The Lakshadweep
Islands are an archipelago of islands off the coast of India. They are located
in the Arabian Sea and offer a host of tourism-related activities. These
islands are international tourist hotspots, and they garner millions in revenue
for the country throughout the year.
A holiday in
Lakshadweep would not be complete without dabbling in the water-sport
activities on offer and these activities range from snorkelling and deep sea
diving to swimming with dolphins and sharks.
When You
Should Visit Lakshadweep
Tourists flock
to these islands all year long but the influx generally reduces during the
period of the southwest monsoon (which occurs during the months of August and
September) as conditions make the seas rough and unfavourable for outdoor
activities.
Getting to
the Lakshadweep Islands
You can reach
the Lakshadweep Islands by air or by sea. The Agatti Aerodrome on the Agatti Island
is presently the only airport in the state with flights operating from
Bangalore and Kochi. At any given time of the year, two passenger ships operate
from Kerala or Karnataka.
Within the Union
Territory of Lakshadweep Islands, you can move around in a local manner through
helicopters and through the help of boats.
What You Can
Do in the Islands
Snorkelling in the Islands
Snorkelling is
one of the most popular tourist attractions associated with the Lakshadweep
Islands owing to the relative ease of pursuing the sport here and the fact that
the activity requires a wet suit, snorkelling gear and no prior training.
The Kadmat and
Bangaram Islands are generally where most of the snorkelling activities are
carried out owing to the large area of relatively shallow water and their easy
accessibility as opposed to some of the other islands. Bangaram is also the
best bet for foreign tourists as it is the only island in Lakshadweep that
permits their presence.
All water sport
activities are handled by two major private organisations in the Union
Territory of Lakshadweep. These are the Lakshadweep Institute of Water Sports
and SPORTS (Society for Promotion of Nature Tourism and Sports). Regular camps
are held throughout the year and experts in the field are brought in to help
people from all age groups realise the true potential of the sport.
Other Activities That You Can Try
The islands are
home to a number of other water sport activities and tourist attractions. Chief
among these are scuba diving, deep sea diving, and wind surfing. These
activities, however, are limited to specific islands at specific times of the
year and you should ensure that you plan a trip according to the activities
that you wish to indulge in.
These islands feature coral reefs, which are
quite rare to come by in the Indian subcontinent, and you can spot these during
your trip to the Lakshadweep islands. You’ll never have enough time to explore
the entire beauty of Lakshadweep islands, as there’s a lot to do including
snorkelling, other water activities, and sightseeing and late night sailing
trips.
Click to view map