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Lakshadweep has one of the most beautiful and untouched beaches in the world. This Archipelago (group of Islands) is heaven for those looking for an offbeat yet relaxing beach vacation.
Lakshadweep is not only one of the best places to visit in April but its mesmerizing beauty of virgin lagoons will take your breath away and imprint itself forever in your mind.
After the recent visit by PM Modi and his team’s efforts to promote Lakshadweep tourism, this island should be on the top of your travel bucket list this year.
In this article, we will mention everything there is to know about Lakshadweep, such as the main attractions, what you can do there, the best time to visit, and how to reach Lakshadweep.
It only took a series of posts on X from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make Lakshadweep one of the top-rated beach destinations for many Bollywood celebrities to promote tourism.
After serving on X for a while, I realized that I’m not the only one who’s having a major FOMO after seeing all the mesmerizing pictures of Lakshadweep Archipelago.
If you’re on the same page as me and looking for a beachy excursion but don’t know how to get to Lakshadweep, I’ve got you covered! Here’s how you can reach the beautiful, pristine beaches!
There’s no direct way to reach Agatti Island in Lakshadweep from Delhi. To reach Lakshadweep, you’ll have to take a detour since Lakshadweep Island is only connected to Cochin.
If you’re booking a weekend in beach paradise, here’s how to reach Lakshadweep from Delhi:
The cheapest way
The cheapest way to reach Agatti Island from New Delhi is:
This way, it will take you around 46 hours and 40 minutes to reach. This means that, although it is the cheapest way, it will take you longer than expected to reach your destination.
The fastest way
The fastest way to reach Agatti Island from New Delhi is:
Since this is the fastest way, it will take you just 14 hours and 35 minutes to reach your destination.
There are two means to visit Lakshadweep from Mumbai, that is by airplane and ferry. You can either fly to Agatti Island or take a ship straight to Lakshadweep.
The cheapest way
Here’s how to get to Lakshadweep from Mumbai in the cheapest way:
This way, it will take you around 29 hours and 0 minutes to reach, which is longer than expected.
The fastest way
Here’s how to go to Lakshadweep
This way, it will take you around 10 hours and 30 minutes to reach your destination, which is the fastest.
The only airport that Agatti Island connects to is Cochin Airport, so there are no direct flights from Bangalore either. Here is the cheapest and fastest way to reach Lakshadweep.
The cheapest way
Here’s how to reach Lakshadweep from Bangalore in the cheapest way.
This whole journey will take around 35 hours and 35 minutes to reach your destination.
The fastest way
Here is the fastest way to reach Agatti Island from Bangalore:
This whole journey will take around 3 hours and 55 minutes to reach your destination. This might cost you a bit more, but you’ll save more than 30 hours on your journey.
The journey to Lakshadweep from Pune is very similar to that from Mumbai; it might just take you a couple of hours more. Here’s how to travel to Lakshadweep from Pune:
The cheapest way
The whale journey will be around 44 hours and 20 minutes. By now, you must have figured out that the cheapest way always costs you more time. But if you have some extra hours on your hands, I will recommend you save some bucks on travel!
The fastest way
The fastest way to reach Agatti Island from Pune is:
This journey will be just 16 hours and 45 minutes long.
Also, to visit Lakshadweep, you will be required to have an entry permit. For which you can apply online as well as offline. Applying online is easier and faster. To apply, you have to:
The permit cost is ₹50 for each applicant; the heritage fee is ₹100 for children (12 to 18); and ₹200 for adults (above 18). The permit may also take time to get issued so make sure you complete all these requirements at least a week before your trip.
If you prefer a more leisurely journey, you can take a ship from Cochin to Lakshadweep. While savoring the beautiful blues of the ocean and clear sky, remember that a voyage to Lakshadweep takes much longer than a flight.
The availability of the ship services may be limited, and the schedule is subject to change. So make sure to book your tickets in advance and check all the details related to the voyage beforehand.
Also Read – Top 30 Pink Sand Beaches Around the World
Lakshadweep is a tropical archipelago of 36 Islands and is widely known for its vibrant marine life, pristine beaches, virgin Lagoons, and untouched coral reefs. It is certainly one of the most beautiful places in India to explore before you die!
Here are some Lakshadweep tourist places that will force you to wonder, “Is this really India?”
There are a whole lot of adventurous and serene experiences to be discovered in Lakshadweep. So this year instead of rushing off to other more popular beach destinations, give this unexplored paradise a chance, and I’m sure you will never regret it.
Lakshadweep is full of places that you can visit with your friends and family. Here, we have hardly touched on the subject of tourist places in Lakshadweep. If you want to explore further, watch this YouTube vlog by Distance Between:
PM Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the Lakshadweep Islands has created a stir among Maldivian politicians.
The PM of India uploaded breathtaking pictures of the Lakshadweep Islands and its people on January 4, 2024, encouraging Lakshadweep tourism. There was no mention of the Maldives or any other island nation in this promotion. Still threatened by the popularity of the post and driven by personal hate, Mariyam Shiuna, Maldives Deputy Minister of Youth, Empowerment, Information, and Arts, along with many other prominent Maldivian social media influencers, responded to the post with offensive, racist, xenophobic, and derogatory comments targeting not just the Prime Minister but Indians at large.
This created an uproar among Indians and a collective boycott of the Maldives by many social media influencers and Bollywood celebrities. Not just this but more than 8,000 hotels and 2,500 flight tickets were canceled during this time.
Since more than 30% of Maldives tourism is dependent on India, this will be a big blow to the country.
Lakshadweep is just as beautiful as any other popular beach destination in the world, but this union territory is recording fewer and fewer visitors each year.
If Lakshadweep is such a beautiful and serene place, then why is it not popular among travelers? Unfortunately, several factors have decreased tourism in Lakshadweep compared to more mainstream tourist destinations. These are:
The transport options to the island are limited to flights in ships. Lakshadweep has one airport, which is on Agatti Island and connects to Cochin International Airport. Travelers coming from any other place will first have to reach Cochin and then take a flight from there to Lakshadweep.
The ferry schedule can also change frequently and is not as convenient as compared to more popular tourist destinations.
The tourism in Lakshadweep is not that developed and these breathtaking landscapes are unknown to the majority of the population. This might be seen as a drawback, but it is also the reason behind the pristine beaches, raw, untouched beauty of virgin lagoons, and lush Marine biodiversity of Lakshadweep.
Although Lakshadweep has not yet emerged as a huge beach tourism spot, it is a gem floating along the Arabian Sea just waiting to be explored.
Lakshadweep is definitely worth spending your preciously earned vacation on because the serene experience that you will get here is incompatible with any other mainstream beach spot in the world.
Also, it’s worth noticing that the waters, land, and sky of Lakshadweep are crystal clear. This Island is far away from any kind of pollution, unlike other major tourist spots like the Maldives and Bali.
Also Read – 40 Best Places to Visit in June in India: Enjoy a Summer Retreat
The Maldives and the Lakshadweep Islands are both stunning archipelagos located in the Indian Ocean, known for their pristine beaches, coral reefs, and vibrant marine life. However, there are several differences between the two destinations. Here’s a comparison:
Take some time out of your busy schedules and plan your next beachy vacation to Lakshadweep, along with all the Bollywood stars, instead of the Maldives or Goa. Chill along the white Sandy beaches in the fresh salty air while witnessing the blinding beauty of coral reefs and virgin lagoons.
I hope this article gives you all the information you need to know about how to visit Lakshadweep Island from different parts of India.
Ans: It depends on different packages but just to give you an idea, it can cost anywhere from 30,000 to 33,000 for 4 nights / 5 days.
Ans: The only airport in Lakshadweep Islands, Agatti Aerodrome (AGX) is situated on Agatti Island.
Ans: Anyone who is not a native of Lakshadweep will have to obtain a permit from the Competent authority to enter and reside on this island.
Sources