Lakshadweep Islands ലക്ഷദ്വീപ് लक्षद्वीप
—  union territory  —
Official seal of Lakshadweep Islandsലക്ഷദ്വീപ്लक्षद्वीप Seal
Kavaratti Location of Lakshadweep Islands ലക്ഷദ്വീപ് लक्षद्वीप
Coordinates	10°34′N 72°38′E / 10.57°N 72.63°E / 10.57; 72.63Coordinates: 10°34′N 72°38′E / 10.57°N 72.63°E / 10.57; 72.63
Country	India
District(s)	1
Established	10 November 1956
Capital	Kavaratti
Largest city	Andrott
Administrator	Amar Nath IAS
Population • Density	64,429 • 2,013 /km2 (5,214 /sq mi)
HDI (2005)	0.796 (high)
Official languages	Malayalam, English[1] Mahl (Dhivehi) is spoken on Minicoy Island.
Ethnic groups	≈84.33% Malayali ≈15.67% Mahls
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area	32 km2 (12 sq mi)
ISO 3166-2	IN-LD
Website	www.lakshadweep.gov.in

Lakshadweep /ləkˈʃɑːdwiːp/ (Malayalam: ലക്ഷദ്വീപ്  Lakṣadvīp (help·info), Mahl: ލަކްޝަދީބު Lakshadīb), formerly known as the Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands /ˌlækədaɪv ˌmɪnɨkɔɪ/ & /ˌæmɨnˈdiːvi/,^[2] is a group of islands in the Laccadive Sea, 200 to 440 km off the coast of the South West Indian state of Kerala. They were also known as Laccadive Islands, although geographically this is only the name of the central subgroup of the group.

The islands form the smallest Union Territory of India. The total surface area of the islands is just 11 sq mi or 32 km².^[3] However, the lagoon area is about 4,200 square kilometres (1,600 sq mi), the territorial waters area is 20,000 square kilometres (7,700 sq mi) and the exclusive economic zone area is 400,000 square kilometres (150,000 sq mi).

Lakshadweep is the northern part of the erstwhile Lakshadweepa.^{[clarification needed]} The islands are the northernmost among the Lakshadweep-Maldives-Chagos group of islands, which are actually the tops of a vast undersea mountain range, in the Indian Ocean, the Chagos-Laccadive Ridge.^[4]

Ten of the islands are inhabited. The permanent population of Lakshadweep exceeds 60,000 and the capital is Kavaratti (population 10,000) on the island of the same name. The islands are served by an airport on the Agatti island.

Etymology[link]

Lakshadweep comes from Lakshadweepa, which literally means one hundred thousand (लक्षं laksha) islands (द्वीप dweepa) in Sanskrit. It is the least populous Union Territory of India.

History[link]

The earliest references to the islands is made in Puranuru as part of the ancient (Dravidian) country. There are references to the control of the islands by the Cheras in the Sangam literature Pathitruppaththu. A Pallava inscription of 7th century AD refers to the islands as Dveepa Laksham and lists them as part of the Pallava domain. Local traditions and legends attribute the first settlement on these islands to the period of Cheraman Perumal, the last Chera king of Kerala.^[5] The oldest inhabited islands in the group are Amini, Kalpeni Andrott, Kavaratti and Agatti. However, recent archaeological evidence has established that Buddhist settlements also had existed in the islands as early as the 6th or 7th century. According to popular tradition, Islam was brought to Lakshadweep by an Arab named Ubaidulla in 41 (661 AD). His grave is located in the island of Andrott. Muslim grave stones dated to 139 (756 AD) have also been discovered here. During the 11th century, the islands came under the rule of the Late Cholas.

In the 17th century, the islands came under the rule of Ali Rajahs/Arakkal Bheevi of Kannur, who received them as a gift from the Kolathiris. The Portuguese took control to exploit coir production until the islanders expelled the Portuguese. The islands are also mentioned in great detail in the stories of the Arab traveller Ibn Batuta.^[6]

The Amindivi group of islands (Amini, Kadmat, Kiltan, Chetlat and Bitra) came under the rule of Tipu Sultan in 1787. They passed to British control after the Third Anglo-Mysore War and were attached to South Canara. The rest of the islands came under the suzerainty of the Arakkal family of Cannanore in return for a payment of annual tribute. The British took over the administration of those islands for non-payment of arrears. These islands were attached to the Malabar district of the Madras Presidency during the British Raj.^[7]

Independent India[link]

The inhabitants of these islands, remote from the mainland of India, heard the final news of the Partition and Independence of India some days after it occurred on 15 August 1947. As the islands were then British possessions and part of the Madras Presidency, in accordance with the Indian Independence Act 1947, enacted by the British parliament a month before, the islands transferred automatically to the new Union of India. However, considering that they also had a Muslim majority, it seemed possible that the new dominion of Pakistan might seek to lay claim to them. On the orders of Vallabhbhai Patel, the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of India, known as the Iron Man, a ship of the Royal Indian Navy was sent to the Laccadives (as they were then called) to hoist the Indian national flag and ensure the islands' integration into the new Union of India, aiming to thwart any similar attempt by Pakistan. Hours after the arrival of the Indian ship, vessels of the Royal Pakistan Navy were seen near the islands, but after observing the Indian presence they returned to Karachi.^[8]

In 1956, during the reorganization of Indian states, the Lakshadweep islands were organized into a separate union territory for administrative purposes.

To safeguard India's vital shipping lanes to the Middle East, and the growing relevance of the islands in security considerations, an Indian Navy base, INS Dweeprakshak, was commissioned on Kavaratti island.^[9]

Geography[link]

Lakshadweep Islands map

One of the uninhabited islands in Bangaram Atoll, Lakshadweep

Satellite picture showing the atolls of the Lakshadweep except for Minicoy

Worms-eye view of the lighthouse in Minicoy Island

Lakshadweep is an archipelago of twelve atolls, three reefs and five submerged banks, with a total of about thirty-nine islands and islets. The reefs are in fact also atolls, although mostly submerged, with only small unvegetated sand cays above the high water mark. The submerged banks are sunken atolls. Almost all the atolls have a northeast-southwest orientation with the islands lying on the eastern rim, and a mostly submerged reef on the western rim, enclosing a lagoon. It has 10 inhabited islands, 17 uninhabited islands, attached islets, 4 newly formed islets and 5 submerged reefs.

The main islands are Kavaratti, Agatti, Minicoy, and Amini. The total population of the territory is 60,595 according to the 2001 census. Agatti has an airport with direct flights from Kochi . Tourists need a permit to visit the islands; foreign nationals are not permitted to visit certain islands. According to the current Alcohol laws of India, consumption of alcoholic beverages is not permitted in the Lakshadweep Archipelago except on Bangaram Island.

India's Coral Islands[link]

The Amindivi group islands (consisting of Amini, Keltan, Chetlat, Kadamat, Bitra and Perumal Par) and the Laccadive group islands (comprising mainly Androth, Kalpeni, Kavaratti, Pitti and Suheli Par), both have a submarine connection between them. Together with Minicoy Island, located at the southern end of the 200 km broad Nine Degree Channel, they form the Coral Islands of India in the Arabian Sea. All these islands have been built up by corals and have fringing coral reefs very close to their shores.^[10]

Two banks further north are not considered part of the group:

• Angria Bank
• Adas Bank

The atolls, reefs and banks are listed from north to south in the table:

Politics[link]

Lakshadweep forms a single Indian district and is governed by an administrator appointed by the central government of India. The union territory comes under the jurisdiction of the Kerala High Court at Ernakulam. The territory elects one member to the Lok Sabha (lower house of the Parliament of India). There is no local government at the moment but the administration plans to introduce a two-tiered system based on the Panchayati raj. There will be ten island councils for the inhabited islands (with a total of 79 members).

Demographics[link]

According to the 2011 census Lakshadweep has a population of 64,429,^[12] roughly equal to the nation of Marshall Islands.^[13] This gives it a ranking of 627th in India (out of a total of 640).^[12] The district has a population density of 2,013 inhabitants per square kilometre (5,210 /sq mi).^[12] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 6.23%.^[12] Lakshadweep has a sex ratio of 946 females for every 1000 males,^[12] and a literacy rate of 92.28%.^[12]

Languages[link]

Languages of Lakshadweep in 2001^[14]

  Malayalam (85.00%)

  Others (15.00%)

The principal languages of Lakshadweep are Malayalam, Jeseri (Dweep Bhasha) and Mahl.^[15] The people of all the northern islands speak a dialect of Malayalam with Tamil and Arabic influences, due to extensive trade activities of these people. The people of Minicoy, the southernmost atoll, speak Mahl, a variant of Divehi language spoken in the Maldives.

Malayalam with Malayalam script was introduced as the official language of Lakshadweep during the British raj. Previously a type of Arabic script (Arabi Malayalam) was used for the language. The policy was continued by the Indian government. Malayalam serves as a link language on the islands including on the Mahl dominated Minicoy Island.^[16]

Ethnicity[link]

The islanders are ethnically similar to coastal Kerala's Malayali people, and were influenced by Arab traders. Inhabitants of Minicoy, the southernmost and second largest island, are ethnically Dhivehis native to the Maldives. This group of Dhivehis form a subgroup of Dhivehis, sometimes referred by the name Mahls. Most of the indigenous population is Sunni-Muslim. The locals of all the islands except Minicoy call themselves the Div-i or the Aminidivi ("from the mother island"). Lakshadweep's ethnic groups can be classified as 84.33% Malayali, and 15.67% Mahls.

Ecology[link]

The Lakshadweep Archipelago forms a terrestrial ecoregion together with the Maldives and the Chagos.^[17] The Lakshadweep lagoons, reefs and banks are very rich in marine species with many types of living corals, sea urchins, seaweeds, sea cucumbers, starfish, cowry, clams and octopus, including many types of fish, such as butterfly fish, moray eels and the lagoon triggerfish, to name a few. Uninhabited atolls like Cherbaniani, Byramgore Reef and Perumal Par, as well as Pitti Island, are important as a breeding place for sea turtles and for a number of pelagic birds such as the Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus), Lesser Crested Tern (Sterna bengalensis) and Greater Crested Tern (Sterna bergii)^[18] Different species of tuna, wahoo and swordfish, as well as dolphins, are common in the pelagic waters off the islands.

Owing to the wealth of marine life surrounding Suheli Par there was a proposal to declare the waters of this atoll a Marine National Park.^[19]

Native flora includes small trees and bushes typical of littoral zones, such as Pandanus, Heliotropium foertherianum, Scaevola taccada, Tournefortia argentea and Pemphis acidula.^[20]

Economy[link]

A beach side resort at Kadmat Island, Lakshadweep

A beach at Kavaratti

Lakshadweep's gross state domestic product for 2004 is estimated at US$60 million at current prices. There is little economic inequality in Lakshadweep and the poverty index is low. Coconut fibre extraction and production of fibre products is Lakshadweep's main industry. There are five coir fibre factories, five production demonstration centres and seven fibre curling units run by the government of India. These units produce coir fibre, coir yarn, curled fibre and corridor mattings.^[21]

Tourism[link]

Due to its isolation and scenic appeal, Lakshadweep was already known as a tourist attraction for Indians since 1974.^[22] This brings in significant revenue, which is likely to increase. Since such a small region cannot support industries, the government is actively promoting tourism as a means of income in Bangaram and Kadmat islands. Bangaram is projected as a major destination for international tourism.^[23] The rich marine fauna is a delightful treat to the eyes of visitors. Water sports activities such as scuba diving, wind surfing, snorkelling, surfing, kayaking, canoeing, water skiing, yachting and night-voyage into sea are adventurous as well as quite popular activities among tourists. Tourists flock these islands throughout the year except during the South-west monsoon months when sea is extremely rough.

Fisheries[link]

Being rich in marine life and mineral resources, fishing is naturally the main livelihood of the islanders. Though all varieties of fish available in the lagoons, Tuna fish variety is available in abundance around the Lakshadeep sea. Fresh tuna caught is processed by drying it in the Sun after cooking and smoking.The resultant product, known as `Mas`, as well as Tuna-pickle are popular products exported from these islands worldwide. Sharks, crabs, shrimp, lobsters, etc. are also available in plenty.

Other products[link]

The world’s first ever low temperature thermal desalination plant (LTTD) was opened in Kavaratti, one of the Indian Lakshadweep islands. The plant cost about 50 million (€922,000) and will produce 100,000 litres/day of potable water from sea water. Production costs, currently 220-250/m³ (€4.1-4.6/m³), are expected to go do down to 30-60/m³ (€0.55-1.11/m³) as the capacity is increased.

LTTD technology involves flashing relatively warm sea water (28-30 deg Celsius) inside a vacuum flash chamber and condensing the resultant vapour using deep sea cold water (7-15 °C). The cold water for the Kavaratti plant is drawn at a depth of 350m some 400m from the shore.

The technology was developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT). It can be used not only to produce drinking water but also for power generation and air conditioning. In addition, the deep sea water contains extra nutrients for fish, an important source of food and income for the local population.

The government plans to set up desalination plants with a capacity of 10 million litres/per day on all islands and coastal areas.

Source: Gov of India Press Information Bureau, 23 May 2005

Agriculture[link]

Coconut is the main crop cultivated in the islands. Lakshadweep is India's largest producer of coconuts. About 2,598 hectares are under coconut cultivation and the productivity per hectare is 22,310. Coconuts cultivated in the Lakshadweep are also rich in coconut oil.

Transport[link]

Passenger ship M.V. Amindivi of the Lakshadweep Islands administration docked at Old Mangalore port

Agatti Aerodrome on Agatti Island is currently the only airport in Lakshadweep. Air India Regional, a subsidiary of the state-owned carrier, serves Agatti and flies to Kochi on the mainland, as well as private carrier, Kingfisher Airlines, has commenced flights to and from Agatti. Kingfisher connects Kochi and Bangalore to Agatti. The other islands are linked by the Pawan Hans helicopter or boat service.^[24]

Between 1956 and 1962 there was no ship, but now ships are the major means of transportation for the islanders. Ships are operated from either Kochi, Mangalore or Beypore (Calicut). There are around 6 passenger ships, they are 1)M.V. Kavaratti, 2) M.V. Minicoy, 3) M.V. Bharat Seema, 4) M.V. Amindivi, 5) M.V. Lakshadweepsea, 6) M.V. Arabiansea, but generally four at a time operate. Advance bookings are required. Sailing schedules are arranged so that each island gets priority at some time of the year. There are high speed vessels operating between some of the larger islands like Kavaratti, Androth, Kalpeni etc., but sailings are affected by weather conditions^[25]

See also[link]

	Geography portal
	Asia portal
	South Asia portal
	India portal

• Laccadive Sea
• Lakshadweep (Lok Sabha constituency)
• Lakshadweep Police

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lakshadweep

• Official website
• A Picture Essay of Lakshadweep
• Hydrographic Description (Indian Ocean Pilot)
• Lagoon sizes
• Bangaram Island Resort
• List of Atolls
• An ornithological expedition to the Lakshadweep archipelago
• Sources towards a history of the Laccadive Islands

		Arabian Sea
	Arabian Sea		Lakshadweep Sea
		Lakshadweep district    East
		Indian Ocean

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