maldives and lakshadweep : These discussions started when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Lakshadweep. After the controversial statements made by the leaders in Maldives, the Maldivian government suspended them. In India too, there were sharp reactions from various levels, especially from Bollywood. An appeal was also made to visit Lakshadweep and Indian tourist spots instead of Maldives; But there was also a tone in these discussions that it is not appropriate to compare Maldives and Lakshadweep.
Maldives is an independent country, while Lakshadweep is a Union Territory of India. It is easy to get to Maldives from India and can reach there in a relatively short time. Maldives does not require a visa, but a permit is required to go to Lakshadweep. There are plenty of flights from India to Maldives; But flights to Lakshadweep are less.
Is this the Maldives?
Maldives is in the south-west direction of India. Maldives is one thousand kilometers away from Kochi. The word Maldives means garland of lights. It was established as an independent nation in 1968. Maldives is a group of 1200 islands. Most of the islands are uninhabited. Its area is 300 square kilometers. That is approximately 5 times smaller than Delhi. Dhivehi and English are spoken there. Its population is approximately 4 lakh. These islands are at risk of rising water levels due to climate change.
Tourism is the mainstay of the economy in Maldives. According to AVAS Media in Maldives, Indians make up the largest number of visitors there. Approximately 3 lakh Indians in 2021, two and a half in 2022, and 2 lakh Indians in 2023 visited the country.
Sun Island, Glowing Beach, Male City, Mafushi, Mamigili, Artificial Island are major tourist destinations in Maldives. January to April is the best time to visit there. To get there currently i.e. in the last week of January, a ticket can cost around 10 thousand rupees, while the travel time is expected to be 2 hours.
Is this Lakshadweep?
Maldives is 700 km from Lakshadweep and 440 km from Kochi. It is a group of 36 small islands. According to the 2011 census, its population is approximately 64 thousand. Most of them i.e. 96 percent are Muslims. Its area is 32 square kilometers. That is 10 times less than Maldives. Malayalam language is spoken there. Mahe is spoken only on the island of Minicoy. In Lakshadweep fishing, coconut plantations are the source of income. Tourism business has also gained momentum there.
According to some media reports, approximately 25 thousand tourists visited Lakshadweep last year. This number is 8 times less compared to Maldives. Lakshadweep is a one and a half hour flight from Kochi. Agatti Island has an airport. From there, boat or helicopter services are available to reach other islands. Lakshadweep can also be reached by water from Kochi. The journey takes approximately 14-18 hours. Kavaratti Island, Light House, Jetty Site-Mosque, Bangaram, Thinnakara Agatti are some of the major tourist spots in Lakshadweep. May to September is the best time to visit Lakshadweep; But there is a crowd of tourists even from December to February. A permit is required to go to Lakshadweep. Many of the islands there are off-limits. In some places permission can be taken.
