The charm of the Lakshadweep Islands is their remote pristine splendour; they attract no merrymakers to their shores. Or, perhaps, it is the beauty of the islands, densely covered with coconut palms, and threaded by an unbroken line of creamy sand, each island serenely set in a sea whose waters range from palest aquamarine and turquoise to deepest sapphire and lapis lazuli. Yet again, it may be that their unique charm lies in the fact that each island, a tiny principality in itself, has existed from time immemorial, with little influence from the outside world.
Whatever the reason for Lakshadweep’s magic, one fact is certain – it is the island paradise of your dreams. There is silence here, unbroken but for the cry of a seabird, or the sound of the waves lapping the shores. The water is so pristine one can see the myriad different fish among the corals. While snorkelling or deep sea diving, the waters come alive with amazing clarity and colour.
Tucked away in the Arabian Sea, off the coast of mainline India, the islands of Lakshadweep retain the culture and ethos of scant few places, still untouched by the madding crowd and the hurried pace of progress. When you visit these islands, take care to leave them untarnished.
Climate:
Climatic conditions are similar to that of Kerala coast. Average rainfall is 1600 mm a year with a major share received from the southwest monsoon. They experience a tropical climate with temperature ranging from 25 degrees C to 35 degrees C and humidity ranging from 70 -76 per cent for most of the year. March to May is the hottest period of the year.
Islands
Kavaratti
The administrative capital, Kavaratti is the most developed with the highest proportion of non-islanders residing. 52 mosques are spread all over, the most beautiful being the Ujra mosque. A well at this mosque is believed to contain water with curative powers. The mosque has an ornately carved ceiling, carved from a piece of driftwood. Kavaratti also has an aquarium displaying several species of fish. There are glass-bottomed boats for viewing marine life and an array of remarkable coral formations that provides a background to the lagoon. Water Sports like kayaking canoeing and snorkelling are available for tourists.
Kalpeni
Kalpeni has three uninhabited satellite islands, each surrounded by an immense lagoon of spectacular beauty. Sunlight on the water causes it to sparkle and flash like a million aquamarines. Koomel, the gently curving bay where the tourist facilities are located, directly overlooks Pitti and Thilakkam, two of the islands. Here you can swim, reef walk, snorkel or use water sports equipment like kayaks and sail boats. Tourist facilities have been augmented and tourists can stay in privately managed huts. The lagoon is especially rich in coral life.
Kadmat
A particularly fine lagoon, of even depth and an endless shoreline, perfect for swimming, makes Kadmat a haven of solitude. The tourist huts are situated away from the inhabited side of the island, with only the splash of the waves to break the silence. During the day, when the beat of the overhead sun becomes too strong, the feathery network of coconut palms provides a canopy through which light dimly filters green and cool. It is the only island with lagoons on both the eastern and western sides. A Water Sports Institute has been set up. Accommodation consists of AC and non-AC tourist huts aesthetically situated amidst coconut palm groves close to beach. The island is becoming increasingly popular with honeymooners. A Scuba Diving Centre has been set up and wonderful dives are possible.
Minicoy
Furthest from Kavaratti island, 200 km. away to the south and nearer to the Maldives, Minicoy displays a lighthouse built by the British in 1885. Visitors are allowed to the very top. The lagoon is one of the largest in Lakshadweep. The green of coconut trees and the mirror-like surface of an inland lake as it nestles in one corner of the island provide an immensely beautiful seascape. Minicoy possesses a culture very different from the other islands – in dress, language and food. There is a cluster of 10 villages, called Athiris, each presided over by a Moopan. A walk through the winding lanes of the villages can be culturally rewarding. Minicoy is renowned for its dance tradition: the lava dance is performed on festive occasions. There is a Tuna canning factory. Tourists can stay in privately managed cottages.
Agatti
This island is best known because of the only airport which is situated here. This island has become the gateway to Lakshadweep and has a beautiful lagoon. A 20 bed tourist complex has been set up here.
Bangaram
The island is open to foreign tourists and has an exotic tourist resort. Tear-drop shaped, it is encircled by a halo of creamy sand. Like the other islands luxuriant plantations of coconut provide coolness even during the hottest part of the day. There are three uninhabited islands in the same atoll consisting of Tinnakara, Parali-I, Parali-II. These are easily accessible by outboarding, sailing rowing and, for the adventurous, by kayaking or wind-surfing. All the islands share the same lagoon, an enormous bowl of turquoise blue. At twilight, the setting sun, a ball of crimson in a flaming sky, casts its reflection on the water and with the coconut palms as a black silhouette, Bangaram is simply alluring. The warm, clear, deep waters of the Indian Ocean are an irresistible invitation to the scuba diving fraternity. The exquisite coral formations include black coral formations. There is a large variety of coral fish-angel, clown, butterfly, surgeon, groupers, turtles, not to mention the abundance of adrenaline generating sharks, manta rays, sting rays and moray eels. Diving here is an addictive experience, and any diver will be proud to display the stamp of dives at Bangaram. The philosophy is to preserve marine life in its original state of purity, where coral and the shell and marine life are left undisturbed. The Bangaram Island Resort is fast becoming a “must do” among the island hoppers of the world.
