Page 653 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

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VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
Cherbaniani Reef
Practical Information
Union Territory of Lakshadweep.
Byramgore Reef 200–450 km (124–280 miles) W
of Kochi. * 64,429 (Kavaratti).
Chetlat Island n A trip to Lakshadweep is only
Bitra Island possible as part of a package
tour; individual bookings are not
Kiltan Island permitted. For bookings contact
Perumulappara Kadmat Island Lakshadweep Tourism’s Society
Amindivi Island for Nature Tourism & Sports
Bangaram Island (SPORTS) office in Kochi, (0484)
Pitti Island Androth Island
Agatti Island 266 8387. For enquiries contact
the Delhi office, (011) 2338 6807.
Kavaratti Island Fisherfolk picking mussels among reefs in the shallows Travel permits: These are mandatory
and take at least two months to
snorkelling and scuba diving Kalpeni’s inhabitants were procure (see pp734–5), contact
Suheli Island and has qualified instructors. among the earliest islanders to the Kochi SPORTS office. Many
Kalpeni Island send girls to school, paving the agencies run tours between
 Water Sports Institute way for other islanders who had October and March.
SPORTS Office, Kochi. traditionally kept their girls and Transport
Tel (0484) 266 8387. women confined to the home. ~ from Kochi to Agatti.
 Lacadives Dive School g from Kochi (30 hours).
Tel Mumbai, (022) 6517 7381; Kochi, Minicoy Island 4 Boats are available for trips
(0484) 236 7752. ∑ lacadives.com 258 km (160 miles) S of Kavaratti between the islands.
Island. 4 Open to Indian
Kalpeni Island passport holders only.
125 km (78 miles) SE of Kavaratti Lakshadweep’s southernmost rich in the performing arts;
Island. 4 Open to Indian passport island, Minicoy has a unique the traditional Lava dance
holders only.  culture influenced by the is performed on festive
Minicoy Island The clear, shallow lagoon neighbouring Maldives. Mahl, occasions. Tuna fishing has
of Kalpeni Island is the largest spoken here, is a dialect of the become an important activity,
in Lakshadweep. With Maldivian Dhivehi, with the establishment of
excellent reefs, which is related to a tuna-canning factory.
Kalpeni is ideal the Indo-Persian Minicoy has a grand lagoon,
for diving and languages with a and is the only island in the
snorkelling. Coral script written from archipelago with a stretch
debris, deposited by right to left. Minicoy of mangroves along its
a storm in 1847, has is often referred to as shores. A large lighthouse,
formed raised banks “Women’s Island”, as built by the British in 1885,
on the eastern and A hermit crab coming its ten villages are commands an impressive
southern shores. out of a shell matrilineal. It is also view of the sea.

Marine Life in the Coral Reefs
The Lakshadweep Islands are a conglomeration of atolls – ring-shaped coral reef formations – that are
the richest coral reefs found in India. Formed over thousands of years, they are made up of billions of
minute organisms called polyps. Related to sea anemones, polyps build their skeletons outside their
body. As they grow, their limestone skeletons become elaborate coral formations, with new colonies
spreading over dead ones, and eventually turn into formidable reefs. The complex and fragile reef
ecosystem is alive with an extraordinary range of plants and marine life. Over 600 species of reef fish,
such as clown fish and parrot fish in a dazzling array of colours, giant clams with purple lips, delicate
sea fans and sea anemones, ink-blue starfish, dolphins, harmless sharks and marine turtles, make up
the spectacular diversity of the underwater world. (For tips on eco-friendly diving, see p623.)
Corals of around
100 varieties of coral,
including the boulder-like
porites, the ridged brain
(right) and the branched
staghorn, can be seen
here. The myriad colours
are produced by the variety
Parali Island, one of Lakshadweep’s many atolls of algae that grow on them.

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