How to reach Lakshadweep?
In Sanskrit, the word “Lakshadweep” means one hundred thousand islands. Though it is the smallest U.T. (Union Territory) of India with 36 islands, the beauty of this small group of islands is equivalent to a hundred thousand islands. And hence the name “Lakshadweep.” The island lies between the two tranquil seas—the Arabian Sea and the Laccadive Sea. This serene archipelago of islands
In Sanskrit, the word “Lakshadweep” means one hundred thousand islands. Though it is the smallest U.T. (Union Territory) of India with 36 islands, the beauty of this small group of islands is equivalent to a hundred thousand islands. And hence the name “Lakshadweep.”
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
- 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.
- 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!
- 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.
- 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.
Places to Visit in Nelliyampathy
The Nelliyampathy tourist destination obtained its name from ‘Nelli’ and ‘Pathy.’ ‘Nelli’ denotes the name of the goddess worshiped in and around the locality. ‘Pathy’ means the area or location. This hill station in Kerala is popular in southern India.
The Nelliyampathy Tourist destination obtained its name from ‘Nelli’ and ‘Pathy.’ ‘Nelli’ denotes the name of the goddess worshiped in and around the locality. ‘Pathy’ means the area or location. This hill station in Kerala is popular in southern India. And lately, North Indians and other foreign tourists are visiting the destination to admire its beauty. Though it has numerous tourist places, in this blog, we have briefed the top five of them.
Top 5 Nelliyampathy Tourist Places
- Meenampara
- Parambikulam
- Meenvallam
- Silent Valley
- Pothundi
Meenampara
This place is the best viewpoint in Nelli Hills. Indeed, you can relish the Nelliyampathy sightseeing the most from this viewpoint. The Meenampara estates are a great beauty themselves. Apart from that, you can delight in the stunning views of the valley, rivers, dams, coffee plantations, etc.
Parambikulam
Spread across more than 270 kilometers, Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It houses exceptional wild animals like Nilgiri Langur and Tahr, Spotted Deer, Leopards, etc. Also, this place is known for teak plantations. You can spot the oldest teak tree called “Kannimari” here. Thus, it is considered one of the child-friendly tourist places in Nelliyampathy.
Meenvallam
If you’re looking for waterfalls in this tourist destination, then Meenvalla is the right choice. This place has about 9–10 waterfalls. However, only a couple of them are open to the public. You can visit this place after the monsoon season to cherish the best cascades. Other places in Nelliyampathy are more sightseeing and trekking, while this is a total pleasure and blissful experience.
Silent Valley
Amongst the Nelliyampathy attractions, this valley and the river “Kunti” are the most popular ones. You can reach the destination via jeeps that take you through the tropical forests of the Nelli Hills. This place serves as the home for many species of flora and fauna that have been facing extinction lately. You can find the lion-tailed macaque only in this region. You cannot miss the national park here, as it is totally mind-blowing with rich biodiversity.
Pothundi
Pothundi or Pothundy, is one of the rarest dams that was constructed without using a concrete or cement mixture. Uniquely, it was constructed with the help of jaggery and lime. Both the dam and the reservoir rank top on the list of Nelliyampathy sightseeing places. From here, you can get the best views of the Nelli Valley, the paddy fields, the Palakkad district, and a lot more.
For customized tour packages to visit these destinations, please contact us! We, at Emperor Traveline, have over 40 years of experience catering to the needs of travelers and tourists.
Other Nelliyampathy Places to Visit:
- Mayiladumpara
- Nenmara
- Seetharkundu
- Kesavanpara
- Chinganchira
- Raja Cliff
- Malampuzha
Nelliyampathy Tourism: Frequently Asked Questions
If you don’t find your question in the given list, please drop it in the comments section. One of the Emperor’s travel experts will answer them shortly.
What is Nelliyampathy known as?
The place has two popular names. One is “Biker’s Paradise”—bikers are fond of this place, and the other is “Poor Man’s Ooty” or “The Second Ooty”—quite economical and affordable. This doesn’t mean Ootacamund is more expensive. But Nelli is cheaper than Ooty.
How far is the place from Palakkad and Cochin?
The place is about 55–60 km away from Palakkad. From Cochin, the distance is about 150 km. So, the best way to reach it is via Coimbatore airport and not Cochin airport.
What is special in Nelliyampathy?
The specialty of this tourist destination is its exoticness in climate, cleanliness, the beauty of the dam and the valley, lesser footfalls, the evergreen forests, orange cultivation, tea, coffee, and cardamom cultivations, etc.
What is the best time to visit Nelliyampathy?
The place experiences heavy rainfall during the monsoon months, i.e., June to September. Hence, the best time to visit is between October and May. However, you can enjoy the best during the winter months (December to February).
Facts you need to know about the Buddha Statue at Hussain Sagar in Hyderabad
Do you know that the Hussain Sagar Buddha statue is the tallest monolithic statue of Siddhartha, also known as Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. The statue situated at the famous Lumbini Park in Hussain Sagar Island can only be reached by boat.
Do you know that the Hussain Sagar Buddha statue is the tallest monolithic statue of Siddhartha, also known as Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. The statue situated at the famous Lumbini Park in Hussain Sagar Island can only be reached by boat. The Buddha Statue at Hussain Sagar in Hyderabad is an engineering marvel in that it is raised on a concrete platform, 15 feet tall, right in the middle of the lake. Dubbed the “Rock of Gibraltar”, the statue was erected in the middle of Lake Hussain Sagar with tremendous effort. The city roads were widened for the construction of the statue.
The statue was raised by N.T.Rama Rao was the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh between 1983 and 1989 at that time. He was inspired by the idea of the ‘Statue of Liberty’ and wanted to accomplish a similar feet back home. What motivated him further is that it would stand the test of time as a true representation of Indian culture, heritage, and unity. Lord Buddha became the ideal candidate for the mission.
Right from the beginning it was decided that the state would be made out of stone. After strenuous efforts, a solid white granite stone was unearthed near Nalgonda on a mountainside that is 40 miles outside the city of Hyderabad. It took a year for the project completion and the statue was finally unveiled in October 1985 by N.T.Rama Rao.
Temple architect and builder Ganapathi Sthapati with hundreds of workers worked on the statue. After five years of work, with a spend of about US$3 million, the stand stands tall at 58 feet (18m) and weighs 350 tons. This makes it the tallest monolithic Buddha. statue in the world.
Unfortunately, the N. T. Rama Rao led Andhra Pradesh Government was expelled in 1989 and the stone statue was kept waiting to be erected on the concrete platform until 1990. The statue was to be moved to the shore of Hussain Sagar by a trailer vehicle, the responsibility of which was given to a local company. But tragedy befell when the statue tipped suddenly due to a mishap and killed 10 engineers involved in the construction.
Efforts to move the statue out of Hussain Sagar lake persisted. The statue finally was erected on the platform successfully on 1 December 1992. The plan earlier was to enable the statue stand in the middle of the lake, but engineering hurdles stood in the way, as the statue today stands slightly closer to the NTR Memorial Gardens. In 2006, the Dalai Lama paid visit to the statue and consecrated it following a ritual which lent the place the status of a holy pilgrimage site.
Sightseeing in Gulmarg
Gulmarg, the popular hill station and skiing destination, can rightly be called the crown of Kashmir. It is the perfect picnic spot and has featured in several Bollywood films like Bobby, Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, and Highway, to name a few.
Gulmarg, the popular hill station and skiing destination, can rightly be called the crown of Kashmir. It is the perfect picnic spot and has featured in several Bollywood films like Bobby, Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, and Highway, to name a few. Adventure seekers, nature lovers and spiritual seekers will never run out of place to visit in Gulmarg. Here is a list of some of the must-see sightseeing spots in Gulmarg for a Stress Free Vacation.
Gulmarg Golf Course
Gulmarg Golf Course with its irregular curves is one of the largest 18-hole golf courses in the country. It was in the early 1920s that golfing began in the reign. Thanks to the British who chanced upon the golfing possibilities of the place while spending their summers here. It has now become one of the most popular golfing destinations in India.
Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve
Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve, which is home to a lot of rare species of avifauna, fauna and flora, is spread over an area of 180 sq km. Here you will find biodiversity in its richest form. It is situated at a height varying between 2400 and 4,300 metres above sea level.
Shrine of Baba Reshi
This is a popular religious haunt, which is known for its architectural splendour, built in the 13th century. It is dedicated to Baba Reshi, a Muslim saint, who is believed to have meditated here. People from all walks of life visit the shrine to seek blessings. The shrine is built in old Kashmiri architectural style and is a symbol of fine craftsmanship.
St. Mary’s Church
St. Mary’s Church built in Victorian style of architecture in the early 20th century is a major tourist attraction in Gulmarg. The church has grey stone walls and a steep green roof with wooden trimmings. It is surrounded by tall alpine trees and soaring mountains, which are covered with snow during winters.
Strawberry Valley
If you are visiting Gulmarg in the summer you are in for a delight. You get to taste the best strawberries you have ever tasted in Gulmarg’s Strawberry Valley. A walk to this unexplored part of Gulmarg will be certainly a walk to remember.
Apharwat Peak
Situated at an altitude of almost 4200 m above the sea level, the Apharwat Peak is one of the most stunning peaks in the country. It is located just a few kilometres away from the Line of Control (LOC). It receives heavy snowfall and is covered with snow all year round. This makes it an ideal spot for skiing. You can take a cable car ride to reach the spot.
Ferozepur Nallah
Between the beautiful Chinamarg and Nurpur Pass lies Ferozepur Nallah, an enchanting mountain stream flowing through lush valleys. It is surrounded by pine trees, verdant pastures and soaring snow-capped mountains. It is the picnic spot of your dreams. The place is also a popular fishing spot.
So, while planning a holiday to Gulmarg, make sure that you include all these charming places in your itinerary with the Best Travel Agency Tour package.
