One of world's most spectacular tropical island syatems, Lakshadweep is tucked awya at 220-440 Kms. off the Malabar coast. The islands offer a precious heritage of ecology & culture. The unique feature of the island is its coral reef, making it a pristine leisure spotto come back to 4200sq.kms. of lagoon, rich in marine wealth, is spread over 36 islands in an area of about 32 sq.kms.

The underwater view at Lakshadweep is kaleidoscopic & breathtaking. The lagoon offers excellent potential for water sports like swimming, wind-surfing diving, snorkelling & kayaking. No wonder, Lakshadweep is fast becoming India's one of its kind " Adventure Sport - Nature Tourism " Location.

Lakshadweep means a hundred thousand islands. Each island is fringed by snow white coral sands. The crystl clear water & abundant marine life enhance the beauty of these islands. Against the vast expanse of the blue sea, the islands look like emeralds. The huge shallow calm lagoon on one side with wall like reef made marine live coral boulders blocks the incoming swells of the outer sea. The islands are linked to the maimland by ship, helicopter, passenger aircrafts & mechanised sailing wooden vessels. The islands like AGATI & Bangaram can be reahced by air & the other islands can be reached by ship from Cochin. In all the islands elaborate infrastructure is in place to meet the needs of tourists.

A brief Pre-History and History
Although theories on the ormation of the islands abound, the most accepted one is attributed to Sir Charies Darwin, the reowned evolutionist. He opined that the base of the islands below the reef is a volcanic layer over which corals settled and turned into atolls, over a period of time. The atolls consisting of the islands & lagoon are in various stages of development. The smaller lagoons are virtually filled with sediments. The larger ones are deeper in the range of 10-16 metres. The enchanting aspect of these islands is due to the Coral Reef, biologically fromed over many centuries. As of now, it extends along the coast, giving Lakshadweep its unique staure.

The spectacular island group is belived to have been discovered by shiowrecked sailors during the reign of Cheraman Perumal, the lagendary king of Kerala in the 4th century AD. Before moving into the hands of the British, Tippu Sultan held sway in the islands after defeating the opressive rulers of Arackal.

The Union Territory was formed in 1956 & it was named Lakshadweep in 1973. All the islands now constitute one district for Administration with four Tehsils.

Climate & Temparature
These islands have a humid, warm & generally pleasant climate. The temparature is 1640 mm, Annual rainfall decreass from South to North. It is found that 80-90-days a year are rainy. Winds are light to moderate during October to March.

Qualifying Seasons
The temparature increases from South to North. April & May are the hottest months with an average temparature os 32° C. The relative humidity is 70-75%.

Languages, Manners, Customs
A dialect of Mahalayam is spoken in the inhabited islands. In Minicoy, Mahi is the language used. There is very little difference in the customs & the manners of th people despite a few cultural differences. Marriages are arranged by parents excepts in Minicoy where courting is prevelent. Arranged marriages are common & the negotiations originate from the brides family.

While in Minicoy the groom is selected from the same social & economic strata, maternal uncle's son is the first choice in all the other islands. The ' Nikah ' takes place in the Mosque or at the bride's residence. In Minicoy the marriage ceremony is relatively simple. The expenses for the functions are borne by the bridegroom's family. An interesting feature of Minicoy is the absence of the parents from certain functions related to the marriage. The average household has 3-4 rooms. Minimum furniture is used in homes. A swinging cot is a very common feature.

Rice is the stapkle food of the people. As a rule the people are non-vegetarians. Coconut is widely used. The manner of dressing of the people is simple & similar to the Muslims of the Malabar coast. The territory has a closely-knit community life.

Folk Arts
Kolkali & Parichakali are the two popular folk art forms in the Territory. They are an integral part of the cultural milieu except in Minicoy where " Lava ' is the most popular dance form. Some of the folk dances have a resemblance with those in North Eastern India.

For marriages " Opana " is a common feature, a song sung by a lead singer & followed by a group of women. Picnics are a common leisure activity in Minicoy. The widely celebrated festivals are Idulfitr, Bakrid, Milad-Ul-Nabi & Muharram.

Status of Women
Women of the Territory enjoy a higher social status & economic freedom than their counterparts elsewhere in the country. The Matrilineal route of inheritance through the females keep the women folk independent. Divorce is accepted & encouraged. The predominance of woman in every walk of life is a noteworthy feature in Minicoy, especially.