Lakshadweep

HOME > India > Lakshadweep

Shopping at Natural Nirvana

Art & Posters

Ayurvedic Medicine

Bags, Belts, Hats & Wallets

Beads

Buttons, Patches

Books

Children and Babies

Clothing

Vegan Cosmetics

DVDs & Videos

Vegan & Raw Food

Footwear

Bath Body, Mouth, Hair

Herbal Remedies

Jewelry

Music

Outdoor & Pets

Incense & Oil

Spiritual & Worship

Stickers, Cards, Calendars

Worship & Yantras

Lakshadweep

Pop: 53,000
These palm-tree covered, coral islands have beautiful lagoons and are an attractive and peaceful place. xe "Lakshadweep"Lakshadweep consists of 36 islands located between 200km and 300km off the Kerala coast. These islands are coral islands, northern extension of the Maldives. Ten of the islands are inhabited: Andrott, Amini, Agatti, Bitra, Chetlat, Kadmat, Kalpeni, Kavaratti (headquarters), Kiltan, and Minicoy.

Lakshadweep is a Union Territory of India. At the present time, foreign tourists must stay at the Bangaram Island Resort managed by the Casino Hotel group, on the island of Bangaram, a 6km by 10km island.

Malayalam is the language spoken on the islands except for the island of Minicoy, where the people speak Mahi, the language spoken in the Maldives. 93% of the population is Muslim belonging to the Shafi School of the Sunni sect. The main source of income is fishing and the production of coir.

History
It is said that a marabout (a Muslim saint) was shipwrecked on the island of Amini in the 7th century. After much effort he was able to convert the residents of the island to become Muslims. He was buried on the island of Andrott and his grave is considered to be a holy site. At that time the Hindu Raja of Chitakkal ruled these islands. In the 16th century, Lakshadweep came under the rule of the Muslim rulers of Kannur, and in 1783 Tipu Sultan. After the British defeated Tipu in 1799, the islands came under the control of the East India Company. It was made a Union Territory in 1956.

Information
Foreign tourist must have a permit to visit. The Casino Hotel (0484 668-221; fax 668-001), Willingdon Island, Kochi, can arrange for a permit within a few days. Bangaram has excellent beaches and beautiful lagoons. It also has outstanding coral formations that many beautiful exotic fish swim around.

Foreign tourists can visit three other, smaller islands on day trips: Parali–1, Parali–2, and Thinnakara.

Indian nationals can visit the islands by boat cruise arranged through the Casino Hotel in Kochi. Indian tourists can also visit the islands of Kadmat, Kavaratii, Minicoy, Kalpeni, and Androth as part of a package tour.

There are Lakshadweep offices in Delhi and Kochi. Trips to Lakshadweep are organized by the Society for Promotion of Recreational Tourism (SPORTS). Their office in Kochi is (0484 668-387; fax 0484 668-155), Lakshadweep Office, Indira Gandhi Rd, Willingdon Island, Kochi 682-003; and in Delhi: Lakshadweep Office, 306 Curzon Rd, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi 110001 (011 338-6807).

Some travel agencies who organize trips to Lakshadweep are Sita Travels (331-1133; fax 332-4652), 12 Connaught Place, Delhi; Raj Travels (361-8639; fax 361-4572), Opera House, M Parmanand Marg, Mumbai; Lakshadweep Foundation (21969), Lighthouse Hill, Mangalore; and Mercury (852-0988), 191 Anna Salai, Chennai.

Where to Stay and Eat
The 30-room Bangaram Island Resort is the only place where foreigners are permitted to stay. From mid-December to mid-June, rooms (including meals) go for $240/250. During the low season, rooms are $150/200. Sailboats, catamarans, and kayaks are included in the price. Scuba diving ($50 per dive), snorkeling, and boat trips are extra. To stay here, contact the Manager, Bangaram Island Resort, Casino Hotel (0484 666-821; fax 0484 668-001), Willingdon Island, Kochi 682003.
Indian tourists on a boat cruise to the islands usually stay on their boats. There are cottages on the islands of Kadmat, Kavaratti, Minicoy, and Kalpeni. Places to stay are usually included in the price of a package tour.

Travel
Air Indian Airlines has flights from Kochi to Agatti (3 weekly, $150). From Agatti to the resort costs $30 by boat and $89 by helicopter.
Boat Tours by luxury ship to the islands are organized through SPORTS (see above). Different 5 or 6-day tours costs between Rs 5000 and Rs 7500. Only Indian nationals can take these tours. Boats usually depart from Kochi and take around 25 hours to get to the islands.

If you know of a informationthat is not correct or if you would like to help update our listings, please e-mail us at:

Vegetarian Fast Food Options

World Vegetarian Restaurants Guide

Our own Vegetarian, Vegan, Alternative & Spiritual Sales Shop

Buy Spiritual India, A Practical Guide

Amazon Honor System

Please Help Support This Site and buy our own USA Vegetarian Restaurants Book

Please check out our Natural Nirvana Store, which we started to help pay for the maintenance of this Website. Natural Nirvana is dedicated to selling vegetarian, spiritual and alternative products. We sell only animal-friendly and cruelty-free clothing, gifts, health foods, books and beauty products.