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). Kavaratti, one of the more developed islands, is home to dozens of mosques, including the ornately decorated Ujra Mosque, as well as Kavaratti Aquarium, showcasing regional fish, shark and coral species.
Lakshadweep can be reached via water and air only. It lies about 400 Km away from the Western coast of India in the Arabian Sea. There are seven-passenger ships in total, which operate between Lakshadweep and Cochin. It has an airport in Aggati, which is connected to Kochi Airport only. Lakshadweep are a group of islands and to travel from one to another you can either use the ferry system or hire a helicopter.
September to February is the best time to visit Lakshadweep Islands as the climatic conditions remain pleasant (between 20-30-degree Celcius). March to May are also good months but the weather will be hotter by 2-3-degree Celcius. The monsoon months of June to August experience high temperatures and heavy rainfall followed by high humidity, hence a lot of activities are shut down.
Formerly known as Laccadive Islands, Lakshadweep translates to 'one hundred thousand islands' in Malayalam. Home to a few of the most beautiful and exotic islands and beaches of India, Lakshadweep lies 400km off the southwest coast of the Arabian Sea. The smallest union territory of India has only 36 islands having a total area of 32 sq. kilometres. It's made up of 12 atolls, 3 reefs and 5 submerged banks out of which ten Islands are inhabited.
Lakshadweep is typically accessed from Kochi (Kerala) and a permit is required to visit Lakshadweep for all tourists (including Indians). After permit, Indians are permitted to visit all islands, however, even after permit, foreigners are permitted to just visit Agatti, Bangaram and Kadmat Islands. Permits can be obtained from Kochi itself.
Perhaps the charm of Lakshadweep islands lies in their remoteness. Far off the beaten track, they attract no hordes of merrymakers to their shores. The islands, though all equally mystical and beautiful, each offers a unique blend of tourist spots. Some islands have been promoted for diving and water sports, still, others have been developed so that people enjoy the charm of relaxation.