The island lies between the two tranquil seas—the Arabian Sea ​​and the Laccadive Sea. This serene archipelago of islands is divided into three sub-groups, namely the Laccadive Islands, the Amindivi Islands, and the atoll of Minicoy. Together, they comprise twelve atolls, ten untapped or uninhabited islands, three coral reefs, and five submerged banks. Breaking news on ​​Lakshadweep: A diplomatic row between India and the Maldives! 

An unopposed answer to “How to reach Lakshadweep?”

​​According to “the Administration of the UT of Lakshadweep,” Kochi or Cochin in Kerala, India, is declared to be the gateway for all tourist purposes. Tourists can reach Lakshadweep from Kochi either via air or waterways. The island is almost four hundred kilometres away from the Indian coastal area (western side).

Important note: Irrespective of any reason, by law, any non-native person is restricted from entering the Lakshadweep Islands. An entry permit is required from the authorities of the Lakshadweep Administration. Click here to download the permit rules!

Flights to Lakshadweep

Agatti is one of the most beautiful lagoons in Lakshadweep, with coral reefs. The reason why Agatti Island is so special is that it is the only island in Lakshadweep that has an airport. So, if you choose to travel via airlines, you have no choice but to book flights from Cochin to Agatti Island. The travel time takes around one hour and two to thirty minutes.   

Flights are operating from Bangalore to this special island, but include Kochi as a mandatory stop. And there are no direct flights. So the travel time is more than three hours from Bangalore. Check the Agatti flight schedule released by the Airport Authority of India. 

From Agatti, tourists can reach other islands either via ferry boats or helicopters. The best way to visit Kavaratti, Bangaram, Thinnakara, and Kadmat is via boat. Helicopter availability may vary based on the monsoon. Also, the only major helicopter transfer is from Agatti to Kavaratti.

Travel to Lakshadweep by ship or cruise

Traveling from Cochin to Lakshadweep by waterway could be the best voyage you can ever have. You can enjoy the emerald waters as well as explore the routes to various islands, including Minicoy, Kavaratti (the capital of Lakshadweep), Kadmat, etc. There are seven passenger ships from Cochin:

• MV Lakshadweep Sea Ship
• MV Kavaratti
• MV Amindivi
• MV Lagoon
• MV Corals
• MV Minicoy
• MV Arabian Sea Ship

The Kochi to Lakshadweep ship duration is about fourteen to twenty hours. To avail of tickets for the ship, Click here! Additionally, from Beypore Port, Kozhikode, Kerala, the following ships help you travel to the islands:

• MV Tipu Sultan
• MV Bharat Seema
• M.V.Dweep Setu

Particularly, the MV Tipu Sultan Ship can carry 650 passengers.  

While all these ships are comfortable for tourists in South India, Mumbai Port helps travellers from North India. The Empress, a Cordelia Cruise ship to Lakshadweep, incurs a passage time of at least four nights. It also depends on the island you choose for your journey. Notably, Cordelia Cruise is one of India’s premium or luxury cruise lines.

Regardless of the ship you choose, you can revel in the different accommodation classes—A/C First Class, Second Class, and Bunk Class. Also, there are clinical cabins with doctors, cafeterias, entertainment events, snack bars, etc. For the best experiences at Lakshadweep, plan your travel with the Best Travel Agency Tour Packages >>> 

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. Which is the nearest airport to Lakshadweep?

Agatti is the only island in Lakshadweep with an airstrip to safely land the flights and hence it is the only nearest airport to reach this beautiful archipelago. Book cheaper flights with Emperor, the leading flight ticket booking agency in India. 

2. What is the procedure to visit Lakshadweep?

The first thing to do when visiting the island is to seek a permit from the respective authorities. Worry not; travel agencies can help you with permits and flight or cruise ticket bookings. So, you don’t need to break your head on these. Authorized quick links for the entry permit are here!

3. Is Lakshadweep expensive?

The expense depends on how many days you’re resorting to these islands. For example, if you’re visiting the island just for two days, the cost would be less than INR 25,000. But if you want to explore at least two or three islands and stay for 3–4 days, it might cost INR 50,000–65,000. 

4. Is a passport required for Lakshadweep?

For Indian tourists, a passport is mandatory as it is a Union Territory of India. For foreign tourists, a visa is mandatory. 

It includes hill stations other than Kodaikanal; tea estates other than Ootacamund; heritage sites other than Isha; forests other than Anaimalai; lakes other than Avalanche; spiritual centers other than Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple; and beaches other than Marina. 

Did you know? The state is also famous for some of the best road trips. 

Tamilnadu Hidden Tourist Places: Top 10 Picks

• Pichavaram Mangrove Forest
• Poompuhar
• Dhanushkodi
• Berijam Lake
• Airavatesvara Temple
• Sri Ramana Ashram
• Kolukkumalai Tea Estate
• Kalrayan Hills
• Auroville
• Ariyaman Beach

Pichavaram Mangrove Forest

This destination is located in Chidambaram, Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu. It has the largest mangrove forests in India, along with backwaters. This makes it unique and owing to its unpopularity among people, it attracts fewer visitors when compared to other places in the state. So, if you’re tired of visiting places with higher footfalls, you can try this one and enjoy the serenity. 

Poompuhar

Earlier called ‘Kaveri Pompattinam’, it was once a prosperous port and served as the capital of the Chola kingdom. Now, it serves as an important and unexplored cultural and heritage center. When visiting this tourist place, do not miss the Silappathikara art gallery and Masilamani Nathar Koil (a temple built in the early 1300s).

Dhanushkodi

It is an alluring 15-kilometer beach town that separates the Indian Ocean from the Bay of Bengal. Located at the end of the Pamdab island, this town borders India from Sri Lanka and is called the last road of South India. Dhanushkodi means ‘tip of the bow,’ derived from an important scene in the ‘Ramayana’ when Lord Rama pointed his arrow toward Sri Lanka. Hence, it is one of the best secret places to visit in Tamil Nadu.

Berijam Lake

The forest department in Kodaikanal has set up South India’s first field-oriented eco-education center at Berijam, owing to its rich flora and fauna. It is located in the Dindigul district and sits in the upper Palani hills, southwest of Kodaikanal. A hundred years ago, Britishers visited this place and used it for transit camps.  

Airavatesvara Temple

An archaic temple that was constructed in the 12th century by Raja Raja Chola II. Located in Kumbakonam, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the world-famous Brihadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur. This temple is also known for its magnificent art and architecture. Visit this destination if you want to worship Lord Shiva (Airavatesvara) with the beautiful carvings of the stories of his Nayanars.

Sri Ramana Ashram

If you’re looking for a unique, divine type of tourism in Tamilnadu, this is the best choice! Situated at the Arunachala foothills in Tiruvannamalai, people visit this hidden gem to experience the most powerful spiritual vibrations of Ramana Maharishi. Once the home of the great Ramana Maharshi is now turned out to be his ashram called ‘Sri Ramanasramam’. 

Kolukkumalai Tea Estate

Kolukkumalai is a small town in Bodinayakanur, Theni. The tea estate of this town is known for having the world’s highest elevation in tea plantations. In addition, unlike other estates, they process the tea leaves using the most traditional, orthodox methods. You can visit this place to explore slow tea growth (due to the high altitude) and the vintage tea leaf manufacturing process. 

Kalrayan Hills

This hilly region of the eastern ghats extends between two districts of Tamil Nadu, namely Salem and Kallakurichi. It has more than ten waterfalls and, indeed, tops the list of hidden tourist places in Tamilnadu. Taking your children here enables you to cherish the best moments. It has evergreen forests and vegetable plantations throughout the man-occupied areas. 

Auroville

Having its origins in French, the word ‘Aurore’ means dawn, and ‘Ville’ means village, it is a man-made experimental township built in the Villupuram district of the state. The purpose is to unite humans across borders and ensure sustainable living through the transformation of consciousness. It’s still an unexplored destination. And you must visit here to embrace the best tourism in Tamilnadu. 

Ariyaman Beach

Being twenty to thirty kilometers away from Rameshwaram, this is a small, tranquil beach that you can enjoy with your friends and family. Unlike other beaches in the state, this does not experience huge tourist footfalls. This is located exactly in Sattakkonvalasai. Notably, the waters are pristine and crystal clear without pollution.

For people who enjoy the beauty of the underwater world, Mauritius is the best place to be to experience scuba diving and snorkeling! The couple can soak in the beauty of the vibrant flora and fauna and explore the amazing magnificence of the underwater world.

The honeymooners can take a romantic cruise into the crystal clear waters of Mauritius and engage in dolphin watching hand in hand. This will truly be a great romantic evening in your loved one’s arms while watching the friendly dolphins in close quarters.

If the newly weds are even more adventurous, paragliding, sky-diving and bungee jumping are all perfect activities to enjoy together while they are in Mauritius.

A great way to see Mauritius and enjoy it’s natural beauty is to go on a Quad biking safari. This is the best way to experience Mauritius’ wonderful landscapes.

The honeymooners can simple just taking relaxing strolls on the beautiful beaches together or wine and dine romantically under a candle light on the beaches of Mauritius and enjoy each other’s company! They can also indulge in a soothing and luxurious couple’s spa that is exclusively arranged for the honeymooners.

They can also visit the gorgeous botanical gardens which span over 60 hectares of land and soak in the wonders of nature.

With such varied things to do and explore, Mauritius is truly the perfect romantic getaway for honeymooners. Honeymoon is a very special time and one that will linger in everyone’s mind for a long time. The honeymoon packages to Mauritius cover all aspects of the honeymooner’s travel and thus they can simple enjoy their time together without having to worry about anything. A honeymoon in Mauritius will truly be the most cherished and vibrant moment of a couple’s life!