84-516: Minicoy , locally known as Maliku ( IPA: [məliku] ), is an island in Lakshadweep , India. Along with Viringili , it is on Maliku atoll, the southernmost atoll of Lakshadweep archipelago. Administratively, it is a census town in the Indian union territory of Lakshadweep. The island is situated 425 km west of Trivandrum , the capital city of Kerala . Minicoy is known as Maliku in
168-585: A naval battle fought during the reign of Narasimhavarman II (680-720 CE), which resulted in the capture of the territory by the Pallavas of Kanchi in the late 7th century CE. Epigraphs indicate the capture of the region of Kavadi Dvepa (presumably Kavaratti) by the Kadambas in the 10th century CE. In the 11th century CE, the islands came under the rule of the Cholas . Chola inscriptions from Thanjavur , indicate that
252-548: A solar power plant was commissioned to augment the power generation capacity. The world's first ever experimental low-temperature thermal desalination plant opened in Kavaratti in 2005, with a projected daily production capacity of 100,000 litres of potable water from seawater. The plant utilises the temperature difference between warm surface seawater and much colder seawater at about 500 m (1,600 ft) depth to generate potable water as well as energy. The technology
336-635: A tropical monsoon climate , bordering on a tropical savanna climate . The weather is warm throughout the year with temperatures ranging from 20 to 32 degree Celsius . While tropical cyclones arising in the Arabian Sea rarely strike the islands due to its smaller size, winds and waves associated with them could alter the features of the islands considerably. Lakshadweep is part of the Maldives-Lakshadweep-Chagos Archipelago tropical moist forests ecoregion . There are no forests on
420-603: A vassal state of the Kannur Kingdom (Arakkal) in exchange for fealty to Tippu Sultan 's Kingdom of Mysore , the southern group remained loyal to Kannur . The Laccadive subgroup includes the island of Agatti , with Agatti Aerodrome , the only airport in Lakshadweep, as well as Bangaram Atoll which has a tourist resort in Bangaram, its largest island. The Laccadive group forms two talukas or subdivisions: Androth , with
504-581: A Buddhist site, it was a cross-shaped mandala or visvavajra , like those often found on inscriptions in archaeological remains in the Maldives. Local oral tradition has it that Kamborani and Kohoratukamana, two princesses from the Maldives , came to Maliku. When they arrived, the Tivaru , who had been living there before, left the island for Sri Lanka . The Kamborani's descendants are the bodun (land and shipowners) and
588-722: A formal written recognition of the suzerainty of the East India Company over Maliku (Minicoy). She and her successors, however, continued the tributary arrangement. On 27 July 1795, the Governor General of the Presidency of Madras under whose jurisdiction Minicoy was, abolished Junumabe Ali Adi-Raja Bibi's monopoly over coir trade. In 1905 under the heavy burden of debts to the Empire, Mohamed Ali-Adi Raja of Cannanore agreed to surrender sovereignty and control over Minicoy. He died before
672-482: A lagoon with two entrances in its northern side, Saalu Magu on the northeast and Kandimma Magu on the northwest. Its western side is fringed by a narrow reef and coral rocks awash. The interior of the lagoon is sandy and of moderate depth, rarely reaching 4 m. It has some coral patches. This atoll is administered under the Indian Union Territory of Lakshadweep. Nine Degree Channel separates Minicoy and
756-439: A passenger terminal with dormitory facilities and an office to guide the people of Minicoy reaching Kollam Port. Traditionally, Lakshadweep's connections with the mainland have been through Kollam , Kochi and Beypore ports. But Minicoy, a small atoll at the southernmost end of the archipelago, is closer to Kollam than to either Kochi or Beypore. Agatti Airport is the only civilian airport in Lakshadweep . Helicopter transfer
840-413: A plan in early 2024 to extend the runway to enable it to handle larger narrow body aircraft and expand the infrastructure to convert the airport into dual-use for civilian and military purposes. The construction of a greenfield airport at Minicoy Island was also proposed. Two helicopters are presently operated by Pawan Hans and are utilised for passenger transport and emergency medical evacuation from
924-479: A population of 15,048 and Kavaratti with 17,193. The islands of Agatti , Androth, Kavaratti and Kalpeni are inhabited. Islam is the main religion of the islanders. The Laccadive Islands subgroup consists mostly of atolls with islands, as well as part of one submerged bank . The Amindivi and the Laccadive subgroups have a submarine connection between them through Pitti Bank , a largely sunken atoll. In
SECTION 10
#17328444723581008-427: A population of 64,473 as per the 2011 census across the ten inhabited islands. There is a 132 km (82 mi) long coastline with a lagoon area of 4,200 km (1,600 sq mi), territorial waters of 20,000 km (7,700 sq mi) and an exclusive economic zone of 400,000 km (150,000 sq mi). Lakshadweep is the northernmost island group of the exposed undersea mountain range,
1092-503: A reputation in the Maldives and Minicoy of being inhabited by cannibals , and so collectively the Andaman and Nicobar groups were called "Minikaa-raajje" by Minicoy and Maldive islanders. This meant "cannibal kingdom". A British official once asked a Minicoy islander what the name of his island was. The islander told the official that he was from Maliku but usually lived in "Minikaa-raajje" (Nicobar). The official thought Maliku and Minikaa were
1176-607: A source of coir for their industries. The native islanders revolted against the Portuguese and expelled them in 1545 CE. In the mid 16th century CE, all inhabited islands were conferred as jagir (land grant) to the ruling family of Kannur by the Chirakkal family of Kolathiri to grant protection from the Portuguese . The Aminidivi islands came under the rule of Tipu Sultan of Mysore Kingdom in 1787 CE and were later annexed to
1260-630: A total land area of approximately 32.62 km (12.59 sq mi) and only ten of the islands are inhabited. The islands are located between the Arabian Sea to the west and the Laccadive Sea to the east, about 220–440 km (140–270 mi) off the Malabar Coast of mainland India. The territory is divided into three island subgroups: the Amindivi islands in the north, the Laccadive islands in
1344-487: A total of 88 members across islands. These panchayats are combined to form a district panchayat, which has 26 elected members including the chairpersons of the ten village panchayats and the Member of Parliament for Lakshadweep Lok Sabha Constituency . The territory is also divided into five community development blocks: Kavaratti, Amini, Andrott, Minicoy and Kiltan, each administered by Collector-cum-Development Commissioner, who
1428-430: A vast lagoon area and an exclusive economic zone of 400,000 km (150,000 sq mi), fishing is a major industry. The estimated annual production is 21,016 tonnes of which 60% is tuna and related fishes. About 60% of the total production is converted to dried products and 40% is allocated for local consumption. Commercial fishing is concentrated around 11 islands with skipjack tuna and yellowfin tuna being
1512-559: Is available from Agatti to Minicoy throughout the year. The flight from Cochin to Agatti takes approximately one hour thirty minutes. Flights operate six days a week. On 18 July 2024, the Government of India had cleared the proposal to develop an airport at Minicoy Island as a tri-service military base with a civilian air enclave. The airbase will be capable of operating fighter jets, long-range UAVs and military transport aircraft along with commercial flights. The airbase will be located near
1596-620: Is derived from Lakṣadvīpa meaning "one hundred thousand islands," presumably from Sanskrit or Malayalam . Laccadive seems to be the result of the Anglicization of the given name during the British Raj . Amindivi derives its name from the Amindivi people, who were the earliest inhabitants of the Amini Island . The native name of the Minicoy Island is Maliku , and the given name is
1680-597: Is in charge of revenue and land settlement in their respective block. The commissioner also serves as a District magistrate and is assisted by an additional district magistrate and ten executive magistrates for enforcement of law and order. The administrator acts as the Inspector General of Police and has command and control of the Lakshadweep Police, which has a sanctioned strength of 349 personnel across nine police stations . The territory elects one member to
1764-602: Is one of the four coral reef regions in India. Cetacean diversity off the Lakshadweep Islands and in adjacent areas include various whales (e.g., pygmy blue , Bryde's , sperm , orca , pilot whale ), and dolphins . The commonly seen are introduced cattle and poultry . Other notable marine fauna include sharks , bonitos , tunas , snappers , flying fish , Manta rays , octopuses , crabs , and turtles . There are 101 species of birds, common amongst them include
SECTION 20
#17328444723581848-512: Is populated by the Mahls , an ethnic group also resident in the Maldives . English is the official language of the union territory. Jeseri (also known as Dweep Basha ), a dialect of Malayalam , is widely spoken language in the Amindivi and Laccadive islands. Mahl , a dialect of Dhivehi , is spoken in Minicoy. There are minor variations of the same dialect across islands. Malayalam, written in
1932-559: Is the northernmost island group of the exposed undersea mountain range, the Chagos-Lakshadweep Ridge . While there are no conclusive theories about the formation of the atolls, Charles Darwin proposed in 1842 CE that the subsidence of a volcanic island resulted in the formation of a fringing reef, which grew upwards with continual subsidence. The individual islands are small, with none of them measuring more than 1 mi (1.6 km) across. Most inhabited islands are situated on
2016-477: Is under 6 years of age. MV Corals , MV Lagoons , MV Amindivi , MV Arabian Sea , MV Bharat Seema , MV Dweep Setu , MV Kavaratti , MV Lakshadweep Sea and MV Minicoy are the important passenger ships connecting Lakshadweep with Kerala . The passage takes between 14 and 20 hours. The Lakshadweep authorities are seeking an opportunity to invest in Port City of Kerala Kollam . They are ready to invest in
2100-485: The 2011 census , Lakshadweep has a population of 64,473, consisting of 33,123 (51.3%) males and 31,350 (48.7%) females, and had a sex ratio of 946 females per 1,000 males in 2011. It also recorded the highest sex ratio at birth amongst Indian territories as per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) in 2021. As per the 2011 census, there were a total of 11,574 households and about 50,332 (78%) of
2184-479: The Archaeological Survey of India in the 1980s. The excavations yielded few discoveries, for the sites had been much damaged and vandalized previously. Still, a much-damaged large Buddha head was found buried in the area. The name "Salliballu" originated in the local name for the " Christian cross ", because the locals say that an inscription with a "cross" was found there. But it is likely that, coming from
2268-641: The British Raj in 1799 CE after the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War . The rest of the islands remained under the suzerainty of the Arakkal family in return for a payment of annual tribute to the British. The British took over the administration of these islands in 1908 CE, citing the nonpayment of taxes, and attached it to the Madras Presidency . After Indian Independence from colonial British rule in 1947,
2352-526: The Chagos-Lakshadweep Ridge . The entire union territory is administered as a single district with Kavaratti as its capital. Archaeological evidence from Kalpeni indicates human settlement in the region from at least 1500 BCE with early reference to the islands in the Buddhist Jataka tales from the 3rd century BCE and the Tamil Sangam literature Patiṟṟuppattu . The region was controlled by
2436-611: The Cheras in the Sangam period (3rd century BCE to 3rd century CE) and later by the Pallavas . Islam is presumed to have been brought in the 7th century by the arrival of Muslims . In the 11th century CE, the region was under influence of the Chola kingdom and formed a part of the trade route that connected the Middle East with South Asia . It came under the influence of the Portuguese briefly in
2520-575: The Laccadive Islands . The closest island to Minicoy is Thuraakunu in the Republic of the Maldives. Since 1956, the Indian Government has forbidden the direct travelling between the two islands despite their geographic proximity and ethnographic similarities. Maliku Kandu is the traditional name of the broad channel between Minicoy (Maliku) and Ihavandippulhu (Haa Alif Atoll) in the Maldives. In
2604-669: The Malayalam script , was introduced as the primary language of Lakshadweep during the British Raj. This policy has been continued since independence, with Malayalam serving as a link language on all islands, including Minicoy. Previously, a type of Arabic script , known as the Ponnani or Arabi Malayalam script , was used as the writing system. The economy is dependent on agriculture , fishery , and tourism . As of 2013 , there were 72 registered micro and small industries majorly involved in
Minicoy - Misplaced Pages Continue
2688-603: The Portuguese . In 1697, the notorious pirate Captain Kidd and his crew brought their ship, the Adventure Galley , to the Laccadive Islands. The undisciplined crew chopped up the local boats for firewood, and raped the local women. When the men retaliated by killing the ship's cooper, the pirates attacked the village and beat up the people who lived there. Almost 100 years later—in 1784—the Amindivi group of islands rejected
2772-416: The brown noddy and sooty tern and water birds such as herons , teals , and gulls . Pitti island is a declared bird sanctuary and an important breeding place for sea turtles and a number of pelagic birds including the brown noddy, lesser crested tern , and greater crested tern . Lakshadweep is a Union Territory and is governed by an administrator on behalf of the Government of India. It
2856-677: The coast of Damirica as a source of a turtle shell . In 2nd century CE, Greek historian Ptolemy mentions 1378 islands located opposite to Taprobane (Sri Lanka) with the names of some of the islands given as Kanathara ( Kavaratti ), Argidion ( Agatti ), Ammine ( Amini ), and Monache ( Minicoy ). The islands later became part of a trade route with the Roman empire , with archeological evidence from as early as 2nd century CE obtained from Kadamath and Androth islands. Other travelers and historians such as Ammianus Marcellinus (4th century CE), Faxian (5th century CE), and Cosmas (6th century CE) mention
2940-637: The lower house of the Indian parliament , the Lok Sabha . Lakshadweep is a reserved constituency for Scheduled Tribes . The union territory falls under the judicial jurisdiction of the Kerala High Court at Kochi , and has a system of lower courts under its authority. There is a district and sessions court in Kavaratti (established in 1997) and two munsiff courts in Andrott and Amini islands. According to
3024-497: The princely state of British India had the choice of acceding to either India or Pakistan. Since Minicoy was earlier in a sovereign possession of the British Raj, India held a plebiscite in Minicoy in 1956 to determine whether or not the people of Minicoy wished to join the Indian Union. A referendum was held and an absolute majority of the Minicoy decided to join the Indian Union. After the plebiscite, on 1 November 1956, Minicoy
3108-461: The security of the island nation of Maldives . Religion in Minicoy Island (2011) As of 2011 India census , the island of Minicoy had a population of 10,447. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Minicoy has an average literacy rate of 83.93%, higher than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 85.82%, and female literacy is 81.93%. In Minicoy, 9.6% of the population
3192-506: The 1900s during the time of the British Raj . The official asked a local what his language was and he replied "Dhivehi-bas". The official looked confused as he had never heard of this language. Noticing this, the islander said "Mahaldeebu" as he knew that locals on the subcontinent referred to the kingdom to the south (the Maldives) by that name. The civil servant then official recorded the language of Minicoy as Mahl. The ancient name of Maliku
3276-473: The Admiralty Charts it is called Eight Degree Channel . Other names for this channel are Addigiri Kandu and Māmalē Kandu. It appeared in old French maps with the name Courant de Malicut . There are total of eleven villages ( athiris, avah ) on Minicoy Island. From north to south, they are: Minicoy has a tropical savanna climate ( Köppen climate classification Aw ) with warm temperatures throughout
3360-636: The Anglicized version derived from the Nicobarese word Minikaa-raajje (meaning "land of the cannibals") as the island was known then in the Andaman and Nicobar . The early human migration from Africa to the Andaman Islands through India was thought by scientists to include Lakshadweep because of its location between Africa and the southwestern region of India. However, later genetic studies indicated that
3444-526: The East (separated from Amindivi by the 11th parallel north ), and the atoll of Minicoy to the south of the Nine Degree Channel . The islands have a 132 km (82 mi) long coastline with a lagoon area of 4,200 km (1,600 sq mi), territorial waters of 20,000 km (7,700 sq mi), and an exclusive economic zone of 400,000 km (150,000 sq mi). Lakshadweep
Minicoy - Misplaced Pages Continue
3528-673: The Indian Empire when Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress. On 18 December 1790 Maliku was surrendered to the Court of Directors of the British East India Company by the Ali Raja Cannanore , Junumabe Ali-Adi Raja Bibi II. The Ali Raja was allowed to administer Maliku in return for a tribute to the East India Company. She continued to dispute the transfer of sovereignty but in 1824, her successor, Mariambe Ali-Adi Raja Bibi made
3612-553: The Lakshadweep islands on 1 November 1973. The headquarters of the union territory remained at Kozhikode until 1964, when the seat of the Administrator was shifted to Kavaratti. The territory has developed into a key Indian naval establishment due to its strategic location near vital shipping lanes from India to the Middle East . Lakshadweep is an archipelago of 36 islands and islets that includes 12 atolls , three reefs , and five submerged banks . The islands occupy
3696-584: The Seal of the King Siri Kula Ran Mani ( Sultan Mohamed IV ) of the Maldives, regarding the building and upkeep of a mosque in Finey at Thiladhummathi Atoll in Maldives, referred to him as Malikaddu Midhemedhu ekanuonna mi korhu anikaneh nethee korhu which meant "Sole Sovereign with no other over what lies between Maliku and Addu". In 1857, suzerainty over Minicoy transferred from the East India Company to
3780-465: The brother of the President of Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom , Abdulla Hameed declared that the neighbouring Minicoy Island that belonged to India were a part of Maldives; Maldives quickly and officially denied that it was laying claim to the island. India and Maldives continue to enjoy friendly relations and a strategic partnership in economic and military fields. India continues to contribute to
3864-433: The coast of Trivandrum . The atoll contains two islands. The main island is located on the eastern and southeastern side of the lagoon, along the reef fringe. It measures about 10 km from its northern end to its southernmost point and it is about 1 km wide in its southern half, while the northern half is a narrow sandspit, often less than 100 m wide. Minicoy is almost completely covered with coconut trees. One of
3948-431: The current alcohol laws of India , alcoholic beverage consumption is not permitted on the islands, except on Bangaram. In 2024, the government proposed further programmes to improve infrastructure and promote tourism. The potential negative effects of tourism on the environment and ecosystem of the islands is a subject of debate. There is no single power grid that connects Lakshadweep; independent power houses cater to
4032-560: The descendants of Kohoratukamana are the niamin (captains). The other status groups are made up of the descendants of their crew. Until the 16th century, the Laccadives was under the suzerainty of the Kolathiri Raja of Chirakkal in what is now the Indian state of Kerala . With the Portuguese ascendancy in the region, it became necessary for the Kolathiri to transfer sovereignty of
4116-500: The eastern side of Lakshadweep and away from the low-lying lagoons to the West. The soil is generally sandy, derived from coral. According to a 2017 report, the Parali I island of Bangaram atoll has eroded and is completely inundated. Four other islands in the atoll also show various degrees of erosion: Parali II (80%), Thinnakara (14.4%), Parali III (11.4%), and Bangaram (9.9%). The islands have
4200-569: The few landmarks of the island is the Minicoy Island Lighthouse , which was built in 1885 during the British regime. On the southern side of the main island lies the uninhabited islet of Viringili ( Dhivehi : ވިރިންގިލި ; Malayalam : വിരിന്ഗാ , also called the Small Pox Island), measuring barely 200 m in length. Formerly the lepers of Minicoy were banished to this island where they lived in abject conditions. Maliku Atoll has
4284-665: The formal transfer. After an attempt to backtrack, his successor Imbicchi Ali-Adi Raja Bibi finally signed over Minicoy to the Emperor Edward VII on 9 February 1909, backdated to 1 July 1905. Following this, Minicoy was annexed to the District of Malabar. After the independence of India in August 1947, the possessions of the Emperor of India passed to either the Indian Union or Pakistan according to an agreed demarcation line. The rulers of
SECTION 50
#17328444723584368-646: The government unveiled a plan to develop three ports at Androth, Kalpeni and Kadamath islands as a part of the Sagar Mala project . The ten inhabited island each have a minor port. There are fifteen lighthouses on the islands, with the Minicoy Island Lighthouse (built in 1885) being the first modern lighthouse. The Indian Navy operates the INS Dweeprakshak naval base under the Southern Naval Command , commissioned in 2012. The first public school
4452-403: The island. Tamil Sangam literature Patiṟṟuppattu mentions that the region was ruled by the Cheras , one of the three kingdoms of ancient Tamilakam , in the Sangam period (3rd century BCE to 3rd century CE). The islands have been known to sailors since at least 1st century CE, as indicated in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea . It contains an anonymous reference to the islands off
4536-460: The islands are descendants of migrants from the Malabar coast of Southwest India and are ethnically similar to the Mappilas of Kerala . According to local tradition, Islam was brought to the islands by Ubaidullah in 661 CE. Although Islam is the predominant religion currently, the earliest settlers were probably Hindus, evidenced by the current social stratification and matrilineal kinship system in Lakshadweep. The southernmost island of Minicoy
4620-422: The islands are part of an archipelago of fewer islands. English is the designated official language while Jeseri , a dialect of Malayalam , is the widely spoken native language . Dhivehi is the most spoken language in the Minicoy Island . The region comes under the judicial jurisdiction of the Kerala High Court . Fishing and agriculture are the major occupations in the islands. The name Lakshadweep
4704-499: The islands became part of the Dominion of India , and later came under the administration of the Madras State after the Constitution of India was enacted in 1950. Following the States Reorganisation Act (1956) , the islands, which were earlier divided between the South Canara and Malabar districts of the Madras state, were organized into a separate union territory administered by the Government of India . The Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands were collectively renamed as
4788-539: The islands in 2018. The government is promoting tourism as a means to increase the income of the local population, with Bangaram and Kadmat islands being promoted as potential tourist destinations. To promote tourism, activities such as scuba diving , wind surfing , snorkelling , surfing , kayaking , canoeing , water skiing , sportfishing , yachting and night sea voyages have been established. Tourists require permission to visit Lakshadweep and foreign nationals are not permitted to visit certain islands. According to
4872-458: The islands in their writings. Local traditions attribute the first settlement on the islands to Cheraman Perumal , the last Chera king of Kerala, though no historical evidence exists apart from the presence of ancient Hindu social stratification . According to local tradition, Islam was brought to the islands by Ubaidullah in 661 CE, whose purported grave is located in the Andrott island. Inscriptions from Vayalur (in Tamil Nadu ) indicates
4956-403: The islands to their hereditary admiral, the Ali Raja of Kolathunadu ( Cannanore ). However, the kings and queens of the Maldives also issued edicts addressed to the subjects in their realm Malikaddu Midhemedhu . This meant "Between Maliku (Minicoy) and Addu". Previously Addu was the southernmost island in the dominions of the Maldive kings and was in Addu Atoll . A 1696 CE grant issued under
5040-408: The islands. As of 2019 , there are 228 km (142 mi) of paved roads and no railway in the territory. Additional roads have been planned, including a peripheral road at Kavaratti and beach front roads at Kadamath and Agatti islands. As of 2023 , seven ships operate passenger services between Kochi and the islands, with seasonal boat/ferry services available between islands. In 2024,
5124-883: The islands. Nearly 400 species of flowering plants have been documented, including three species of sea grasses Cymodocea isoetifolia , Syringodium isoetifolium and Thalassia hemprichii , other angiosperms such as Pandanus , Heliotropium foertherianum , Tournefortia argentea and Pemphis acidula , fungi , algae , and lichens . The common flora of the atolls include coconut groves and coastal shrubs such as Pemphis acidula , Cordia subcordata , Scaevola taccada , Thespesia populnea , Suriana maritima , Dodonaea viscosa , Guettarda speciosa , and seaweeds such as sea lettuces , Codium , and Hypena . There are over 600 recorded species of marine fishes, 78 species of corals , 82 species of seaweed , 52 species of crabs , 2 species of lobsters , 48 species of gastropods , and 12 species of bivalves . It
SECTION 60
#17328444723585208-550: The late 15th century CE before being ruled by the Arakkal kingdom , who were vassals of the Kolathiri Rajas of Kannur . The region was under the influence of the Mysore kingdom in the late 18th century and was later annexed to the British empire in 1799 CE. The islands became part of the Dominion of India following the Indian Independence in 1947 and was incorporated as a union territory in 1956. The name Lakshadweep means "one lakh islands" ( Lakṣadvīpa ; one hundred thousand islands) in Malayalam and Sanskrit , though
5292-411: The local language, Dhivehi , which is also the national and official language of the Republic of Maldives . The language is a descendant of Elu Prakrit and is closely related to the Sinhala language , but not mutually intelligible with it. However, the Lakhshadweep Administration refers to Dhivehi as Mahl. This is due to a misunderstanding on the part of a British civil servant who came to Minicoy in
5376-445: The majority of human ancestry in the islands derived from South Asia . Archaeological evidence from Kalpeni indicate the existence of human settlements in the region from at least 1500 BCE. The islands are mentioned in the Buddhist Jataka tales , dated to 3rd century CE. Archeological evidence indicates the spread of Buddhism to the islands during the time of Sanghmitra , the daughter of emperor Ashoka , presumed to have visited
5460-450: The north, the Laccadive Islands (separated from Amindivi roughly by the 11th parallel north ), and the atoll of Minicoy to the south of the Nine Degree Channel . The islands are located between the Arabian Sea to the west and the Laccadive Sea to the east, about 220–440 km (140–270 mi) off the Malabar Coast of mainland India. The islands occupy a total land area of approximately 32.62 km (12.59 sq mi) with
5544-422: The only commercial varieties. The government runs a tuna canning factory in the islands. Fishing is carried out using mechanized fishing boats, traditional country crafts, and country crafts fitted with outboard motors. Tourism in Lakshadweep began in 1974, when the Bangaram atoll was opened for international tourism. According to government statistics, 10,435 domestic tourists and 1,313 foreign tourists visited
5628-447: The population lived in urban areas. As per the NSO survey in 2017, the literacy rate was 92.28%, the second highest amongst all Indian territories. As per the NFHS, the fertility rate was 1.4, significantly below the national average of 2.0. Islam (96.6%) is the major religion of people of the islands with Sunni Islam being the predominant denomination, followed by Hinduism (2.8%) and Christianity (0.5%). Most settlers of
5712-459: The power requirements of the islands. Minicoy was the first island to be electrified in 1962, followed by Kavaratti in 1964 and others later, with Bitra being the last island to be electrified in 1982. Two diesel generators were established in 1962, which generate about 51.6 Kilo Watts of power. As of 2012 , the islands have 41 diesel generators and 12 solar photovoltaic systems with a total installed capacity of 18.5 Mega Watts. In January 2024,
5796-405: The protection of Cannanore and became a vassal state of the Kingdom of Mysore . The southern group, however, remained loyal to the rule of Cannanore . Following the defeat of Tipu Sultan and the 1792 treaty of Srirangapatam , the southern subgroup was permitted by the East India Company to remain under the rule of the Cannanore Kingdom in exchange for a yearly tribute of 15,000 Rs . Since
5880-418: The public sector, and the manufacture of food products and furniture . With a minimal arable land of 2.58 hectares, the major agriculture produce is coconuts. The major exports from Lakshadweep are coconut products including coconut fibre (coir) and fishes. The government runs five coir factories, five production demonstration centers, and seven curling units that produce coir fiber, yarn and mats. With
5964-407: The recently commissioned naval base, INS Jatayu . The project is led by the Indian Air Force and will be used by all the branches of the Armed Forces and the Indian Coast Guard . Lakshadweep Lakshadweep ( Malayalam: [lɐkʂɐd̪βʷiːbɨ̆] ) is a union territory of India. It is an archipelago of 36 islands divided into three island subgroups: the Amindivi Islands in
6048-462: The region was captured by Rajendra Chola I in 1018-19 CE. In the late 11th century CE, it became part of a small Hindu kingdom before being passed on to the Kingdom of Kannur in early 12th century CE. The islands are mentioned in the writings of travelers Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta in the 13th-14th century CE. In the late 15th century CE, the islands came under the control of the Portuguese as
6132-474: The same manner as the Amindivi Islands further north, the islands of the Laccadive subgroup were settled from ancient times by people of nearby Kerala to which were added later people of Arab descent. Vasco da Gama visited these islands around 1498. In the mid 16th century all the inhabited islands of the Lakshadweep put themselves under the rule of the Arakkal kingdom in order to obtain protection from
6216-424: The same place and recorded the name of this islander's home as "Minikaa". This later became anglicised as Minicoy. Little did this islander know that as a result of this cross-cultural exchange, his home would forever be called by a name that sounded like " cannibal " in his own language. Minicoy is the second largest and the southernmost among the islands of the Lakshadweep archipelago. It is located 201 km to
6300-543: The south-southwest of Kalpeni , at the southern end of the Nine Degree Channel and 125 km to the north of Thuraakunu , Maldives , at the northern end of the Eight Degree Channel . The atoll is 10 km in length, having a maximum breadth of about 6 km. The closest geographic feature is the Investigator Bank , a submerged shoal located 31 km to the northeast. It is located 400 km west off
6384-499: The south—by the 9 Degree or Mamala Channel. Formerly the Union Territory of Lakshadweep was known as Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands , a name that was changed to Lakshadweep by an act of Parliament in 1973. The Laccadive subgroup had been known earlier as the " Cannanore Islands " after the coastal town of Kannur . The name originated in the fact that while the northern group of Amindivi had stopped in 1784 being
6468-534: The territory. Laccadive Islands The Laccadive / ˈ l æ k ə d ɪ v / or Kannur / ˈ k æ n ə n ɔːr / Islands are one of the three island subgroups in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep , India . It is the central subgroup of the Lakshadweep, separated from the Amindivi Islands subgroup roughly by the 11th parallel north and from the atoll of Minicoy (Maliku)—far to
6552-399: The year. Precipitation falls during most of the year; only January to March are relatively dry. There are remains in an area of the island known as "Salliballu" dating back from Minicoy's Buddhist past, about 800 years ago. The most conspicuous archaeological sites are two mounds or large heaps of ruins belonging to a stupa and another related structure. These sites were investigated by
6636-613: Was Mahiladū meaning women's island. Mahiladū derives from Elu Prakrit term Mahila du , which literally means woman-island. However, the name Maliku is thought to have been derived from the Arab trader's term for the island, Jazirat al- Maliku ('the island of the king'). Minicoy islanders have long settled in the Nicobar Islands across the Bay of Bengal . These settlers regularly travelled back to Minicoy. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands had
6720-572: Was developed at the National Institute of Ocean Technology and the government has announced plans to build three more such plants. Mobile communication service is provided by state-owned BSNL across all inhabited islands and Airtel in Kavratti and Agatti islands. In 2020, the government announced a project to install under-sea fiber optic cable for high-speed mobile and internet connectivity between Kochi and 11 islands of Lakshadweep, which
6804-530: Was established in 1956 and constitutes a single Indian district . The headquarters of the union territory were at Kozhikode until 1964, when the seat of the administrator of the islands was shifted to Kavaratti. Since then, the administration secretariat is based in Kavaratti. The territory is divided into ten administrative sub-divisions headed by sub-divisional officers, except the Minicoy and Agatti islands which are headed by deputy collectors. The ten inhabited islands have village panchayats consisting of
6888-474: Was inaugurated in January 2024. Post offices run by India Post provide mail service. Lakshadweep is served by four hospitals with 200 beds, four primary health centers, and 14 sub-health centers operated by the government. The only airport in the territory is Agatti Airport on Agatti island. The 1.2 km (0.75 mi) runway is capable of serving small turboprop aircraft. The government announced
6972-433: Was incorporated into the Union Territory of Laccadive, Minicoy, and Aminidivi Islands, renamed Lakshadweep in 1973. At this time, the Maldives was still not independent from the British. In December 1976, India and the Maldives signed a maritime boundary treaty whereby Minicoy was placed on the Indian side of the boundary. India and Maldives officially and amicably decided their maritime boundary in 1976, in 1982 when
7056-466: Was opened in Amini in 1904, followed by the establishment of elementary schools at Kiltan in 1911 and Kadmat in 1925. The first high schools were established in the 1960s in Amini and Kalpeni. As of 2023 , there are 50 schools catering to 8,350 students. There are four government colleges affiliated to Pondicherry University and two colleges and three university centers affiliated to Calicut University in
#357642