Glass bottomed boats

The glass bottomed boats are one of the main attractions in Lakshadweep especially in the lagoons in Agatti. It is an amazing experience to ride on a glass bottomed boat where one can see beautiful and vibrant fishes swimming underneath their feet. The rich marine life of Lakshadweep cannot be enjoyed without the transparent world beneath. It helps people who cannot engage in water sports like Scuba diving and snorkeling yet still sit and enjoy the marine life. Lakshadweep is a pioneer in providing innovative tourism attractions and today glass bottomed boats are one such attraction which has fascinated the young and old alike.

Lakshadweep is reached by air from Cochin. Agatti is the only place in the group of island where there is an airport. There are several hotels and resorts in Agati for tourists to enjoy their Lakshadweep vacation.

 

Minicoy Island

Minicoy Island is one of the most popular islands in Lakshadweep. It was the former capital of the group of islands. This island was part of Maldives from 1652 AD to 1753 AD. Minicoy is the second largest island in Lakshadweep. Almost the majority of the island is covered by coconut trees and the most significant landmark of Minicoy Island is the huge lighthouse.

On the southern part of the main island lies a tiny strip of island which is popularly called the “Small pox Island” where in olden days lepers and those infected by small pox where banished. The nearest island to Minicoy is the Thuraakunu Island which is part of Maldives. Since 1956, the traveling between both the islands is prohibited. The beaches in Minicoy are mind blowing. It is the best place for spending peaceful vacation.

The nearest airport is in Agatti which has regular flights from Cochin and from Agatti there are regular ferries to Minicoy. There are plenty of beach resorts in Agatti and Mincoy.

 

Back to the past

The early history of Lakshadweep is lost in time. There are no written records available today. According to the local legends the first settlers came to Lakshadweep during the reign of Cheraman Perumal the last king of Chera Kingdom, (Kerala). The next phase of written history states that the natives where converted to Islam by the Arab merchants. There are several legends and stories behind the way the whole island got converted to Islam. Even though the entire group of islands where converted to Islam, it was ruled by Hindu Kings of Chirakkal. Later the authority was handed over to the Muslim house of Arakkal. The despotic, corrupt and harsh rule was unbearable for the natives. The unpleasant people asked Tipu Sultan of Mysore for help and hence the majority of islands came under Tipu Sultan.

History says the arrival of the Portuguese made Lakshdweep famous in the world map, but again island became victim of Portuguese looting and they where forced to fight against the invaders. The entire Portuguese invaders where poisoned to death by the native settlers. The island has faced several historic events, both good and bad but today Lakshadweep is one of the most important tourist destinations in India. Agati island have connection flights from Kochi, and accessible by sea. The island also offers world classhotels and resortsfor tourists.

 

Underwater photography in Lakshadweep

Lakshadweep is one of the best places in the entire country where there is good scope for underwater photography. One can take breath taking pictures of turquoise Blue Ocean and the marine life. It is a marvellous sight to watch schools of fishes swimming against the backdrop of sunlight penetrating the ocean. People from different parts of the country and beyond come to take breathtaking snaps of the rich aquatic life of Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.

Apart from Lakshadweep, the other places where underwater photography is taken in India are in Andaman and Nicobar Island and Daman and Diu. The Lakshadweep Tourism board encourage the tourists the opportunity to capture the beauty under the crystal blue sea. Scuba diving is very popular in Lakshadweep. The coral reeves in Lakshadweep are worth watching. Never miss a chance to live a moment worth remembering. Agatti airport is the first stop for air travellers. Agati have connecting flights from Kochi. The islands can also be reached by sea from Kochi. There are plenty of resorts and hotels to stay in Lakshadweep.

 

Lakshadweep – Paradise in blue

Lakshadweep is a group of islands located 300 km from Kerala in the Laccadive Sea. It literally means a hundred thousand islands in the native language. The trip to Lakshadweep is a great experience in itself. The crystal clear blue water, smooth flowing waves, beautiful and abundant aqua marine, coconut trees and mild breeze makes Lakshadweep the best place to spend the vacation.

The beautiful corals and fishes are clearly visible above the water. Exploring the beauty and culture of Lakshadweep is both entertaining and an education. The Lakshadweep Tourism promotes adventure and leisure tourism. The main activities on the islands are Scuba Diving, Para sailing, Boat Trip within Lagoon, Kayaking, and Snorkeling.

Unlike other destinations, special permits are required to enter Lakshadweep. This step is taken by the government considering the preservation of ecosystem. Only a certain number of tourists are allowed per year. The islands can be reached by air or by water from Kochi. This is a place where one wishes to be cast away forever.

 

Bangaram – Island beautiful

Lakshadweep is a cluster of islands a few hours flight away off the coast of Kerala. In this paradise, there are many lovely destinations. But one of the real gems here is the island of Bangaram.

Utterly beautiful, there are miles of soft, sandy beaches here. A tourist’s haven, it’s not just peace and quiet that people come here for. A wide variety of water sports like scuba diving, snorkelling and deep sea diving are part of the adventure tourist’s list of to-dos here.

There are luxury resorts here that pamper to the discerning holidayer. For the gourmet, the best of seafood is available at all times of the day. All in all, if you want a great holiday by the sea, look no further than Bangaram. Of course, it would be worthwhile to give yourself a week to explore the other pretty islands in Lakshadweep.

 

Island Territories – Prominence to Fishery & Tourism

Lakshadweep island territories in India are developing fisheries and tourism to provide livelihood to its inhabitants.

Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) is preparing a project report for development of fishery infrastructure in the island territory. Plans are also afoot for creation of more fish landing centers, introduction of bigger and modern vessels and setting up of cold storage facilities in and around Port Blair for exports.

The group of islands located in the Arabian Sea has annual fish landing at about 11,000 tons which would be doubled in due course of time. The island administration has taken up the ambitious projects like introduction of Mother vessel for collection from subsidiary vessels, cleaning and processing of fish in the ship. According to Lakshadweep administrator, BV Selvaraj, this would be the first of its kind in the country.

Lakshadweep has launched animal husbandry projects and has anticipated achieving 100% self-sufficiency in poultry meat and eggs.

 

Island Atolls and Reefs

An atoll is an island of coral that encircles a lagoon partially or completely. A reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water.

Lakshadweep officially consists of 12 atolls, 3 reefs and 5 submerged banks, with a total of about 36 islands and islets. All the reefs of Lakshadweep are atolls, although mostly submerged, with only small region unfit for vegetation. The submerged banks are sunken atolls.

The main islands are Kavaratti (where the capital city, Kavaratti, is located), Agatti, Minicoy, and Amini. Agatti has an airport where there are direct flights from Kochi, Kerala or Ernakulam (Cochin). Tourists need a permit to visit the islands; foreign nationals are not permitted to visit certain islands. Consumption of alcohol is not permitted in the islands except on Bangaram Island.

 

Agriculture & Economy

Lakshadweep is India’s largest producer of coconuts. The coconut cultivation is done on 2,598 hectares for which the productivity per hectare is 22,310. Oil rich coconuts are also cultivated in the Lakshadweep.

Coconut fibre extraction and production of fibre products is Lakshadweep’s main industry. There are five coir fibre factories, five production cum demonstration centers and seven fibre curling units run by the Government of India. These units produce coir fibre, coir yarn, curled fibre and corridor mattings.

Due to its isolation and scenic appeal, Lakshadweep is emerging as a major tourist attraction for Indians. This brings in significant revenue, which is likely to increase. Since such a small region cannot support industries, the government is actively promoting tourism as a means of income.

 

Androth Island – Popular tourist hub of Lakshadweep

It is the most populous place in Lakshadweep. It has a rich historical legacy of the bygone golden era. It has a distinct natural and scenic beauty. The ancestry of Lakshsadweep attracts tourists to the beautiful island of Androth that has been the cradle of many civilizations of the ancient times.

The architectural monuments of the Androth island is an evidence to the rich engineering skills and creativity in olden times. The designs of the famous Jumaat Mosque of the island, houses the tomb of the divine Saint Ubaidullah.