87-554: The Minicoy Island Lighthouse , which was established on 2 February 1885 at the southern end of the Minicoy Island ('Minicoy' is "Maliku" in local usage) in the Indian state of Lakshadweep during the British regime , is 49.5 metres (162 ft) in height and has now a range of 40 nautical miles (74 km) it is built in brick masonry and has a lantern and gallery. The lighthouse area in
174-585: 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
261-548: 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
348-491: A stupa and another related structure. These sites were investigated by 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
435-635: 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
522-548: A "cross" was found there. But it is likely that, coming from 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
609-722: 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
696-494: 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
783-413: 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
870-427: 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,
957-400: A powerful flash every 15 seconds and is seen from 40 nautical miles (74 km) away. A Radar transponder (RACON) was fitted in 1985, and in 1998, it was fitted with a Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS). The optical system consists of 3 panels of 920 millimetres (36 in) with a focal distance of 460 millimetres (18 in). The source of light is of 400 W Metal Hallide Lamp while
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#17328450718251044-527: 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 the south-southwest of Kalpeni , at the southern end of the Nine Degree Channel and 125 km to the north of Thuraakunu , Maldives , at
1131-607: 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
1218-682: 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
1305-487: 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
1392-430: 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
1479-680: 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 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
1566-429: 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 the local language, Dhivehi , which is also the national and official language of
1653-559: 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
1740-564: 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
1827-597: 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
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#17328450718251914-602: 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
2001-512: 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
2088-559: 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
2175-478: 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
2262-485: 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
2349-641: 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,
2436-526: 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
2523-611: 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
2610-604: The Great Basses Reef Lighthouse on the coast of Ceylon . The maintenance drill conducted every six months by the Board of Trade from Ceylon involved change of guard of the light keepers and to refill oil and other stores. After India attained independence, the governments of India and Sri Lanka decided to transfer all functions of the lighthouse formally to India; this legal formality was completed on 19 September 1963. Before that, every British merchant vessel navigating past
2697-619: The Indian National Flag was unfurled over its top on 2 April 1956. There is another smaller lighthouse on the island, at its northern end, which was established on 19 November 2008, following the construction of a new jetty with improved landing facilities. It has a focal plane of 22 metres (72 ft). Following the opening of the Suez Canal in 1862, which reduced the distance by sea between Europe and Far East , Lord Ripon , then Governor General of British India , decided to build
Minicoy Island Lighthouse - Misplaced Pages Continue
2784-669: 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
2871-590: 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 the 1900s during the time of the British Raj . The official asked a local what his language
2958-416: 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
3045-677: 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
3132-637: 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
3219-497: 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
3306-466: 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
3393-564: 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 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
3480-636: 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
3567-470: 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 a lagoon with two entrances in its northern side, Saalu Magu on
Minicoy Island Lighthouse - Misplaced Pages Continue
3654-465: 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
3741-699: The East India Company to 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
3828-553: 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
3915-732: The Maldive kings and was in Addu Atoll . A 1696 CE grant issued under 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
4002-469: 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
4089-431: 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
4176-500: 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
4263-665: 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
4350-713: 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
4437-418: The island for Sri Lanka . The Kamborani's descendants are the bodun (land and shipowners) and 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
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#17328450718254524-403: 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
4611-460: 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
4698-422: 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
4785-499: 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
4872-539: 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
4959-458: 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
5046-408: 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,
5133-883: 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
5220-406: 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 the few landmarks of the island is the Minicoy Island Lighthouse , which was built in 1885 during
5307-550: 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
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#17328450718255394-401: The light house in 1882 itself, which would have a 360-degree visibility, towering over the surrounding tall coconut trees. The Board of Trade then decided to establish it as their own lighthouse on the Minicoy Island, to provide guidance for safe passage of their vessels, navigating through the "Eight Degree Channel," which demarcates the northern limit of the island. The site for the lighthouse
5481-400: The lighthouse was levied a toll on the basis of the ship's draft. The toll collected went into the Privy Purse of the British Monarch . The lighthouse is now under the administrative jurisdiction of the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL), under the Ministry of Shipping, and the Cochin Directorate of DGLL has the responsibility to maintain it. When established in 1885,
5568-445: 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
5655-581: 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 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
5742-424: 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 a reputation in the Maldives and Minicoy of being inhabited by cannibals , and so collectively
5829-450: 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
5916-406: 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 the Laccadive Islands . The closest island to Minicoy
6003-405: 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 the coast of Trivandrum . The atoll contains two islands. The main island is located on the eastern and southeastern side of
6090-422: 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
6177-447: 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
6264-459: 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,
6351-418: 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
6438-639: 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
6525-462: 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
6612-511: The region, it became necessary for the Kolathiri to transfer sovereignty of 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
6699-444: The rotation of optic is provided by electronic pulse motors. The lighthouse was fitted in 1983 with a medium frequency Radio beacon with a range of 400 kilometres (250 mi) and has a call sign 'NY'. In 1985 a Racon was also fixed at the top of the lighthouse. The tower has a winding staircase access to the top consisting of 216 steps inside. Minicoy Island Minicoy , locally known as Maliku ( IPA: [məliku] ),
6786-471: The southern part of the island was once exclusively occupied by the British while the local people preferred to live in the northern part. It has modern instrumentation of electrification and an automatic system of shining mirrors that flash light every 15 seconds. It is also equipped with Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS). The lighthouse was brought under the control of the Government of India when
6873-460: The tower of the lighthouse designed by Sir James Douglass , was built with bricks brought from London, to a height of 48 metres (157 ft). It was fitted with a first order optic and kerosene wick lamps. Optics had an active focal plane of 47 metres (154 ft). The exterior surface of the lighthouse was given a coat of white paint while the lantern roof was painted in red colour. In 1928, petroleum vapor burners with mantle were installed. It gives
6960-554: 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 was Mahiladū meaning women's island. Mahiladū derives from Elu Prakrit term Mahila du , which literally means woman-island. However,
7047-572: 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
7134-530: 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
7221-474: 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
7308-493: 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
7395-466: 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
7482-504: Was selected in 1882. The construction of the structure was begun in 1883 and completed in 1885. The lighthouse was commissioned on 2 February 1885 when Amin of Minicoy and Sir James Douglass , representing the British Government were present. This lighthouse, strategically situated on the sea route from Aden to Colombo and Suez to Singapore passes just south of the Minicoy Island on the Indian coast line leading to Colombo, which
7569-470: Was then the "lifeline of the Empire". After building this lighthouse no shipwrecks have occurred on the island. This lighthouse is the lone surviving historic structure of the British period in the Lakshadweep Islands. Initially, the lighthouse was directly administered by the Board of Trade, London with maintenance control under the Superintendent, Imperial Light Service, Colombo who were also in charge of
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