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Lakshadweep
The
coral islands of Lakshadweep, a total of 36 of which
10 are inhabited, have in recent years become one of
the country's popular tourist destinations. One of the
very last places in the world where little has changed
in the face of rapid development. The Lakshadweep lies
in the Arabian Sea. It is surrounded by lagoons and
known for their pristine beauty. Coconut trees
abound, the beaches are silver crescents and the sea
is a crystal clear endless blueness. Tourism is restricted
to ensure that the delicate environment is not ecologically
damaged. Only five islands are open for tourism- four
to domestic tourists and one to international tourists.
Bangaram,
the resort for international tourist, is otherwise uninhabited.
The four islands that are open for domestic tourism
include Kavaratti,
the administrative capital; Kalpeni
with its rich coral and marine life;
Kadmat with its very fine beach;
and Minicoy
which has one of the largest lagoons in the archipelago.
Visitors can arrive here by ship from Kochi, enjoy a
wide range of water sports, explore marine life, and
relax. Lakshadweep has an airstrip Agatti
through which it is connected to Kochi on a flight that
originates from Chennai. Ship cruises are available
as packages designed for the tourists. You can go for
Scuba Diving- Laccadives(Kadmat). An eight to ten
day course is conducted by trained instructors and dive
masters. To introduce you to the wonders of life under
the sea, untouched, unspoilt with average visibility
of 150ft. All equipment provided by Laccadives. Swimming
skills are mandatory and the minimum age for diving
is 14 years. A doctor's certificate clearing the candidate
to be fit for diving is necessary. |