Famous State of Lakshadweep in india

  By Dhananjai | September 4, 2012 | INDIAN CULTURE

History The Lakshadweep Islands, or the Laccadives as they were previously called, found their place on the map after the arrival of the Portuguese. After the local tribes succeeded in bringing the Portuguese invasion to an end the islands came under the rule of the Raja of Chirakkal.  In the late 18th century the islands were annexed by the British East India Company and by 1854 the all the islands were under the complete rule of the British. It was only in 1956, much after independence that the islands were declared a Union Territory and the archipelago was renamed Lakshadweep in 1973.

Economy Coconut is mainly cultivated on these islands and nothing other that that really grows here. Fishing is the only other source of income. The islanders depend on the mainland for their supplies. Coir products like coir yarn and coir fibre are produced here in addition to other coir products like mats, curled fibre and corridor mats. Tourism and hospitality is also fast becoming a major industry on the Lakshadweep Islands.

Language Four main communities dominate the Lakshadweep Islands- Aminidivis, Koyas, Malmis and Melacheris. Majority of the population follows Islam but there are other ethnic groups that inhabit the islands as well. The Aminidivis are believed to have been the first people that inhabited Lakshadweep. The Koyas are generally landowners with the Malmis working under them, while the Melacheris are the main labour community on the islands with their primary profession involving gathering of nuts from coconut trees. The main languages spoken on the Lakshadweep Islands are Malayalam and Mahl. Other languages that the locals speak include Hindi, English, Tamil, Urdu, Oriya and Bengali.

Religion The government consensus shows that the majority of the population follows Islam. The other faiths that the islanders follow are either Hinduism or Christianity.

Food The Lakshadweep islands offer a wide variety of cuisine. The main cuisine here centres on seafood but there is plenty to be found here for vegetarians as well. Non-vegetarians can dive into delicious seafood and Halal meat. The food is generally spicy and rich in coconut flavour. Alert! Consumption of alcohol is prohibited on all islands except Bangaram.

Culture and Crafts Islam majorly influences the culture of the people of Lakshadweep. Owing to its proximity to Kerala a lot of the culture here is very similar to that of the people of Kerala. You can get a real taste of the culture of the people here during festivals when the best of music can be heard and tribal dances seen. Opana, Parichakali dance, Lava dance and Kolkali dance are amongst the most famous dance forms here. Handicraft items here are made of shells, coir and oysters are very famous here. The people of the Aminidivi tribe are well known for their handicraft skills. Handicraft items have got a tremendous boost with the growth of the tourism industry in Lakshadweep.

Tourist info centres

Union Territory of Lakshadweep,
Department of Tourism Development,
New Secretariat Block,
Kavaratti- 682555;
Tel no: 04896-262250

How to get there by Air Kochi International Airport links Lakshadweep with the mainland of India. Agatti is the only airport in Lakshadweep with helicopter transfers being available from Agatti to Bangaram Island Resort during monsoon and to Kavaratti through out the year. The flight from Cochin to Agatti takes approximately one hour thirty minutes. Flights operate six days a week.

Getting around Local transportation on the Lakshadweep islands is scarce and you have to get around on foot or alternatively you can hire a bicycle. Boats/Ferries and helicopter transfers are available to get from one island to another. During the monsoon months helicopter transfers may be your only option.

Where to Stay in Lakshadweep

There are not many places to stay here. The most popular ones are theBangaram Island Resort and the Agatti Island Resort. There is no indigenous local population so this is an out and out tourist facility. The Bangaram Resort has cottages on the beach; a multi cuisine restaurant with a bar, a library, scuba diving gear on hire, and tons of ambiance. Catamarans, kayaks and sailboats are free; grab and go!
Besides the above, there are the islands of Kavaratti, Kalpeni, Minicoy and Kadmat and here hotels open only in the season time. There are some government-run tourist huts in these islands.

Best Time to Visit Lakshadweep

The best time to visit Lakshadweep is between December and May when the weather conditions are ideal. The weather is cool and dry making it very comfortable to get around the islands and engage in various activities. The monsoon season starts from May and lasts until September.

Climate The Lakshadweep Islands are characterized by a tropical climate with temperatures rarely rising beyond 35°C.

Things to do in Lakshadweep

The enigmatic charm, beautiful beaches, and the beautiful islands, make Lakshadweep a traveller’s paradise. The best things to do in Lakshadweepinvolve taking a trip to Bangaram and Kadmat islands, the oldest Lighthouse at Minicoy, and the Marine Aquarium and Museum at Kavaratti, to name a few. Shopping in Lakshadweep is restricted to picking up souvenirs made of shells.
One can indulge in the best of adventure activities like snorkelling, scuba diving, deep sea fishing, parasailing, kayaking, canoeing, wind surfing and water skiing. The people of Lakshadweep celebrate the Muslim festivals like Eid-ul-Fitr, Bakrid, Milad-Ul-Nabi and Muharram, with a lot of fervour.