Lakshadweep

Adorning the south-western coast of India, lies the spectacular coral island chain of Lakshadweep. These 36 islands, scattered in the Arabian Sea, boast some of the most beautiful beaches in India, crystal-blue waters and stunning coral reefs. Far from civilization, these relatively untouched islands attract tourists from all over the world. The places to visit in Lakshadweep include the islands of Agatti, Bangaram, Kavaratti, Andretti, Kadmat, Kalpeni and Minicoy. Kavaratti, the capital of Lakshadweep Island, is one of the best places to visit in Lakshadweep. Kavaratti Lakshadweep is an ideal spot for beach lovers. Besides enjoying the natural beauty of places to visit in Lakshadweep, tourists can indulge in several water sports and adventure activities especially scuba diving, snorkelling and kayaking.

Lakshadweep Overview

When to Visit Lakshadweep?

Lakshadweep enjoys pleasant weather all round the year. Winter (Oct to March) is the best time to visit Lakshadweep as the weather is perfect for sightseeing. Tourists can plan a visit to Lakshadweep during the summer months (March to May) as well. During these months it is easy to explore all the places to visit in Lakshadweep.

How to Reach Lakshadweep?

Located on the shore of Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep is accessible only by water and air transport. To experience the untouched beauty of the places to visit in Lakshadweep, you can embark on an adventurous ship journey from Kochi to Lakshadweep. It takes about 14-20 hours to reach Lakshadweep. If you want to travel by air, then you must book a flight ticket from Kochi to Agatti airport, the only airport in Lakshadweep Island. From Agatti Island, you can visit Minicoy Island, Kalpeni Island and other islands by boat. You can also enjoy a helicopter ride from Agatti to Kavaratti Island that will drop you at the capital from where you can easily access all the places to visit in Lakshadweep.

What are the things to see & do in Lakshadweep?

The beautiful beaches and spectacular underwater flora and fauna of Lakshadweep bring forth a host of exciting activities for travellers. The places to visit in Lakshadweep are a perfect destination for snorkelling, scuba diving and undersea walking. Adventure lovers can indulge in kayaking, canoeing, jet-skiing, kitesurfing and parasailing. You can also go island hopping by boat and enjoy the natural beauty of all the islands. Agatti and Bangaram Islands rank high among places to visit in Lakshadweep as these are the few places in India where you can go dolphin watching.

Places to visit in Lakshadweep

Minicoy Island- One of the most prominent places to visit in Lakshadweep, this island is the central hub that connects you to its sister islands. It lies on the southwest side of the group of islands and is adorned with many attractions. It is known for its white sandy beaches and lighthouse. The 300 feet lighthouse, built by the British in 1885, is a prominent landmark. If you visit this island during special festivals, you will be able to witness their traditional dance“Lava” and colourful race boats called “Jahadhoni”.

Kadmat Island- Low population and rich marine life make this island more attractive than other places to visit in Lakshadweep. It is a perfect getaway for people who are in search of serenity. The blue lagoon, sun-kissed beaches and colourful coral reefs add to the beauty of this island. Kadmat village is the only inhabited hamlet on this island and is a popular nesting spot for marine turtles. Local seafood is something to savour and relish here. This Lakshadweep beach is also known as Cardamom Island. It is also one of the best places to visit in Lakshadweep for water sports and underwater activities.

Marine Museum- Located in Kavaratti, Marine Museum is one of the most unique places to visit in Lakshadweep. It is home to a variety of marine-related artefacts. With an aim to promote marine products and their preservation, this place provides a lot of information about marine life. It also houses an aquarium with several rare species of fishes and other sea creatures. If you are curious to know about marine creatures, then this is one of the best places to visit in Lakshadweep. The tickets are nominally priced at INR 15 only.

Bangaram Atoll- Bangaram Island is famous for its breathtaking sunrise and sunset. Pristine sand beaches, calm lagoons and coral reefs are the main attractions here. This Lakshadweep beach glows at night due to the presence of algae which emits light at night. This phenomenon is called bioluminescence. Walking on the glowing Bangaram beach at night is a surreal experience. Among all the places to visit in Lakshadweep, Bangaram is the only island in Lakshadweep where the sale and consumption of alcohol are permitted.

Andretti Island Andretti is another jewel among places to visit in Lakshadweep. It is the largest among all the islands in Lakshadweep and also the closest island from the Indian mainland. Things to see at Andretti Island include Buddhist archaeological remains and the tomb of Saint Hazrat Ubaidullah.

Food to try in Lakshadweep

The influence of Kerala is clearly visible in Lakshadweep food, culture and tradition. In all the places to visit in Lakshadweep, Malabar cuisine dominates the kitchen of every household. You will find a dash of coconut oil and curry leaves in most of the dishes. Rice is the staple food and is accompanied by a variety of seafood. Kilanji is a dish prepared from rice and eggs and is popular during weddings. Mus Kavaab is a typical Minicoy dish that is prepared using tuna fish. Octopus Fry is a dish that is rare and only eaten in Lakshadweep. If you like to experiment with seafood, then this is a must-try. Maas Podichathu, Batla Appam, Aviyal, Biriyani etc. are the other dishes that are easily available in most of the places to visit in Lakshadweep.

Things to Buy in Lakshadweep

Places to visit in Lakshadweep are laced with street shops and local markets. You will find a huge variety of things to buy in Lakshadweep. Most places to visit in Lakshadweep offer beach handicrafts, coral shells and oysters, seashell artefacts, coconut shell curios etc. that can be gifted to friends or kept as a memento. The roadside shops sell armlets, bracelets, spoons, forks made of conch shells or ashtrays, buttons and table lamps made of tortoise shells. If you are a fish lover, then you can pick tinned tuna or curried canned fish from the huge variety of packaged food available here.

Get ready for an amazing beach vacation at Lakshadweep. You will love pleasant sea breeze and the soothing sunny mornings on the beach. If relaxation is what you're after, head to Lakshadweep.

Here are a few quick facts to make your travel safe and easy to Lakshadweep. Lakshadweep is a Beach destination. The best time to visit Lakshadweep is October, November, December, January and February. Since this is the peak season expect a little crowd during this time. March, April and May period experiences moderate weather. So, you can easily avoid facing a large gathering.

In peak season the weather is comfortable weather with the temperature not rising above 30C, whereas in off-season the weather is heavy rainfalls and difficulty in transportation across islands. Weather in moderate season is summer heat and the temperature rising upto 32C. During Eid al-Fitr, Muharram, a large number of tourists flock together. The festivals are celebrated in the month of May, September,... consecutively. So, if you are fond of bustling streets and localities, choose this time of the year to travel.

If your travel seems incomplete without getting into some fun activities then you will love to get indulged in pleasant sea breeze and the soothing sunny mornings on the beach. In moderate season you will love to get indulged in cool shade of the canopying palm trees and clear blue skies.

Conclusion

Though these gorgeous group of islands appear as tiny dots in the Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep is a treasure trove of abundant natural beauty and adventure places. The places to visit in Lakshadweep offer some of the most unique adventures in India. Soak in the cerulean waters of the places to visit in Lakshadweep and treat yourself to some surreal underwater experiences. Make sure to plan your itinerary to have enough time for all the places to visit in Lakshadweep as each place is worth visiting. Book your trip to Lakshadweep and get set for a memorable vacation.