Lakshadweep is an archipelago located 200-400 km west of the coast of KERALA in the Arabian Sea. The archipelago consists of 36 main islands, many smaller islands, coral atolls and coral reefs. It is the smallest union territory in India. Lakshadweep means a hundred thousand islands in the local language, Malayalam. Earlier the name Lakshadweepa referred to the three archipelagos in the Indian Ocean the present Lakshadweep, Maldives and Suvadives.

Only ten of the Lakshadweep islands are inhabited and more than 90 percent of the indigenous population is Muslim. The main economic activities are fishing, coconut cultivation and coir twisting.

Tourists require an entry permit to visit Lakshadweep; Foreign nationals are allowed only in Kadmat, Bangaram and Agatti islands. Agatti is connected to Cochin & Bangalore by Air