OVERVIEW
Lakshadweep is one of the smallest Union Territory in India. The name ‘Lakshadweep’ literally means a hundred thousand islands in Sanskrit and Malayalam. It was formerly known as Laccadive, Minicoy and Aminidivi Islands. It appears like a mere dot on the map of India, but is truly a sparkling diamond adoring the southern frontier of the country.
Lakshadweep is untouched by disastrous industrialization and is land of pristine and untouched blue and clean beaches. The lagoons washing ashore, the continental shelf populated by colorful coral reefs, visible from clear water above just when the sunsets that turn white sand into red, orange and purple, these all are symbolically linked to each other.
The first westerner to set foot on it’s shore was Vasco Da Gama, but English people had already explored these islands. Lakshwadeep is also mentioned with a complete walkthrough in stories of the Arab traveler, Ibn Batuta. Later, Portugals came and erected a fort on the islands, but they were chased away by the inhabitants for good.
Based in middle of the sea, Lakshadweep makes up for a pretty good tourist destination. The isolated beaches, scenic beauty, marine flora and fauna, brings in good revenue from tourism. Since it is small, area wise, and industries cannot grow as much, government has been pushing tourism to as much as possible as a means of income.
Taking into consideration the proximity to the sea, fish is a part of the staple diet along with coconuts. Rice and jiggery make up a major part of the diet. Irrespective of the fact of ingredients falling short, the cuisines and list of dishes still amount up to hundred.
The local people here speak Malayalam. They believe their forefathers were traders and were washed up on the shores during one heavy storm. The people on the island, ethnically, are pretty much like the the people of Kerala coast of India. The descendants are mixed of Indiana and Arabs, except for the largest southernmost island, Minicoy, here the people favor Maldivians and speak Mahl, which sounds like Dhivehi and can also be a language.
The locals are mostly Muslims converted by the Arab traders and they call themselves the Amadivi (from the mother island) or the Divi.
