Travel to Lakshadweep

Lakshadweep Tourism

Lakshadweep travel guide enables the tourists to explore the magnificence and splendor of this grand island nestled amidst the Arabian Sea. With its turquoise blue waters, virgin beaches, and a wide range of water sports and marine attractions, Lakshadweep is one of the most popular tourist destinations of India.

The archipelago is located at a distance of 200 to 300 km from the coastline of the south Indian state of Kerala. Lakshadweep is the smallest union territory of India. The total land area covered by the archipelago of Lakshadweep is 32 sq. km.

The islands are located off the coast of south west India, near the state of Kerala. Anyone claiming to be a travel enthusiast should not miss the opportunity to pay a visit to the islands as it is here you can appreciate nature and its beauty in its purest forms.

Beaches

Lakshadweep is a land of beaches and corals. You can find long stretches of white and shining sands that will beckon you to have a sun bath. The enchanting beaches have a lot to offer for those who come here to relax and enjoy the sunset. It is a great place to be when you want to stay away from the crowd. The idle lagoons are great for spending time, watching the birds and the palms sway to the tune of the wind. The emerald green water is welcoming and a good swim in these waters is rejuvenating.

Water sports are another reason why you should be at the beach. Besides, take a look at those attractive corals that are lying all over the island. These attractive and colourful corals make the place distinctive. More Detail...

Cruise to Lakshadweep

Lakshadweep cruise is becoming quite popular these days. The cruises have luxurious amenities which makes the journey a wonderful and pleasurable trip. Before 1962, there wasn't any ship connecting to the islands and the mainland. The first ship to be introduced in 1962 was MV Sea Fox. Soon three more ships were introduced; the MV Amindivi (1974), MV Bharatseema and MV Tipu Sultan (1988).Soon after the MV Minicoy also joined in. Tourism is one of the main sources of income for these beautiful islands and cruises provided the people here with different opportunities. More Detail...

Best Time to visit

The weather in Lakshadweep remains pleasant throughout the year but the best time to visit the place is between October and April. The temperature doesn't usually exceed 30 degrees.

Food

Most of the food cooked in Lakshadweep takes inspiration from south Indian cuisine. Foods like Appam, Dosa, Idli are generally preferred for breakfast. Cabbage, Peera, Olan, Parippu curry, Plaintain Idimas are preffered food options for the lunch. Because of the island being ruled by Muslim rulers in its history one can also spot non-vegetarian delicacies like Kozhi Masala, Irachi Varuthathu and Chicken Curry among others.

How to Reach Lakshadweep

Lakshadweep is a group of small islands located around two to four hundred kilometer from the south-western coast of India. These islands are the smallest union territory of India and are separated from the Indian mainland by the Arabian Sea.

The islands are not very easily accessible, but the picturesque archipelago is a compelling destination. If you ever wondered how to reach Lakshadweep, don't worry the islands are connected with the mainland either by air or sea. Tourists visiting Lakshadweep islands need to obtain a permit to enter the islands.

By Air

The union territory has an airport in Agatti, which is regularly connected by flights from Kochi (Cochin) the capital of Kerala. Kochi (Cochin) is an international airport and also linked almost all main cities in India.

The Pawan Hans helicopter service is also provided to visit the islands. The flying time between Agatti and Kochi (Cochin) is only one hour and a half. From Agatti you can find helicopter services to reach Kavaratti (an important city in the region) round the year and Bangaram Island in the monsoons. More Detail...

By Sea

Traveling by ship is also a good option to reach Lakshadweep. A number of passenger ships operate from Kochi (Cochin) to Lakshadweep. The distance can be travelled in nearly 18 to 20 hours. The ships offer a range of accommodation and modern amenities. However, during the monsoons, the ship services remain closed.

The approximate cost of travelling to Lakshadweep from Kochi by ship is around 500 to 1000 Indian Rupees per head for the residents of India whereas it is around 2000 Indian Rupees for foreigners.

Shopping in Lakshadweep

Lakshadweep is not exactly a shopping destination. People visit the island not as much for shopping, as they do for spending an unhurried leisure time and for scuba diving which is a popular water sport.

If you are still keen on shopping here, taking back some souvenir to remind you of the great holiday you had, you can look for classic beach handicrafts made corals shells and oysters.

It is worth noting that there are not many shopping markets or large emporiums or plush malls for shopping in Lakshadweep. You can find an odd shop once in a while anywhere at the island or else you may also come across few local inhabitants with roadside stalls.

There are no famous shops for shopping in Lakshadweep as the island has a population of less than even a lakh people. It is not a very glamorous place for shopping but you can locate cute little gifts from shops spread throughout the island.

Things to shop for in Lakshadweep

• Artificial jewellery made of sea items
• Beautiful aquariums
• Canned fish biscuits
• Coconut shell curios
• Household items made up of tortoise shells
• Oysters

Travel Tips

• Make sure you have a proper plan in place while travelling to Lakshadweep Islands as a visit to the island requires an entry permit which takes at least two days to be processed.
• Getting an accommodation in the islands can be a task if you plan your visit in peak seasons. So, make sure you have arranged for a place to stay well in advance.
• Do not travel in the islands at night as they are largely uninhabited. You may get lost or encounter unwanted attention by burglars and thieves.

Places to Visit

• Kavaratti
• Kalpeni
• Agatti
• Kadmat
• Bangaram

Hotels

Visitors do not have a wide range of options to stay. However, there are some popular resorts and hotels in the island of Bangaram. You can find many beautiful cottages made out of natural materials and are eco-friendly. You can also stay in hotels that you will find in Kavaratti and other places. Government-run huts and hotels too are a good option if you want to stay here.

Resorts

Finding accommodation in the islands is not a problem at all. Due to the rise in the tourist footfalls every year, many new hotels and lodges are coming up. These hotels are being designed to cater to tourists with varied tastes and budgets.

The locations of most of the hotels in the union territory are very beautiful. The view of the greenery amidst the blue water of the ocean that you get from the hotel window explains the reason for the islands being considered a tourist's paradise. The hotel rooms are designed with style. The facilities provided vary according to the category of accommodation you are opting for. But the basic services are appreciable enough. There are different categories of accommodation available in the islands. You may choose that suits your taste and budget. There are many deluxe hotels for those who want to spend the holiday luxuriously. But various budget hotels and lodges are also there to cater to the need of those who want to want to with a fixed budget.