India Tours & Travel Packages

Tourism in States & Cities of India

Off the coast of Kerala, scattered in the Arabian Sea, are the Laccadive Islands, also known as Lakshadweep. Like the Andaman's they form part of the Union Territories of India. The historical record shows that around the 7th century a Muslim saint was shipwrecked on the island of Ameni. The inhabitants were converted to Islam despite initial opposition. Although the sovereignty remained in the hands of the Hindu Raja of Chirakkal, it eventually passed to the Ali Raja of Cannanore  in the 16th century - the only Muslim royal family of Kerala, and later in 1783 to Tipu Sultan. After the defeat of Tipu Sultan at the battle of Srirangapatnam in 1799 to the British, the Lakshadweep were annexed by the East India Company. The islands form the smallest of Indian Union Territories and was constituted in 1956. Of the 36 islands covering a land area of 32 sq. km, only ten are inhabited. They are, in descending order of size, Minicoy, Androth, Kavaratti, Kadmat, Agathy, Ameni, Kalpeni, Kiltan, Cheflat and Bitral. The total population amounts to about 40,000. Most of the inhabitants are Muslims who speak Malayalam. Copra production from coconuts is the core of the economy on the inhabited islands. In all, the archipelago offers good facilities for cruising in the crystal-clear water of the lagoons, watching numerous varieties offish from glass-bottom boats, and bathing on still lonely beaches with white sand. During the monsoon the islands tend to get cut off from the mainland. Four of the islands, Kavaratti, Kalpeni, Kadmat and Minicoy, Bangaram is open for tourists.

Sightseeing Places

There are about 10 islands which are open for tourists. Lakshadweep offers sightseeing of beach including Agatti – which has one of the most beautiful lagoons in Lakshadweep. Bangaram - Tear-drop shaped, this island is encircled by a continuous halo of creamy sand. Kavaratti - is the most developed of the islands with the highest percentage of non-islanders as residents. Kalpeni - has three uninhabited satellite islands, all surrounded by an immense lagoon of spectacular beauty.

Tours

Visit to Kadhmath is must, Kadhmath is the only island with lagoons on both eastern and western sides. Minicoy Island which is 200 kms away to the South and is near to the Maldives. This Island has a cluster of 10 villages.