Arabian Sea islands, off Kerala · Lakshadweep
Kavaratti, Lakshadweep
Sources: wikimedia
About Kavaratti
- Island
- Coastal
Where it is
Kavaratti is the capital of Lakshadweep, India's smallest union territory, on a small coral island fringed by a lagoon in the Arabian Sea, several hundred kilometres off the coast of Kerala.
History
By tradition Islam reached the Lakshadweep islands in the 7th century. Kavaratti and its neighbours were long held by the Arakkal rulers of Kannur on the mainland and later came under British rule as part of Malabar district. The islands became a union territory in 1956 and took the name Lakshadweep in 1973.
People
Islanders speak Jeseri, the local dialect of Malayalam, and many live by fishing, especially for tuna, and by tending coconut groves that yield copra and coir. Celebrations feature traditional dances such as Kolkali, a stick dance, and Parichakali, performed with shields and swords.
Known for
- A turquoise lagoon fringed by coral reefs
- Snorkelling, scuba diving and glass-bottom boats
- The Ujra Mosque and its carved woodwork
- Pole-and-line tuna fishing
- Coconut groves and coir
Did you know?
Kavaratti island is only about 5.6 km long and 1.6 km wide, yet the administration of the whole archipelago moved here from Kozhikode on the mainland in 1964.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.