Google Map Of Lakshadweep

The Laccadive Islands or Lakshadweep group of islands in Laccadive Sea located at 200 to 440 km off the coast of southwest Kerala state of India is smallest but well-known Indian Union Territory. With inhabiting islands with total land area of 32 km Lakshadweep UT is northern areas of former Lakshadweepa group of islands.

It has influences of Maldives due to being Lakshadweep-Maldives-Chagos group of islands with close proximity and location in the Indian and Arabian Sea. Lagoon area is nearly 4,200 sq kilometers alongside 32 sq kilometers land and 20,000 sq kilometers territorial waters zone. The UT has its specific economic zone comprising of 400,000 sq kilometers.

History:

Derived from Lakshadweepa means one hundred thousand islands in Sanskrit Lakshadweep has distinction of UT with least populous region. Hardly any authentic records are found about its early history. Some historical records mention Chera king of Kerala ruled it. Amini, Kalpeni Andrott, Kavaratti and Agatti are oldest inhabited islands from the group of Lakshadweep islands.

Lakshadweep islands have sizeable Muslim population today. Inhabitants converted to Islam from Hinduism in 14th century when Arabs arrived here. Archaeological evidences showed few Buddhist settlements in 6th or 7th centuries prior to the arrival of Islam. Chola rulers ruled Lakshadweep islands during 11th century. Ali Rajahs/Arakkal Bheevi of Kannur took hold of Lakshadweep in 17th century when Kolathiris gifted these islands to them. Very soon Portuguese controlled it. Arab traveler Ibn Batuta mentioned many details in a travelogue.

Tipu Sultan of Mysore took grip of the Amindivi Islands (Amini, Kadmat, Kiltan, Chetlat and Bitra) in 1787. They were controlled by British soon after the 3rd Anglo-Mysore War. British added these islands into Malabar district of Madras Presidency. Lakshadweep islands were automatically transferred to Indian Union once it attained freedom from British on August 15, 1947. Government of India combined all inhabited island to create the Union Territory of Lakshadweep islands in 1956.

Culture:

An archipelago of twelve atolls, three reefs and five submerged banks, with total of about thirty-nine islands and islets make Lakshadweep wonderful island groups. Present Lakshadweep's 10 islands are inhibited and 17 still remain uninhabited. Its capital, Kavaratti is located in main Kavaratti Island. Agatti, Minicoy and Amini are surrounding islands. Prior permission is a must to visit the islands. Some are restricted for foreign nationals.

Lakshadweep is the only UT that comprises of a single district. An Administer appointed by the federal Indian government administers it. The Kerala High Court at Kochi takes it under its jurisdiction to resolve legal and law enforcement issues. The UT elects one Member of Parliament (MP) for representation at centre.

The 2011 census recorded total population of Lakshadweep 64,429. Literacy rate is 92.28% and languages spoken are Malayalam, Jeseri and Mahl. English is communicative language. Its inhabitants are indigenous Sunni-Muslims whose ethnic representation is from 84.33% Malayali Dhivehis consisting of 15.67%.

Main industry in Lakshadweep islands is coconut fibre extraction and related fibre products. Isolation and scenic appeal of Lakshadweep islands made it popular tourist destination. In fact tourism brings enough revenue for this UT. Several water sports activities including scuba diving, wind surfing, snorkelling, surfing, kayaking, canoeing, water skiing, yachting and night-voyage into sea are prominent adventurous games keep attracting its tourists.

One witnesses numerous living corals, dolphins, sea turtles, urchins, seabirds, seaweeds, cucumbers, starfish, cowry, clams, eels, swordfish and et al here. Islanders still find in fishing their main livelihood. Agatti Aerodrome is the only airport in Lakshadweep islands. Pawan Hans helicopter and boat service links several islands with each other besides ships that remain major transportation means for islanders and tourists.