India, May 31 -- Almost by chance, I found myself at the very end of Nirvana Beach in Kumta. A discreet sign showed my destination - the Panchabhuta Conservation Foundation, run by Mangal and Ambika Shetty. I had planned to return to Bengaluru after an overnight trip to Udupi when my son, who was heading to Goa for an open water swim practice, suggested I go visit Panchabhuta. I was swayed by Mangal's frequent posts on social media.

Here's a sample where he described stunning sedimentary rockscapes: "The intricate layered patterns, chiselled & compacted by the oceans, winds and the monsoons over thousands of years. the stunning contours, colours, textures, strata, and their sheer magnificence! All this beauty set against the sounds of th...