PHI-PHI ISLANDS - An escape to turquoise paradise

The allure of Phi Phi Islands in Thailand, a paradise of turquoise waters and island adventures, is characterised by vibrant snorkelling, the mystique of Viking Cave and the cinematic beauty of Maya Bay.

- GARIMA SHARMA

In the year 2000, when the stunning limestone cliffs and incredibly turquoise waters of Maya Bay, an idyllic spot in Phi Phi Islands in Thailand, first appeared in a Hollywood film, Danny Boyle's The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, they proved to be a winner for Thailand as Maya Bay became a household name and began attracting thousands of tourists, from all over the world.

So successful was the film in promoting tourism to Maya Bay that within a few years, the bay and eponymous beach became a victim of their own success and the crowds of tourists led to a dramatic degradation of the environment, forcing the Thai government to close the area to all tourists for almost three years, during which they restored the bay and its marine ecosystem back to its pristine state.

Arriving at Maya Bay almost three years after it reopened, I could immediately understand the reason behind the mad rush of tourists.