Lakshadweep is a place dreams can only imitate, breathtakingly stunning in simplicity and sheer beauty in a tropical island paradise.

A string of 36 palm covered islands about 300km off the coast of Kerala.  Isolated, only ten of the islands are inhabited the majority of which are Sunni Muslim fishermen.  Only a few Islands may accommodate foreign visitors.  Local life on the islands remains severely traditional.

These islands are an archipelago consisting of 12 atolls, 3 reefs and 5 submerged banks. Lakshadweep is the smallest union territory of India.

Tourism in Lakshadweep

The real attraction here is like much of India’s coastline, what lies beneath.  A large area of archipelago lagoons, unspoilt coral reefs and warm waters, which make for absolutely perfect scuba, snorkeling, kayaking, boating, sailing and day trips to nearby islands are only an assortment of what you can do here.  The one let down if you think of it as such is that foreign traveler’s only hopes of accommodation are pricy resorts. Geologically speaking the Lakshadweep islands are part of the same chain as the Maldives and used to be known as the Laccadives. There is a marine museum here and a life house which you may care to visit.

General Information on Lakshadweep

Many of the islands have only recently been opened up to foreigners Bangaram Island is a 50HA island with beautiful pure sand is one.  Agatti Island, which has a village and several mosques is another, remember if you plan on visiting the mosques you must do so dressed reservedly, it is also worth noting there is no alcohol on this island. Kadmat island, Minicoy and Kavaratii are the only others in this group that you will be able to stay on.  It is also possible to organize stay on board ship cruises.

Culture is similar to that you would find in Kerala with the food being similar and not much different.  Coconut oil and coconut products are available from a factory here and small souvenirs.  The people of Lakshadweep are also ethnically similar to Kerala. Lakshadweep means ‘a hundred thousand islands’ in Malayalam, the local language.

Special Information for Lakshadweep

You do need a special permit to visit these islands, and Indians as well as foreigners need them a condition of these permits is to have prebooked accommodation.  So don’t forget to plan this one early, peak season is December to May. Picking up coral is also a punishable crime.  Most of these islands are crime free.