Lakshadweep is a stunning spot in India, tucked away in the Arabian Sea. It's around 200 miles southwest of Kochi and is governed directly by India's central government. There are many islands, but only ten are inhabited, and just a few are open to tourists. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Lakshadweep a year back, it sparked a nationwide tourism frenzy. Our phones were ringing off the hook for two weeks straight! Everyone wanted to go, but it's not the kind of place you can just book a flight and go for a beach vacation. We used to run tours to Lakshadweep, but we stopped after the pandemic. Here are some very important things you should be knowing before planning your visit to Lakshadweep Islands.
There used to be a ship called the Tipu Sultan that took tourists and Islands to Lakshadweep. It was commissioned some 35 years back, operated by the Lakshadweep administration. Guests could board the ship, sail to the islands, stay overnight, and visit the islands on day trips. It was a hit with central government employees who could use their leave travel allowance for the cruise. The ship was pretty basic, initially meant for islanders, but it became popular with tourists too.
Rajeev Gandhi, a former Indian prime minister, loved Lakshadweep and often vacationed there. He pushed for opening the islands to tourism, leading to the first proper resort, Bangaram Island Resort, which opened in 1988. It mainly attracted foreign tourists but shut down in 2008 due to legal battles.
The resort reopened in 2018 and is now open to tourists from October to May each year. It's managed by SPORT, the agency handling tourism in Lakshadweep. We were lucky enough to visit in 2018 and made a video to promote the destination, but things weren't as smooth as we'd hoped.
Lakshadweep needs better infrastructure for tourism. The island relies on coconut and tuna for income, and islanders mostly earn from central government jobs and aid. There are now more flights to Agati, which is positive. You can book Bangaram Island stays and ship packages online through the SPORTS website - https://samudram.utl.gov.in/. There are other private properties in other Isands as well but they would require proper permits for which we need to submit Police clearance certificates and it will take around 15 days for it to get issued. Permits for Bangaram Island Resort are issued within 24 hours, but other islands it is a hassle. Reaching other Islands other than Agatti is kind of long journey by boat through the sea, which might not go well with mainlanders.
Climate change is a real issue, and frequent low-pressure zones in the Arabian Sea can disrupt travel plans. These can turn into cyclones, leading to canceled flights and boat services. You might get stuck on the island or have your plans canceled at the last minute. In these situations, you're on your own; the airline or SPORTS can't do much. We've had tough experiences due to this, but safety comes first.
We recommend staying at Bangaram Islands; it's truly beautiful. It's a bit pricey, mainly because operations are expensive. The resort generates its own power using diesel generators, and everything has to be brought in from the mainland. Compared to Andaman Islands, another beach destination, Lakshadweep is much more expensive due to limited logistics.
The local population primarily consist orthodox Muslim community and might not be the most tourist-friendly. Modest dress is essential, even sleeveless tops might be frowned upon. Alcohol is banned, and bringing it to the island is an ofense, except at Bangaram Island Resort, which has a permit to serve alcohol.
Lakshadweep is stunning, but the government might prioritise its naval base over tourism development due to its strategic importance. But things could change as years pass by, let us wait and see how things turn up.
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