Lakshadweep, formerly the Laccadives, is a group of islands situated some 400 km off India's west coast in the Arabian sea. They are India's only coral atolls and geologically a part of the same chain as the Maldives.
Lakshadweep is one of the most beautiful destinations that you could visit during your holidays. This union territory of India is located in the Arabian Sea and consists of 12 atolls, 3 reefs and 5 submerged banks. The beautiful marine life, the sylvan villages, tourist resorts and the mosques are great attractions for the tourists. Lakshadweep is one of the most beautiful places that you could visit in India and is easily accessible from the Kochi port where you have ships and luxury cruises venturing out regularly.
The administrative capital of Lakshadweep is Kavaratti and there are many other popular islands that act as great tourist destinations as well. These islands include Agatti, Amini, Andrott, Bitra, Chetlat, Kadmat, Kalpeni, Kiltan and Minicoy. You could explore Lakshadweep through the various cruises through which you could do island hopping. You could also indulge in a lot of water sports activities like skiing, snorkeling and scuba diving. The island of Agatti has an airport which makes travel and accessibility easy from the mainland. The Lakshadweep packages are sure to lend you a lot of fun and entertainment.
Understand
Lakshadweep is India's smallest union territory. The name literally means "a hundred thousand islands" in Sanskrit (laksha = lakh, hundred thousand. dweep = island) It has ten inhabited islands, 17 uninhabited islands attached islets, four newly formed islets and 5 submerged reefs.
Climate
Peak season is December to May, when it's cooler and dry. May to September is the main (southwest) monsoon season, but the October-November northeast monsoon can also be rainy.
Getting there
Everybody, Indian or otherwise, requires a special permit to visit Lakshadweep. By far the easiest way to obtain it is to book a package tour through the government's tour operator SPORTS or arrange a hotel to sort it out for you; in fact, for foreigners, accommodation booked in advance is a precondition for being allowed to visit.
Foreigners are restricted to the islands of Agatti, Bangaram and Kadmat, plus transit only (max. 12 hours) in Kavaratti. Indians may visit the other islands as well, but accommodation is very limited (see Sleep).
Nearly everybody going to Lakshadweep has to pass through Kochi, from where you can continue by plane or ship:
By plane
Indian Airlines and Kingfisher fly daily from Kochi to the airstrip at Agatti, the only one on the islands. Flights to Goa have been terminated.
By ship
The MV Tipu Sultan, MV Bharat Seema, MV Amindivi and MV Minicoy operate between Kochi and various islands in Lakshadweep. The trip takes 14-18 hours one day depending on the destination island. All four are basic 1960s-era ferries but fairly well maintained and tolerable comfortable. The Tipu Sultan is generally held to be the best of the bunch, with three classes of accommodation (A/C cabin, A/C reclining seats and deck) plus a cafeteria, snack bar, and upper deck promenade. Return fares are around Rs.3800 in A/C seats, which is the cheapest class available for packages.
Beware that all published sailing schedules are subject to sudden changes; not only can they be delayed, but it's not unheard of for a boat to arrive and leave a day early!
There are also occasional cruises directly from Mumbai.
Traveling around
Both boat and helicopter transfers are available from Agatti to Bangaram and Kadmat. The helicopter (US$150 return) may be the only option in monsoon season from May to September.
By boats/ferries: These can be used for getting around from one island to the other
Once on an island, there aren't too many options. You can travel by foot or hire a bicycle.
See
Kadmat: Kadmat Island is one of the most popular tourist destinations. There is a huge lagoon one the west side of the island, around 10km from the Amini.
Kavaratti Island:
Kavaratti Island is the most developed Island in Lakshadweep. Kavaratti is the administrative capital of Lakshdweep and the population is dominated by non-islanders. There are many Mosques on this island (around 52) and the most beautiful one is Ujra mosque.
Kalpeni: Kalpeni is located at the distance of around 76km south of Androth. This place lies in an extensive and shallow lagoon. The lagoon is world famous for its rich coral and marine life.
Bangaram: This Island is one of the best tourist destinations in the world due to its smooth sands and amazing palm grove backdrop. Here smooth sand is caressed by the waves of the multi coloured sea. This beautiful Island lies at a distance of around 8km from the north side of Agatti Island.
Agatti Island:
Agatti Island the gateway for the Lakshadweep, it is located at a distance of around 459 km from the Cochin. Agatti Island is around 6 km long. Surplus fishes are easily found on Agatti island. Fishing is the main occupation for the people living here.
This island has some of the best beaches for swimming in the world. Here tourists can enjoy the adventure of swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving. Tourists can also find huge lagoons over here, which increases the beauty of this island. Visitors can also enjoy different water sports activities like Scuba Diving, Deep Sea Fishing, sailing, boat rides, water skiing and kayaking at Agatti Island.
Things to do
There are basic leisure tours and Sea/Lagoon based tours. There are plenty of opportunities for Scuba diving, Yachting, Pedal boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Swimming, Snorkeling and sunbathing. One may also visit local houses, the Marine museum, Lighthouse and a few local industries.
Diveline Agatti, Operates the scuba diving shop at the Agatti Resort.
Lacadives, Operates the scuba diving shops at both Bangaram and Kadmat Resorts.
Eat
There are few if any uniquely Lakshadweep dishes. Local cuisine is similar to Kerala.
Drink
Tap water here is through bore wells and a bit hard. Rainwater harvested during the rainy season is the major source of drinking water. Non availability of drinking water accounts for a number of islands being uninhabited.
Sleep
There are three full-service resorts in Lakshadweep, which are also (in practice) the only places where foreigners can stay. All prices listed below are for double rooms and include all meals.
Agatti Island Beach Resort, Privately owned, but quite run down; apparently new cottages are in the works. The main draw is the diving, which is better here than at Bangaram. 20 beds.
Bangaram Island Resort, The first island opened to tourists, Bangaram Island was uninhabited before the resort was developed and it holds the distinction of being the only place in the entire Lakshadweep archipelago that can serve alcohol. Privately owned and managed to a high standard, but the huts are very basic (no aircon, hot water, TV) and, by Indian standards, quite expensive.
Kadmat Island Resort, The choice of scuba divers, this is home to Lakshadweep's first scuba facility. 22 executive huts, 26 family huts. Government-run and basic.
In addition, basic government resorts open to Indian citizens only are available at Minicoy, Kavaratti and Kalpeni. Some packages offered by SPORTS include accommodation on board the ship, with only day visits to the islands.
Buy
Lakshadweep is not a budget destination: in addition to the permit issue, there is no tourist infrastructure (hostels, restaurants, public transport etc) for backpackers. The cheapest SPORTS tours start from around Rs.10000 for four days, but this price is all-inclusive.
One can purchase pure coconut powder and coconut oil from the factory situated at Kadmat island. Fish pickles and small souvenirs are available in Kavaratti Island.
Talk
The people of the islands are ethnically similar to the people of the Kerala coast of India and are of mixed Indian and Arab descent. They speak a dialect of Malayalam, except in Minicoy where Mahl, a form of Dhivehi (the language of the Maldives) is spoken.
Safety
Consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in all islands except Bangaram. Picking up corals is a punishable crime.
Get out
The only way out is back to Kochi.
Contact & location
Be the first one to add a review
The photos displayed on this page are the property of one of the following authors:
Lakshadweep, formerly the Laccadives, is a group of islands situated some 400 km off India's west coast in the Arabian sea. They are India's only coral atolls and geologically a part of the same chain as the Maldives.
Lakshadweep is one of the most beautiful destinations that you could visit during your holidays. This union territory of India is located in the Arabian Sea and consists of 12 atolls, 3 reefs and 5 submerged banks. The beautiful marine life, the sylvan villages, tourist resorts and the mosques are great attractions for the tourists. Lakshadweep is one of the most beautiful places that you could visit in India and is easily accessible from the Kochi port where you have ships and luxury cruises venturing out regularly.
The administrative capital of Lakshadweep is Kavaratti and there are many other popular islands that act as great tourist destinations as well. These islands include Agatti, Amini, Andrott, Bitra, Chetlat, Kadmat, Kalpeni, Kiltan and Minicoy. You could explore Lakshadweep through the various cruises through which you could do island hopping. You could also indulge in a lot of water sports activities like skiing, snorkeling and scuba diving. The island of Agatti has an airport which makes travel and accessibility easy from the mainland. The Lakshadweep packages are sure to lend you a lot of fun and entertainment.
Understand
Lakshadweep is India's smallest union territory. The name literally means "a hundred thousand islands" in Sanskrit (laksha = lakh, hundred thousand. dweep = island) It has ten inhabited islands, 17 uninhabited islands attached islets, four newly formed islets and 5 submerged reefs.
Climate
Peak season is December to May, when it's cooler and dry. May to September is the main (southwest) monsoon season, but the October-November northeast monsoon can also be rainy.
Getting there
Everybody, Indian or otherwise, requires a special permit to visit Lakshadweep. By far the easiest way to obtain it is to book a package tour through the government's tour operator SPORTS or arrange a hotel to sort it out for you; in fact, for foreigners, accommodation booked in advance is a precondition for being allowed to visit.
Foreigners are restricted to the islands of Agatti, Bangaram and Kadmat, plus transit only (max. 12 hours) in Kavaratti. Indians may visit the other islands as well, but accommodation is very limited (see Sleep).
Nearly everybody going to Lakshadweep has to pass through Kochi, from where you can continue by plane or ship:
By plane
Indian Airlines and Kingfisher fly daily from Kochi to the airstrip at Agatti, the only one on the islands. Flights to Goa have been terminated.
By ship
The MV Tipu Sultan, MV Bharat Seema, MV Amindivi and MV Minicoy operate between Kochi and various islands in Lakshadweep. The trip takes 14-18 hours one day depending on the destination island. All four are basic 1960s-era ferries but fairly well maintained and tolerable comfortable. The Tipu Sultan is generally held to be the best of the bunch, with three classes of accommodation (A/C cabin, A/C reclining seats and deck) plus a cafeteria, snack bar, and upper deck promenade. Return fares are around Rs.3800 in A/C seats, which is the cheapest class available for packages.
Beware that all published sailing schedules are subject to sudden changes; not only can they be delayed, but it's not unheard of for a boat to arrive and leave a day early!
There are also occasional cruises directly from Mumbai.
Traveling around
Both boat and helicopter transfers are available from Agatti to Bangaram and Kadmat. The helicopter (US$150 return) may be the only option in monsoon season from May to September.
By boats/ferries: These can be used for getting around from one island to the other
Once on an island, there aren't too many options. You can travel by foot or hire a bicycle.
See
Kadmat: Kadmat Island is one of the most popular tourist destinations. There is a huge lagoon one the west side of the island, around 10km from the Amini.
Kavaratti Island:
Kavaratti Island is the most developed Island in Lakshadweep. Kavaratti is the administrative capital of Lakshdweep and the population is dominated by non-islanders. There are many Mosques on this island (around 52) and the most beautiful one is Ujra mosque.
Kalpeni: Kalpeni is located at the distance of around 76km south of Androth. This place lies in an extensive and shallow lagoon. The lagoon is world famous for its rich coral and marine life.
Bangaram: This Island is one of the best tourist destinations in the world due to its smooth sands and amazing palm grove backdrop. Here smooth sand is caressed by the waves of the multi coloured sea. This beautiful Island lies at a distance of around 8km from the north side of Agatti Island.
Agatti Island:
Agatti Island the gateway for the Lakshadweep, it is located at a distance of around 459 km from the Cochin. Agatti Island is around 6 km long. Surplus fishes are easily found on Agatti island. Fishing is the main occupation for the people living here.
This island has some of the best beaches for swimming in the world. Here tourists can enjoy the adventure of swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving. Tourists can also find huge lagoons over here, which increases the beauty of this island. Visitors can also enjoy different water sports activities like Scuba Diving, Deep Sea Fishing, sailing, boat rides, water skiing and kayaking at Agatti Island.
Things to do
There are basic leisure tours and Sea/Lagoon based tours. There are plenty of opportunities for Scuba diving, Yachting, Pedal boating, Kayaking, Canoeing, Swimming, Snorkeling and sunbathing. One may also visit local houses, the Marine museum, Lighthouse and a few local industries.
Diveline Agatti , Operates the scuba diving shop at the Agatti Resort.
Lacadives , Operates the scuba diving shops at both Bangaram and Kadmat Resorts.
Eat
There are few if any uniquely Lakshadweep dishes. Local cuisine is similar to Kerala.
Drink
Tap water here is through bore wells and a bit hard. Rainwater harvested during the rainy season is the major source of drinking water. Non availability of drinking water accounts for a number of islands being uninhabited.
Sleep
There are three full-service resorts in Lakshadweep, which are also (in practice) the only places where foreigners can stay. All prices listed below are for double rooms and include all meals.
Agatti Island Beach Resort , Privately owned, but quite run down; apparently new cottages are in the works. The main draw is the diving, which is better here than at Bangaram. 20 beds.
Bangaram Island Resort, The first island opened to tourists, Bangaram Island was uninhabited before the resort was developed and it holds the distinction of being the only place in the entire Lakshadweep archipelago that can serve alcohol. Privately owned and managed to a high standard, but the huts are very basic (no aircon, hot water, TV) and, by Indian standards, quite expensive.
Kadmat Island Resort, The choice of scuba divers, this is home to Lakshadweep's first scuba facility. 22 executive huts, 26 family huts. Government-run and basic.
In addition, basic government resorts open to Indian citizens only are available at Minicoy, Kavaratti and Kalpeni. Some packages offered by SPORTS include accommodation on board the ship, with only day visits to the islands.
Buy
Lakshadweep is not a budget destination: in addition to the permit issue, there is no tourist infrastructure (hostels, restaurants, public transport etc) for backpackers. The cheapest SPORTS tours start from around Rs.10000 for four days, but this price is all-inclusive. One can purchase pure coconut powder and coconut oil from the factory situated at Kadmat island. Fish pickles and small souvenirs are available in Kavaratti Island.
Talk
The people of the islands are ethnically similar to the people of the Kerala coast of India and are of mixed Indian and Arab descent. They speak a dialect of Malayalam, except in Minicoy where Mahl, a form of Dhivehi (the language of the Maldives) is spoken.
Safety
Consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in all islands except Bangaram. Picking up corals is a punishable crime.
Get out
The only way out is back to Kochi.
Contact & location
Be the first one to add a review
The photos displayed on this page are the property of one of the following authors:
Binu K S, Rupankar Mahanta, Thejas
Some photos courtesy of:
. The photos provided by Flickr are under the copyright of their owners.
This travel guide also includes text from Wikitravel articles, all available at
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Stefan Ertmann, Prashant Jain, Jani Patokallio, Amit Mehrotra, T.V.Srihari, Eric Chord, Ravikiran Rao and Benji, Cacahuate
This travel guide also includes text from Wikipedia articles, all available at
View full credits