Lakshadweep (Union Territory, Category : Adventure, Beaches)

Around 350 km off the Kerala coast lies the most beautiful coral necklace in the Arabian Sea. The set of 36 islands is allied to the Republic of India and at a total area of 32 sq km is her smallest union territory. 51,000 people inhabit only 10 of the islands. The economy survives on fishing and coir making. Only 5 of the islands are open for tourism and only 2 of these are open to non-Indian tourists.

There’s a range of things to do. Swim with the locals: turtles, dolphins, eagle ray and stay away from the bad crowd: sharks, octopus, barracuda! Snorkel in the reef through colonies of fish. Surf the aqua marine waters, romp the white sands.

Special Permits for Lakshadweep: A trip to Lakshadweep requires a tourist permit from all. This can be arranged at the Lakshadweep Tourist Office in Cochin (Kochi) or the resort you are staying with.

Getting to Lakshadweep

By Air The usual way to get to Lakshadweep is to fly from Cochin (Kochi) in Kerala to Agatti Island. The airport takes Donears and helicopters, which allows only up to 10 kg baggage weight per person.

Air Fare (Kochi - Agatti – Kochi): No Advance Purchase Fares

INR - Rs. 6480 per person – Oneway

USD: USD 182.5 per person – Oneway

Flight Timings (Small Aircraft – Baggage Restrictions Apply)

Origin / Destination / Flight No. / Aircraft / Days of / Departure / Arrival
Type / operation / Time / Time
Cochin (Kochi) / Agatti / IC-0502 / 228 / All days
except Sunday / 0915 / 1050
Agatti / Cochin(Kochi) / IC-0501 / 228 / 1115 / 1250


By Sea The govt tourist dept has the acronym SPORTS: Society for Promotion Of Recreational Tourism and Sports. It operates cruises from Cochin to all the islands that are open to tourists.

Tariffs (2005-2006)

CATEGORY - C
(Tourists) /
M.V.TIPU SULTAN /
M.V.BHARAT SEEMA / T.SULTAN
B.SEEMA
D.SETU / AMINDIVI/
MINICOY
(food charges etc.)
FROM / TO / DISTANCE
IN
N.MILES / OWNERS
CABIN
RS. / FIRST
CLASS
RS. / SECOND
CLASS
RS. / TOURIST
CHAIR
RS. / OWNERS
CABIN
RS. / MODIFIED
OWNERS
CABIN.RS. / 2 BERTH
CABIN
RS. / 4 BERTH
CABIN
RS. / DECK
RS. / CHAIR
KOCHI / AGATTI / 250 / 3580 / 1690 / 490 / 600 / 3430 / 1850 / 490 / 440 / 180 / 570

ISLANDS Of LAKSHADWEEP

Bangaram is open solely to foreigners. Here at the unspoilt clean, white sandy balmy beach, they indulge themselves in swimming, sunbathing, bird watching, fishing, boating, yachting, sea diving and snorkeling.

The islands of Kavaratti, Kalpeni, Kadamet, Minicoyarer popular for their ambience, together with their clean gleaming sands shaded by coconut palms, these islands far flung in the distant sea are quaint and picturesque.

There are open for the domestic visitors