Have you ever seen the moon rise? Yes, you read that right, not the sun rise but the moon rise? I haven't been smoking up or been on a CCR music overload. Check out the pictures below.
This is Lakshadweep. Lakshadweep is a tropical archipelago of 36 atolls and coral reefs in the Laccadive Sea, off the coast of Kerala, India. Not all of the islands are inhabited, and only a few are open to visitors (permits required).
Wiki says - Lakshadweep means "one hundred thousand islands" in Sanskrit and Malayalam. The islands form the smallest Union Territory of India and their total surface area is just 32 km2 (12 sq mi).
Once you get to any of the islands, you realise what a beautiful place this is. The blue green ocean which stretches miles on all sides is a treat for sore eyes.
Imagine waking up to a sunrise on one side of your room and then seeing the sunset from the other side. Imagine looking up and seeing starlit sky. Imagine scuba diving and seeing corals and shoals of fish.
Travel to Lakshadweep and imagine no more! Words will never do justice to this place. Pictures might help a bit but to go there and internalise it is something else.
Once you are there, please also do the scuba diving. Due to the positioning of the islands, the lagoon waters are calm and even beginners can do some amazing dives. There are PADI certified instructors and everything works like clockwork. You can also get certified by staying there for some time.
I was a noob diver, I was scared of water, I refused to get into the lagoon, I was convinced to dive - and boy, was I happy? So happy, now I am ready (and have done) to dive in any other place.
Getting there
It is not easy to get here and you require permits from the government even if you are an Indian national. There is only one airline which is allowed to fly to the islands though there are a few cruises. We have not taken the cruises to be able to tell you the experience but it is basic and nothing to write home about. Time taken is 14 - 20 hours by ship.
Cochin airport is the only airport that connects to Agatti which is where the only airport in this archipelago exists. The government has banned stay in Agatti therefore, you have to take motorized boats to any of the other islands you want to visit. From time to time, there are island festivals therefore some islands may be off limits.
The islands one can visit are Bangaram, Minicoy, Kavaratti, Kalpeni, Agatti, and Kadmat. Each of these islands has its own specialty so a trip can cover all of them or you can keep coming back and you will not be disappointed, we promise!
Sports (Society for Promotion Of natuRe Tourism and Sports) is the government agency that is allowed to get guests on to the islands. They will also take care of the permits involved. This is the easiest and best way to travel, we do not recommend any other.
P.S. it is a dry island - you will not get alcohol and you are not allowed to carry alcohol to the islands
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