Stroll on these picturesque islands, mingle with the locals, peer at corals emerging from their underwater abode at low tide, and frolic in the warm waters of the Arabian Sea. Scuba diving and snorkelling are the best way to get a close look at the island’s rich marine life. Take a PADI diving course at the Laccadives Diving School and swim alongside stately turtles, curious schools of colourful fish and the occasional manta ray in the lagoons. You can also take your passion for photography to the next level by learning underwater photography.

The teardrop-shaped island of Bangaram is bewitchingly beautiful. The laidback Island is the perfect place to linger over a delicious dinner, as you listen to the waves and stargaze to your heart’s content. But should you feel the need for a little more adventure, Bangaram is also the ideal location to try out deep sea big game fishing.

Set in the capital of Lakshadweep, Kavaratti, the 17th-century Ujra mosque is said to have been built by Sheikh Mohammad Kasim, who introduced the practice of ratheeb (a religious performance to invoke blessings) on the island. His grave is located in the mosque complex and is a place of pilgrimage for people from all the islands. Legend has it that the ornate ceiling of the simple yet stunning mosque was carved out of a single piece of driftwood..

Heaven for water sports lovers, Lakshadweep islands offers a plethora of options for those who want to explore the glistening waters of Laccadive sea (as it is locally called). You can choose from water skiing, yachting, wind surfing and much more, but paddling through the crystal clear waters of Lakshadweep is definitely the best way to revel in the island’s beauty.

Every island on Lakshadweep has something unique to offer and every beach feels similar yet different. Enjoy the huge bank of coral debris, raucous cries of sea birds and throngs of scurrying hermit crabs and if you are lucky, a turtle may just waddle out of the sea to give you company!.

The local inhabitants of Lakshadweep are friendly, warm and welcoming. Stroll through the sandy streets of a quiet village to visit local craft workshops and watch the fishermen go about their business as the day’s catch is unloaded at the dock. Do make time to attend a performance of the traditional dance forms of the locals like lava, kolkali (stick dance) and parichakali (shield dance) that are organised quite frequently by the tourism department.Food here is exotic. Octopus fry and pickled tuna should definitely be tried.

Soak up the sun and work on getting that perfect tan or build castles in the silvery sand for a perfectly languid day at the beach. At night, watch blooms of bioluminescent plankton wash ashore on the coral sands, transforming them into a mirror of the starlit sky.