Lakshadweep Travel Guide: Islands, Entry Permits and How to Plan

The Lakshadweep Administration lists six islands as its tourist places: Bangaram, Agatti, Kadmat, Minicoy, Kalpeni and Kavaratti. Lakshadweep Tourism, the tourism site that the Administration links to, says the territory has 36 islands, 12 atolls, 3 reefs and 5 submerged banks, of which ten islands are inhabited. Most of what there is to see is the sea itself: lagoons, reefs and beaches, with a few mosques, a lighthouse and an aquarium on land. Before anything else, read the permit section below, because no one can simply turn up. Kochi is the gateway and is covered in our Kochi travel guide; the state around it is in our Kerala travel guide.

Agatti

Agatti has the only airstrip in Lakshadweep, so it is where flights from Kochi land; the Administration describes its lagoon as one of the most beautiful in the territory. From Agatti, boats run to Kavaratti and Kadmat in the fair season from October to May, and Lakshadweep Tourism says Bangaram can be reached from here by boat or helicopter. Incredible India names the Mohiyudeen Mosque on the island. The Administration lists Agatti among its tourist places, but Lakshadweep Tourism has carried an undated notice about resort accommodation on the island, so confirm where you will stay before you book.

Bangaram

Bangaram is a tiny, teardrop-shaped island close to Agatti and Kavaratti, and Lakshadweep Tourism calls its resort the only one on an uninhabited island in the territory. The Administration says that Bangaram, like Agatti, can be reached by flight from Kochi, and Lakshadweep Tourism says guests then transfer from Agatti by boat or helicopter, so ask your operator which is running. The Administration lists it among the islands with scuba facilities. Lakshadweep Tourism states that prohibition applies on all islands except Bangaram.

Kadmat

Kadmat is 8 km long and only 550 metres wide at its broadest point. It is the island Lakshadweep Tourism singles out for diving, calling it one of the most beautiful dive centres in India with visibility of 20 to 50 metres. The Administration says the dive centre offers beginner to advanced courses throughout the season, from 1 October to 1 May, and serves certified divers. Kayaks, sailing boats, pedal boats and glass-bottomed boats are also available, and a water sports institute runs on the island.

Kavaratti

Kavaratti is the administrative headquarters of the territory and, in the Administration's words, its most developed island. Incredible India counts fifty-two mosques on the island, among them the Ujra Mosque, and mentions the Kavaratti lighthouse. The Administration says its dive centre has PADI-certified instructors who train beginners and experienced divers, and Lakshadweep Tourism lists a marine aquarium, glass-bottomed boat trips and kayaks, windsurfers and sailing boats for hire. The island's lagoon suits swimming and snorkelling.

Kalpeni

Lakshadweep Tourism lists lagoon activities for Kalpeni: swimming, snorkelling and walking on the reef, with kayaks, sailing boats and pedal boats available to hire. The Administration's tourist-places page shows a folk dance of the island. Ask your operator how to reach Kalpeni, since the transfer is not set out on the official pages.

Minicoy

Minicoy lies about 200 km south of the northern group of islands, and the Administration says it is, in a sense, isolated from the main group. Lakshadweep Tourism describes it as 10.6 km long and the second largest island after Andrott, with tourist cottages, bathing huts and water sports. Incredible India notes a lighthouse built in 1885 and the Lava dance of Minicoy. Lakshadweep Tourism says Minicoy, like Kadmat and Kavaratti, is not connected by flight or helicopter.

Pitti Bird Sanctuary

Incredible India lists the Pitti Bird Sanctuary about 24 km north-west of Kavaratti and says it has about 75 species of oceanic birds, among them the greater crested tern and the sooty tern. How visitors get there, and whether permission is needed beyond the general entry permit, is not stated, so ask the Administration or an authorised operator before planning a visit.

The islands are a restricted area. Lakshadweep Tourism says that a permit from the Administration is required to visit them, and the Administration's own website states that an entry permit issued by the Lakshadweep Administration is needed. Applications go through the Administration's e-permit portal, which its Entry Permit page links, together with the permit rules and the list of authorities who issue permits to the various categories of applicant. Lakshadweep Tourism adds that its organisation, SPORTS, handles the permit formalities for bona fide tourists. Fees, processing times and the rules for foreign nationals are set out in the permit rules rather than on the tourism pages, so check the rules on the Administration's website and apply well before your dates. Our India visa guide covers the visa side for visitors from abroad.

Water sports come first: the Administration lists kayaking and canoeing, snorkelling, glass-bottom boats and, on the package islands, pedal boats, sailboats and windsurfing. Scuba diving is offered at Kadmat, Kavaratti and Bangaram, and Minicoy has a dive centre. Local boats with experienced crews can be hired for deep-sea fishing, and Incredible India lists barracuda, sailfish and yellowfin tuna among the catch. On land, look for the folk dances: Incredible India names Kolkali, Parichakali, Oppana and the Lava of Minicoy. The same page lists local dishes such as Mus Kavaab, fried octopus and Batla Appam. For the beaches of the mainland coast, see our beaches and islands experiences in Kerala and the Kochi tours and experiences.

The Administration's tourism page says the best time to visit Lakshadweep is between September and May, with temperatures between 22 and 36 degrees Celsius, monsoon rain from June to August and the peak season from December to February. Lakshadweep Tourism puts the best months at October to mid-May, with the rainy season from mid-May to September, and states that during the monsoon ships carry only local passengers, so tourists cannot travel by sea then. The two agree on October to May, which is the safe window to plan. Flights from Kochi to Agatti run all year, and Lakshadweep Tourism says Agatti and Bangaram stay pleasant in the monsoon, while Kadmat, Minicoy and Kavaratti are harder to reach then because they are not connected by flight or helicopter. The Administration does list a monsoon helicopter transfer from Agatti to Kavaratti, subject to availability. For the national picture, see our best time to visit India guide.

• By air: Flights run from Kochi to Agatti, and the Administration says the flight takes approximately one hour and thirty minutes. Agatti is the only island with an airstrip. See our domestic flights guide for booking.
• By ship: Ships sail from Kochi, and the Administration says the passage takes 14 to 18 hours depending on the island. In the monsoon, Lakshadweep Tourism says, ships carry only local passengers.
• By helicopter and boat: The Administration says a helicopter transfer from Agatti to Kavaratti is available in the monsoon, subject to availability, and that boats from Agatti to Kavaratti and Kadmat run in the fair season from October to May.

Kochi is described on the Administration's site as the gateway to Lakshadweep. If you are building the journey from the mainland, see our Kochi tour packages.