For starters the islands are nestled amidst the turquoise embrace of the Arabian Sea, like scattered sapphires on a velvet cloth, lie the Lakshadweep Islands. This archipelago, India’s smallest Union Territory, boasts breathtaking beaches and vibrant coral reefs, but beneath the sun-kissed surface lies a fascinating geography and a unique political story.
Geographically, Lakshadweep comprises of 36 islands, a mere ten of which are inhabited. These coral atolls rise from the seabed, forming stunning lagoons and a diverse marine ecosystem. Kavaratti, the capital, sits gracefully on one such atoll, 400 kilometres off the coast of Kerala. Its central location and sheltered lagoon made it the ideal administrative hub after the islands’ separation from the mainland in 1956.
In essence, Kavaratti embodies both the geographical heart and the political pulse of Lakshadweep. It’s a place where swaying palm trees and crashing waves dance with the rhythm of sea waves where pristine beaches meet the hum of administrative machinery. This island capital stands as a testament to the islands’ distinct geography.
Now that’s quite a load of geographical bullcrap that I shoved down your eyes so let’s focus more on how to actually get there.
First you’ll have to secure a permit through the e-permit portal (https://epermit.utl.gov.in/) , and as there are several islands you’ll have to choose your arrival island , dates and upload all the necessary documents. With a best-case scenario and how amazingly fast our government sites are, expect the permit to be processed within 15 days.
The main entry island is Agatti and you can book a flight to there which normally starts from kerela by many regional operators and national operators present there. If you prefer the sea-route then Lakshadweep Administration operates passenger ships from Kochi to the islands. The journey takes around 14-20 hours depending on the island. However, ship services are not as frequent as flights. Beware though as for both of the routes you would need the specific permits and documents to travel there.
Also be aware before travelling of some points like that there is limited mobile connectivity in the islands themselves so check in advance if you carrier has a network system already present there and ALWAYS plan when you have to go in advance as you’ll need to pre book your stay in the peak holiday season or you are better of in the seas only. Regarding seasons, October-May offers pleasant weather and calm seas, while monsoon months (June-September) offer lower prices and fewer crowds.
Now lets get to the heart of this article , on how our very own islands are a better option than the Maldivian archipelago, first of all and something that we all can relate to is Cos, Lakshwadeep is much much more budget friendly than Maldives and also carries a lot less hassles to be carried out as it’s a domestic destination rather than an international one. Then another thing which ironically favours lakshwadeep is due to a comparatively less level of tourism development in there offers a more pristine and clean environment when comparing it to the bustling tourist hubs. Majority of the cost factor arises from the fact that Lakshadweep has tons and tons of government run resorts only rather than private ones so it can be significantly easier on the pocket.
Agatti Island:
Bangaram Island:
Kavaratti:
Kalpeni Island:
Minicoy Island:
Kadmat Island:
Thinnakara Island:
Bitra Island:
Cheriyam Island:
Pitti Island:
Aryan is your average go-to guy for everything tech, games and PHYSICS! Always looking for somehing niche to do, he never gets tired of chasing what nobody else is. Currently he’s pursuing ICE at AISSMS IoIT and coincidentally while he does knows how to speak in more than 3 languages all he can say these days is “amcha kadhe plane aahe”.
