Netrani Island

Netrani (historically known as Pigeon Island and also Heart Shape Island)[1] is a small island of India located in the Arabian Sea. It is off the coast of Karnataka situated approximately 10 nautical miles (19 km) from the temple town of Murudeshwara in Bhatkal Taluka. The island can be seen from the main coast over 15 km away, including from various beaches in Bhatkal city as well as from the Murudeshwar Beach. Views above give this island the appearance of being heart-shaped. Besides pigeons, the other inhabitants of the island are wild goats. This island has scuba diving facilities and the place is easily accessible from Bhatkal, Mangalore, Goa, Mumbai or Bangalore. There are dive shops at Murdeshwara and Goa, that regularly organize diving trips to the island.[2] This place is Locally in Bhatkal city known as Nitra Gudo. A famous Hindu Temple also located here named Jai Bajrangbali Temple and it is dedicated to the supreme hindu god Hanuman who is also known as Bajrangbali. There is a story behind this temple is that When God Hanuman Flying to the Sri Lanka that time they landed on this island and rested for a while and make a small structure of Lord Rama with soil, this story found in Vadvanal Strotram dedicated to Hanuman by the brother of Ravana , Vibhishana

Netrani Island
Netrani Island
Netrani Island
Location in Karnataka
Geography
Coordinates14.0165°N 74.3259°E / 14.0165; 74.3259
Total islandsone
Administration
India
StateKarnataka
DistrictUttara Kannada
TalukBhatkal
Demographics
Populationuninhabitated
Additional information
Official websitehttp://www.netraniisland.com
Island seen from sea.

Coral reef

Netrani is a coral island which has a coral reef[3] with many varieties of coral, butterfly fish, trigger fish, parrot fish, eels and shrimps can be seen here. Divers have also reported seeing orcas and whale sharks around the island. Normally diving/snorkelling is done from a boat which is anchored close to the island and usually visitors do not climb on to the island because of the sharp rocks and steep cliffs on the island. The Indian government was using this island for target practice for its armed forces. One can still find craters and unexploded bomb shells in the island. Fish eagles are thriving in this island primarily feeding on sea snakes and fish. A species of mongoose was also spotted in the island confirming mammalian inhabitants apart from bats. Whale sharks were also spotted by snorkellers. Eighty nine varieties of coral fish were found in the area during a study.[3]

A 16-metre (52 ft) rock is used as a target by Indian navy for bombing and concerns were raised that this target practice is disestablishing the ecological balance of the area including that of Netrani Island. In 2012, Karnataka High Court issued stay on target practice and Naval authorities admitted that they are using a big rock, which is located at a distance of one kilometre (0.62 mi) is being used by them for bombarding during target practice.[4] One can see empty shells rusting around Netrani and adjacent island.

The resort stops taking tourists for snorkelling and scuba diving during June–September because the sea becomes rough. There are small shrines in the island and the light lit to offer pooja occasionally gives way to small-time forest fire in the island., The local fishermen community do visit annual for pilgrimage purpose and as there are no built temple as such, it is only open to air carved stone structures which is worshipped, I am uploading information as on Dec 2020 [5]

Scuba Diving

Netrani Island has several dive sites. The visibility is in the 15 to 20 meter range. There are healthy coral reefs and a huge variety of reef fish around the island. After a brief period when the local fishermen protested against scuba diving, saying that Scuba diving has driven away the abundant fish they once used to catch regularly, Scuba diving is now being actively promoted by the Karnataka Tourism.[6]

Jai Bajrangbali Temple

Ancient Hanuman Temple Located here is the most famous religious building here and visited by thousands of visitors every year.

References
  1. The Imperial Gazetteer of India. Volume 20. Pardi to Pusad. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 1908. p. 136.
  2. Rajagopalan, Ashwin (14 March 2014). "A good day to dive hard". The Hindu, newspaper. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  3. Belgaumkar, Govind D (25 May 2008). "Coral reef at Netrani Island faces ecological threat". The Hindu, news paper. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  4. "Navy says it is not bombarding Netrani Island". The Hindu. 4 December 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  5. "Netrani island fire damages trees". The Hindu, Newspaper. 29 January 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  6. Upadhye, Amith S (14 September 2014). "Fishermen oppose diving in Netrani Island". Deccan Cronicle. Retrieved 19 July 2015.


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