Hundred Thousand Islands Of Lakshadweep

Lakshadweep, earlier known as Laccadive, Minicoy or Aminidivi Islands lies in the South western coast of India, in the Arabian Sea. Lakshadweep means a ‘Hundred Thousand Islands’ in Sanskrit.

- Gayathri Krishnan

It’s a Union Territory ruled by the Union Government of India. With Kavaratti as the capital, Lakshadweep forms the smallest Union Territory of India. Lakshadweep Islands lie about 220 to 440 kms off the Kerala coast. They are connected to the mainland by passenger ships and flights from Kochi in Kerala.

Since the islands come under the Jurisdiction of the Kerala High Court, the major languages are Malayalam and Mahi. A majority of people belong to the Muslim religion and festivals like Milad-un-Nabi, Eid-ul-Fitr and Muharram are celebrated.

Lakshadweep is an Archipelago with around 39 islands and islets.

Lakshadweep does not have a rich flora, but there are hundreds of marine species including fishes, crabs, seaweed, sharks, soft turtles, lobsters and bivalves. Lakshadweep is one of the four chief coral regions of India, with 78 species of corals.