endless buffet, we knew. The question also sneaked in: Is time running out for this idyllic group of 1,192 islands? How long before global warming and rising sea levels claim the flattest country in the world?

It was anti-climactic, to say the least, when we landed at the new international airport at Devanahalli. As hard as it tried to impress with its grandeur, the marvel of modern technology was, alas, not a patch on the magic of nature.

Things to do

Go in for snorkelling and scuba diving, and discover the underwater world. Or, indulge yourself at the spa with body wraps and massages. Try your hand at windsurfing, parasailing, waterskiing and kayaking.