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