Introduction:

"Paraa...Paraa...Paradise..."

Lakshadweep is a paradise on earth and one of the least explored beach vacations of our motherland. We are back after a 6 Nights/7 Days expedition to this beautiful archipelago and the experience was serene. I am short of words to describe our mesmerizing experience. There is a real scarcity of information about Lakshadweep on the internet. Therefore I will try and give as much information as possible from my experience to assist you plan and make your Lakshadweep trip a memorable one.

If you are short of time and just want to get important first-hand information about Lakshadweep, you may refer the FAQ section at the end of this blog.

Let’s get started...

The first information on the Internet that got me addicted to this place was a picturesque video from India Ghoomo channel

Link to the video from India Ghoomo Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN8RcxdbOFg . This would indeed be a treat to your eyes.

This is how it started:

We are based out of Mumbai and booked a customized tour for 6 Nights/7 Days via SPORTS (Society for Promotion of Nature Tourism and Sports) We traveled to Agatti(Lakshadweep) via flight. The other mode to reach Lakshadweep is by way of a ship from Kochi/Mangaluru/Beypore.

Locations we zeroed in:

The islands that we chose to explore were:

• Thinnakara Island(1 Night)
• Bangaram Island(1 Night)
• Kavaratti Island(4 Nights)

Our Itinerary:

• Day 1:     Mumbai - Kochi – Agatti - Thinnakara
• Flight from Mumbai to Kochi 
• Flight from Kochi to Agatti
• Boat from Agatti to Thinnakara
• Stay at Thinnakara (1N)

• Day 2:     Thinnakara – Bangaram
• Boat from Thinnakara to Bangaram
• Stay at Bangaram (1N)

• Day 3:     Bangaram – Kavaratti
• Boat from Bangaram to Kavaratti
• Stay at Kavaratti for 4 Nights

• Day 7:     Kavaratti – Agatti – Kochi – Mumbai
• Boat from Kavaratti to Agatti
• Flight from Agatti to Kochi
• Flight from Kochi to Mumbai

Due to unavailability of direct flights to Lakshadweep, one has to travel to Kochi and then take a connecting flight to reach this wonderland

The Jet Airways fiasco led to cancellation of our Mumbai – Kochi flight. 

What did we do to accommodate this change in itinerary:

• We took a cab from Mumbai to Pune Airport;
• Later a predawn flight from Pune to Kochi; and
• The last leg of travel i.e. from Kochi to Agatti (Lakshwadeep) remained unaffected

Our Travelogue:

All thanks to the fault in our stars, during the same period Indigo fell short of pilots and our return flight from Kochi to Mumbai was canceled. They provided alternate accommodation on another flight with a layover at Bengaluru. As a result of this, we had to travel from Kochi to Bengaluru and then Bengaluru to Mumbai.

During the entire trip, we traveled in:

• 2 Ships
• 5 Flights
• 5 Boats
• 7 Cab

Was it worth it. Ofcourse!!! Every bit of it...

Day 0: Mumbai – Pune:

We booked a cab in advance for our journey from Mumbai to Pune Airport. Our Indigo flight to Kochi was scheduled to depart at 2.45 a.m. and we started at 7.00 p.m. from Mumbai. The chauffeur was in a hurry to drop us at Pune touching a maximum speed of 150 KM/H on the Mumbai Pune Expressway. There was moderate traffic in Pune city and we reached the airport by 11.00 p.m.

Pune:

Pune International airport situated in Lohegaon is a small airport with limited amenities. The runway is shared between Indian Air Force and Civil Aviation due to which photography is restricted.

After a sumptuous dinner of home cooked Roti and Bhendi (lady’s finger) curry at the airport, we went ahead and checked-in our bags at the kiosk. I prefer having ghar ka khaana (home-cooked food) at least on the first day of my travel. The flight departed on time and we reached Kochi airport at 4.30 a.m. 

Day 1: Kochi – Agatti – Thinnakara:

Kochi:

After receiving our checked-in baggage, we had to go to departures section of the Kochi airport. 
Since there was no provision for internal transfers, we had to get all the way out of the arrival hall to reach the departures section.

We were informed by Air India staff that baggage check-in for our flight to Agatti would begin only after 7.00 a.m. We rested ourselves on the plush chairs placed at Kochi airport.

Trivia about Kochi airport:

• Kochi airport is the world's first fully solar-powered airport
• The luxurious interiors and great artwork contributes to the airport's amazing ambience.

After a power nap on the comfy chairs, we checked-in our luggage and received our boarding passes. We were one more step closer to ticking off this dream destination from our bucket-list. 

You have to present the entry permit at the check-in desk at Kochi airport, a soft copy would suffice.

There were some great traditional art installations near the security check area on the first floor which looked like real humans dressed up.

Pro tip 1:

Note the arrival/departure terminals of your respective flights at Kochi as this airport has 3 terminals and plan with enough buffer time. Both our flights had arrival and departures from Terminal 2 and hence the intra-airport transit was seamless. After going through the security check, we waited enthusiastically near the boarding gate for our flight to Agatti scheduled to depart from Kochi at 8.45 a.m. 

And she said it...

"This is the boarding call for passengers travelling on Air India flight 9I 505 to Agatti departing from boarding gate no 9 on the ground level"

The final boarding call for which we waited so long :D

The flight was a compact ATR 72-600 with a 2X2 seating with enough leg room. Our ticket fare included a complimentary veg meal. We were very hungry and expecting a meal while the cabin crew distributed one loaf of a sandwich. The only disappointment that we faced on this wonderful trip was the food onboard Air India flight to Agatti. It was the worst sandwich I have ever had.

Even Ross Geller from Friends TV show wouldn't have resented if someone ate that sandwich ;)

We were starving and ready to have anything edible served, as our packed snacks were placed in the check-in luggage. We had a short nap woke up to witness the splendid landing scenes at Agatti airport. All you can see is turquoise blue water and suddenly the runway appears out of nowhere. Our flight made a royal entry into Agatti at 9.45 a.m.

Agatti:

Agatti Airport is one of the most scenic airports around the world. It is surrounded by water on three sides and a road on the fourth which would lead us into the island. With the shimmery turquoise blue water lagoon to the west and the dark blue sea to the east, you would be awestruck at the first sight of this beautiful union territory.

The scenic Agatti Airport runway 

The ATR-72 600 which took us to this coral paradise

Trivia - Agati airport:

• Agatti airport handles a single passenger flight from Air India which arrives from Kochi and departs back;
• It has a small arrival hall which is clean and equipped with air-conditioning. The SPORTS representatives would be present at the hall to assist you with further transit to other islands.

The staff and SPORTS coordinators are very helpful and try to make your stay pleasant. Additionally, the attendants at the restaurants at all the islands took very good care of our appetite and were always at our service with a smile. These amazing people played a pivotal role in making our Lakshadweep stay memorable.

A big heart felt thanks to all the SPORTS coordinators and staff at Lakshadweep.

You have to present your permit to the SPORTS coordinators who would get it acknowledged from the local police personnel present at the airport.

Pro tip 2:

Keep a hard copy of your permit handy (although a soft copy would do the job) as you would be required to furnish it to the staff each time you check-in at a new island. Also, while departing from Lakshadweep, the permit has to be produced at the security check to mark your departure from the islands.

Agatti Airport building with a miniature herbal garden in the foreground

A photoframe of the runway at the Airport

Our checked-in bags arrived in some time and the SPORTS representative Mr. Iqbal escorted us to the cabs which took us to the western jetty. It was a 20 minute road journey to the jetty with the turquoise lagoon accompanying us throughout. The jetty was a small structure with crystal clear water stretching as far as the eyes can see. There was a clean white sand beach near the jetty area. During our visit, the Government authorities had imposed a ban on tourist resorts at Agatti, it was to be used only as a transit for reaching other islands.

A beach side resort at Agatti

Beach near Western Jetty

After the arrival of passengers from airport to the jetty, we were allocated boats according to our itineraries. There were passengers to Thinnakara and Bangaram on the same jetty. Due to some problems with one of the boats, the passengers traveling to Kadmat were provided makeshift accommodation at Bangaram island.

The Western Jetty

Turquoise lagoon near the jetty

The boat was very basic with a tented structure to spare us from the scorching sun. Our luggage was loaded onto the boat and we were off.

Aaaand…. were onboard the final vehicle that would take us to the first island of stay

The boat ride to Thinnakara was an adventurous experience giving us the feeling of a bumpy boat ride. As we were moving away from Agatti, the sea became rougher and our adrenaline pumping rate quadrupled. The boat first navigated into Bangaram to drop off the passengers staying there and then moved to our island of abode: Thinnakara. It took us 90 minutes to reach Thinnakara from Agatti. Thinnakara and Bangaram are situated next to each other sharing the same lagoon with a commute time of 30 minutes.

Thinnakara:

Of all the islands we visited in Lakshadweep, Thinnakara was our favourite. The crystal clear sands were a treat to our eyes and we were mesmerized by the amazing scenes we witnessed. We were happy that we chose to come to Lakshadweep rather than a destination abroad.

Thinnakara island viewed from the boat

A boat anchored in the middle

We disembarked from the boat onto the floating jetty and made our way into this exquisite islet. The luggage was carried in by the staff and placed in our rooms. We assembled at the beachside restaurant and were welcomed with a refreshing mango drink. We were then escorted to our tents by Mr. Muhammad who gave us information about the island with a big smile on his face.

The welcome drink

The accommodation at Thinnakara is in rustic tents with all the essential facilities. The tents are equipped with a twin bed, ceiling fan, air cooler, dressing table, indoor bathroom and toilet. 

Kindly note presently there is no air-conditioning accomodation available at Thinnakara. Two bottles of drinking water are provided in the room every day and if you require more, you must take the bottles to the restaurant area and the staff would refill them for you. Mineral water is used for drinking and cooking purposes while the water in the bathroom smells of the sulfur compound. It didn’t feel hot inside the tents even in the afternoons during mid-April with the air cooler providing extra cooling.

Pro tip 3:

Leave the water in the bucket for a while and the sulphur smell would diffuse out.

Our residence: Tent 107

Inside the tent

We then retired in our cozy tent for a power nap. At 1.00 PM, we went to have the first of many amazing lunches at Lakshadweep. After a disappointing Air India breakfast, it was a sumptuous treat for our taste-buds.

Pro tip 4:

There is a fixed schedule for meals at each island and it is better to inquire about them in advance.

Lunch at Thinnakara

Rate card and Meal Schedule at Thinnakara

The first afternoon at Thinnakara was spent napping and catching up on the deprived sleep. At 4.30 p.m., we had evening tea served with Unibic cookies. We decided to laze around the beach and catch the sunset from the shore. It got cooler as the evening progressed and we witnessed a magnificient sunset from the beach. After lazing around for some time, we left the beach and twilight took over.

Calm beach at Thinnakara

A Volleyball net amidst white sands

The setting Sun

Even the motor boat seems to enjoy the sunset

Twilight

By this time, the staff at Thinnakara were busy preparing a beachside setup for candlelight dinner. The dinner tables were arranged uniformly and the island was dimly lit making up for a great dining experience. Dinner was served at 7.30 p.m. right on the beach making the evening perfect. The food was fresh and lip-smacking. After dinner, it was time to unwind with melodious music. We relaxed on the cane chairs placed in front of our tents with melodies playing in the background and soft breeze caressing our face at intervals. It was a heavenly feeling listening to soft hindi melodies on this secluded island with the soft breeze teasing us. We started feeling chilly outside and wrapped a bedsheet around and resumed our music program. We wanted to rest outside the tents for the entire night but it was not possible as we had to start early next day. We retired for the day by midnight and had a sound sleep after a long eventful day.

The beach-side candle light dinner setup

Dinner at Thinnakara

Day 2: Thinnakara - Bangaram:

"If you aren't an early riser, you miss out on so many things"

View from the tent

Morning Tea was served with cookies at 6.45 a.m. We had carried our own snorkels and went snorkeling near the shore. The water level had receded quite significantly because of low tide and we had to walk some distance towards the ocean to get a considerable depth for snorkeling. It was an awesome experience watching tiny aquatic creatures in crystal clear water. It was our first snorkeling experience and we were still learning to breathe through the snorkel.

The Watersports shack

All set for Snorkeling

We planned to go around for a mini-tour of the island before departing and hence we had to unwillingly get out of the beautiful sea. We wanted to spend some more time snorkeling and hence decided to dive in as soon as we reach Bangaram. We had a quick breakfast at 9 a.m. and went for a walk around the island. We moved towards lighthouse which stood tall and faced the sea. The beach in the vicinity of the lighthouse was even more serene. We could spot pretty little corals washed ashore by the sea. We could see the Parali islands at a short distance and wanted to walk there but couldn’t make it through due to the paucity of time. 

Beach near lighthouse

Coral trying to be floral

Anchored!!!

Thinnakara Lighthouse

The Parali islands viewed from Thinnakara

Deserted!!!

We decided to return back as we had to re-pack our luggage and the boat to Bangaram Island was scheduled to depart at 10.00 a.m. Finally, we bid adieu to this beautiful place at 10 a.m with a heavy heart.

"All good things have to end as so did our escapade with the most exquisite island of the region" 

We were sad we could spend only a single night at Thinnakara. The urban me had a perception that we wouldn't be able to survive without air conditioning and hence had booked a single night at Thinnakara. You must spend at least 2 nights at Thinnakara to experience its serenity and the calm-windy nights. Comfort should be the second priority when you want to see nature in its purest form.

The ambassadors who maintain the place for you

Pro tip 5 (Thinnakara - the tiny heaven that owned my heart): 

• Thinnakara is the most beautiful island of Lakshadweep
• Plan for at least a couple of nights at Thinnakara
• There is no Air Conditioning at Thinnakara
• Always wear a life jacket while going inside the water
• Tents near the restaurant must be preferred
• The lagoon near the main beach is calm and shallow
• Plan snorkeling during high tide at Thinnakara as the lagoon is shallower near the shore, thus more safe
• The beach near the Light House is lonely and better to spend serene and peaceful evenings
• Try and keep some time to walk to the Parali islands in low tides which is near the Light House beach

Bangaram:

"If one good thing ends, another one has to begin... We stepped out of our boat into the splendid Bangaram"

Nearing Bangaram

Bangaram Beach

A Warm welcome

Bangaram island looked beautiful from the boat but felt more pristine from the shore. We could see numerous cottages on the left side of the jetty while the other side was dominated with chairs and recliners. We were accommodated at the bar and served a Litchi flavored drink. Mr. Irfan handed us a map of the island providing a brief overview of the place focusing on the precautions to be taken.

Bangaram Island Layout

Directions from the restaurant area

After getting a good idea about the island, we quickly checked-in to our cottage and rushed back to snorkel near the jetty area. We strapped on the life jackets and plunged into the water. We could spot very few aquatic creatures but the tranquility inside the lagoon coupled with the penetrating golden sun rays made for a perfect snorkelling experience. The snorkeling session lasted an hour and we were now comfortable breathing through snorkel and had cracked the code to eliminate water when it accumulated in the pipe

Bangaram Dive Center

Rate card and Meal Schedule at Bangaram

After a satisfying snorkeling experience, we went to have lunch at the restaurant. It was a buffet spread as usual but with more variety than that in Thinnakara. I was completely full but having fruits in dessert is relishing and hence forced my tummy to make some more space. My tummy was kind enough to co-operate as they say dessert does not go inside the tummy it straight away goes to your heart. We rested for the afternoon in our lavish air-conditioned cottage and the urban me felt good.

Lunch at Bangaram

Double bed at the cottage

Other amenities at the cottage

We woke up at 5.00 p.m. and went to have evening tea which was served with a cake. Other options included corn flakes and croissants. We could prepare our own customized beverage from the ingredients available and it was a great experience. We then moved towards the sunset point and settled at the secluded beach. Not even a single soul was present at the beach and it felt magical. The sun had started its onward journey towards the horizon giving us a perfect sunset frame.

Path to the Sunset Point

Getting ready to set!!!

Kissing the Horizon

We waited at the sunset point for some more time admiring the scenery. At 6.00 p.m. we started walking on the beach towards our cottages. It was pitch dark in no time. We kept on walking for a while and after a point, the water level rose at the shore, we didn't want to risk walking in deep water. Thus, we took a detour off the beach and continued through one of the routes leading into the island. After walking nervously with the help of phone flashlights for 500 meters, we found small CFL bulbs on the edge of the path indicating that we were heading in the correct direction. We heaved a sigh of relief and reached the beach area and found the staff was preparing a similar setup for beach-side dinner. We went towards the buffet setup and the plates were completely filled in no time. After a delectable candle-light dinner, we retired for the day. 

Pro tip 6

You must leave the sunset point at Bangaram at least 30-40 mins before it gets dark. In order to avoid the risk of walking at night on the beach

A branch disguised like a deer!!!

Serene!!!

Dinner at Bangaram. Notice the Papadams on the right plate.

Day 3: Bangaram - Agatti - Kavaratti:

We planned for an early morning snorkeling session at Bangaram followed by breakfast keeping the same schedule that we followed at Thinnakara the previous morning. Early in the morning, there was a knock at the door and the staff requested to place our bags on their mini trolley and be ready to depart for Kavaratti. We were a bit disappointed as we were not informed about the early morning departure and were forced to cancel our snorkeling activity. We packed the bags in a hurry handing them over to the staff and got ready quickly. 

Mornings at Bangaram

A Perfect Frame

We were informed that we would first be taken to Agatti and then an onward ship would drop us at Kavaratti. One boat had already departed for Agatti and we were waiting for the other one. We had a quick breakfast with ample options. We had the first "Puttu"(A Kerala dish made from rice and coconuts) of our trip at Bangaram which was served with Potato Curry and it was tasty. The boat to Agatti was ready to depart at 8 AM and we bid goodbye to this tranquil island.

Big fat breakfast with Puttu

Follow the rules!!!

Pro tip 7: Bangaram - the tranquil island 

• A single night at Bangaram is ideal considering the high cost
• Cottages near the restaurant area must be preferred
• Inquire about the boat timings a day in advance for inter-island transfers
• The beach/lagoon near the jetty is relatively deep(more than 6 ft)
• Always wear a life jacket while going inside the water
• If you wish to enjoy a shallow lagoon, the beach near sunset point is safer
• One can enjoy a beautiful sunrise from the jetty area while sunsets are soothing at sunset point
• A sandbank area is formed when there is low tide near the sunset points
• Leave early from the sunset point before it gets dark as it takes at least 30 minutes to reach the cottage area

The sand bank at Bangaram seen from boat

Agatti:

The boat trip from Bangaram to Agatti was an intimidating one with the boat swinging hard in all directions like a mad pendulum. All the puttu that we had in breakfast was tossing up and down in our stomach. At one point, I felt that the climax of our amazing Lakshadweep trip would be completed by the Arabian Sea. After having our hearts in the mouth for 90 minutes, we de-boarded in one piece and waited at the beachside bench placed near the jetty. 

                                                           

Western jetty beach at Agatti

Our further schedule was to wait for the passengers arriving via flight and then together travel to Kavaratti by ship. The cab arrived at the jetty and we were transferred to the SPORTS office in Agatti to rest for a while until the other passengers arrive from the airport. There are two passenger jetties at Agatti with the Western Jetty catering boats going towards Thinnakara and Bangaram while the Eastern Side Jetty which accommodates big ships to Kavaratti. According to me, the ships to Kadmat would also depart from the eastern side jetty as the big ships are anchored here.

The scenic Eastern Jetty at Agatti

The Commemorative Plaque of the Easter Side Jetty

After the tourists arrived from the airport, we were taken to the eastern side jetty. Our ship was a giant vessel named HSC (High-Speed Craft) Skip Jack which was waiting for us a little away from the jetty and we had to make a transit via a small boat to get to it. The captain blew the horn and Skip Jack was off to our final island abode.

HSC Skip Jack Plaque

Skip Jack was a Jack as well as a Master in providing a comfortable journey. It was a well maintained fully air-conditioned ship with seating accommodation and on-board television for entertainment. They played a Malayalam movie "Madampi" literally translating to Feudal Lord played by Mohanlal fondly known as "Lalettan". The SPORTS staff provided a packed snack consisting of a mayonnaise sandwich and lemon drink. The journey was comfortable with minimal jerks. It was a 150 minute journey to Kavaratti in rough conditions but the Skip Jack kept us shielded.

Plush interiors of the vessel

Kavaratti:

The administrative capital of Lakshadweep had a huge jetty with many giants like Skip Jack anchored at the coast. On arrival at Kavaratti, we were transferred in a cab for a short journey to our beachside resort. 

Entering Kavaratti

The Giants getting ready for a new voyage!!!

View from the Jetty

The luggage arrived in a pick-up truck trailing our cab. We were served a mango flavored drink and accommodated into our rooms. After freshening up, we moved to the restaurant area for a late lunch. It was an open style restaurant with a good sea view.

The Kavaratti Beach Resort

Air Conditioned Hall

Spacious Bedroom

The beachside guest house at Kavaratti was a compact two-storeyed structure with 6 AC units. The units are pretty big with a hall and bedroom. Both the rooms are equipped with air conditioning. There are twin beds in the hall as well as the bedroom. A family of four can comfortably be accommodated in one unit. There is a big dressing area with a dressing table attached and a huge mirror. The toilets are spacious with un-interrupted hot water provision. All rooms provide a great view of the beach and a nice sit-out area. The beach near the guest house isn't big but a clean one. There is a dive center at Kavaratti where all the instructors are PADI certified.

Crystal clear Lagoon at Kavaratti

Dive and Watersports Shack at Kavaratti

Rate card for Watersports activities at Kavaratti

After having a nice feast, we marched back into our room to have the much-required sleep. We had booked 4 nights at Kavaratti and planned to relax for the initial couple of days. We used to laze around the entire day on the hammocks or chairs placed on the beach having delicious food.

Facing the Beach

Hammock at the beach

Day 5: Kavaratti:

After relaxing for a couple of days, it was time to wake up the snorkeler within us. We started our day relatively early with a quick breakfast and dived straight into the water. We spotted a different kind of fish which was camouflaged in the sand and moved horizontally. Some fishes had settled below the floating jetty while some had made a worn-out Tyre their home. After a couple of hours of continuous snorkeling, I dragged myself out of the sea. We had a sound sleep after lunch which was much required after a tiring snorkeling session. In the evening, the staff had arranged for coconut water on request which was good. After capturing a nice and satisfying time-lapse of the skyline, we retired for the day.

Sunset at Kavaratti

Perfect ambiance

Dinner is served!!!

Day 6: Kavaratti:

The third morning at Kavaratti was once again spent snorkeling and I was getting addicted to the calmness inside the shallow lagoon. Sometimes I used to just close my eyes beneath the water and enjoy the silence. After our final stint at snorkeling in Lakshadweep, we had bid adieu to the marine life at Kavaratti. The last of the many great lunches were served at 1.00 p.m. and we had the Papadam (Rice Papad) like drug addicts. We had to keep the Papadams on a different plate as the numbers of papads we used to munch were somewhat high.

View from the room

Meal schedule at Kavaratti

Delicious Lunch

The hospitality of Mr. Abdul Salam who serves food at the restaurant at Kavaratti requires a special mention. He was a young chap who found joy in his work taking good care of the tourists. On inquiring with him, I got to know that he is a native of Amini Island which is restricted for tourists and he visits his residence once a week on his day off from work.

One of the many beautiful experiences of traveling: it let's you meet amazing people with diverse backgrounds and cultures

Floating Jetty with the Permanent Jetty in the background

A simple message

Bicycles are the best means to explore a new place and we requested the staff to arrange a couple of them for us. It was very nice of Mr. Salam ZM who arranged bicycles for us and we went for a ride in the evening. It was great fun to pedal through this beautiful town traversing through tiny lanes in mild traffic. We went to the jetty adjacent to the main jetty admiring the turquoise lagoon and the SPORTS resort from a distance. We wanted to visit the museum cum aquarium but had to return back as the visiting hours had passed.

Trying out the local attire called "Mundu"

View from another jetty

Kavaratti Government School

Aquarium cum Museum

A structure near the jetty

We went to a store and packed some local delicacies to take home. After a pleasant cycling experience, we settled at the beach enjoying one final sunset of this beautiful journey. Dinner was served at 8.30 p.m. and we hogged on some more papads. We ended our day reasonably early as our boat to Agatti was scheduled to depart at 6.30 a.m. the next day and we had to check out of the resort at 5.45 a.m.

Sun trying to hide behind the Palms

Day 7: Kavaratti - Agatti - Kochi - Bengaluru - Mumbai:

On the final day, we woke up at 5.15 a.m. and were ready for the journey. We departed for the jetty in a cab at 6 a.m. After our luggage was loaded into the vessel, we settled for a seat in the front row. A large number of white cars were lined up at the jetty indicating the arrival of some VIP. We got to know that the Honorable Administrator of the Union Territory Mr. Farooq Khan would be traveling with us up to Agatti. We bid good adieu to this beautiful town and began our return journey. We were served packed breakfast which consisted of a mayonnaise sandwich. We reached Agatti at 9.30 a.m. and made a similar mid-sea transfer to a smaller boat to reach the jetty. A cab took us back to the airport. We were informed by our relatives back home that airport check-in software of Air India was facing some technical glitch and as a result, all Air India flights were running with a minimum delay of 8 hrs. The staff at Agatti airport were smart enough to print the boarding passes the previous day sparing us from the long wait. After undergoing the security check, we presented our permit for one final time and the staff marked our departure from Lakshadweep.

We were seated in the departure hall which was compact and equipped with ample seats and clean toilets. The Air India ATR 72-600 arrived and the passengers coming from Kochi were de-boarding with the same excitement that we had on our arrival day. The boarding started in some time and we departed with loads of memories from this pristine archipelago.

Kochi was reached on time and the same flight was going for an onward journey to Bengaluru. We too had a layover at Bengaluru for our journey from Kochi to Mumbai but that was booked with Indigo airlines. We checked-in our bags at Kochi which would be collected directly at Mumbai as we were booked on a single PNR. 

After reaching Bengaluru, we went through the internal transfers gate which had a provision for security checks for passengers having a layover. 


Pro tip 8:

There is a real shortage of food joints at the Terminal 2 at Kochi Airport and we had to settle for a Parotta–Curry combo which was costly and tasteless. 
There is a KFC outlet near the boarding gates at Bengaluru airport. This might save the day. We ordered some burgers to calm down our hunger pangs at this point in time.


We reached Mumbai Airport at 9.00 p.m. and took a cab back home thus marking an end to this amazing calm, peaceful, content and serene experience.

One from 35000 feet above ground

We were served some of the best home cooked meals throughout our stay and there wasn’t room for any complaints.

Lakshadweep really surprised us with its serenity and tranquility.

What amazed us even more was the amazing service by SPORTS executives and staff. We were overwhelmed with the amazing hospitality at Lakshadweep and our heart was filled with joy.

All you need to know before booking your vacation to Lakshadweep:

The following points should be kept in mind while booking a tour package via SPORTS:

• There is (presently) no provision to book a tour( by Air) to Lakshadweep online. Only Lakshadweep Samudram package which includes a ship journey can be booked online

• Information regarding the available packages are listed on the SPORTS website and more information could be gathered from the call center and emails. You must prefer communication via email as it would be documented and serve as a future reference

• Category of rooms currently available are as follows:
• Thinnakara: Non AC Tents with Air Cooler
• Bangaram: AC Cottages with Air Conditioning
• Kavaratti: AC Suit Rooms
• Kadmat: Non-AC, Standard AC, Deluxe AC and Super Deluxe AC

• After sending the email mentioning you requirement with a detailed itinerary of your stay, they would revert back with the final package cost

• The package provided by SPORTS is inclusive of the following services:
• Accommodation at each island
• Food: Morning Tea/Coffee, Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Tea/Coffee, Dinner
• Inter-island transfers: All the inter-island transfers are included in the cost
• Pick and Drop(Roadside): This includes the to/fro journey from Airport as well as the jetty to the hotel.
• Permit Charges
• Heritage Fee
• Taxes

• After you send your confirmation via email, your package would be blocked with a unique reference number. You have make 50% advance payment while the remaining amount needs to be paid 15 days before the tour starts. You have to fill an application form with complete details of the tourists with your food choice and send it over email

• On complete payment, you would receive the travel permit via email

Some of the Frequently Asked Questions:

• Is the Entry to Lakshadweep restricted?
• Yes. One requires an entry permit issued by the Lakshadweep Administration to visit these islands. An entry permit is a document mentioning the guest details with duration of stay at each island and the details of inter-island transfers

• What are the requirements for Foreign Nationals to visit Lakshadweep?
• Foreign nationals, only with “tourist visa” will be permitted to Lakshadweep islands

• What is SPORTS?
• The Society for Promotion of Nature Tourism and Sports (SPORTS) is the governmental organization set up for looking after the tourism in Lakshadweep

• Is it mandatory to book my tour via SPORTS?
• No, it is not mandatory to book a trip via SPORTS. There are some private tour operators who provide packages and some cheap ones too. Make sure you book only through Authorized Travel agents of SPORTS which can be found at https://lakshadweeptourism.com/agents.html
• There have been instances of private operators canceling the tours at the last moment without any concrete reason
• The only gruesome task of booking with SPORTS is the booking process which isn’t automated and you have to communicate via emails and make payments via NEFT

• What are the advantages of booking with SPORTS?
• SPORTS provide a transparent package and the accommodations are mostly right on the beach
• Police verification is required if you book via private players and is a tedious task

• Which is the best way to reach Lakshadweep?
• Presently, there is a single flight to Lakshadweep and that is from Kochi. Take a flight from your originating place to Kochi and an onward flight from Kochi to Agatti. If you are from Bengaluru, the Air India flight goes from Bengaluru to Kochi and the same one departs to Agatti and vice versa.

• How much layover buffer time at Kochi is essential?
• Keep a buffer of at least 3 hours as you have to go through a security check again at Kochi. Note the arrival/departure terminal for your flights at Kochi as the Airport consists of 3 terminals and inter-terminal transfers require more time

• Can I stay at Agatti? My private tour operator is providing accommodation at Agatti?
• No(during the time when this blog is published). Here is the information from the SPORTS website: "It may please be informed that presently no Government permitted resort at Agatti Island.
  Any information on the contrary is false"

• What would be an estimated package cost for a 6 Night/7 Days tour from SPORTS?
• It would range between INR 70,000-80,000 for a couple (stay on 3 islands) exclusive of Airfare. The cost of accommodation at each island(for a couple) are as follows:
• Bangaram: INR 15,000 INR Per Night
• Thinnakara: INR 10,000 INR Per Night
• Kavaratti: INR 8,000 Per Night (If you book for 3 nights)
• Kadmat: INR 5,000 to INR 11,000 Per Night

• The ideal time to visit?
• Lakshadweep enjoys a tropical climate and hence October to Mid-May is the tourist season. The most ideal time would be in the winter from October to Mid-February. We traveled in April and the temperature was moderate at 30°C
• All resorts would be open in monsoon but the inter-island transfer would be difficult and choppers would become the only mean for transfers

• What would be the recommended duration of stay at each island
• Thinnakara: 2 Nights
• Bangaram: 1 Night
• Kadmat: 2 Nights
• Kavaratti: 2 Nights

• What about Water Sports?
• Buy a snorkeling set with goggles and a snorkel from a local store which is ideal and saves your hard earned money. We purchased the basic snorkeling set from Decathlon and it was good
• Borrow a life jacket available at each island(complimentary) for snorkeling
• Snorkeling and Scuba Diving are ideal for non-swimmers
• Scuba diving can be done at Kavaratti or Bangaram and the rate cards are updated on this blog

• How are the payments on the island done?
• All transactions on the islands are through cash only and hence carry enough cash (INR)

• Are ATMs available at the islands?
• ATMs are available only at Kavaratti but don’t be dependent on it.

• Can we take the corals home?
• Strictly not. Picking up corals in any form is an offense punishable under law

• Is Liquor prohibited at Lakshadweep?
• Liquor is prohibited on all islands except Bangaram

• Which phone networks are available?
• Airtel network is available at Agatti, Thinnakara, Bangaram and Kavaratti while BSNL network is available at all the inhabited islands. The Airtel 4G Internet didn’t work at any island during our stay

If you require more information, feel free to reach out to me via email and I will be happy to help. You can reach out to me via email at: vivek.a.venugopalan@gmail.com