Lakshadweep travel guide – Lakshadweep Sightseeing
About 200 kilometer from the coast of Kerala is a beautiful group of islands called Lakshadweep which is located to the south west of India in the Arabian Sea. At the time of British rule in India, these islands were called Laccadive Islands. Almost ten islands in Lakshadweep are still inhabited making it an untamed beauty of Mother Nature.
Lakshadweep is derived from a Sanskrit word, that is, Lakshadweepa (Laksha meaning è One Hundred Thousand) (dweepa meaning è Islands). This is one the smallest union territories of India with 84 percent of community speaking Malayalam. There are some people from the southern part of the island that address in Mahl.
The island also consists of atolls, reefs and submerged banks. Here people can enjoy lush green vegetation, clean and pristine sand beaches, water sports, marine life and authentic Indian cuisine. This makes Lakshadweep a highly opted holiday destination for the vacationers coming from different parts of the world.
Lakshadweep Climate
Lakshadweep experiences both warm and pleasant climate with tropical humidity. The island receives rain from the southwest monsoon during the month of May to October. Summers in are a bit warm and stuffy due to humidity. The temperature reaches up to 35 degree Celsius during peak summer season, that is, in the month of April and May, but nights become cool due to the breezes from the Arabian Sea. Wind speed is usually moderate, but in the end of summers, the wind gains power and during monsoons, the island experiences strong winds.
Places of Interest
Lakshadweep is one of the most opted holiday destinations in India which is even known as coral paradise. The corals grown on the sub marine mountains have made some part of the island as inhabitable reefs, sand banks and atolls. This beautiful formation of corals and the sandy beach makes the island a real treat to watch, thereby adding more to the natural beauty and the tranquilized atmosphere. The lush green vegetation mainly includes the coconut trees and so cultivation of coconut has become the main occupation for the people which acts as the cash crop for the island.
Along the coast, there is beautiful marine life along with vibrant colors of coral that are a real treat to watch. Some of the common fishes found on the coast include Tuna, Barracuda, Wahoo, Moray eels and lots more. The slow moving marine life found in the coral reefs includes crabs, sea cucumber, dolphin and turtles. Lakshadweep is a collection of islands out of which a few islands are inhabitable. The main islands of Lakshadweep are Bangaram islands and Agatti Islands which is a perfect tourist spot and here people can also enjoy scuba diving.
- Bangaram Island: Bangaram Islands, known as the jewel of Lakshadweep is an uninhabitable island. The spectacular view of the coral reef, pristine sand of clean beaches and lush green coconut tress makes the island a spectacular and a perfect holiday destination. It incorporates three uninhabited islands namely Parali-I, Parali-II and Tinnakara. These islands filled with sparkling coral, clear water is a paradise for scuba diving. One can swim in these beaches and have a glimpse of great marine life which includes clown, angel, harmless sharks and crabs. There are various beach resorts along the coast line that offer some great water sports like Kayaking, deep sea fishing and scuba diving.
- Agatti Island: Agatti Island is the gateway to Lakshadweep and is the only place that incorporates an airport. The water around the beaches of Agatti Island is full of reefs and marine animals making it an ideal location for fishing and scuba diving. The island is also famous for water sports like snorkeling, water skiing, deep water fishing and island hopping.
- Kadmat Island : Kadmat, with an area of 8 km, is one of the largest islands which you can enjoy during your Lakshadweep tourism. The flora and fauna of the island is amazing. The beaches offer umpteen opportunity to sunbathe and enjoy watersports. Kadmat is a also a heaven for those looking for peace amidst natural beauty. Honeymooning is another great option in Kadmat, where the thick leaves of coconut Palms form a natural canopy over the whole area.
Things to do
Lakshadweep also known as paradise on earth has a lot to offer to its visitors. Here vacationers come from different parts of the world and take back some memorable moments spent with the family members and friends. People can enjoy spending leisure time on the immaculate sand of the marvelous beaches and can come across the untouched beauty of nature. The wide range of marine life, coral and reefs make the beach and surrounding water an ideal place for scuba diving and snorkeling. The resorts of the island host numerous adventure activities like deep water fishing, night stay on a floating boat in the open sea and many other things that can surely enhance the experience of holidaying at this great place.
Watersports in Lakshadweep
The endless stretch of golden sands that pave way for the frivolous sea waves, unending stretches of blue lagoons and coral reefs prying out from the Arabian sea play the perfect role in inviting the tourists for some bone chilling water sports in Lakshadweep. Swimming and diving along with snorkelling and scuba diving are apt to explore the underwater world. The adventure options like water scooters and para sailing has also rendered Lakshadweep become a famous water sports destination in India. Various institutes offering facilities for Kayaking, canoeing, yachting, snorkeling, wind surfing, water skiing and cruising have been set up by the tourist department on Kadmat Island.
Transport and accommodation
Lakshadweep is well connected by both water and air. Here, only Agatti Island includes an airport where domestic flights ply regularly between Kochi (Formerly known as Cochin) and Agatti. The flight duration is about one and a half hours and people can even choose to go by water. There are several passenger carriers that ply between Lakshadweep and Kochi and they also include accommodation for all class of people equipped with modern amenities. It takes approximately 18 to 20 days to reach Lakshadweep by ship. The travel schedules of these carrier vessels vary accordingly due to bad weather in the sea.
Lakshadweep being one of the most preferred holiday destinations has a wide range of accommodation options from where people can easily opt for something that can suit their individual preferences and budget. Some of main resorts and hotels of this Island include Bangaram Island Resort, Agatti Island Beach Resort and Kadmat Beach Resort to name a few.
