10 Best Places to Visit in Lakshadweep
Lakshadweep, formerly the Laccadives, is one of the most spectacular tropical island systems in the world. Spread over 36 islands surrounded by lagoon covering 4200 sq.km., it’s a lovely place to be for a vacation. ‘Lakshadweepa,’ means ‘one hundred thousand islands’ in Sanskrit as well as many Indian languages like Telugu, Malayalam, Tulu, Kannada, Hindi, Tamil and others. If you are planning a visit to Lakshadweep, we must tell you that it’s a great idea and that, it’s one of the most beautiful island systems in the world.
1. Minicoy Island:
The Minicoy Island is the second largest Island of the Lakshadweep and is one of the few inhabited islands of the group. It is best known for its luxury beach resorts that are an ideal destination for the travellers seeking tranquility. It is also a romantic getaway to spend some quality time with your beloved amidst the clean beaches and the beautiful ocean. A trip to Minicoy Island is not about visiting the tourist places; it is about seeking the beauty of nature in its purest and most undisturbed form, as the island hasn’t been spoiled by the commercialization yet.
For the best experience, you should undoubtedly choose to stay at the luxurious beach resorts overlooking the pearl white beaches and the turquoise blue sea.
INFORMATION
- This picturesque destination is a popular tourist spot and has gained immense popularity due to activities like tuna canning, tuna fishing and the presence of pristine palm fringed beaches. Tourists can enjoy some of the most memorable moments here during winters and the onset of summer, as the weather here is ideal during those months.
2. Agatti Island
Another 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 and is few of the islands from the group that is inhabited by the people. The island stretches over an area of 7.6 km, and it is sparsely populated. The total population of the island is roughly 7,700 as per the 2014 census. However, there is no dearth of the natural beauty on the island. The white sand beaches with the crystal clear waters of the sea await you the Agatti islands. The small island of the total area of 2.7 sq km is a sheer paradise for the beach lovers and the offbeat travelers. 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.
INFORMATION
- The primary occupation of the people is fishing, and few of them are involved in the tourism sector.
3. Bangaram Island
Bangaram island is one of the least explored parts of the Lakshadweep islands. There is only one beach resort on the island, and the modernization lies miles away from this island making it a perfect destination to cut out from the outer world. Bangaram Island is known for its pristine beaches, the vibrant coral reefs, many different fishes and few of the adventure sports. It is an uninhabited island located at a distance of 12 km from the Agatti island. Boats and ferries are available from Agatti that will take you the Bangaram in just 15-20 minutes. Tourists require a special permit to enter the island with the confirmed stay if they want to stay here overnight.
INFORMATION
- The best way to explore this island is to make your stay at the Agatti island lying just 12 km away from Bangaram and explore this atoll on a day trip from Agatti. There are several options of stay at the Agatti resorts. Also, the only resort of the island is under litigation, and hence it has been shut down for a while.
4. Kavaratti Island
Kavaratti Island is one of the most beautiful gems from the Lakshadweep group of islands. The capital of Lakshadweep it is yet another island famous for its splendid sea views and the pristine white-sand beaches. Kavaratti lies 360 km from the shores of Kochi. It doesn’t have its airport and Agatti is the nearest airport to the island. Under the mission to develop smart cities, Kavaratti has been chosen to be developed into a smart city in the years to come. Kavaratti is a small island spread across an area of 3.93 sqm km, but there is no dearth of natural beauty at the islands. The island is a home to 12 atolls, five submerged banks, and three coral reefs. The spectacular views of the Arabian sea, the sparkling white-sand beaches offers solace amidst the tranquil nature.
INFORMATION
- The beaches are laden with the swinging coconut trees, and once you take a dip inside the vast expanse, you can witness the abundant marine life of the island. Kavaratti is best known for its beautiful sceneries and the enthralling water sports.
5. Kalpeni Island
Also known as Koefaini, Kalpeni islands is a group of three islands and is one of the most picturesque areas of Lakshadweep. Cheriyam, Pitti and Tillakkam are the islands which together forms the Kalpeni islands. These islands are inhabited and are frequently visited by tourists. Kalpeni is famous for its beautiful lagoon surrounding the island and is highly rich in Coral life. Naturally, this place is among the must-see places in Lakshadweep.
INFORMATION
- This is also a great spot to enjoy water sports including Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Reef walking, canoeing, kayaking and sailing yachts.
6. Marine Museum
Situated in Kavaratti, Marine museum showcases plethora of marine related artifacts and aims at promoting marine products and its preservation. The interesting thing about the museum is its aquarium which has few of the most striking species of sea fishes and water animals.
INFORMATION
- The beautiful, colorful fishes and aquatic species are very pretty and it is a great sight to see these ornamental species. It is also a good place if you are interested in collecting information about marine life and related stuff.
7. Kadmat
Kadmat is one of the most popular islands for tourists. Famous for sun bathing, it is renowned for its pristine silvery white beaches. This really small island has a beautiful lagoon in its premises enclosed by coral reefs.
INFORMATION
- Kadmat is also one of the inhabited islands offering both domestic and foreign tourists with a pleasant experience.
8. Andretti Islands
Also known as Andrott Island, this is the largest island of Lakshadweep and is located closest to the Indian mainland. Unlike other islands, Andretti islands are in east-west direction. The island is also inhabited, but has been able to maintain its beauty and charm. It also provides enough opportunities to its visitors to mingle with the nature. Spending the evenings at the seaside could be very relaxing and if you are lucky enough, you might be able to spot various aquatic animals including octopuses.
INFORMATION
- Andretti Island is also famous for some Buddhist archaeological remains and the tomb of Saint Hazrat Ubaidullah. However, foreign tourists are not allowed to visit this island.
9. Aminidivi Islands
One of the most habited islands of Lakshadweep; Amindivi is a group of islands lying in the North Lakshadweep and is famous for its choir products. It is an ideal place for those seeking to experience the local culture and markets of Lakshadweep.
INFORMATION
- Due to government regulations, foreign tourists are not allowed to visit this island.
10. Lighthouse
Built in the late 19th century back in 1885 in the Minicoy Island is one of the oldest lighthouses in Lakshadweep. Standing tall at 300 feet, the view from the top is absolutely mesmerizing.
INFORMATION
- It is one of the must visit place if you are planning a trip to Minicoy Island. However, the foreign nationals are not allowed to visit this island.
Truly Lakshadweep is filled with such places and the best option to experience them is to visit the places in person. So why wait? Go ahead!
Source – 10tips.in