India, March 18 -- After nearly 15 hours of air travel from Mumbai, I finally touched down in Zanzibar, a tiny archipelago located off the coast of Tanzania, East Africa, at the break of dawn. The allure of this pristine island had always drawn me in-white sand beaches, crystal clear waters, and palm-lined shores that can rival some of the world's most sought-after beach destinations-yet Zanzibar remains untouched by the tourist frenzy.

During the drive to my hotel, I watched the island city slowly come to life. The place felt like a mirage-both familiar and foreign at once. It was when my driver learned that I was visiting from India that he began revealing hints of Zanzibar's storied past-from Arabs to Indians-all shaping the island ...