Thinking of an island vacation this year? India has stunning islands for luxurious beach holidays. Lakshadweep is one such island that is gaining tourism prominence. The islands are untouched, with turquoise sea water, coral reefs, sea grass, marine turtles and white beaches. Lakshadweep is a group of 36 islands of which Indians are allowed access to 10 and foreigners are allowed access to three of them. The rest of the islands are uninhabited.
Also, the smallest union territory in India was categorically mentioned in the finance minister’s Interim Budget 2024 speech on February 1, 2024. “To address the emerging fervor for domestic tourism, projects for port connectivity, tourism infrastructure and amenities will be taken up on our islands including Lakshadweep,” said union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
On these lines, the government will make significant investments in the tourism sector. Among other places, Lakshadweep will get undivided attention from the government to improve its tourist infrastructure.
Recall that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited the island on January 2, 2024. He posted on X (previously twitter)
Recently, I had the opportunity to be among the people of Lakshadweep. I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. I had the opportunity to interact with people in Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti. I thank the people of the… pic.twitter.com/tYW5Cvgi8N
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 4, 2024
See also: Best Lakshadweep resorts to stay in
What is the best time to visit Lakshadweep?
The best time to visit Lakshadweep is between October and May. The season is dry, which is ideal for beach activities, such as island hopping, snorkelling and diving.
Applying permit for Lakshadweep
You can apply for permit by visiting https://epermit.utl.gov.in/ . Download the clearance certificate from this website and get it cleared from your local police station. Documents to provide for will include Aadhaar Card and three passport photos and give to authorities.
Alternatively, you can apply for clearance certificate online by choosing new permit under the permit section of the e-permit website, attach the documents and pay the entry fees once done with the process. You can download your permit 15 days before you travel to the island. You have to submit this e-permit to the station house officer, Lakshadweep on reaching the island.
See also: EaseMyTrip co-founder Rikant Pittie buys Rs 99.34 cr Gurgaon property
How to reach Lakshadweep?
Kochi is the gateway to Lakshadweep Island through ships and flights.
By flight: You can take an Indian Airlines flight from Kochi Airport to Agatti and Bangaram Islands.
By ship: According to the Lakshadweep government website, there are seven passenger ships – MV Kavaratti, MV Arabian Sea, MV Lakshadweep Sea, MV Lagoon, MV Corals, MV Amindivi and MV Minicoy – that operate between Cochin and Lakshadweep islands.
Top 10 places to visit in Lakshadweep
Check out the top places to visit to make your vacation memorable.
Agatti Island
A beautiful lagoon in Lakshadweep, Agatti Island has the Lakshwadeep Airport. Indian Airlines operate flights to Agatti from Kochi, connecting other islands in Lakshadweep with the Indian mainland.
Suheli Par island/ Cheriyakara island
This is located near the Agatti Island and is an oval-shaped atoll that is 17 km. This island is surrounded by rich marine fauna. It is 76 km to the south of Agatti. The Lagoon area is 87.76 sqkm.
To boost tourism, the Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) under the Tata Group will build a Taj-branded resort on the islands of Suheli. This will have 110 rooms, 60 villa and 50 water villas.
Thinnakara Island
This island is around 40 minutes by boat from Agatti. This lagoon is known for water and adventure sports.
Bangaram Atoll
The Bangaram Atoll is the largest island in Lakshadweep. In the centre of the island, there is a long brackish pond, fringed by screw pine and coconut palms. It is around 7 km from Agatti Island. The Bangaram Atoll is around 400 km from Kochi.
Minicoy Island
Known as Maliku, this island is located around 425 km from Trivandrum, Kerala. This is located on Maliku Atoll, the southernmost atoll of the Lakshadweep archipelago. This is the second largest island in Lakshadweep and is made up of 11 villages. There is no entry fee for this island.
Kadmat Island
This island has vibrant marine life and is famous for scuba diving, snorkelling, kayaking and deep sea diving (under guidance). Kadmat Island is also called Cardamom Island. The island is a marine protected area with coral reefs, seagrass and marine turtles. The island is around 407 km from Kochi, Kerala.
A Taj branded resort is also being constructed in Kadmat islands. The hotel will be open for public from 2026. The Taj at Kadmat will have 110 rooms, 75 villas and 35 water villas.
Kavaratti Island
Census town Kavaratti is known for its pristine white sand beaches and calm lagoons. The island is around 332 km from Kannur and 404 km from Kochi. The island is green and one can go on nature walks and stroll on the beach.
Pitti Island
Also known as Pakshipitti, this island is known for bird spotting. An uninhabited island, one can reach here from other islands. The island is an important nesting place for pelagic birds, such as the sooty tern, the greater crested tern and the brown noddy.
Kalpeni Island
The island is popular for its clear waters and cuisine. It is a single coral atoll along with the uninhabited islands of Cheriyam, Tilakkam, Kodithala and Pitti islet. This place does not offer permits to foreign tourists. Thus, it feels like a private island with not too many people around. It is around 287 km from Kochi.
Andrott Island
Andrott Island is the nearest to the mainland of all the islands in the group. It has a lagoon area of 6.6 sq. km. and is 293 km from Kochi. The island is home to many Buddhist archaeological remains.
Housing.com POV
India is the land of many islands that showcase beauty like none other. With the beautiful combination of sea, sun and sand, Lakshadweep Islands is a much recommended destination in your travel bucket list. Reaching here is easy, and stay and sightseeing too, which is further developed with many investments that the place has seen in recent times.
FAQs
Which month is best for Lakshadweep?
The best time to visit Lakshadweep is October to May.
How many days sufficient for Lakshadweep?
A trip of around a week or 10 days is sufficient for Lakshadweep.
How much does Lakshadweep trip cost?
The Lakshadweep trip cost depends on the number of days, the place you stay and the activities that you do in the island. Approximately a trip to the island for a week will be around Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 excluding the flight tickets.
Which climate is best for Lakshadweep?
Winter and early summer is the best climate to visit Lakshadweep.
Do we need permission to go to Lakshadweep?
Entry permit to visit Lakshadweep is mandatory for all Indian and foreign tourists.
Which language is spoken in Lakshadweep?
Malayalam, Hindi and old Sinhalese are the languages spoken in Lakshadweep.
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With 16+ years of experience in various sectors, of which more than ten years in real estate, Anuradha Ramamirtham excels in tracking property trends and simplifying housing-related topics such as Rera, housing lottery, etc. Her diverse background includes roles at Times Property, Tech Target India, Indiantelevision.com and ITNation. Anuradha holds a PG Diploma degree in Journalism from KC College and has done BSc (IT) from SIES. In her leisure time, she enjoys singing and travelling.
Email: anuradha.ramamirtham@housing.com
