G.B. International ::- Lakshadweep
| Lakshadweep | Port Blair | Entry Permit | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| South India | Other Islands |
Lakshadweep
The coral Island of Lakshadweep, a total of 36 of which 10 are inhabited have in recent years become one of the country’s popular tourist’s destinations. One of the very last place in the world where little has been changed in the face of rapid development, the Lakshadweep Island in the Indian Ocean are surrounded by the Lagoons & are known for their pristine beauty. Coconut trees abound, the beaches are silver crescents & the sea is a crystal clear endless blueness. The coral formation underwater forms an amazingly colorful gardens & the variety of Fish that inhabit these waters is truly exotic.
The Lakshadweep archipelago is located between 155 & 261 nautical miles from Cochin on the mainland. Tourism is restricted to ensure that the delicate environment is not ecologically damaged. Only five Islands are open for Tourism. Four to domestic tourists & one for International Tourists.
History
The early history of Lakshadweep is not recorded; Local traditions attribute the first settlement on the islands to the period of cheraman Perumal, the last Chera King of King of Kerala. It is believed that the first setters were Hindus and Buddhists. Even Now, unmistakable Hindu social stratifications exist despite the influence of islam. Buddha idols are found in islands like Kavaratti and Andrott.Floating on a plank he was swept ashore at Amini. Ubaidullah began propagating islam in the face of strong protests. From Amini, he went to Andrott where too he met with strong opposition. Finally he succeeded in converting the people to islam. Soon he went to other islands with the message of islam and succeeded in propagating it. He died in Andrott and his place of burial is a sacred place now.
Even after the influence of Islam, the sovereignty remained in the hands of the Hindu Raja of Chirakkal for some years. Form Chirakkal Raja, the control moved into the hands of the Muslim House of Arakkal around the 16th century. The Arakkal rule was oppressive and unbearable. Eventually in 1787, some islanders from Amini took courage and met Tippu Sultan at Mangalore, and requested him to take over the administration of Amini, Soon five islands came under the Sultan and the rest continued to be governed by the Arakkal family.
After the battle of Srirangapattanam in 1799, the islands were annexed to the British East India Company from Mangalore. In 1854, the Raja of Chirakkal handed over all the remaining islands to the East India Company. So came the British rule.
The Union Territory of Lakshadweep was formed in 1956, all islands now constitute on District for Administration with 4 tehsils. The administration head quarter is at Kavaratti. The Administrator heads the Union Territory. Each island has a democratic set-up in the form of Village (Dweep) Panchayat. At Union Territory level, there is a District Panchayat.
What's a Coral?
The mighty reef that withstands the combined might of tidal waves & storms is the lovely soft-bodied microscopic polyp. It is no differentiated head, respiratory, circulatory & excretionary systems. The reef building corals survive only in shallow warm tropical waters & are distinguished by the symbolic algee: Zoo – Xanthalle & Ostreobium. Both these need sunlight for survival & the reef building occurs closes to the surface & not deep down.Corals are carnivores, feeding on planktons. So, coral growth depends on the supply of planktons conducive to coral growth. Reefs & atolls have attained the present’s state after millenniums of evolution. The fragile nature of the islands comes from their dependence on the atolls & reefs. The survival of these islands is dependent fully on the health of the long stretch of corals.
Flora & Fauna
What meet the eye at the first glance are the lush green tall coconut trees. Coconut is the only commercial crop. Deep green shrubs like Kanni, Cholam, Chavok, Punna & Cheerani border the coconut palms. Ipomoea is a conspicuous ground runner. These prevent soil erosion to a great extant. The state tree is the Breadfruit tree; cows, goats & ducks abound in farms & homesteads. There are no dogs & Snakes in the Islands. Crows are rare. Common seabirds are Taratashi & Karifetu, the former being the state bird. Most of them nest on pitti, the island with a bird sanctuary.
Apart from common forms of life, exotic kaleidoscopic underwater life is abundant & marvelous. Gracefully swimming from place to place are the butterfly fishes resembling butterflies in the under water garden. Surgeonfishes of myriad hues, damselfishes, porcupine fishes, puffer fishes, moray eels & octopus co-exist beautifully.
Slow moving sea cucumbers, shelled molluses, hermit crabs, lobsters & shrimps co-habit amongst the reefs. The mas-choorai is the chicken of the sea for the islanders. Playful dolphins, turtles, ray & flying fishes are occasionally seen by keen observes.
People & Culture
The glorious colors of the Lakshadweep sunsets can be matched only by the colorful dresses of the women of the islands. They wear a Kachi around the waist tucked in a thread wound with solid gold or a silver waist belt.
A silk Kachi is usually red with the dark border. While a tight fitting embroidered jacket covers the body above the waist, a colorful scarf with silver gold threads is slung loosely over the head. The scarf is called ‘Thattam’. The men are simply dressed in a ‘lungi’ except in the Minicoy Island where the young prefer jeans.
They wear traditional dresses, churidar / pyjama only on ceremonial occasion. The food habits of the people do not offer much verity. Exotic dishes from Andrott & Minicoy stand out in the cuisine of the Island. A baniyan factory is located at Kalpeni.
Economy
The majority of the people depend on coconut & fish for occupation. The traditional industry revolves around tuna, coir, vinegar & copra making. Although the boat building industry has suffered, the skills are still prevalent. The people of Kavaratti have considerable skills as stonemasons & carpenters. Coir bases industry is one of the oldest areas of activity. Minicoy is an important center for tuna fishing & a tuna-canning factory is located here. Rice is the staple food of the people. Generally the people are non-vegetarians. Coconut is widely used.Languages, Manners & Customs
A dialect of Malayalam is spoken in the inhabited islands. In Minicoy, Mahl is used. There is very little difference in the customs of the people despite a few cultural variations. Marriage are arranged mostly, except in Minicoy, where courting is prevalent. In arranged marriage, the bride’s family takes the initiative in marriage discussions. In Minicoy, the wedding ceremony is simple. The wedding expenses are borne by the bridegroom’s family.Do's
- Make sure your reservation of tour before leaving your station.
- Carry your special brand of cigarettes, cosmetics, etc. for use, as only ordinary verities will be available on the islands.
- While in the ship, a representative of SPORTS has been specially designed to assists you. In case of any difficulty, please avail of his services.
Dont's
- Litter the land or the water
- Pick any Coral- it is a punishable offence
- There is prohibition on all islands except Bangaram.
- Take drugs or narcotics – it is a punishable offence
- Swim or sunbathe nude – it is prohibited.
- Go out your island lagoon without permission of the SPORTS authorities and a proper escort – it can be risky.
- Pluck tender coconuts yourself. A fall can prove dangerous. The trees are privately owned & unauthorized pluck ink of coconut is a theft.
- Put your hands and limbs outside the boat.
Flight Transfers
- Indian Airlines connects Kochi – Agatti – Kochi.
- The flight operates daily. Except Sunday.
- Flight Time: 1hr 15 mts