Lakshadweep Islands (Laccadive Islands)
The Lakshadweep archipelago was first settled around 1500 BC. They were first mentioned in Buddhist Jataka tales from the 3rd century BC. In 661 AD, Islam arrived in the islands and the majority of the population still consists of Malayalam-speaking Muslims.
The Portuguese tried to conquer the islands in the 15th century, but in 1545, the locals rebelled against them and expelled them. In 1799, the islands came under control of the British and after Indian independence in 1947, the islands became part of India. In 1973, they were named Lakshadweep Islands.
The archipelago consists of 36 coral islands, 10 of which are inhabited. The islands are a northern extension of the Maldives chain. They are located between 220 and 440 km (140-270 mi) off the Kerala coast and form the smallest of the Union Territories of India.
The islands are divided into 3 groups:
- The Amindivi Islands comprise the northern part of the archipelago.
- The Laccadive Islands are separated from Amindivi by the 11th parallel north.
- The Minicoy Atoll is located south of the Nine Degree Channel.
Even though there are only 36 islands, the name Lakshadweep means '100,000 Islands' in the local Jeseri language.
Boat cruises to the islands are available from Kochi (Cochin). The island of Bangaram is where most tourists go on 4-day cruises for scuba diving, snorkeling and other water sports.
The islands' inhabitants' main occupation is fishing, but tourism is on the increase.
The Lakshadweep islands are:
Inhabited Uninhabited
| Name | Area in km² |
|---|---|
| Aminidivi | |
| Amini | 2.67 |
| Bitra | 0.10 |
| Chetlat | 1.174 |
| Kiltan | 1.7 |
| Kadmat | 3.34 |
| Laccadive | |
| Agatti | 3.84 |
| Andrott | 4.9 |
| Bangaram | 0.57 |
| Cheriyakara | 0.383 |
| Cheriyam | 0.537 |
| Kalpeni | 2.79 |
| Kalpati | 0.085 |
| Kavaratti | 4.22 |
| Kodithala | 0.0027 |
| Pakshipitti | 0.001 |
| Parali I | 0.089 |
| Parali II | |
| Parali III | |
| Pitti I | 0.028 |
| Pitti II | |
| Thilakam I | 0.055 |
| Thilakam II | |
| Thilakam III | |
| Thinnakkara | 0.522 |
| Valiyakara | 0.395 |
| Minicoy | |
| Minicoy | 4.801 |
Inhabited Uninhabited
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