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Swim with tropical fish and look at coral reefs in this beautiful sun, sand and Arabian Sea paradise.
Stunning, isolated and breathing life, Lakshadweep is one of the best holiday destinations in India. A slice of heaven, my childhood friends and I decided to visit Lakshadweep, which is situated around 400 km off the coast of Kerala. There are multiple ways to reach Lakshadweep, including a 20-hour cruise from Kochi; but we decided to fly down to the tiny Agatti Airport. But we did make a mental note to sail the next time. The moment we stepped on the island, we had no idea how life-changing our Lakshadweep trip was going to be!
The tropical archipelago of Lakshadweep consists of 36 islands and coral reefs in the Laccadive Sea - and this place is a haven waiting to be explored. But before you pack your bags for Lakshadweep, take it from someone who has done homework on Lakshadweep, you need to be well prepared to reach the group of islands.
Kochi is the gateway to reach Lakshadweep. All you need is to fly down to Kochi from anywhere in India and then hop on a 1.5-hour short flight to Lakshadweep. But before you book your flight to Kochi, do keep in mind that Lakshadweep is restricted. And you need a permit issued by the Lakshadweep Administration.
Since we were flying, we packed light. This decision came in handy as the aircraft that flew us was extremely compact. With only 10 islands out of the 36 inhabited, Lakshadweep felt like an untouched abode. Everywhere our eyes went, we were greeted with a magical view of the ocean. Having visited Maldives, I could safely say that Lakshadweep is a perfect alternative to island nation. As we saw ourselves surrounded by pristine blue waters; we remembered that this Lakshadweep Island adventure had one central agenda: diving.
Before our big dive, we planned to wind down and relax. So, we decided to stay in Agatti for a day after landing. We stayed at the Agatti Island Resort, a beautiful beachfront retreat with local cuisines and a spa. For breakfast, we had a local speciality of Mashuni, a combination of flaked tuna, grated coconut, green chillies, and onions accompanied by bread. For lunch, we savoured the aromatic Tuna Biryani with marinated pieces of tuna fish and fragrant basmati rice. The dinner was a spread of seafood dishes such as a tangy and spicy curry called Kandu Katti, and Mussel Thoran, a stir-fried mussel dish with coconut and spices.
We spent our day walking around the beach and enjoying the picturesque views. I have always loved beaches and Lakshadweep was magical. Some of us took a dip in its clear waters and before we knew it, the day was over. After a beautiful sunset and more local treats, we turned in for the night, with the sound of the waves in the background. Tomorrow was going to be a big day in our Lakshadweep travel chapter.
The first 24 hours at Lakshadweep Island left us in awe of its sheer beauty. The untouched natural wonders, friendly locals, and a sense of timelessness were the antidote we needed to get away from our busy careers and lives to become one with nature and rejuvenate.
The ferry ride to Kavaratti Island was a little over two hours. We met another group that was heading for their third diving trip. They were happy to see so many of us ready to take the plunge and shared valuable tips for our first dive. The most important of them: pay close attention to your instructor and stay close to your dive buddy.
Soon after we reached Kavaratti, we checked into our hotel. Next, we were on our way to the Lakshadweep Diving Academy. All of us knew how to swim and we had signed up for their Open Water Dive which would be a four-day course and included four dives.
The next couple of days were a whirlwind. We’d start our day early and head straight to the diving school to be trained. We were taught basic techniques. We had a training session in a pool where we could test and get accustomed to the equipment. Finally, after what seemed like ages, were led to explore the underwater world around Kavaratti.
As we descended into the depths near Kavaratti, the world got quiet. We were suddenly surrounded by a kaleidoscope of colours, thanks to the coral reefs. The underwater landscape was like a hidden world. We had a surreal and magical feeling —the feeling of being able to glide through the vast water and feel weightless. Swimming along a multitude of fish, an occasional turtle and past caverns and coral-clad walls was a wonderful experience. The entire group was oddly quiet after our dive.
We were taking it all in and were also grateful to be sharing such a big moment. The dives at Kavaratti Island were the highlight of our entire trip, although the charming village and delicious local cuisines came a close second. Every moment of this trip was precious and planning this trip as a group made it even more memorable. The shared experiences have made a huge impact on our friendship. So much so that we decided an annual trip as a group had to become a yearly tradition!
We've already started shortlisting possible destinations for 2024!
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