| It's difficult to find areas not overly developed for | | | | temperature remains in the 80s and 90s, and the |
| tourists these days. As soon as one is discovered, the | | | | water in the upper 70s to low 80s year round. All the |
| world finds out about it and before long, it has lost its | | | | other ingredients that make up a paradise getaway |
| charm. | | | | are here too - white sandy beaches shaded by |
| Fortunately, there are still a few places that are | | | | coconut palms, aquamarine lagoons, sparkling coral |
| untouched by mass tourism, where you have a | | | | reefs and an abundance of colorful marine life. Food |
| chance to experience local life to the fullest. The | | | | and drink, however, is not a major reason to visit - the |
| Lakshadweep islands, off the Malabar Coast in Kerala, | | | | islands are not exactly known for their cuisine, and |
| India, is one of those places. The local government has | | | | being 95% Muslim, alcohol is not permitted (except for |
| made it their mission to keep it that way too, by | | | | on Bangaram, and the Bangaram Island Resort |
| promoting tourism only on islands that can sustain it, | | | | consequently boasts a well stocked bar). The main |
| and keeping it all as eco-conscious as possible: | | | | reason people come to visit is the ocean and all |
| high-rise buildings are banned, only bio toilets are | | | | activities related thereto: scuba diving (the islands are |
| allowed, rain water is collected to conserve fresh | | | | recognized as one of the best diving spots in the |
| water, electricity is supplied by solar power, and they | | | | world), snorkeling, kayaking, canoeing, swimming and |
| even go so far as to encourage tourists (and locals) to | | | | sunbathing. |
| burn coconut husks instead of using pesticides to fight | | | | The westernmost island in the group, Agatti, is home to |
| off mosquitoes and other pests (Bravo! I say. If only | | | | the only airport and one of the two resorts (Agatti |
| governments everywhere could follow suit). | | | | Island Beach Resort) in Lakshadweep. It has one of |
| The islands, atolls and reefs of Lakshadweep are | | | | the most beautiful lagoons in the area, a museum of |
| actually the mountaintops of a submarine volcanic | | | | Lakshadweep's history, and a mosque built in the 16th |
| range, the Chagos-Laccadive Plateau (which also | | | | century. |
| includes the Maldives and Chagos). The name | | | | Bangaram is uninhabited, except for the staff and |
| suggests that there are many islands in the group (the | | | | guests at the aforementioned Bangaram Island Resort. |
| Malayalam word Lakshadweep translates to "a | | | | Spend an afternoon here snoozing on a sandy beach |
| hundred thousand islands") but in reality, there are only | | | | to the soothing sound of the ocean, or, if you want |
| 36. Ten are inhabited, but, in keeping with the effort to | | | | more action, get in it. The diving here is fantastic and |
| limit tourism, foreign visitors are only allowed on 3 of | | | | you can expect to see sharks, rays, moray eels, |
| those: Bangaram, Agatti and Kadmat, and you will | | | | turtles and a myriad of colorful coral reef fish - angels, |
| need a permit from the Indian Government to be able | | | | clowns, butterflies, surgeons. If you're new to diving and |
| to visit. | | | | want to give it a try, the diving center at the resort |
| There are a couple of yacht charter companies on the | | | | offers courses. |
| mainland, and you have the option of flying over to | | | | Diving is also a popular pastime on Kadmat, the only |
| Agatti Island (a 1.5 hour flight) from Cochin and meeting | | | | island in the group with has lagoons on both sides. |
| up with your boat and crew there, or starting out from | | | | There is a Water Sports Institute and Dive School |
| Cochin and sailing across, which takes around 3 days. | | | | here which, in addition to diving, offers windsurfing and |
| Bareboat charters are hard to find here, but skippered | | | | parasailing and also rents out kayaks, pedal boats and |
| and crewed are readily available. | | | | glass bottomed boats. Kadmat, which only allows 48 |
| Lakshadweep has a monsoon tropical climate, and the | | | | tourists at a time, is becoming increasingly popular with |
| best (driest) time to visit is December to March. The air | | | | honeymooners looking for privacy in paradise. |