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Lakshadweep: A tour to the emerald islands of the Lakshadweep are what dreams are made of. The sparkling crystal clear waters of the numerous lagoons and beaches of the Lakshadweep packed with corals, shells and fishes of all hues darting in and out if the corals is an experience that cannot easily be forgotten.
The shimmering seas take on all hues of blue and green as the sunrays strike it at different angles and mesmerizes as nothing else can.
The people and their friendliness are even more striking. Since they have been isolated into small communities for long centuries and since the individuals have to depend on each other for their very survival. democratic ideals of equality and fraternity are the rules there. Crimes and violence are almost unheard of. The joint family system prevails and the heads of the different communities have considerable say in the matters of the islands.
Lakshadweep, the smallest union territory of India, is a group of islands 200 to 350 km off of the coast of Kerala in the Arabian Sea. Their total land area is 11 sq mi or 28 km². Eleven of the Lakshadweep islands are inhabited. Lakshadweep is the northern part of the erstwhile Lakshadweepa.
The name of the archipelago – Lakshadweep - literally translates as "hundred thousand Lakshadweep or Lakshadeep" (laksha = "one hundred thousand", dweep = "island"). Until 1973, the island group was known by the anglicised name Laccadives (compare to Maldives and Suvadives) although the term Laccadives strictly only applies to central Lakshdweep with the northern Amindivi islands and Minicoy to the south considered separate. This is reflected in the pre-1973 name of the union territory, Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Lakshadweep or Lakshadeep. The Laccadive islands plus Minicoy Island are known as the Cannanore islands.
The people of all the northern Lakshadweep or Lakshadeep speak a dialect of Malayalam. According to local folk beliefs, they descended from traders who were washed up on the islands during storm. However, the people of Minicoy, the southernmost atoll, speak Mahl, a variant of Divehi, the language of the Maldives.
The islanders are ethnically similar to coastal Kerala's Malayali people, and were influenced by Arab traders. Inhabitants of Minicoy, the southernmost and largest island, closely resemble Maldivians. Most — 99% — of the indigenous population is Muslim; they were converted by Arab traders. The locals call themselves the Div-i or islanders. There is also a sizable Ahmadiyya Muslim Community there.
The Lakshadweep Lakshadeep islands were under the rule of Ali Rajahs/Arakkal Bheevi of Kannur, who received Lakshadweep as a gift from the Kolathiris. The Portuguese took control of Lakshadweep and promoted coir production. The Portuguese invasion was a period of great brutality as far as Lakshadeep is concerned, and eventually the islanders expelled the Portuguese. |
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The Lakshadweep islands are also mentioned in great detail in the stories of the Arab traveller Ibn Batuta. There is a local legend that a holy man named Hazrath Ubidulla who was supposed to be the grand son of first Kaleefa Abu Bekr was the one to propagate Islam on the Lakshadweep islands.
The Amindivi group of Lakshadweep islands (Amini, Kadmat, Kiltan, Chetlat and Bitra) came under the rule of Tipu Sultan in 1787. They passed to British control after the Third Anglo-Mysore War and were attached to South Canara. The rest of the Lakshadweep or Lakshadeep came under the suzerainty of the Arakkal family of Cannanore in return for a payment of annual tribute. After a while, the British took over the administration of Lakshadeep for non-payment of arrears.
These Lakshadweep islands were attached to the Malabar district of the Madras Presidency. In 1956, the States Reorganization Act separated these Lakshadweep islands from the mainland administrative units, forming a new union territory by combining all the islands to form the Lakshadweep Administration.
The union territory is administered by an Administrator appointed by India's central government. Lakshadweep is under the jurisdiction of the High Court of Kerala at Ernakulam as far as dispensation of justice is concerned. The Territory also elects one member to the Lok Sabha. The panchayat raj system is implemented in the Lakshadweep. There are dweep panchyats and district panchayat on each island; each dweep panchayat has its own elected chairperson. Democracy is limited to Pachayats and the sole member of the Lok Sabha. Most power resides with the Lakshadweep Administrator.
Lakshadweep's gross state domestic product for 2004 is estimated at $60 million at current prices. It was coconut, which moved the Lakshadweep economy in the past. But over the period, coconut lost its significance in the economy. Now Government jobs and related works are the major income providers for the islanders – they have free education and reservations for government jobs and promotions. Tuna fishing too contribute to the Lakshadweep economy, but due to high density of population and absence of any other resources, industries never flourished on Lakshadweep. 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.
This is
because tourism is one of the world's significant producer of jobs and
employment opportunities. With this in mind,
a
little improvement in the country's rental vehicle industry will
probably translate into an upswing in India's tourism. This is because
despite the absence of Car
Hire Dublin Airport and other prominent companies, the country
continues to enjoy a major boost in the tourism sector.
Lakshadweep officially consists of 12 atolls, 3 reefs and 5 submerged banks, with a total of about 36 isles and islets. The reefs are in fact also atolls, although mostly submerged, with only small unvegetated sand cays above the high water mark. The submerged banks are sunken atolls.
Almost all the atolls have a northeast-southwest orientation with the islands lying on the eastern rim, and a mostly submerged reef on the western rim, enclosing a lagoon.
The main islands of the Lakshadweep from North to South along with their distance in kilometers from Cochin in parenthesis are:
Chetalat (432), Bitra (483), Kiltan (394), Bangaram (459), Kadmat (407), Amini (407), Agatti (459), Andrott (293), Kavaratti (404), Kalpeni (287) and Minicoy (398).
The total population of the territory was 60,595 according to the 2001 census. Agatti has an airport where there are direct flights from Kochi, Kerala or Ernakulam (Cochin). Tourists need a permit to visit the Lakshadweep islands; foreign nationals are not permitted to visit some of the Lakshadweep islands. Consumption of alcohol is not permitted on Lakshadweep except on Bangaram Island.
Agatti Aerodrome on Agatti Island is currently the only airport in Lakshadweep. Indian Airlines, the state-owned carrier, serves Agatti and flies to Kochi on the mainland. Also, from April 2007, a private carrier, Kingfisher Airlines, has commenced flights to and from Agatti. Kingfisher connects Kochi and Bangalore to Agatti. The other islands of the Lakshadweep are linked by helicopter or boat service.
There are dhow services to the Lakshadweep islands from Calicut and Mangalore which carry various goods for the Lakshadweep islanders who depend on the mainland for most of their supplies. However Cochin is the most important port on which the Lakshadweep islanders as well as the tourists depend on for travel, tour and transports. There are also helicopter and plane services to the Lakshadweep islands |
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| Lakshadweep Tour Packages |
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*Rates in Indian Rupees, Service Tax 3.1 % applicable. Rs.500/- processing fee extra per person. |
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Lakshadweep Samudram Tour Package |
5 Day Cruise, Seats : 150
Diamond Class : Rs.17,000/-* (Total)
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Lakshadweep Coral Reef Tour Package |
4 Day Cruise, Seats : 1st Class 36, Tourist Class 120
First Class : Rs.11,000/-* (Total)
Tourist Class : Rs.7,500/-* (Total)
Student : Rs.5,710/-* (Total)
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Lakshadweep Taratashi Tour Package |
4\5 Day Cruise, 10 A/C Beds
Accommodation Cost : Rs.2,500/-*(1 Night), Rs.4,000/-*(2 Night)
Diamond Cl : Rs.8,000/-*(both ways)
Gold/Ist Cl : Rs.6,000/-* (both ways), Student: Rs.3,500/-* (both ways)
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Lakshadweep Weekend Tourist Package |
1 Day Cruise
Tourist Class (Adult) : Rs.4,500/-* (Total)
Tourist Class (Child) : Rs.4,000/-* (Total)
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Lakshadweep Dive Tour Package |
8 Day Open Water Course including Cruise
Padi Open Water Course : Rs.15,000/-* (Course Fee)
Food & Accommodation : Rs.1000/-* (per day)
Transportation : Rs.3,500/-*
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Lakshadweep Marine Wealth Tour Package |
4-7 Day Cruise, 20 A/C & 36 Non A/C Beds (Open to Foreigners)
Accommodation : Rs.3,000/-*(1 Night A/c), Rs.5,000/-*(2 Night A/c)
Diamond Cl : Rs.8,000/-* (both ways)
Gold/Ist Cl : Rs.6,000/-* (both wy), Tourist Cl : Rs.3,500/-* (both wy)
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Lakshadweep Swaying Palm Tour Package |
6\7 Day Cruise, 20 A/C & 36 Non A/C Beds (Open to Foreigners)
Accommodation : Rs.3,000/-*(1 Night A/c), Rs.5,000/-*(2 Night A/c)
Diamond Cl : Rs.8,000/-* (both ways)
Gold/Ist Cl : Rs.6,000/-* (both wy), Tourist Cl:Rs.3,500/-* (both wy)
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Online Tour Enquiry Form for Tour to Lakshadweep |
Please note: Lakshadweep tours are all arranged by the Government of India and we have little or no control over its schedule or its conduct.
The categories of tours offered are:-
1. Samudram Package -Daimond Class - 5 Days - visits 3 islands- cost Rs.17500/- Ship:M.V.Kavaratti which is the most modern of the ships visiting the islands. It is air-conditioned and smooth sailing.
2. Coral Reef Package: 4 Dsys - 2 islands - I class - Rs.11500, Tourist Class Rs.8000/- Ship: M.V.Tippu Sultan. Seasickness is common
3:Weekend Tourist Package: 1-day trip to Kalpeni leaves Cochin on Saturdays and returns on Mondays. Rs.5000/- Ships used are the older versions and seasickness can be expected. |
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There are around 5 passenger ships; but generally only two operate at a time. Advance bookings are required for tourists and islanders. Sailing schedules are arranged so that each island gets priority at some time of the year. There are vessels operating between some of the larger Lakshadweep islands like Kavaratti, Androth, Kalpeni etc., All sea-travel whether by ship, dhow or boats are affected by weather and tourist services are cancelled during the monsoons - in the past all the islands were isolated from each other as well as from the mainland during the monsoons.
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