India's Beautiful Sailing / Water Sports Destinations : Part II - Lakshadweep Islands

Part II of our posts on India's very own sunbathed yachting destinations tells us about none other than our favorite - Lakshadweep Islands.


Formerly known as the Laccadives, the Lakshadweep Islands- `Million islands’- may be somewhat inaccurately named, but are undeniably beautiful. In fact, the Lakshadweep islands, which lie in the Arabian Sea, are actually only 36 in number- a series of atolls and open reefs of which only 10 are inhabited.


In the Lakshadweep Islands among the most popular sites for water sports are Bangaram which is the only island accessible to foreigners and Kadmat. Both have extensive facilities for snorkeling, deep sea fishing, scuba diving, swimming, windsurfing and parasailing. Bangaram, especially, has a wonderful coral reef, with an abundance of marine life- everything from angelfish, clown fish, stingrays, hawkbill turtles and green turtles to sturgeons. Minicoy, the southernmost isle of the Lakshadweep group has a large lagoon which is good for swimming. Further north at Kalpeni Island has sea suitable for kayaking, sailing and swimming.


In Kadmat training courses in snorkelling and scuba diving are conducted by the deep-sea diving institute.Tinakara, Valiyakara, Cheriyam and Suheli are few of the other sites which are being developed as tourist centres and consequently are also acquiring the necessary infrastructure for sea sports.


TOURISM

Seeing the beauty and the potential of Lakshadweep as a tourist hot-spot, the Government of India has started promoting Lakshadweep at a rampant pace. As part of that, they have set up a webpage on Lakshadweep and its offerings.

At the same time, Superstar cruises has it on their map for their various offerings.

SEE YOU WHEN YOU GET THERE...

Agatti Aerodrome on Agatti Island is currently the only airport in Lakshadweep. Indian Airlines, the state owned carrier, serves Agatti and flies to Kochi on the mainland. Also, from April 2007, a private carrier, Kingfisher Airlines, has commenced flights to and from Agatti. Kingfisher connects Kochi and Bangalore to Agatti. The other islands are linked by a helicopter or boat service.

Do let us know when to tie our backpacks and see you there...
Read more...

Fly Boats to Lakshadweep...

The tiny islands of Lakshadweep on the west coast of India are accessible only through air or water...and the government and the people involved in transportation between mainland India and these islands are planning on an innovative way of getting there using both air and water. Let's welcome the advent of Sea-Planes or Fly Boats as they are known as into the Indian waters (or air??).


FLY-BOATS


Though not an innovation to the western world, planes used during war days by militaries to fly-in troops and supplies to regions which did not have an airstrip or had a water-body big enough to accomodate these usually big planes, are known as Sea-planes or Fly Boats.


A flying boat is a type of aircraft which uses its fuselage as a floating hull, generally stabilised on the water surface by underwing floats or stub projections. It is a specialised form of seaplane, an aircraft that is designed to take off and land on water utilising a carriage and pontoons that maintain the fuselage above water level.

Flying boats were among the largest aircraft of the first half of the 20th century. Their ability to alight on water allowed them to break free of the size constraints imposed by general lack of large, land-based runways, and also made them important for the rescue of downed pilots, a capability put to great use in World War II. Following World War II, their use gradually tailed off, with many of the roles taken over by land aircraft types. In the 21st century, flying boats maintain a few niche uses, such as for dropping water on forest fires and for air transport around archipelagos.



LAKSHWADEEP

Lakshadweep, tiny island groups in the western part of India are located 200 to 300 km away from the main land. Access to these islands are available through sea and air. The island group consists of Minicoy, Kalpeni, Androth, Agatti, Kavaratti, Amini, Kadmat, Kiltan, Chetlat, Bitra, Bangaram and Pitti islands. It is interesting to note that some of the Indian Naval Ships are having the names of these islands. The Administrative Head Quarters of Indian Union Territory of Lakshwadeep is located at Kavaratti. These islands are the only coral reef islands in India, with rich flora and fauna. Watersports, Sight seeing and Fishing are the added attractions to tourists coming to these islands.


LAKSHADWEEP AIR TAXI


Access by air is limited to these islands as Agatti is the only airport in Lakshadweep. Helicopter transfer is available from Agatti to Bangaram Island Resort during monsoon and to Kavaratti through out the year. The flight from Cochin(mainland) to Agatti takes approximately one hour thirty minutes. Flights operate six days a week.

To widen the accessibility to these islands Indian Ministry of Civil Aviations is planning to start Sea Plane Air Taxi service to these islands. Definitely Sea Plane Air Taxi service will further promote tourism, faster connectivity, easy access to all islands.

A feasibility study to operate Sea Plane Air Taxi service was also conducted and the islands of Bangaram, Kadamat, Kalpeni, Kavaratti and Minicoy were found suitable for operation.


Knowing Indians, incase this kind of an air taxi does come about, many would flock to the islands in order to experience and see the Fly Boat in its entirety. Read more...