Lakshadweep Islands: a land of Beauty and Wonders

The abundance greenery, beautiful reefs, floral landscapes and numerous fishes extend the aquatic beauty of the Arabian Sea, giving is breathtaking sights of Lakshadweep. Watching the oceanic birds’ flyby over the Islands, traveling through the reefs and experiencing the clear water of Arabian sea are among some of best travel experiences. Lakshadweep comprises of some exceptionally beautiful islands such as Agatti, Amini, Andrott, Bitra,Chetlat,Kadmat, Kalpeni, Kavaratti, Kiltan and Minicoy. 

The meaning of Lakshadweep is "a hundred thousand islands" in Malayalam, the local language. On the contrary, there are 36 islands having a total area of 32 sq. kilometers in Lakshadweep territory. It is the tiniest Union Territory of India with 12 atolls, 3 reefs and 5 submerged banks. Ten of the Lakshadweep group of Islands are inhabited. 

Art and culture are always an element of curiosity for the travellers here. Among dance forms, Kolkali and Parichakali are the two popular folk art forms within Lakshadweep. They are an integral part of the culture in the locality. A cheerful gathering of natives during occasions to celebrate and dance is a common sight in Lakshadweep.

In the Island of Minicoy, the LAVA dance form is the most popular dance form. For marriages OPPANA is sung, it is a song sung by a group of women to celebrate the occasion. Picnics are a common leisure activity in Minicoy. The most widely celebrated festivals are Independence Day and Republic Day, Milad - Ul - Nabi, Idulfitr.

Kalpeni

A huge lagoon encloses the island's small islets, namely, Tilakkam, Pitti and Cheriyam. Its biggest attraction is the huge bank of coral debris along the sides of eastern and southwestern shorelines. Kalpeni is 287 kms away from Cochin and is famous for its scenic beauty. It is progressive islands as far as the issues of tourists’ facilities to women education are concerned. Here you can swim or take up a reef walk or snorkel. Banyan factory and the lighthouse are among some of the most famous tourist attractions here. 

Kavaratti

Located at the distance of 404 kms from Cochin, Kavaratti is one of the most developed islands. It is the administrative capital since 1964. Kavaratti has beautiful palm lagoon that forms a perfect spot for water sports, swimming and relaxing on the long and serene beaches. It has the highest percentage of non-islanders as the residents here. There are many mosques spread over the island. The most beautiful among all of them is the Ujra mosque.

The Dolphin Diver Center is the great attraction for the water sport lovers. The tourist huts offer comfortable stay to the visitors, however they need to be booked in advance or have t be included in your package. There is also an aquarium that hosts several multi-color fishes. To view the marine life at its best, you can get a boat with a glass bottom. Enjoy water sports like canoeing, kayaking and snorkeling available for tourists with best facilities.

The Lighthouse (Minicoy Island)

Lighthouse, established in 1885 by Bristish at Minicoy, is one among the oldest lighthouses in Lakshadweep. This is a wonderful structure attracting many tourists, which is a major landmark in Minicoy Island. One can go right up to the top of this Light house with a height of 300 feet. A bird's eye view of the Lakshadweep islands is an amazing seen from the top of the Light house. The surroundings are highly reverberating with dynamic activities in the Island. This is a perfect tourist destination with all natural beauty.

Minicoy

It is the farthest island from Kavaratti Island , 200 kms away to south and 398 kms from Cochin . Minicoy has a peculiar culture that you may not find at any other island. It is a second largest island, a cluster of 10 villages, with a systematically arranged village system, called Avah. It is an important center for tuna fishing and also famous for its tradition of lava dance. The Light House (1885) here is an important attraction here with its natural beauty and tourist facilities.

Marine Aquarium

An informative Marine Aquarium and Museum, showcasing many marine related artifacts, is situated at Kavaratti, the Head Quarters of Lakshadweep. 

The Marine Museum is established in 1983 with the aim to promote the awareness of marine products and its preservation. The aquarium displays some of the most striking species of sea fishes and water animals. This is a treasure of different varieties of beautiful, attractive and colorful marine ornamental fishes. Marine Museum is a place for getting first hand information about the rare species of invertebrates and many enthusiast tourists from India and abroad visit this nice Museum 

How to Reach Lakshadweep?

Cochi ( Kerala) is the primary city to reach Lakshadweep Islands

 By Air :

You can fly to Agatti and Bangaram islands from Kochi by flights which generally take an hour and half. Indian Airlines operate flights from Kochi. Airport facility is only in Agatti Island for the 11 inhabitant islands of Lakshadweep. Boats are available for transport to other islands. There is helicopter transport is available to Karavatti, however it is provided to reach Bangram island too during Monsoon.

By Sea : 

Travelling by ship is also a good option to reach Lakshadweep. A number of passenger ships namely MV Kavaratti, MV Arabian Sea, MV Lakshadweep Sea, MV Bharat Seema, MV Amindivi and MV Minicoy operate from Kochi (Cochin) to Lakshadweep

Getting Permit for Lakshadweep:

A permit by the Govt. is required to enter the Lakshadweep Islands through an application process and payment of fees. 

Government Package: 

The best and easiest way to get a permit to Lakshadweep is through government package. Government Package tours are available by the Society for Promotion of Nature Tourism and Sports (SPORTS).
You can get more information regarding the tour packages and/or getting permit for Lakshadweep from office at Wellington Island Kochi or for further information visit SPORTS.

Private Tour Packages:

There are a number of private tour packages available for the tourists which range from as low as INR 17,000 for a weekend tour.

 Sponsorship/Invitation: 

Getting permission directly from Lakshadweep can be  resident of Islands is ready to bear complete responsibility of the person who is travelling to Islands. 
15 days permit is offered to the person if a resident of Lakshadweep island writes off a recommendation and submits the tourists application with fees,
6 months permit is provided to the indian national job seekers.

A resident of Island should sponsor the person travelling to the islands. Once this permit is availed, one can shuttle between Island and homeland within the period of six months.