Lakshadweep Beach
Lakshadweep Islands
Take a vast aquarium open to the skies, its waters so clear you can see the bottom a hundred yards out from the shore. Fringe it with mile upon mile of white sand. Fill its waters with practically every species of marine life known from the hammerhead shark to the humble anemone and the hermit crab. And finally, keep human presence down to the bare minimum.
Thanks to its tiny land area and almost insignificant population. Lakshadweep still boasts some of the best preserved coral lagoons anywhere in the world. In fact, the entire ecosystem of the reef survives, making for a ringside view of life in the deep.
Best Time to Visit Lakshadweep
Summer is the ideal season to arrive in Lakshadweep, one of the coolest spots in the tropics. With coast to coast distances under a couple of miles and with no hills or high rises in the way of a sea breeze that blows day and night. Try to drift in at down or in the evening, when twilight engulfs the white sands with an ethereal halo.
As down breaks the beachfront passes through the entire spectrum of colors as the light grows and dies. The shifting shades at times intensely dramatic, at others a study in subtlety could give an Asian paint shade card a lesson in variations on blue. At midday, the lagoon waters turn an aquamarine blue, letting you see right down to the bottom. Light reflects off the forests of coral in a wash, with colorful fish weaving their way in and out of the reefs.
Activities in Lakshadweep
One activity that is a must while in Lakshadweep is snorkeling or scuba diving. The former is easier and offers a panoramic view of life beneath the waves. It can be easily done by anyone with an elementary knowledge of swimming. Though Lakshadweep’s islands are in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the area around the coral is blocked by reefs so it is much like a huge swimming pool. Water there is not the huge waves one finds in the open sea but rather like a gentle river passing by.
The best views can be had with a water mask and a snorkel – from a couple of hundred meters away – from most islands. Just drift along the current, with a rope tied across your back to the boat that has brought you there. Having the rope can be a good safety precaution given the unpredictability of the tide – caught in the wrong current and you may find yourself in Mauritius!
More information about Lakshadweep
In retrospect, exploring on foot would seem a more peaceful proposition. Just take a walk: the islands rarely exceed five kilometers from point to point. The only exception is Kadmat, an island that can boast of a road nine kilometers long. But then again, Kadmat’s width of half a kilometer disqualifies it from membership in the big league. Standing on one beach, you could call to someone on the seashore across the sands.
