Bangaram island, Lakshadweep
Islands, India. Photo by Cosimo and Cristina Bacci
Laccadive
(Lakshadweep) Islands are a group of coral reefs and islands in the Indian Ocean, lying
between 8° and 12°13' N. and 71° and 74° E. There are seventeen separate reefs. There
are, however, only 12 atolls, three reefs and five submerged banks. Only eleven are
inhabited islands: Kavaratti, Agatti, Amini, Kadmat, Kiltan, Chetlat, Bitra, Andrott,
Kalpeni, Bangaram and Minicoy. The total population of the territory is about 60,000
inhabitants, they are Muslims and speak a dialect of Malayalam. The islands are small and
the total area is only about 32 sq. km. The main islands are Kavarrati (where the capital
city, Kavarrati, is located), Agatti, Minicoy, and Amini. Tourism is an emerging industry,
Agatti has an airport where there are direct flights from Cochin.
