9 September 2013

Exploring Lakshadweep

A perfect trip would be one which would not only be wonderful for exploring but also perfect to your pocket. Recently me and my hubby were planning for some budget trip and came across Lakshadweep. A place as wonderful as Andaman and Nicobar and Maldives, but yet at comparitively lesser cost. I started working on this trip.
Lakshadweep which means hundred thousand islands, forms the smallest Union Territory of India. Main Islands are Kavaratti, Kalpeni, Minicoy, Kadmat, Agatti and Bangaram. 

A beach at Kavaratti, Lakshadweep(photo credit wikipedia)
Our journey would be, by train from Mumbai to Cochin, Cruise journey to and from Cochin to islands of Lakshadweep, and by air from Cochin to Mumbai. There are tourist packages which offer tour of all the Islands, but we would prefer to explore ourselves.

MV Amindivi 001(Photo credit wikipedia)
We would take the cruise from Cochin to Kavaratti, we would go for a home stay at local residence, which would help us understand their tradition and culture better. Visit Jamnath, Mohidden and Urja mosques, which belongs to 17th century.

Urja Mosque(photo credit official Lakshawdeep site)
And Museum which houses multi coloured species of fishes, small shark, sea cucumbers, octopus, schools of fishes and anemonnes. Spend the evening along the snow white coral sands, tasting the Malabar cuisines. Next morning scuba diving and snorkelling at Chicken neck point and have a ride in the glass bottom boat to have a tour of rich marine life and extraordinary corals.


Coral(photo credit Lakshadweep Tourism)
Visit Agatti Island, which offers blue lagoons, coral reefs and swaying palms and have a sea excursion to neighbouring uninhabited islands Parali, Thinnakara and Kalpitty. And back to Kavaratti.
Take ferry to Minicoy the next day, Minicoy too has mesmerizing sceneries and serene spots. Visit Juma Masjid and Light house, which was built by British in 1885. Surrounded by blue waters, its an important centre for tuna canning, tuna fishing, colourful boats. And this is the only Island which is open for foreign tourist.

Light house in Minicoy
Travel to Kalpeni, visit Juma Mosque, watch Parichakkali and Kolkali dance shows. Visit one of its Islands Pitti, which is a bird sanctury and attracts thousands of Terns including brown noddy, lesser crested tern and greater crested tern. Pitti is also an important breeding place for sea turtles.  
Folk dance(photo credit Lakshadweep Tourism)
Take cruise back from Kalpeni to Cochin. And our flight to Mumbai from Cochin.
This is a Virtual Tour created as an entry for the contest Creating Happy Travellers by Indiblogger, sponsored by Yatra.com

18 comments:

  1. Wondering for some time about trip to Lakshadweep.

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  2. Wow, What the amazing place to visit! sounds a great tour. all the photographs looking fabulous.
    such nice attempt to visit in the Lakshadweep Islands in India ...

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  3. Nice - feels like I had a short trip myself just by going through your description.

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  4. aha, u really made a good point there. Laksh is as good as andaman but a lot cheaper...suits me

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  5. Group of Island and so much to explore,so much Color and Traditions..I just want visit this place...
    Good luck for the contest.. :-)

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  6. Sounds interesting!

    Best wishes!

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  7. Thank you all for your appreciation and wishes.. Harsha, there are weekend cruise from Mangalore too, might be you can try them...

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  8. Beautiful post! All the best for the contest :)

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  9. Nice post Meghana, wish you all the best for the contest

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  10. I've been to the Andamans... and now after reading about Lakshadweep, I know we will plan a trip to these islands soon.

    Arvind Passey
    www.passey.info

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  11. Thank you, Arvind Sir.. Happy to know my post inspired you to plan your trip..

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  12. Hey Hi, Ur blog gave a me feeling to visit Lakshadweep but i came across a hurdle that we need permit to visit.. how should get it ? Plzz guide me.. My friends couldn't wait to visit and so am i
    and you mentioned about local home stay is it your friends house or paying guest type ?
    Thank U

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    1. Hi Vasanth, thank you for dropping by. This post was a virtual tour written for a contest, am yet to travel to Lakshadweep. You can check this post, by a fellow blogger to plan your trip, http://www.beontheroad.com/2010/03/cruise-to-lakshadweep-islands-faq-and.html

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