EASY DESTINATION
        HOME      WORLD TRAVEL GUIDE       INDIA TRAVEL GUIDE      ADVERTISE           TRAVEL FORUM

  INDIAN CUISINE     SKI RESORTS     TREKKING      MEDICAL TOURISM      WORLD CITY GUIDE    CYCLING


         LAKSHADWEEP TRAVEL GUIDE

Lakshadweep  is the smallest union territory of India. The group is located 200 to
300 km off of the coast of Kerala in the Arabian Sea. The total land area of the
territory is 32 kmē. Eleven of the islands are inhabited. Lakshadweep is the northern
part of the erstwhile Lakshadweepa.

The people of all the northern islands speak a dialect of Malayalam. According to
local folk beliefs, they descended from traders who were washed up on the islands
during a particularly heavy storm. However, the people of Minicoy, the southernmost
atoll, speak Mahl, a variant of Divehi, the language of the Maldives.

The islanders are ethnically similar to coastal Kerala's Malayali people, and were
influenced by Arab traders. Inhabitants of Minicoy, the southernmost and largest
island, closely resemble Maldivians. Most — 99% — of the indigenous population is
Muslim; they were converted by Arab traders. The locals call themselves the Div-i or
the Aminidivi ("from the mother island").

The first westerner in the recent historical past on the islands was Vasco da Gama,
but the British were the first to explore the islands. They are also mentioned in great
detail in the stories of the Arab traveller Ibn Batuta. The Portuguese established a fort
on the islands in May 1498, but the inhabitants soon rose up and expelled them. The
Amindivi group of islands (Amini, Kadmat, Kiltan, Chetlat and Bitra) came under the
rule of Tipu Sultan in 1787. They passed on to British control after the Third Anglo-
Mysore War and were attached to the South Canara district. The rest of the islands
became a suzerainty of the Arakkal family of Cannanore in return for a payment of
annual tribute. After a while, the British took over the administration of those islands
for non-payment of arrears. These islands were attached to the Malabar district of
the Madras Presidency. In 1956, the States Reorganisation Act separated these
islands from the mainland administrative units, forming a new union territory by
combining all the islands.


GENERAL INFORMATION

Time zone           IST (UTC+5:30)
Area                     32 kmē (12 sq mi)
Capital                 Kavaratti
Largest city         Kavaratti
District(s)            1
Population          60,595 (7th)
Density                1,894/kmē (4,905/sq mi)
Language(s)      Malayalam


PLACE TO VISIT

Agatti Island -  is a small 7 kilometer long island, situated about 459 kilometers
off the Kochi Coast. Its total land area is approximately 2.7 sq km. Its population as
per last census is 5667. It is surrounded on all sides by a coral reef.

Aminidivi - are an island group in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, India. It
consists of atolls, three reefs (largely submerged atolls with only unvegetated sand
cays above the high water mark]] and four submerged banks.

Bitra - is an Island atoll in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep in India.
There is a small shrine dedicated to an old Arab saint by the name of Malik Mulla
who was buried on the island. The shrine has become a site for of pilgrimage.

Kalpeni - is an island in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, India. It forms a
single atoll along with the uninhabited island of Cheriyam, the Tilakkam and Pitti
Inlet.
Littered along the eastern and southern shorelines of the island is coral debris
which was the result of a violent storm that hit the area in 1847.

Kavaratti island - is ideal for water sports, swimming and there are sandy
beaches for sun basking. Tourists can enjoy the marine life exhibits at the Marine
Aquarium, and a vast collection of specimens at the Museum. Glass-bottomed boats
that provide a delightful view of the lagoon's vibrant aquatic life are also very popular.
Kayaks and Sailing Yachts are available for hire.

Minicoy Island - or Maliku is the only inhabited island of the Maliku Atoll. It is the
second largest and the southern-most among the islands of the Lakshadweep
archipelago, measuring about 10 km from its northern end to its southernmost point.
Minicoy is a long island, almost completely covered with coconut trees. One of the
few landmarks of the island is a tall lighthouse.


HOW TO REACH

Getting to Lakshadweep , requires special permit and its worth referring to the
official website for information from time to time, http://lakshadweep.nic.in/

By Ship - Take a ship from Kochi (Cochin). Takes approx. 24 hours
Take a Cruise from Mumbai for visiting some of the islands in Lakshadweep

By Air - Indian Airlines flies from Kochi and Goa. Kochi flights are daily (except
Sunday) and Goa flights are twice a week. Flights land at Agatti island which is the
only airport in the Lakshadweep. Kingfisher airlines also flies from Kochi to Agatti on
selected days to be confirmed with airlines.