India's smallest Union Territory: coral islands, lagoons and reefs off Kerala, open to visitors by entry permit.
A chain of 36 small coral islands (10 inhabited) in the Arabian Sea off Kerala, India's smallest Union Territory. Lagoons, coral reefs, snorkelling and diving; tourism is permit-controlled and capacity is limited.
Highlights: Agatti lagoon and airstrip island · Bangaram uninhabited resort island · Kadmat water sports and diving · Minicoy lighthouse and tuna-fishing culture · Kavaratti, the capital, with its mosques and marine aquarium
When to go Green best · blue good · red avoid · this month outlined Janbest
Febbest
Marbest
Aprgood
Mayok
Junavoid
Julavoid
Augavoid
Sepok
Octgood
Novbest
Decbest
Good to know Best time October to mid-May; best November to March. June to September is monsoon with rough seas and fewer sailings.
Ideal trip 4-6 days
How to reach Air: Agatti Airport: Code: AGX; Notes: Only airport in the islands; flights from Kochi (and some via Bengaluru). Small aircraft, strict baggage limits. ; Rail: Ernakulam (Kochi) railway stations: Code: ERS; Notes: Nearest rail heads; continue by sea or air from Kochi. ; Sea: Kochi (Willingdon Island) passenger ships: Government passenger ships sail from Kochi to the islands; voyages take most of a day or overnight. Tickets through the Lakshadweep port / SPORTS booking channels. ; Notes: There is no road link; all visitors arrive by air to Agatti or by ship from Kochi (some ships also from Beypore and Mangaluru). Getting around Inter-island boats and ships run by the administration; helicopter service for some routes. On islands, walk, cycle or use small autos.
Permits Lakshadweep entry permit: Required For: All visitors who are not natives of Lakshadweep (exempt: government officials, armed forces and their families), under the 1967 Restriction on Entry and Residence Rules; How To Get: Apply online on the e-Permit portal (epermit.utl.gov.in) before travel with a self-attested ID copy and photographs; carry the approved permit on arrival. Older rules asked Indian visitors for a police clearance certificate and a local sponsor, but news reports say these were dropped; check current documents on the portal. ; Fee: Reported (Jan 2024): Rs 50 application fee per person plus a heritage fee of Rs 100 (age 12-18) or Rs 200 (over 18); confirm on the portal. ; Source: https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/story/planning-a-trip-to-lakshadweep-see-permit-rules-and-cost-for-indian-citizens-412429-2024-01-09 Foreign nationals: Required For: Foreign tourists; How To Get: Valid passport and Indian visa plus the island entry permit; foreigners are allowed only on islands opened to them (check the official portal). ; Source: https://lakshadweep.gov.in Languages Malayalam · Jeseri (local dialect) · Mahl (Dhivehi) on Minicoy · English
Safety Visit only with a valid entry permit · Do not touch or remove coral or shells; reefs are protected · Sea travel is curtailed in the monsoon; keep buffer days · Swim only in marked or guided lagoon areas
Emergency National emergency response (police/fire/ambulance): 112 Ambulance: 108 India Tourism helpline (24x7): 1800-11-1363 Budget Note: Expensive relative to mainland trips because of limited flights and stays; not quantified.