Secret Islands: Lakshadweep, India

Filed in archive Islands on May 10, 2010

© Thejas


Lakshadweep, a couple of hundred kilometers off the coast of India's Kerela State, is one of Asia's best kept tourism secrets.

The island chain is made up of a dozen atolls and a few underwater reefs and banks. About 60,000 people live on the ten inhabited islands. The economy is based on coconut agriculture.

The islands are a little work to get to. You need a permit to visit Lakshadweep. Many of the islands are off limits to foreign visitors because of the very traditional lifestyle of the Sunni Muslim fishermen who inhabit the region. Visitors take an Air Indian propeller plane from Kochi to Agatti Island.

The main attraction here is the water. Lakshadweep provides some of the best scuba diving in Asia. Of course, all the other traditional activities associated with live on a tropical beach are also available...