great escapes and tiny islands

sometimes you dont need photoshop

Imagine a dot on a map. Imagine a handful surrounding it. Then fill the rest with sparkling blue and keep some green for when you get closer. That, in short, is the stunning aerial view of the famous Lakshadweep Islands, off the coast of Kerala, nestled in the expansive Indian Ocean. It is a universe on its own with coconut and palm trees as the dominant inhabitants, making humans look like small fry. This least populated territory within the Indian Union contributes the highest share in production of coconut and coconut-based products. This and several other reasons make the Lakshadweep islands our focus of the month. 

Accessible by both water and air, these set of islands have become favourable travelling destinations in the last few years. While regular boats and steamers operate from the port at Kochi, the island of Agatti has an air strip which facilitates air travel from the Kochi airport. Recently opened resorts and an established infrastructure for water sports and marine study make any itinerary extremely exciting. 

scuba diving in Lakshadweep

In terms of depth, both literal and more abstract, any discerning traveller would have a feast. While snorkelling and diving can mark half the itinerary, there is a host of learning in store in the enthused fishing villages that could take up most of your time. But before much of that, there is a sense of pristine physical beauty that needs imbibing. Lakshadweep is a set of atolls, a rare geographic occurrence wherein a lagoon of sea water is either partially or completely surrounded by a coral reef. Atolls are only seen in tropical and sub-tropical climate and offer an opportunity to study diverse forms of marine flora and fauna. Once the general singularity of these island formations is clear, a lot of natural phenomenon can be understood such as fishing seasons, fishing techniques, land mass formation and biospheric interactions. 

The islands have been historically quite eventful, from the Pallava and Chera kingdoms when it was an essential outpost for coconut trade and naval control to the modern day Indian state, where it holds similar relevance. Cultural similarities to Kerala are present in terms of language and local customs but those have significantly transformed in relation to the surrounding environment. Diversity within the islands is also an interesting facet for curious travellers – the variety of dances like the ‘Lava’ and the ‘Kolkali’ and the fascinating spatial organisation of villages according to organic norms of sustainability. Access to the islands is regulated via permits by the Indian State at present in order to stay in line with the concerns of the environment.

the kavaratti islands

The set of coral islands is mostly being promoted by the local government setup under the Society for the Promotion of Nature Tourism and Sports. The islands of Kavaratti, Kadmat and Minicoy have been equipped with training facilities and instructors for deep-sea diving, snorkelling, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, wind-surfing and sailing in glass-bottomed boats. Additionally, the lagoons themselves offer ample scope for idyllic leisure, ranging from a lazy swim to kayak training. The fauna in the region is mostly fish – the famed barracuda, various kinds of tuna, eels, turtles home amidst an exquisite array of coral habitat. 

The sensitivity of the environment requires strict supervision of one’s personal habits – littering is strictly prohibited as is defacing or picking up/breaking off pieces of the coral as souvenir. A visit to the islands helps in empathising with the delicate concerns of sustainability and leaves one much wiser on many counts. The realisation helps – mostly when one takes a boat to the Dolphin Dive Center in Kavaratti, where the unique Gray Reef sharks and the Spotted Eagle Rays, which are some of the most beautiful and singular inhabitants in this part of the ocean. 

Distinctively more enthralling is the experience with diving or snorkeling in the shallow seas – soft coral reefs of the brightest colours, red and yellow, and caves with a large turtle population can potentially take your breath away! Under water, that may be risky but the experience of such a marine ecosystem is literally worth it.