LAKSHADWEEP BLUE

LAKSHADWEEP (A GROUP OF ISLANDS) — MUST VISIT IN A LIFE

Lakshadweep — the name itself means ‘a hundred thousand islands’. Some big, some small, same far, some near. Some inhabited and some not.

Located off the coast of Kerala, Lakshadweep islands are bestowed with miles of heavenly sun-kissed beaches devoid of the crowds, magnificent lagoon and turquoise blue water brimming with colorful aquatic life.

Each and every island here is blessed with picturesque landscape to make you want to whip out your pen and paper and get creative. The islands are beautiful inside out and the beauty is unparalleled. In these islands you can easily find the hungry crabs anywhere.

With its laid back vibe, the islands of Lakshadweep offers a multitude of experiences for any traveler all of which are bound to create lasting impressions. Travelers however are allowed to the Island under certain restrictions. They are required to obtain Entry Permit from the Lakshadweep Administration for entering or visiting the island. Entry Permit is issued based on the visitor having a confirmed place to stay.

Two modes to go to next island easily are available either you go by boat that are reasonable & economical and if you are looking for a royal tag you like to see a view from sky then there is a charter option available for fewer traveler with additional cost.

Fact Files

Lakshadweep is an archipelago made up of 36 Islands spread across an area of 32 sq. kilometers, 10 out of them are inhabited – Agatti, Kadmat, Kalpeni, Kavaratti, Kiltan, Amini, Bitra, Chetlat, Androthm, Bangaram, and Minicoy. But tourists are allowed to visit just a few selected islands. The islands of Agatti, Kadmat, Kavaratti, and Minicoy are inhabited by locals whereas Bangaram and Thinnakara are uninhabited islands.

Inhabited Islands: Agatti, Amini, Andrott, Bitra, Chetlat, Kadmat, Kalpeni, Kavaratti, Kiltan and Minicoy

Language: Malayalam & Mahl (spoken on Minicoy Island). Jeseri (similar to Malayalam with a hint of Tamil) is a dialect that is also spoken in Lakshadweep.

Total Population: 65995 as per 2012 census, of which 95% are Muslims.

Occupation: Fishing and Coconut cultivation.

Best Time To Visit Lakshadweep

October to March/April is the best time to visit any of the islands of Lakshadweep with temperatures dropping to 30Degree Celcius along the coast. Post April till mid-September, monsoon hits Lakshadweep and ferries and resorts are mostly closed. The rains are most frequent and abundant during these months.If you still want to visit during off season, chopper services are also available. But it is advisable to check before planning. October to May is perfect time if you want to opt for cruise packages.

Summer Months: March to May

Monsoon Months: May to mid-September

Winter Months: September to Feb

How to Reach Islands at Lakshadweep

Agatti Island has its airport- Agatti airport. The island is located just 8 km from the Bangaram Island which can be easily accessed by a boat ride.

Tips:

Special permits are required to enter the islands at Lakshadweep. It is compulsory to book your stay in advance before you reach here. It is safe to book your trip from the local travel agent who will guide you and assist you for your comforts and holiday tips.

Handy Tips:

• Booking in advance (at least a month before) is recommended through a travel agent.
• Always keep sun-screan lotion to keep safe from sunburn after sea visit.
• You have to rely on the resorts for food.
• Pack something to snack all day if you are a foodie during sightseeing.
• It is advisable to carry cash for water activities as there are no ATM’s on the island.
• Network of BSNL works fine on the island and Airtel works only near the helipad. No network for Vodafone users.
• Permit is must to visit at any of the island of Lakshadweep. Permits can be easily arranged by Travel agents.

Places To Visit in Lakshadweep:

AGATTI ISLAND

Agatti Island will be your first stop as you land at Lakshadweep. The island boasts of having some of the finest beaches and offers tons of water-sports activities. The beaches are clean and the waters are deep blue teeming with the most colorful and diverse underwater world.

Jewel from the Lakshadweep group of islands is the Agatti island known for its blissful beauty of coral reefs. It is situated on one of the coral atolls of Lakshadweep island In AGATTI coral growths and multicoloured coral fishes abount in its lagoons. Fishing is the most important industry of AGATTI which is perhaps the only island besides Minicoy getting surplus fish. Next to Fishing, Coir and Copra are the main industries. AGATTI is the AirPort stopover from Cochin and Goa on the way to Bangaram which can be seen on the northern horizon. Agatti offers fully Furnished Resorts managed by a private entrepreneur. The main attraction at the resorts is the water sport facilities .A medical centre with qualified Doctors functions at AGATTI.

The white sand beaches with the crystal clear waters of the sea await you the Agatti islands. The languages spoken by the indigenous people are English and Malayalam. However, Islam is the main religion of the islanders which was brought here by the famous Arab traveler- Ibn Batuta. The primary occupation of the people is fishing, and few of them are involved in the tourism sector.

Agatti is one of the Lakshadweep islands open to tourism. Visitors, however, are allowed to the Island under certain restrictions. They are required to obtain Entry Permit from the Lakshadweep Administration for entering or visiting the island. Entry Permit is issued based on the visitor having a confirmed place to stay.

Tourism in Agatti Island

There aren't any places to visit in the Agatti Island except for the few beaches which are enough to give you an experience of a perfect beach holiday. For the adventure enthusiasts, there are several options of the water sports such as snorkeling, scuba diving and swimming owing to its low tides. Scuba diving is one of the best activities on the island to spot the number of colorful fishes, gorgeous corals, and the unique aquatic animals.

There are only two resorts on the island, hence assuring fewer disturbances and no commercialization. To enter the island, the tourists require a special permit which can be availed once you show your confirmed place of stay at the island.

AMINI ISLAND

Amini Island personifies what the Lakshadweep island group stand for, seclusion and a true tropical vacation experience. This small, oval shaped island is inhabited and is a small one at only around 3 kilometers long and over a kilometer wide. The Amini Island is at a distance of 407 km (220 nautical miles) from Kochi and located between Kavaratti Island in the south and Kadmat Island in the north. This island has an oval shape with a width of 1.20 km at the broadest point and a length of 2.70 km. This oval shaped island is 2-3 m above the mean sea level, with a depression at the centre.
The climate of Amini is similar to the climatic conditions of Kerala. March to May is the hottest period of the year. The Monsoon prevails here from 15th May to 15th September. The monsoon period raises temperature to the mercury level between 27- 30 degrees. During the monsoon time, boats are not allowed outside the lagoon because of the violent sea. The presence of the reef maintains calm at the lagoon.

Getting to Amini Island can be accomplished by hiring a boat from Agatti. Agatti Island is connected to the west coast of mainland India by air and it houses Lakshadweep’s domestic airport

ANDROTH ISLAND

Amini Island personifies what the Lakshadweep island group stand for, seclusion and a true tropical vacation experience. This small, oval shaped island is inhabited and is a small one at only around 3 kilometers long and over a kilometer wide.The Amini Island is at a distance of 407 km (220 nautical miles) from Kochi and located between Kavaratti Island in the south and Kadmat Island in the north. This island has an oval shape with a width of 1.20 km at the broadest point and a length of 2.70 km. This oval shaped island is 2-3 m above the mean sea level, with a depression at the centre.

The climate of Amini is similar to the climatic conditions of Kerala. March to May is the hottest period of the year. During the monsoon time, boats are not allowed outside the lagoon because of the violent sea. The presence of the reef maintains calm at the lagoon.

Getting to Amini Island can be accomplished by hiring a boat from Agatti. Agatti Island is connected to the west coast of mainland India by air and it houses Lakshadweep’s domestic airport

BANGARAM ISLAND

The Jewel of the Lakshadeep, Bangaram island is uninhabited except for occasional visitors from the nearest island, Agatti, where the airport is situated. Bangaram presents a breathtaking spectacle of sparkling coral reefs, turquoise blue lagoons, silvery beaches and lush green coconut palms. All preserved in the State just as the first discoverers would have found them.

At Bangaram island, the more unhurried can simply laze on the silverbeaches, soak in the sun, listen to the sound of the waves and watch the swaying of the palms. The bangaram island feels like it was designed pecifically for languid strolls, to watch the beach dances of hermit crabs and listen to the raucous music of the sea birds. But should you feel the need for a littlemore adventure on your holiday, Bangram island offers a whole new set of activities. The Bangaram Island Resort offers you a variety of outdoor pursuits - scuba diving, snorkeling, deep sea fishing, kayaking and so on.

A bewitchingly beautiful and breath taking island in Lakshadweep. It is surrounded by a shallow lagoon enclosed by coral reef. It has been ranked among the best gateways of the world. Here the sun,sand and surf in harmony casting a spell on the visitor. A matchless sence of well being takes over and one begins to discover the graceful fishes, porcupines ,parrots, pufferfishes, hermit crabs and sea birds on the vast 120 acres of lush coconut groves in BANGARAM.

BITRA ISLAND

Bitra island with an area of around 11 hectare, Bitra is the smallest inhabited island in Lakshadweep. The climate is warm throughout the year. The island is covered by thick brushwood and shrubs, and is rich in coconut palms. The people are mainly Muslims and they speak a local version of Keralas language, Malayalam. Bitra has the largest lagoon in Lakshadweep. This magnificent lagoon is on the north-eastern tip of a large coral ring reef. Coral growths and multi-colored fish are abundant in this lagoon. A shrine, dedicated to Malik Mulla - an old Arab saint who is said to have been buried there, is the main attraction over here. The shrine is a place of pilgrimage for other islanders. Bitra is situated 48 km west of Chetlat.

The main attraction of Bitra is the shrine of Malik Mulla, an Arab saint who is believed to have been buried here. It is a pilgrimage centre for followers of Islam. Full of corals and multi-coloured tropical fish, diving and snorkelling are the popular activities in the Bitra Island.

CHETLAT ISLAND

The Chetlat Island is 56 km on the north of the Amini and 432 km (233 nautical miles) away from Kochi. The island has 2.68 km length, 0.59 km breadth at the broadest point and has a lagoon of 1.60 sq km. Monsoon prevails here from 15th May to 15th September. The monsoon period raises temperature to the mercury level between 27- 30 degrees. During the monsoon time, boats are not allowed outside the lagoon because of the violent sea. The presence of the reef maintains calm at the lagoon.

KADMAT ISLAND

The Kadmat Island is long and narrow. This island is at a distance of 407 km (220 nautical mil from Kochi and located between Amini Island in the south and Chetlat Island in the north.
Kadmat is a summit of an underwater mountain where peace by their very nature to enjoy ones solitude. The blue water lagoon is encircling the invaluable wealth of colourful corals, coral habitats, the reef banks, unspoilt virgin beaches, the sun and the moon! The most outstanding strength of Kadmat island lies in its marine wealth. Surrounded on the eastern and western side by large lagoons of spectacular beauty, long and sandy beaches that makes the place one of the ideal tourist destinations in the region. The coral reef systems and reef banks are very unique from an ecological perspective. Kadmat - one of the most beautiful diving locations in India.

KALPENI ISLAND

Kalpeni Islands, Koefaini as per Arab writers, is a group of three small islands and is considered as one of the most exquisite and impressing islands of Lakshadweep. Many tourists are attracted towards this Kalpeni Islands to spend their holidays.

One of unique feature of this Island is the coral debris along the south eastern and western banks and this Island is encircled by a lagoon of fantastic splendor, which is highly rich in coral life. Kalpeni is famous for many water sport activities, adventurous tourists can venture out for interesting sports like snorkeling, reef walking, canoeing, kayaking and sailing yachts. This is a nice place to visit.

One of unique feature of this Island is the coral debris along the south eastern and eastern banks and this Island is encircled by a lagoon of fantastic splendor, which is highly rich in coral life. Kalpeni is most famous for Tip Beach, a white sandy beach with a shallow emerald colored lagoon and clean pristine water ideal for diving, snorkeling, even a casual afternoon dip. Tip Beach is located on the northern tip of the island, hence the name. Kayaking and reef walking are other activities the beach is famous for. Tilakkam, Pitti and Cheriyam islands make up the Kalpeni Island group and its also famous for a 37 meter tall lighthouse. Once at the top, one can stare at the beauty that is the Kalpeni Island group with its dense tree canopy and picturesque lagoon. Kalpeni is famous for many water sport activities, adventurous tourists can venture out for interesting sports like snorkeling, reef walking, canoeing, kayaking and sailing yachts. This is a nice place to visit.

KAVARATTI ISLAND

Kavaratti is the most popular and most developed island in Lakshadweep. It is the administrative capital of Lakshadweep. It is blessed with an unparalleled natural beauty that is makes the island one among the most attractive. This island is blend of strong traditional culture and the existence of modern infrastructural amenities. Kavaratti lies in the Arabian Sea about 215 miles (345 km) west-southwest of Kozhikode (Calicut) and the Malabar Coast of southern India. Kavaratti is noted for the carved wooden pillar sand roofs of its mosques and the carved stones of its graveyards. The Island has an administrative building, a bank, numerous mosques, and an aquarium. This island is located between Agatti and Andrott islands of Lakshadweep and is about 6 kilometers in length and 1 kilometer in breadth. Main attractions of its beautiful shrines and here are a captivating Aquarium with many varieties of corals and different species of beautiful colourful fishes. This is an ideal spot for water sports.

Published & Posted By

Kanchan