Amazing Velas!!!

I first heard of Velas Turtle festival in a local news paper.  Velas Turtle festival – that sounded like an event in some European country.  As I continue reading further, I realized that this place was in my own country, my own state.

Velas Beach

I read that Velas is a small beach village in Ratnagiri district, where some volunteers would move the eggs laid by Olive Ridley Turtles, to a safer place and release the hatchlings safely into the sea.  I could visualize all those episodes from Discovery and animal planet on these amazing events and couldn’t believe that I could see this phenomenon with my naked eyes….

I knew I had to visit this place but I didn’t know how.  So I searched the net and got numbers of organizations who could take me there but I was too late and all seats were full.  My only hope was a group called Youth Hostel Association of India.  Fingers, hands, legs and everything else that I could possibly cross… was crossed!!!  But they were full as well. 

My desperation to be there at any cost was growing every second.  I turned on the net again and was amazed to find out that Velas Turtle Festival is a very well organized festival; there is a web page that has details about everything related to Velas.  The maps, buses, accommodation, food and Turtles, every detail you would need to reach there.

I got contact numbers of people from Velas who rent their homes to tourists at an unbelievable price of less than Rs. 400 inclusive of accommodation, breakfast, lunch, evening snacks, dinner and tons of hospitality!!  I continued my search on the net and was pleasantly surprised to find that I could book ST bus tickets online, just like the railway tickets.  I booked the tickets and booked a room at Velas all of that within an hour from my bedroom. 

YHAI team

On my way to Velas I met the group from Youth Hostel Association of India; they were a bunch of nature enthusiasts with huge hearts.  I spent the rest of my journey with them and enjoyed it till the very last drop.  We reached Velas at 7.30 am in the morning and were welcomed by some of the most humble people I have ever met.  Their hospitality was unreal and the experience of a typical “Village” was refreshing. 

In the village - On the way to the beach

The food was cooked and served in an authentic Konkani style and to say that the food was tasty, is like stating the obvious.  I spent the rest of the afternoon roaming around the village and absorbing the beauty of the beaches and the calmness of the village.

That's a glimpse of Velas' friendliness

In the evening, it was time to watch the turtles come out of their nests.  Around 50 odd people were waiting eagerly to catch a glimpse of the babies but were disappointed as there were no hatchlings.  However, there was something else in store for all of us.  We attend a presentation organized by the volunteers of Kasav Mitra Mandal and Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra who briefed us about their efforts for saving the environment.  What they are doing is truly amazing, they have not only saved thousands of sea turtles but they have also successfully saved a lot of other endangered species like Vultures, Sea eagles and Indian Swiftlet.

This space is not enough to write about their work, you will only have to see it to believe how passionate some people are about conserving the nature.  It’s not only the volunteers of those two NGOs even the kids of Velas are involved and informed alike.  Their respect and love for the nature is very alluring.  It will surely make you ask questions to yourself about your contribution to the nature.  I had a lot of questions for myself that evening.

The nests built by the Mitra Mandal volunteers

I had to leave the next morning at 9 and the release of hatchlings at 6.30 am was my last chance.  There were more people this time waiting even more eagerly to get a glimpse of the baby turtles.  The volunteers were ready to uncover the nests.  The first nest was uncovered but there were no hatchlings.  Then they uncovered the second nest and this time there were hatchlings.  Although only 3 but as they say, something is better that nothing.  All the cameras on the beach were eyeing the three baby turtles who stumbled their way, adoringly, into the endless sea.  The scenes were not as glamorous as the ones from Discovery or Animal planet but those were scenes to remember for a life time.

A baby turtle - All set for an amazing journey

Witnessing the beginning of a journey of a baby turtle that would swim all the way to the Australian continent and would return to this same place to lay eggs, is truly an amazing experience.  At Velas,  I questioned myself about my contributions towards nature.   I know we have to protect mother nature for the sake of our survival, but we only protect what we love, we love what we like and we like what we know, so I decided I will do the least I can and hence this article about the amazing places, animals and people around us!!